The total number of home loans in Australia was up a seasonally adjusted 1.5 percent on month in February, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Monday - standing at 56,924.
That was shy of forecasts for a gain of 2.0 percent following the 3.9 percent contraction in January.
The number of loans issued for the construction of new dwellings fell 1.9 percent to 5,729, while the purchase of new dwellings tumbled 15.4 percent to 2,577 and the purchase of established dwellings added 3.0 percent to 48,256.
The value of loans was up 2.6 percent to A$32.807 billion, while investment lending advanced 4.1 percent to A$11.902 billion.
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