The trend estimate for the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions rose 0.4%. Investment housing commitments rose 0.7% and owner occupied housing commitments rose 0.2%.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions fell 2.7%.

In trend terms, the number of commitments for owner occupied housing finance rose 0.3% in February 2017.

In trend terms, the number of commitments for the purchase of established dwellings rose 0.4%, while the number of commitments for the construction of dwellings fell 0.1% and the number of commitments for the purchase of new dwellings was flat.

In original terms, the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments fell to 13.3% in February 2017 from 13.4% in January 2017. The number of first home buyer commitments rose by 7.5% to 6,596 in February from 6,136 in January; the number of non-first home buyer commitments also rose.