First home buyers break funding record

First home buyers took 26.5% of all housing loans in January, the highest proportion since records commenced. The value of total loans were 0.7% above December, a surprise given failing world markets and December typically has a rush at the tail end of the year. The success of the First Home Owners Grant ($14,000 for an established home / $21,000 for a new home) i.e. expected to lead to its renewal in the May budget.
At the same time developers, like Stockland, Australia’s largest and potential buyer of Aveo, have announced they have deferred all new development projects due to uncertain economic conditions.