Focus on House Prices in OECD Countries
Date Published |
6/25/2013 |
Author |
Marja Hoek-Smit |
Theme |
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Country |
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According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), house prices differ widely across OECD countries, both with respect to
recent changes and to valuation levels. The change in the real price
compared to a year earlier is used to tell whether prices are rising or
falling. For valuation, if the price-to-rent ratio (a measure of the
profitability of owning a house) and the price-to-income ratio (a
measure of affordability) are above their long-term averages, house
prices are said to be overvalued, and vice-versa.
House Prices Data (Excel)
Using these indicators, OECD countries can be roughly placed into five categories:
- Where houses appear broadly correctly valued. This category includes
the Unites States, where prices have started rising again after a
substantial correction; Italy, where prices are falling rapidly;
Austria, where prices are rising; and Iceland, Korea and Luxembourg
where prices are roughly flat.
- Where houses appear undervalued and prices are still falling. This
category includes European countries hit hard by the crisis – Greece,
Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – but also
Japan.
- Where houses appear undervalued but prices are rising. This category
includes only Germany and Switzerland, two European countries where
strong growth in household disposable income and favourable financing
conditions have boosted prices (despite macro-prudential measures in
Switzerland).
- Where houses appear overvalued but prices are falling. This category
is the largest as it includes many European countries where the
post-crisis housing market correction is still ongoing, most notably
Spain, but also the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the
Netherlands and one non-European country, Australia. While price
corrections in these countries are necessary, they are also concerning
as they weaken households’ financial health and potentially fragilize
banking sectors.
- Where houses appear overvalued but prices are still rising. This is
the case in Canada, Norway, New Zealand and, to a lesser extent, Sweden.
Economies in this category are most vulnerable to the risk of a price
correction – especially if borrowing costs were to rise or income growth
were to slow.
OECD Link: Click Here
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