Soaring rents push people further from jobs, community
Australian renters are paying on average an extra $204 per week to keep a roof over their heads compared to five years ago, a nearly 44 per cent increase.
housing and urban planning
Renters surprise winners from cheaper mortgage deposits
Despite predictions a five per cent deposit scheme will drive up house prices, analysts say the government policy could be good news for the nation's renters.
‘Decades of neglect’: ‘dire’ state housing picture
Two years on from the inception of a target to build 800,000 homes in a decade, data illustrates the "dire" housing picture continuing to confront one state.
Life-changing or dark day: jury out on deposit scheme
An expanded government scheme to help first-home buyers clear the deposit hurdle could pour more fuel on the red-hot property market, housing experts warn.
Australia’s luck running out despite budget bright spot
Australia's budget deficit for last financial year ended up being narrower than expected but younger workers will still be on the hook for a decade of red ink.
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.
Approvals turbocharged in bid to tackle housing crisis
Longstanding, complicated planning processes will be swept aside in an effort to build more homes faster in a state that's fighting to keep young families.
Developer’s stark warning after critical stadium report
A day after a report recommended a divisive AFL stadium not go ahead, the project's developer has fired back with a warning over already rising costs.
Complex puzzle: concessions needed for climate target
Steps to boost renewables might have an impact on local environments, experts say, but a trade-off is needed in efforts to slash emissions.
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.
Home scheme extension set to open more doors
Lifting the caps in an expanded government home-buying scheme will open the door for more first-time buyers, but it also risks fast-tracking price rises.
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.
Tree-change trend slows but regions remain attractive
The rate of migration from capital cities to regional centres continues to outpace moves in the other direction despite slowing towards pre-pandemic levels.
Pause on new regulations to fast track building homes
A pause in new regulations on construction standards will aim to have homes built faster under changes stemming from the productivity roundtable.
Housing bubble warning as deposit scheme fast-tracked
House prices could surge and mortgage defaults rise when a government scheme to help first home buyers begins ahead of schedule, experts warn.
Fast or gradual: RBA debate shapes rates outlook
A debate inside the Reserve Bank board over the tightness of Australia's labour market could determine how quickly it moves to cut interest rates.
Cutting ‘nightmarish’ red tape may awaken productivity
Fixing Australia's regulations could help businesses and shoppers save and reinvigorate Australia's languishing productivity base.
Real wages boost for workers, but costs might worry RBA
Strong annual growth in wages will be noted by the Reserve Bank as it collates data leading up to its next decision on whether to cut interest rates.
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.
Fast approvals only add to housing construction logjam
Hastening development approvals without increasing building capacity will only add to the bottleneck in housing construction, researchers warn.
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.
Mortgage holders ready for relief after past rates blow
The Reserve Bank of Australia board is expected to deliver mortgage holders more hip-pocket relief in its upcoming interest rates decision.
Red tape slashed to fast-track building new homes
In a bid to meet it's target of building 800,000 homes over the next decade, a state government has announced new housing laws designed to speed up approvals.
Hopes RBA won’t repeat shock rates hold as board meets
The "Trumpification" of the US Federal Reserve provides an unsettling backdrop to the Reserve Bank's August meeting, where it is expected to cut interest rates.
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.
‘Not right’: Australia urged to wind back tax breaks
Reforms to Australia's tax system have been politically risky, but without urgent action, home ownership could be out of reach for the nation's workers.
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.
House price growth spurt shows no signs of easing
Further interest rate cuts on the horizon have stirred the nation's housing market with prices rising for a sixth straight month alongside demand.
House prices break records as rent unaffordably high
Property prices have soared to record highs in most capital cities, prompting buyers to shift expectations amid increasing high rental prices.
Dollar dazzler designs no silver bullet for housing woe
Political leaders hope a sluggish planning system can be jump-started with cheap, pre-approved architectural designs to entice developers to break ground.