New home loans and lending to property investors fall at record pace in Australia

New lending to property investors in Australia fell at its fastest pace on record through the three months to September, The Guardian reported. This decline is attributed to landlords adjusting to higher taxes, falling property prices, and rising interest rates.

The Commonwealth Bank, Australia's largest lender, reported that the share of its customers struggling to repay their mortgages has climbed to a 12-year high, according to The Guardian. This suggests growing financial pressure on borrowers amid the changing market conditions.

In addition, new Australian home loan commitments have recorded their largest quarterly fall since records began, theadviser.com.au reported. This indicates a significant slowdown in the housing loan market overall.

The combined data from these sources highlight a challenging environment for both property investors and homebuyers in Australia, with tightening lending conditions and increased repayment difficulties.

What we're watching is how these trends will impact the broader Australian housing market and whether policy responses will be introduced to address the rising mortgage stress and declining lending activity.