The federal government is exploring ways to unlock billions of dollars from Australia’s $4 trillion superannuation system to help boost rental housing supply. At first glance, this looks like a win-win solution: more capital flowing into the housing sector, more stock built, and a step toward easing the chronic rental shortage. But as is often…
A recent report has claimed that Australia is drifting towards becoming a “homeowners’ welfare state.” It’s a provocative headline, but is it really the full story? Yes, it’s true that tax settings and government policies have long favoured homeownership, but rather than seeing this as a handout, we should recognise it as a deliberate choice…
Australia’s rental market is seeing renewed strength as national vacancy rates reach a new record-low, according to Cotality’s latest Quarterly Rental Review. Cotality’s seasonally adjusted Rental Value Index saw national dwelling rents post a 1.4% rise in Q3, its largest three-month increase since June 2024, and a significant uptick from the 1.1% lift recorded in…
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…
Over the years, I’ve found that lending activity often reveals more about the direction of our property markets than price movements alone. And right now, the latest state-by-state mortgage lending report from Money.com.au reveals some fascinating insights. While Queensland continues to lead the charge with broad-based growth, Western Australia is showing signs of slowing after…
For decades, the biggest stumbling block for first-home buyers hasn’t been affording the mortgage; it’s been scraping together the deposit. In fact, many households faced the sobering reality of saving for close to a decade before they could even put their foot on the property ladder. But since October 1, a major expansion of the…
Governments love quick fixes, especially when it comes to housing. That’s why Victoria’s new “Airbnb tax” was hailed as a game-changer; a bold policy to push thousands of homes from short-term holiday lets back into the long-term rental market. However, here’s the uncomfortable truth: instead of freeing up housing, the levy has only added costs,…
National home prices rose 0.5% in September, extending the upswing to a ninth straight month and lifting values 6.2% higher than a year ago, according to PropTrack. PropTrack data shows that the housing market remains on a firm upward trajectory this spring selling season. National home prices rose 0.5% in September, extending the upswing to…
If you’ve noticed that “musty” smell lingering in homes or apartments this winter, you’re not imagining it. Mould is quietly becoming one of the biggest hidden risks to property and health in Australia, Airtasker data reported on realestate.com showed that Sydney and Darwin topped the tally sheet of the nation’s mouldiest cities, with 92.48 out…
Australian housing markets are gathering strength as we head further into spring, with September marking the strongest monthly gain for national dwelling values since October 2023. The Cotality Home Value Index (HVI) recorded a 0.8% increase in September, powered by robust growth conditions across the capital cities, where values rose 0.9% over the month. On…
