Just when we thought we’d seen it all in Australia’s rental crisis—skyrocketing rents, chronic undersupply, and fierce competition for even the most modest of properties- a new phenomenon is emerging that reflects just how desperate tenants have become. It’s called pet bidding. Yes, really. We’ve long been talking about rent bidding, where would-be tenants offer…
When it comes to most aspects of life, $1 million goes a long way. Whether it’s a lifetime of family groceries1, 75 years’ worth of household transport costs2, or smashed avocado for breakfast every day, for over 100 years3. For housing, however, $1 million is increasingly standard. In August last year, the median house value…
How long does it take for the price of a well located property to double? Do property values really every 10 years? And what can we expect to happen to the value of the property over the next decade? Let me start by saying that the idea that property values double every 7 to 10…
In recent weeks, a quiet shift has been happening behind the scenes in our financial system. While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) continues to hold the official cash rate steady at 4.35% – at least in the short term- a number of lenders, including five more just this past week, have been trimming their…
If you’re confused about cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as an investment, you’re not alone. What you’re about to read is a property expert’s take on crypto, so I’m not sure if it’s worth more than your hairdresser’s take on physical fitness. I don’t profess to be an expert, but let me give you some…
Interest rates are falling, confidence is rising, and property prices are stabilising. This could actually be one of the best times in years to get into the property market. According to NAB’s latest Residential Property Survey, Australia’s housing market has turned a significant corner. After a challenging year of interest rate uncertainty and affordability headwinds,…
You’ve probably noticed the headlines predicting doom and gloom — again. Recession whispers are growing louder, with interest rate falls, global uncertainty, and consumer stress dominating the news. But are we really headed for a recession here in Australia? According to Shane Oliver, Chief Economist at AMP, the answer is a reassuring no. And I…
Have you ever stopped to think how far Australia has come in the past 60 years? In 1966, we were a nation of 11 million, fresh off switching from pounds, shillings, and pence to dollars and cents. That transition was more than monetary. It symbolised our shift from being a British outpost to finding our…
National rents rose 1.7% over the March quarter, up from 0.4% in the December quarter, according to CoreLogic’s latest Quarterly Rental Review. However, this uptick is largely seasonal, with the 1.7% rise in rents over the three months to March marking the slowest Q1 growth since 2019 (1.0%) and is a full percentage point below…
As the election campaign rolls on, housing has been, unsurprisingly, a major campaign focus. We’ve seen a series of housing policy announcements from across the political spectrum, including duelling announcements from the major parties in recent days. Labor will expand access to their Help to Buy and Home Guarantee schemes by either raising or removing…
