Prices have now fallen for 12 consecutive months since their peak last September

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Weaker house prices in Sydney and Melbourne have continued to drag down the national market, with a 0.5% drop in September marking 12 months of consistently falling prices.

Property consultant CoreLogic’s national hedonic home value index showed a broadening of the housing market correction, with national values down 2.7% since peaking 12 months ago, and regional markets also slowing.

House values were lower in five of the eight capital cities last month, but analysts said it was weakening conditions in Melbourne and Sydney, down 0.9% and 0.6% respectively for the month, that continue to weigh heaviest.

“While the housing market downturn is well entrenched across Darwin and Perth where dwelling values remain 22.1% and 13.2% lower relative to their 2014 peak ... Sydney and Melbourne are now the primary drag on the national housing market,” CoreLogic’s head of research, Tim Lawless, said.

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Sydney’s annual loss has tipped over 6% for the past 12 months, while Melbourne has dropped 3.4%.

“Not only are these among the largest annual falls across the capital cities, but considering [they] comprise approximately 60% of the national value of housing ... [they] have a substantial drag down effect,” Lawless said.

Perth and Darwin have lost 2.8% and 3.7% respectively for the year but prices in Hobart are going the other way – up 0.4% in September and 9.3% annually.

Prices in Canberra have also bounced, up 0.3% for September and 2% for the year.

Losses might not have been as severe in regional housing markets over the past year but the latest data shows a slowdown could be afoot.

The combined regional dwelling values were down 0.2% in September and 0.9% for the quarter, but posted an annual gain of 1.2%.