Asked to grade Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third budget on his own criteria of delivering on “inflation in the near term and then growth in the medium term”, most of the 49 leading economists surveyed by the Economic Society of Australia and The Conversation have failed to give it top marks. On a grading scale of…
Young Australians who would have once been locked out of homeownership are increasingly relying on the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad to get a deposit or to guarantee a bank loan. The Bank of Mum and Dad has become so large as a home loan enabler that the Productivity Commission says if it was…
It’s now two years since the RBA first started to raise interest rates resulting in the biggest tightening cycle since the late 1980s. Rates have gone much higher and stayed high for much longer than I thought would be the case as Australian households proved more resilient than expected thanks to a combination of a…
People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall health and getting good sleep is imperative. However, if exercise in the evening may disrupt our sleep, or make us feel the need to be more sedentary to recover, a key question emerges –…
A whirlwind of change sweeps through Australia’s property investment market. According to a Statista study of August 2022, approximately a quarter of investors held two properties in their portfolios. Even more spectacular: nearly 15% held six or more. This certainly hints at a trend that is quite promising for investing in properties. However, if you…
Declining death rates among children have been one of humanity’s most important achievements. Across the world, countries have dramatically reduced child mortality. I think we should celebrate this extraordinary achievement, using it as encouragement to reduce child mortality further. But it can seem hard to celebrate something that is not happening. So, I wanted to turn things around. Rather than…
Nothing excites law students like the idea of a free house. Or alternatively, enrages them. It depends on their politics. As a result, academics condemned to teaching property law find it hard to resist the “doctrine of adverse possession”. The fact that a person can change the locks on someone else’s house, wait 12 years,…
A Coalition government would drastically slash migration as its main way of freeing up more than 100,000 homes over five years, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promised in his budget reply. A Dutton government would reduce Australia’s permanent migration program by a quarter – from 185,000 to 140,000 for the first two years “in recognition…
A fireplace is more than just a source of warmth; it’s a timeless feature that adds charm and character to any home. As we see a resurgence in fireplace trends, homeowners are increasingly looking to integrate these cosy elements into their living spaces. However, the key to maximising both the aesthetic and practical benefits of…
Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, some property investors may be asking themselves: “Is landlord insurance a luxury and an expense I should forgo?” SPOILER ALERT: The answer is “no”! The cost of living keeps rising and wages are barely keeping pace with inflation – wage growth was 4.2 per cent over 2023 while the CPI was…
