Prices are up again. Headlines scream “new record highs.” Homeowners quietly smile. Renters quietly seethe. And somewhere in the background, a much bigger question gets ignored: As a nation, how expensive do we actually want housing to be? This is the uncomfortable conundrum that leading demographer Simon Kuestenmacher, my co-host of the Demographics Decoded podcast,…
“Am I doing OK financially?” It’s the question so many Australians quietly ask themselves. But few dare to say out loud. Whether you’re just starting out, deep in your wealth-building years, or nearing retirement, it’s natural to wonder: “How do I stack up?” Well, let’s find out. Drawing on fresh data from the ABS, ATO,…
Most investors are watching the wrong scoreboard. They’re fixated on the headline numbers: total population growth, migration caps, whether Australia hits 40 million by mid-century. Those figures make good media copy. But property markets aren’t driven by how many people we have. They’re driven by who those people are, what stage of life they’re in,…
Most people wait until they feel confident before they act. That’s usually a mistake. In fact, the people who achieve the most rarely wait for permission, proof, or perfect conditions. They move first. They believe first. And the confidence often comes after the action. There’s a name for this mindset, and once you understand it,…
The numbers look seductive. Higher yields. Longer leases. Tenants who pay the outgoings. So it’s no surprise many residential investors start wondering whether commercial property is the “next logical step” in their investing journey. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: commercial property is not just residential property on a bigger scale. It’s a fundamentally different asset…
Forget investing in the share market, bonds, or even gold. And definitely avoid crypto! Whether it’s planning for retirement, simply building your wealth, or planning to leave a legacy for future generations, here are 9 reasons why the residential property market is the best place to invest your money. 1. You have “control” over your…
Australia is changing. Our population is growing, our economy depends on migration, and our cities are expanding, whether we like it or not. But how will our suburbs actually change? Will we continue to sprawl outwards, creating ever-larger commuter belts, or will we finally start building smarter, more efficient cities? Let’s take a deep dive…
Most Australians think retirement is a fairly linear process. You work hard for 30 or 40 years, pay off your home, build a solid nest egg… and then, when the time comes, you ease into retirement and carefully draw down your savings so you don’t run out. It sounds logical, even sensible. But the more…
National home prices increased in March to a new high, with Cotality’s national home value index rising by 0.7%, taking dwelling values 2.1% higher over the first quarter of the year. Perth surged 7.3% over the quarter, while Melbourne values are down -0.9% from the November high and the Sydney market is down -0.4%. Every…
Let’s be honest – if Australian politicians really wanted housing to be affordable, it would be by now. They’ve had decades to fix it. There have been inquiries, commissions, roundtables, and countless election promises. Billions have been thrown at “affordability schemes.” And yet, what do we have to show for it? Record-high property prices, with…
