Only in 3 other extreme events have clearance rates been in the 30s in Sydney: twitter.com/LouiChristopher/status/1053585757351231488 (they'll be revised down to ~38% once the full results come in) - Oct/Nov 2008 (GFC), May 2004 (NSW vendor stamp duty) and July 1989 when the cash rate hit 17%. Sydney buyers are responding with the same recluctance to buy as during the worst recession in our generation, the highest new purchase tax in our generation, and the highest interest rates in the boomers generation.
All these new buyers on IO only loans will rollover causing spending to reduce in the economy rba.gov.au/speeches/2018/images/sp-ag-2018-04-24-graph4.gif and investors being forced to sell as they cant afford the now 40% increase in repayments. They are new buyers and won't have made a profit, thousands of sellers making a loss, completely eroding whatevers left of positive sentiment.
