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…
SQM Research released its latest data on residential property vacancy rates. Australia’s national residential vacancy rate fell to 1.2% in January 2026, down from 1.4% in December The total number of residential vacancies declined to 37,630 dwellings, reflecting a post-holiday tightening in rental conditions as seasonal listings were absorbed. The January result reverses much of…
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…
Warren Buffett reigns supreme as the greatest investor in history, with a personal fortune of around US$132 billion. Many years ago I learned that if you want to succeed in business or investing and get rich, it pays to study Buffett. And the great news is Buffett is happy to share his knowledge. Over the…
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…
If you are thinking about buying, selling, upgrading, or investing in property over the course of 2026, you are probably wondering what property prices will do this year. In this blog, I revisit the evidence-based factors that matter most: loan volumes, borrowing capacity, interest rate expectations, interstate migration, and where each capital city sits in its cycle. I also explain why…
Australian home values rose by 0.8% in January according to Cotality’s Home Value Index, a subtle acceleration from the 0.6% increase recorded in December. While every capital city and broad rest of state region recorded an increase in home values through the month, the start of the year returned a mixed result. Sydney and Melbourne…
Inflation has risen further above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2–3% target. There is now a very real prospect the Reserve Bank will feel it needs to increase interest rates at its meeting next week, with an announcement due on Tuesday afternoon. Inflation rose 3.8% in the year to December, up from 3.4% in the…
Confidence across Australia’s housing market remains strong entering 2026, but the mood is splitting along state lines as affordability and interest rate jitters reshape the landscape, new Cotality research shows. Findings from the Decoding 2026 report, based on responses from real estate agents and financial professionals across the property and finance sectors, show 87% of…
