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…
Capital city home prices have continued to rise over March despite another increase in official interest rates and growing uncertainty over the outlook for inflation and the global economy. The national capital city median house price increased by a solid 0.9% over the March quarter to $1,296,402 compared to the February quarter, according to the…
One of the most persistent myths in Australian housing is the idea that high and rising house prices are caused by “not building enough.” It gets repeated because it sounds simple, logical and convenient. But it’s wrong – and the data, including my own charts, shows why. Let’s start with scale, because this alone exposes…
New research from Cotality reveals a significant shift in attitudes toward property ownership among younger Australians, particularly young women, raising fresh questions about whether the traditional “Australian Dream” is slipping out of reach. Cotality’s 6th annual Women and Property Report shows that property ownership is considered less important by Australian women in both the Millennial…
Let’s be honest, the more things change, the more the same bad habits pop up. In 2026 the property market feels like a different beast compared to a few years ago, but beneath rising interest rates, rising prices, shifting borrowing rules and demographic-driven demand, the core traps remain familiar. I’ve spent decades watching investors trip…
Here’s a strange truth that trips up many well-intentioned investors… The more you try to control every aspect of your property portfolio, the less influence you actually end up having. Yes, I know—it sounds completely backwards. Most people believe the secret to building a successful portfolio is being hands-on. After all, if you want things…
If you have been looking at property price data from the past five years, be careful. This period has been shaped by a perfect storm of unique, one-off factors, and it does not necessarily reflect the long-term fundamentals that drive sustainable growth. My concern is that some investors may rely on this recent data and…
There’s more property data available to investors today than ever before, much of it free, and it can significantly improve investment decision making. Analysing how a property’s value has changed over time (i.e. its compound annual growth rate across multiple decades) and comparing it to comparable properties in close proximity, is an essential part of investment due diligence. However, it’s equally important not to become too data driven….
When it comes to real estate investing, there’s an old saying: “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” But for many first-time or naive investors, the allure of quick profits and shiny new developments often blinds them to the hidden traps lurking beneath the surface. One of the most insidious of…
The Senate committee reviewing the CGT discount released its final report yesterday. Commentators are now suggesting the government could reduce the CGT discount for property investors and potentially cap negative gearing to two or three properties. Let’s look at the impact a change to the CGT discount could have. Why is CGT under the microscope? The government…
