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In 2023 one in four properties in the country’s three largest states - New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland - were purchased outright with cash, requiring no mortgage. This trend, revealed by settlement platform PEXA, underscores the depth of the wealth divide in real estate.

The total value of these cash-only residential deals amounted to $129.6 billion, marking a 1.5% increase from the previous year. These cash buyers, largely regional purchasers but also including city-based investors and downsizers, accounted for 28.5% of all deals done in these areas.

The majority of these cash-only deals were made in NSW, equating to $54.9 billion or more than 27% of the market. In Queensland, the value was $39.4 billion (just over 29% of all purchases), with a significant concentration in Surfers Paradise. Victoria saw cash-only deals worth $35.3 billion, covering 25% of all residential transactions.

PEXA’s chief economist, Julie Toth, stated that these cash buyers are ensuring the “resilience” of the market, even in the face of interest rate hikes. However, she also cautioned that this trend might not be assisting first-home buyers, suggesting that this could be generational wealth eroding affordability.

Cash buyers, who are typically older and more likely to be retired, have no negative vulnerability to the whims of the Reserve Bank. If they have money sitting for long periods in deposit accounts, they benefit from increased interest. “Cash buyers are changing the dynamics of the residential property market and exerting a greater influence on overall property demand,” Toth said.

The report found that the growing cash-buyer market is dominated by two groups: Regional buyers and inner city-urban buyers. The regional buyers contributed to the largest proportion of residential cash buyers; while inner city-urban buyers made up the largest share of cash purchases by value and volume, due to greater sales volumes and higher-priced properties in the city.

This trend comes at a time when it has never been harder to afford a home in Australia. Buyers need more money than ever to purchase a house or apartment in Australia, with the national medians striking new records. The aggressive nature of the overall national price recovery has been fueled by population growth, limited supply, and the cost-to-build blowouts.

Given the high volume of cash purchases, the limited supply of properties, and the forecasted reduction in interest rates, a national property price correction seems unlikely. The cash buyers, being immune to interest rate hikes, are likely to continue their purchases, maintaining a steady demand. Furthermore, the forecasted reduction in interest rates could potentially encourage more buyers to enter the market, keeping the property prices stable or even driving them up.

In conclusion, the rise of cash buyers in Australia’s property market is a phenomenon that reflects the country’s wealth divide. As this trend continues, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of the property market and its impact on housing affordability.