Investor lending weak in March

Investors took out home loans worth $1.09 billion, more than the $886 million borrowed in February, but a 10% drop on the $1.36 billion borrowed in March 2018.

They remained active despite the threat of a capital gains tax, which has since been ruled out by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern while she is in power.

Last month's investor numbers leave the market close to 2017 and 2018, when borrowing figures hovered around the $1 billion mark.

Yet the figures are way down on investor market peaks. In mid 2016, investor borrowing regularly topped $2 billion.

Property investors edged out first home buyers again. Those getting onto the property ladder borrowed $999 million last month.

First home buyers are borrowing significantly more than in previous years. The $999 borrowed in March is the highest March figure on record, and the third highest month on record for FHBs.

Property experts, like researcher CoreLogic, say first home buyers are borrowing more, taking advantage of low rates, and stretching to get on the ladder in Auckland, where prices have stabilised over the past year.

In terms of this week's mortgage lending data, CoreLogic senior property economist Kelvin Davidson says there are three key points .

The first is that the value of lending dropped year-on-year – it was a small fall, but still the first since March last year.

"Second, the number of loans is soft, but each loan on average is bigger. And third, banks are still operating well below the LVR speed limits. For those that can pass the deposit, income/expense and serviceability testing hurdles, the competition amongst banks and ‘rate wars’ are still making it a great time to be a borrower."

It's worth noting that the borrowing figures could grow as 2019 continues. Leading economists believe the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates next week, or in August, to boost flagging GDP and inflation figures.

For Davidson, the scrapping of capital gains tax proposals and the prospect of a cut in the official cash rate could help to support the market in the coming months.