Australia has never had a death tax. We’ve long prided ourselves on that, and many Australians have structured their estates carefully, knowing their wealth could pass to the next generation without the government taking a cut simply because they died. But buried in Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ 2026-27 Budget are changes that estate planning lawyers and…
Well, the RBA has now spoken, and for the first time this year borrowers received a little breathing space. At its June meeting, the Reserve Bank kept the cash rate on hold at 4.35%, following three rate rises earlier this year. That decision was widely expected, but it was not exactly a green light for…
Australia remains one of the most prosperous nations in the world. We enjoy a stable political system, abundant natural resources, a relatively strong labour market and living standards many countries would envy. Yet beneath the surface, something important is shifting. The latest findings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ General Social Survey reveal a growing…
When it comes to happiness, some things will make people happier than others. The same is true for success, which is unique to every individual. Some people will define success through business acumen and achievement, while others search for satisfying relationships on their path to a successful life. Likewise, happiness can be derived from a…
There is no doubt that our housing markets are facing challenges from all directions, but clearly, they have remained resilient. To better understand what’s happening, this monthly collection of charts from Cotality paints an interesting picture. Aspiring buyers looking to secure a median house in Brisbane must earn over $17,000 more in annual household income in…
Something unusual is happening in Victoria’s rental market, and it has no historical precedent in over two decades of recorded data. For the first time since the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority began tracking bond lodgements, more rental bonds are being refunded than lodged. Put simply, rental properties are leaving the market faster than they’re entering…
Have you ever stopped to wonder if there was a better time to be alive than right now? It’s a fascinating thought experiment. Every era has had its golden moments and its dark chapters, and depending on when and where you were born, your experience of the world could be vastly different. Today, many people…
Every now and then, life hands us a reminder disguised as something ordinary. A friend recently told me a story about a hiking guide who would start every trek the same way. Before anyone took a single step up the mountain, he’d ask the group to place their backpacks on the ground. Then he’d say,…
There’s a saying in property circles that you make your money on a piece of real estate when you buy it. The gist of this is, that if you can negotiate really well and buy the property at the right time in the cycle, you’ll instantly manufacture some profits. This myth has caused people to…
Capital city auction markets were lower overall over the past week, with listings and clearance rates falling and now tracking year-to-date lows in most capitals. Weekly Auction Results to Saturday, June 20th 2026 Capital City This Week Last Week Same Week Last Year Auctions Rate Auctions Rate Auctions Rate Sydney 865 58.0% 1033 62.0% 725…
