Duplexes could be key to solving housing crisis
Developing just a fraction of single-occupancy homes in Australian cities into duplexes would be enough to eliminate the nation's housing shortfall.
construction and property
Homebuyers at square one as price hikes eat rate cuts
A slowdown in the bellwether housing markets of Sydney and Melbourne suggests that sentiment is starting to sour as hopes of more interest rate cuts dissipate.
The ‘obvious and easy way’ to help boost housing supply
More than 80,000 sorely needed homes are unable to be built due to a lack of investment in power, roads and sewers, councils say.
construction and property
economy (general)
housing and urban planning
inflation and deflation
interest rate
politics
Dire housing affordability widening the wealth divide
An extraordinary rise in demand combined with constrained supply has created a boom in Australian home values and rents over the past five years.
Corrupt ex-CFMEU officials jailed for bribe ‘betrayal’
The CFMEU is welcoming jail sentences for an ex-state CFMEU secretary and his son after the pair received wads of cash in an "egregious" corruption scandal.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
politics
real estate
House prices surge as city-dwellers flee to the regions
Aspiring home buyers are fleeing to the regions as falling interest rates and limited supply drives city house prices to fresh record highs.
Police accused of signing secret agreement with CFMEU
A man whose report triggered a CFMEU inquiry claims the embattled union had a secret deal preventing police from intervening in industrial disputes.
CFMEU leaders adrift from ‘civilised society’
The author of a shocking report alleging a culture of violence and intimidation inside the CFMEU says the union thought it ran industrial relations policy.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
house building
labour
politics
renewable energy
transport
Worker shortages dampen surge in green energy, housing
As governments ramp up their housing and energy transition projects, the nation's infrastructure pipeline is coming up against a shortfall in workers.
Red tape ‘layers’ peeled back to build homes quicker
Drawn-out planning approvals are being sped up with a one-stop shop ticking off major projects, heightening environmentalists' concerns about fossil fuel plans.
Ex-union boss allegedly threatened admin via emails
Threatening and offensive emails allegedly sent by the former boss of the embattled construction union to its administrator have led to his arrest and charges.
Door closes on inner-city homes for young Australians
The dream of owning a freestanding house close to the city is fading, with data showing demand far outstripping supply.
central bank
construction and property
economy, business and finance
inflation and deflation
interest rate
money and monetary policy
The worrying trend that could put an end to rate cuts
The rising cost of new homes and services such as takeaway meals were key to the Reserve Bank's inflation miss in September and could rule out future rate cuts.
Solutions in short supply as housing market heats up
Slashing the amount needed for a first home deposit might be doing more harm than good for young Australians hoping to get a foothold on the property ladder.
auto trends
automotive equipment
construction and property
consumers
energy
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental politics
regulatory policy and organisation
road transport
transport
Construction code delays risk pulling the plug on EVs
New homes will not need to be ready to charge electric vehicles after a freeze on the construction code, which some say will stall progress.
Massive fine for home loan compliance failures
Defunct home lender RAMS has been fined $20 million by the Federal Court after admitting to widespread misconduct over a four-year period.
Construction ‘thugs’ on notice at powerful union probe
A stark warning has been issued to militant union officials, labelled "thugs" as a powerful probe into the construction sector gets under way.
Low rates, supply squeeze create home price rise mayhem
The great Australian dream of property ownership continues to resemble a nightmare for many buyers as prices surge and the supply of homes dwindles.
breaking_news
central bank
construction and property
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
interest rate
money and monetary policy
mortgages
Rate cut run may be over as inflation raises concerns
Hopes for more rate cuts are fading after the Reserve Bank of Australia took a hawkish turn as it held interest rates steady in a widely-expected move.
One in three homes in line for sunny value boost
Home buyers have seen the light and are now prepared to pay a little more for solar systems in the expectation of lower bills over time.
Property markets yet to twig to looming disaster losses
Hundreds of billions of dollars could disappear from property values due to climate change but it's taking time for the worsening threat to influence buyers.
NZ offers blueprint for home-building productivity fix
Australia should follow New Zealand in reforming zoning rules to boost limp construction productivity and expand housing supply, leading economists say.
Landlord jailed over fatal tenant attack after disputes
A landlord who lost his temper after long running disputes and attacked his tenant at an industrial complex has been jailed for manslaughter.
Worrying trend for bargain-hunting first home buyers
Abolishing "terrible" stamp duty would help arrest the loss of affordable homes, with lower-end properties growing in price faster than the rest of the market.
Home prices continue rising amid supply-demand mismatch
Home values have grown at the fastest rate in 15 months as the mismatch between supply and demand continues driving up prices.
Further rate cuts at risk as rent pushes up inflation
Future rate cuts may be less likely if renting and construction costs contributing to housing inflation continue to grow.
construction and property
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
interest rate
personal finance
real estate
Rates take back seat to affordability for home buyers
Interest rates might be weighing less on Australians' decision to buy or sell a property, with affordability now ranked as the leading influence.
Airbnb hosts say caps won’t shift them to rental market
Short-term rental hosts would be more likely to leave their properties empty than list them on the long-term rental market to aid supply, a survey shows.
Prefab house ferried to island by night wins top award
A house built in a factory and ferried to one of the nation's favourite holiday islands has won Australian House of the Year at the 2025 Houses Awards.
Year-long inquiry into CFMEU ‘thuggery’ begins
A prominent industrial relations lawyer has kicked off an inquiry into allegations of criminal links and workplace harassment in a construction union.
Slow start fears in race to build 2032 Olympic venues
The clock is ticking for the 2032 Olympics with a report claiming Brisbane Games projects may not be delivered on time by an ailing construction industry.