Investor mortgage growth well below peak levels
The transition in the mortgage market from investor-led to owner-occupier-led growth continued in February, although there was not much momentum in the trend.According to the latest Reserve Bank lending data, lenders' investor mortgage balances grew by 0.6 per cent in February, compared with the previous month.Over the 12 months to February growth in investor mortgage balances grew by 7.6 per cent - the lowest annual growth rate since January 2014 and well down from the peak of 11 per cent in May and June last year.Owner-occupier balances grew by 0.6 per cent in February, compared with the previous month. This was also the same monthly growth rate as January.The annual growth in owner-occupier balances was 7.1 per cent in February, compared with seven per cent in January and a low of 5.1 per cent between April and June last year.Overall, mortgage balances were up 0.5 per cent in February, compared with the previous month, and up 7.3 per cent over the 12 months to February.Business lending continues to pick up, with month-on-month growth of 0.7 per cent in February and 6.5 per cent over 12 monthsConsumer lending remains weak, with a month-on-month fall of 0.1 per cent in February and a fall of 0.3 per cent over 12 months.