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The effects of macroprudential policy restricting housing investor credit supply

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  • Gillitzer, Christian
  • Prasad, Nalini

Abstract

We study the effects on the housing market of two macroprudential policies in Australia restricting credit supply to residential housing investors. The first policy placed a bank-level cap on mortgage credit growth to investors. The second policy placed a bank-level cap on interest-only lending, which is predominantly used by investors. Both policies caused a large and sharp reduction in new investor lending relative to new owner-occupier lending. Using unit-record data on property sales and listings, we show that the restrictions on investor lending reduced the share of properties purchased by investors and reduced the relative price of properties in investor segments of the market. Our results demonstrate the potential efficacy of macroprudential policy restricting credit supply to investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillitzer, Christian & Prasad, Nalini, 2025. "The effects of macroprudential policy restricting housing investor credit supply," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juecon:v:149:y:2025:i:c:s0094119025000506
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2025.103785
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand

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