Media Release
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria Ltd
Telephone (03) 9205 6666
ABN 81 004 210 897
Saturday 23 January 2010
A new record Melbourne median house price: $540,500
The REIV December quarter Property Update has revealed a new record high median house price of
$540,500, an increase of 15 per cent from $470,000 in the September quarter.
REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo said that it was the largest increase in the median house price since the
REIV started keeping quarterly records.
In the December quarter of 2000 the median house price increased by 14.9 per cent and by 12.4 per
cent in December quarter of 2007, compared to 15 per cent in the 2009 December quarter.
The combination of a better than expected economic conditions and strong population growth has
resulted in an unprecedented level of pressure on housing costs in Melbourne.
The citys population is increasing by around 1,700 people per week and unfortunately housing
construction has not responded as quickly as would be necessary to ease the pressure in the market.
The level of confidence in the market is apparent from the number of homes being bought and sold;
the REIV has recorded an increase of 22 per cent since the 2008 December quarter.
This is highlighted by the strong growth in the middle of the market. The largest increases in median
prices have occurred for homes priced between $500,000 and $900,000.
Burwood recorded the largest increase 23.1 per cent as the median increased from $658,000 to
$810,000. It was followed by Ringwood, with a 16.2 per cent increase; Mount Evelyn, whose median
increased by 16.1 per cent, and Brunswick, which now has a median of $724,250 after a 15.2 per cent
increase.
Prices paid for units and apartments have also increased substantially, with a 7.6 per cent increase in
the median from $410,000 in the September quarter to $441,000 in this quarter.
The suburbs with the largest increases in median price for units and apartments were East
Melbourne, followed by Port Melbourne, Armadale, Caulfield North and Northcote.
House prices increased in key centres in regional Victoria as well. The median house price in the City
of Ballarat increased by 7.3 per cent to $265,000; in Greater Bendigo by 4.3 per cent to $261,000; and
in Greater Geelong by 4.4 per cent to $342,000, Mr Raimondo concluded.
REIV CEO, Enzo Raimondo will be available for interview at noon,
23 January at the REIV, 335 Camberwell Road, Camberwell
REIV December 2009 quarter Property Update
Dec Qtr
2009
Sep-09-Dec-09
Sept Qtr 2009
Dec-08-Dec-09
Dec Qtr
2008
Houses
$540,500
15.0%
$470,000
28.7%
$420,000
Unit/Apartments
$441,000
7.6%
$410,000
22.2%
$360,800
MEDIA COMMENT:
Robert Larocca, 9205 6622 or 0409 198 350