Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has just announced that it will no longer offer new loans to self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) that want to invest in property.
The AFR is reporting that Westpac will stop lending to SMSFs on 31 July 2018.
Although SMSFs are only a small part of the overall market, they have been credited with playing a part in today's highly-elevated property prices.
Westpac owns several lenders including RAMS, St. George Bank, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA. Together, the Westpac group of banks is the second largest lender in the country.
I have written many times over the years how an investment property is not a good idea in terms of risk. It means having an enormous amount of capital (and debt) tied up in one location and usually relying on just one tenant/family to keep the rental money coming in.
Some people saw value in owning their own commercial premises in their SMSF. That may have some benefits, but what will happen to the value of that property when its key tenant (the owner) leaves?
Many of the pillars that supported the housing market are now acting as drags:
- Falling interest rates are now rising again due to increasing rates in the US
- Foreign property buyers are a lot thinner on the ground with capital controls in China and several new rules & taxes implemented in Australia
- Lending standards were easier and now they have toughened up considerably
- Supply of dwellings was not adequate for demand in the last several years, but now there's heaps of apartments being finished and coming onto the market (at substantial discounts)
If the other big banks of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) follow Westpac with this move then there could be even more negativity for the housing market to come.
Foolish takeaway
It could be seen as an odd move to stop lending to a sizeable segment of the market, but Westpac will probably be thinking that it is removing some risk and also perhaps winning a few political brownie points.
It's currently trading with a grossed-up dividend yield of 9.1%. This is large but I think there is a danger of capital losses for investors at this stage in the cycle.
