Depending on who you believe, Australian dwelling values rose by just under 9 % last year. That made 2025 the strongest annual result since 2021, helped along by modest interest rate cuts and the Federal Government’s expanded first home buyer schemes in the second half of the year. As always, the averages hid a wide…
It’s always fascinating to look forward a decade and imagine what Australia’s property markets might look like. Of course, we can’t predict the future with precision, but we can look at the big demographic, social and economic trends already in motion today. And when you connect the dots — population growth, the passing of wealth…
Many people struggle with working out how to invest their money. Do they upgrade their home, contribute more to super, buy an investment property, invest in the share market, or something else? In fact, this common challenge was the reason that I decided to write my book, Investopoly. I knew that if people understood the…
There is a dangerous assumption circulating among investors right now – the belief that 2026 will simply be a repeat of 2025, just with lower interest rates. They couldn’t be more wrong, meaning that if you’re relying on the same strategy that worked for you in 2025, you’re in for a rude shock—the ‘easy money’…
What really drives property prices in Australia? Ask 10 people and you’ll get 12 opinions, most shaped by headlines, hip-pocket pressure, or political spin. But property markets don’t run on noise. They’re powered by a complex web of economic levers, social trends, and psychological triggers. We are now at the beginning of a new year…
While the rest of Melbourne’s property market is in the first stages of recovery and growth, the Melbourne CBD unit market continues to struggle. The Melbourne CBD unit market is the second largest in Australia, with over 28,000 units, but it’s also in trouble, with prices falling by 10% over the last five years. There’s…
Australia’s middle-ring suburbs are undergoing a significant transformation, driven by a combination of state-led rezoning initiatives, the introduction of medium- and high-density developments, and a strategic shift towards creating “20-minute neighbourhoods.” This evolution presents both opportunities and challenges for existing homeowners and investors. Embracing the ‘missing middle’ in urban planning The term “missing middle” refers…
The Australian Financial Review ran a piece by Lucy Dean that should make anyone interested in housing policy pause for thought. According to data released by Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, 5,778 people bought homes in October using the federal government’s expanded 5% deposit scheme -roughly one in ten of all home sales that month. On paper,…
We’re well into a new year, and our property markets have come through the roller coaster of the first half of this decade with flying colours. Of course, each year brings its own set of wins, challenges, and lessons. Looking back at last year, 2025 was certainly no exception. So it’s a good time to…
One of the main drivers of housing demand has the power to radically alter housing prices and rents, yet like an elephant in the room, it’s being ignored by most analysts and researchers. The elephant is the movement of people from one State or Territory to another, which is called interstate migration. The biggest changes…
