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Over the last 25 years, home prices across a number of major economies have risen faster than local income or inflation levels. Real home prices across these nations are up an average of 25% compared to 1990. In addition, home price-to-rent ratios are also far higher than their long-term averages.[i]
While under-building and population growth can explain some of the home price appreciation, this is unlikely to be the only explanation because house prices have risen faster than rents or incomes.
We observe very low real mortgage rates and buying activity based on consumer expectations for additional price increases – both consistent with conditions that signaled housing bubbles in the past.
Global price growth
The fastest real home price growth has taken place in Norway (150% increase from 1990 price levels), Sweden (120% increase) and Australia (120% increase).
Some of the world’s largest economies have seen limited home price growth, with range of +30% to -30% depending on local factors:
- US: 34% real home price increase from 1990
- Germany: 7% increase
- Japan: 33% decline
The US housing market peaked in 2006 with real prices 57% above the 1990 level and prices vs. rents and incomes were 20-30% above long-term trends. US housing appeared less over-valued than select countries discussed above, but a deep recession and a contraction in mortgage credit still drove US national home prices down 25-30% between 2006 and 2011.
Canada (up 70% since 1990) has seen slightly less of an increase than Norway or Australia, the other two countries that benefited economically from rise in commodity prices from 2000-2014. I believe a commodity price decline could serve as catalyst for house price declines in several of these countries. As an early indication, latest year-over-year house prices in Norway were up 4.6%, but prices in Stavanger, the center of Norway’s oil-producing region, were down 8.1%.[ii]
The UK (up 90% from 1990) is still rising due in part to foreign investment in London property, while France (up 80%) began declining in 2012.
Spain is an example of a country that had an unsustainable increase followed by a correction. Spanish real house prices peaked in 2007 with a 110% increase from 1990 level but then declined by 40%. Currently, they are only 30% above 1990 level.
Price-to-rent and price-to-income ratios
Comparing each country’s price-to-rent and price-to-income ratios to that country’s long-term (1980-present) average, certain countries are currently far above:
- Australia, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden are 30-60% above each country’s long-term average
- UK, France and Finland are 25-30% above long-term averages
Watching for a correction
The response of central banks and other policymakers to potential over-valuation in housing is a key variable that makes timing and size of corrections difficult to estimate. Policymakers, including financial supervisors, in several countries have expressed concern about housing overvaluation and have attempted to address this through macro-prudential measures including reducing loan-to-value or the debt-to-income at which banks are able to lend.
At the same time, central banks have kept rates very low (at zero or below in nominal terms in some of these countries, and severely negative in real terms) due to overall economic weakness or to influence the currency flows. These negative real rates have supported a housing boom. It is difficult to know what level of over-valuation can be supported by zero rates and for how long. We estimate that once rates stop declining, lack of affordability can drive prices down without actual rate rises, but we are clearly in unchartered territory.
These levels of above-trend prices and large price increases in real terms are similar to where we saw Netherlands, Denmark and Spain peaking in 2007-2009. Very soon after, the housing markets in these countries began +20% home price corrections. 
[i] OECD Economic Outlook, December 2, 2015; Annex Table 60 and 61. Note that the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) compiles house prices based on national agencies
[ii] YOY house prices through Q4’15. https://www.ssb.no/en/priser-og-prisindekser/statistikker/bpi
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This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Any opinions or forecasts contained herein reflect the subjective judgments and assumptions of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. This information is subject to change at any time without notice.
Market conditions are extremely fluid and change frequently.
This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Any opinions or forecasts contained herein reflect the
subjective judgments and assumptions of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. Information, including
that obtained from outside sources, is believed to be correct, but Loomis Sayles cannot guarantee its accuracy. This material cannot be copied, reproduced or
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