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…
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…
Australia has won the geographic lottery. Few nations have been blessed with such an extraordinary combination of advantages. We have abundant natural resources, vast agricultural capacity, world-class cities, strong institutions, proximity to Asia’s growing economies, and a stable political system that continues to attract global capital. For decades these advantages have generated enormous wealth. We’ve ridden…
Playing monopoly was a tradition in our family for a long time. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t come out as often these days – I guess I don’t play board games much anymore. In the good old days, I played Monopoly with my parents when I was young, with my children when they were young, and…
Every now and then in life, we find ourselves nodding along, agreeing with decisions, following plans, or chasing goals that – if we’re brutally honest – we don’t actually want. Not because we’re weak. Not because we’re confused. But because we assume everyone else wants it. That’s the Abilene Paradox in action – a strange…
If a picture paints a thousand words, then this collection of charts should do a pretty good job of painting the landscape as it affects our economy and our property markets. Each month the RBA summarises macroeconomic and financial market trends in Australia by providing a detailed chart pack. World Economy Australia’s economy doesn’t operate in…
There is more conflicting information about property right now than at almost any point I can remember. Turn on the news and you will find someone warning that prices are about to fall. Scroll a little further and you will find someone else forecasting another year of growth. Somewhere in the middle of all that…
