08/10/2026
Building approvals might not seem particularly relevant when you’re searching for a home. They don’t tell you what your next property will cost or how much you can borrow.
But they can tell you something about the market you could be buying into.
Take the latest results, for instance. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the total number of dwellings approved for construction nationally in August was 16,953 – 6.1% less than in July.
So why should you care?
A building approval is permission for construction to begin, so approval numbers can provide an early indication of how much new housing may be coming through the pipeline.
When you look at that alongside other data like population growth and migration, you can start to see how balanced the market is. Approvals keeping up with the number of people requiring homes will likely mean less competition for housing and therefore, less upward pressure on property prices.
Of course, approvals are just that – approvals. They are not completed homes, and a dwelling still has some way to go before it is adding to supply. But keeping track of the pipeline can help buyers understand where future housing supply may be tight or more readily available and factor that into their property research.
Planning a purchase? Loanscope can help you understand the finance side of the equation. Visit loanscope.com.au or call 03 9988 1818.