The analysts at CoreLogic RP Data have provided a degree of validation for the new lending standards brought into play by APRA, starting from late 2014. According to CoreLogic RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher, what has become evident since the introduction of these standards is the difficulty and additional costs faced by investors over borrowing. CoreLogic reported a noticeable slowdown in lending to investors over recent months. In fact, after the value of lending to investors peaked at $14.1 billion in April 2015 it has fallen by  -13 per cent to $12.3 billion in September 2015.Kusher added that restrictions placed on finance for investment have resulted in a sharp fall in investor-related housing demand.Late last year, APRA wrote to Australian Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions to detail what they saw as sound lending practices.  Individual liaison followed with the ADIs which, according to APRA, were "somewhat weaker than had originally been thought."Kusher also identified other factors at play: higher mortgage rates, low rental yields and a maturing housing cycle as key contributors to the slowdown in investment activity."The reclassification of investor loans to owner occupier loans is muddying the clarity of the housing finance data," he said."The value of lending to investors is now lower than the value of lending to owner occupiers for new loans. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has noted that over recent months many ADIs have been reclassifying some loans as owner occupier loans. Kusher said, "There is still some further slowing in lending within the investor space which needs to occur."