All bets are off as racecourse housing plan runs race
A controversial proposal to transform Rosehill Gardens into a mega housing metropolis has been rejected by members of the Australian Turf Club.
housing and urban planning
Growing pains and gains as regional boom continues
The population of regional Australia is climbing towards 10 million, putting some towns under pressure as the escape to the country continues.
Interest rates are coming down. Here’s what homeowners should know about refinancing
Refinancing your home loan – whether by negotiating a better deal with your current lender or switching to a new one – could save you thousands over the life of your loan. However, it won’t be the right decision for everyone. And there are some important things to know about how the process works – including hidden costs and risks.
Regional house price growth outstrips capital cities
Two regional centres either side of a state capital recorded the highest dwelling value increases so far in 2025, as capital cities reverse a decline.
Eviction rules and pet rights change in rental shake-up
Significant changes have come into effect for millions of renters, with new rules on evictions and tenant rights regarding pet ownership now in place.
Search for signs of Trump trade slowdown as RBA meets
Uncertainty, both known and unknown, surrounding Donald Trump's tariffs and their economic impact could spur the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates on Tuesday.
Hopes AI can help provide lifeline for housing crisis
A government-backed lab hopes to provide solutions to ambitious housing targets and a cost-of-living crisis.
Mind the gap: $1 million homes driving up wealth divide
Home ownership rates continue to decline as more homes crack $1 million in value, making it harder for young Australians to keep up.
PM stares down political rivals after landslide victory
Labor will move to cut student debt as its first re-election priority with the prime minister claiming a mandate to press forward with housing reform.
Full-time workers hit by ‘worst ever’ housing crisis
Even workers in full-time jobs struggle to meet rental costs, charities say, while those with less income are going without essentials.
Households make room as renters share living costs pain
More struggling, noodle-eating students are moving in together as rents soar in cities and pledges to fix the housing crisis dominate the federal election.
Million-dollar homes here to stay in record five cities
The supply of homes is increasing but prices are still at record highs, with $1 million properties the norm facing buyers in a record five Australian cities.
Election hits final stretch as major sweeteners pledged
Australians wanting to buy their first home and taxpayers looking for cost of living reprieve have become the centrepiece of the major parties' pitches.
Greens pushing Labor to scrap property tax breaks
Federal Labor has ruled out changes to property tax handouts, but the Greens will try to force the party to act on the issue if there's a hung parliament.
Some student debtors to be allowed bigger home loans
Home values have surged as the multi-trillion dollar market continues to grow, with banks adjusting student debt calculations to help borrowers keep up.
Soaring rents slow down as tenants pushed to the brink
Rents remain at record highs in every capital city despite a slowdown in price growth, says a report that finds low supply leaves landlords with the upper hand.
Brick by brick, parties build election housing pitches
Tackling housing instability is key to securing an election win, with Labor vouching for build-to-rent while the coalition says Australians should own a home.
Treasurer joins chorus in hosing down rate cut hopes
"Almost nobody" is expecting an interest cut, the treasurer says as the Reserve Bank's new rate-setting board meets with an election campaign in full swing.
Home owners reap windfall as buyers warned on new units
Home sellers notched a record profit in last three months of 2024 but not every property owner will be so lucky in the future, real estate researchers warn.
Plans to help more into ‘disaster’ housing market
Aspiring homeowners could secure a cheaper mortgage and lower deposit by letting the government take a stake, but Peter Dutton questions whether they want to.
Rental reforms to help keep young staff in pricey homes
The difficulty of businesses finding young labour has been highlighted as tenant-empowering reforms are due to hit Australia's least-affordable housing market.
First homebuyers, renters centrepiece of housing pledge
First homebuyers and renters struggling to find a home are being offered some hope in a budget that bakes in $33 billion in measures to improve affordability.
Doubling housing supply incentive could help renters
Australia is expected to fall hundreds of thousands of homes short of its housing target but reforms could bring it back up to speed and help renters.
Post-pandemic property price roller-coaster to flatten
There are signs the housing market in normalising five years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent home values soaring across Australia.
Super housing scheme could shave years off home wait
Australians raiding their super balances for housing could boost home ownership but may result in a jump in prices, economists say.
‘Short window’ as property prices rebound on rate cut
Two capital cities are leading the housing market higher as buyers look to get ahead of a wave of demand as interest rates finally fall.
Record high house prices as rate cut buoys sentiment
House prices have rebounded to record highs after the Reserve Bank's rate cut boosted sentiment and improved Australians' borrowing power.
Underlying inflation up but good news on housing, rents
Fresh inflation figures should help convince the Reserve Bank to cut rates again in May, despite a slight uptick in underlying price growth, economists say.
Global uncertainty played a role in rate cut: RBA
Slowing inflation helped convince the Reserve Bank to cut rates at its last meeting but uncertainty over tariffs was also a factor, the deputy governor says.
Struggle Street residents last to benefit from rate cut
Rate relief has been delivered to Australian mortgage holders, yet the Reserve Bank governor says renters may have to wait a while longer to gain any benefit.
New homes and land banking off-limits to foreign buyers
Established homes will be off-limits and foreign owners will be forced to develop vacant land under new measures announced to improve housing supply.