Australian renters are spending a record share of their gross median household income on housing costs, as a chronic shortage of rental stock drives rents higher across the country. Cotality’s Rental Review Q1 2026 shows national dwelling rents increased 2.1% over the three months to March, up from a 1.2% increase in Q4 2025, indicating…
SQM Research released its latest data on residential rental property vacancy rates. Australia’s national residential vacancy rate fell to 1.0% in March 2026, down from 1.1% in February. The total number of residential vacancies declined to 31,732 dwellings, marking a continued tightening in rental market conditions nationwide. The March result indicates that strong tenant demand…
One thing I’ve noticed speaking with many property investors is… While on the one hand, a small group has done very well over the last few years, initially spurred on by the recent once-in-a-generation property boom in 2020 – 21 and then by the strong housing markets of 2023-25 and this was despite the property…
“Am I doing OK financially?” It’s the question so many Australians quietly ask themselves. But few dare to say out loud. Whether you’re just starting out, deep in your wealth-building years, or nearing retirement, it’s natural to wonder: “How do I stack up?” Well, let’s find out. Drawing on fresh data from the ABS, ATO,…
SQM Research’s Weekly Asking Prices Index for the week ending 30 March 2026 showed mixed short-term movements, though annual growth remains strong. Nationally, asking prices eased slightly over the month, with houses down 0.5%, units up 0.3%, and combined dwellings falling 0.4%, while still 12.0% higher year-on-year. Sydney (-0.8%) and Melbourne (-0.1%) recorded slight monthly…
National home prices increased in March to a new high, with Cotality’s national home value index rising by 0.7%, taking dwelling values 2.1% higher over the first quarter of the year. Perth surged 7.3% over the quarter, while Melbourne values are down -0.9% from the November high and the Sydney market is down -0.4%. Every…
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…
Australian housing resale profits strengthened in the December quarter, with the share of properties selling at a gain rising to its highest level in more than two decades. Of the 102,000 resales analysed in Cotality’s Pain & Gain report, 95.9% recorded a profit, up slightly from 95.6% in the previous quarter and the strongest result…
Australia’s housing loan market is facing potential headwinds, particularly in the investor segment, amid speculation around changes to the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) discount for investors and a cap on negative gearing. Despite that, according to Money.com.au’s latest State-by-State Mortgage Insights Report, home lending growth is forecast to hit 7% in 2026 (to 594,279 loans),…
