The Commonwealth Bank has pinpointed five reasons why house price bubble signs are not evident in Australia.

It listed the five factors that typically characterise a house price bubble.

It then gave their reasons why they are not evident in Australia.

1. Unsustainable asset prices, but the current situation is:Prices supported by the excess of demand over supply
   Australia’s population continues to grow at above average rates
   Supply-side responding – lift in construction underway
2. Speculative investment artificially inflates asset prices, but the current situation is:Investor interest is a rational response to low interest rates, rising risk appetite and the pursuit of yield.
3. Strong volume growth driven by relaxed lending standards, but the current situation is:Already stringent standards tightened through GFC
   Minimal “low doc” lending
   Mortgage insurance for higher LVR loans
   Full recourse lending
4. Interaction of high debt levels and interest rates, but the current situation is:A high proportion of borrowers ahead of required repayment levels
   Interest rate buffers built into loan serviceability tests at application
   Housing credit growth remains subdued – at the bottom end of the range of the past three decades.
5. Domestic economic shock – trigger for price correction, but the current situation is:Respectable Australian economic growth outcomes
   Relatively low unemployment, high quality lending, low arrears

Source Commonwealth Bank June 2014 results presentation