the highest level since 2013 , while the bank ’ s “ time to buy a dwelling ” index hit similar highs . Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said that “ without doubt this survey is signalling a strong resurgence in the housing market ”. The bank ’ s monthly consumer confidence gauge pushed 2.5 per cent higher to 107.7 points in November — the highest since 2013 .
In 2019 , roughly one million Australians were living and working abroad . Right now international travel remains banned and there ’ s been a decision to cap arrival numbers too . But this year thousands of Australian professionals have returned home , either permanently or temporarily , amid the backdrop of COVID-19 . One in five of Australia ’ s highly skilled expat community has come home in 2020 , according to findings of a survey by Advance , a platform that connects Australians around the world .
According to the federal government there are more than 29,000 Australians currently registered with DFAT wishing to return to home . So far 398,000 Australians have returned since 13 March . We know these returning expats continue to fuel demand for Australian sales and rental properties too .
Looking at our own data we have seen a similar trend with expats searching online in record numbers . Our online data shows us that we have seen a huge jump in people who are overseas looking for property across our network of office websites in October . In fact there was a 20 per cent spike in overseas users searching for property . To break it down , the highest demand is from across the Tasman Sea with a 39 per cent surge in people searching for Australian property from New Zealand compared to last October . There was a 44.25 per cent rise in UK-based buyers , a 24 per cent jump from buyers in Hong Kong , 35 per cent jump from buyers in Germany and a whopping 97 per cent surge in people in Finland looking at a Ray White listing in October , compared to the year before . At home , there was a 43 per cent increase in Australians looking at property on our network in October .
The pair said they ’ d seen a surge in expats moving home . Many were facing the issue where their own home was tenanted and they couldn ’ t find a house to rent themselves . Stock volume is still light and even lower in the inner city which is fuelling demand .
The happy buyer said all of her expat friends had since moved back home too . “ I love my new home , it feels very safe and almost like your own oasis ,” she said after the auction .
Looking at our results for the past month , the number of new listings are down three per cent on last year . While the number of sales continues to surge forward in comparison to this time last year being 4,787 , up 12 per cent . The disparity between the number of new listings coming to the market and the depth of the buyer pool remains in favour of the seller .
Ray White Now is produced in conjunction with real-time data from our 727 offices across Australia . Last month Ray White completed $ 5.7 billion in sales , made up of 6,500 property transactions across our network . We currently manage a portfolio of 200,000 properties for our landlords through our property management division . We have local area experts across the country and we welcome your enquiry to assist with your real estate needs .
In Sydney last weekend , an expat fashion designer who had been living in New York for four years bought this stunning Surry Hills terrace at 18 Griffith St for $ 2.410 million . Ray White Taylor and Partners agents Annie Hodgson and Walter Burfitt-Williams signed up nine registered bidders for the property , including two locals who literally lived 50m away .
Expat fashion designer , pictured here with her parents , after winning the auction in Surry Hills .
5