COCKBURN’S housing market is in oversupply and prices may suffer.

Hayden Groves, new president of WA’s real estate industry peak body REIWA, told the Herald the oversupply was a result of delays between demand and development in the blockbuster southern suburbs.

REIWA’s website shows 46 per cent more houses are on the market in Fremantle and Cockburn compared to October last year, while sales are down four per cent.

Mr Groves says the waning mining boom has resulted in fewer people moving to WA than developers predicted.

“In 2012, Perth’s population growth peaked at 3.5 per cent, compared to 1.4 per cent that it is today,” the Fremantle-based agent says.

The glut appears to be affecting housing across all price ranges.

“The other thing affecting it is that almost two years ago, the City of Cockburn changed the town planning codes to encourage higher density living in established areas, so that an area which was zoned at 20 is now zoned at 40,” Mr Groves says.

That encouraged a rush of development, particularly with the opening of of vacant land in estates such as Eliza Ponds, the old Watsonia site across the road, Munster, and plenty of semi-rural land around what is now Cockburn Central. The releases kept prices affordable, drawing in the buyers.

Mr Groves notes that while prices are holding for now, they may not last.

The number of houses for sale in the area is now eight per cent more than Perth’s average.

He says neighbouring South Fremantle is a different story, being “really hot … with a high property turnover”.

Its continuing demand stems from buyers’ desire for a beachside lifestyle without a Cottesloe price tag.

Hilton and East Freo are also doing well, though the top end the market has slowed.

The median rent in Fremantle/Cockburn is $30 per week less than in September 2014, which is good news for