‘Year of the unit’: cost squeeze drives homebuyer shift
Rising unaffordability and changing lifestyles are driving an unusual turnaround in real estate dynamics as unit prices grow faster than houses in some areas.
housing and urban planning
Apprentice incentive not enough to meet housing targets
Despite the Albanese government's well-meaning rhetoric, its policies and results reveal a failure to fix housing affordability, a housing expert says.
Home construction rises but target remains out of reach
High costs, labour shortages and low productivity are limiting the sector's ability to build new homes as construction activity remains below required levels.
Greens housing crusade fails to sway most tenant voters
Renters are more likely to support Labor or Liberal than the Greens despite the minor party running hard on issues faced by tenants, fresh polling shows.
‘Who knows’: warning before $2m home slid down cliff
A clifftop home destroyed by a landslide that hospitalised a man was the site of another slip less than two weeks earlier, which left council workers on alert.
Australia has ‘well and truly passed’ rental boom peak
Affordability pressures and rising vacancy rates are keeping a lid on rental growth after years of surging prices.
Bank of mum and dad could run dry for retirement
Affordability constraints have many turning to the bank of mum and dad but parents have been urged to consider their finances carefully before lending.
Downturn in house values as ‘something’s got to give’
Australia's two most populous cities have signalled the beginning of a property downturn amid widening gaps between income, borrowing capacity and home values.
Home building to pick up in 2025, but only modestly
Housing construction is expected to ramp up this year but labour shortages, builder insolvencies and higher global inflation pose headwinds.
Weak start, stronger finish tipped for property in 2025
Australia's property market is entering 2025 in a downturn and while interest rate cuts should boost demand, any home price growth rebound is tipped to be mild.
Rental affordability still stretched, but worst is over
Vacancy rates are edging higher and growth in advertised rents is stalling in welcome news for the nation's renters.
Homeowners making hundreds a week even without tenants
People who own property might be able to make more than $30,000 a year, if the market is good, simply by holding onto their asset for about nine years.
‘Sense of urgency’: extra social homes fast-tracked
Funding an extra 5000 social properties through a partnership with the community housing sector will help get more people into homes sooner, advocates say.
Where home prices are expected to grow fastest in 2025
Australian property values are set to keep rising over the next 12 months but controversial tax changes are helping keep one state's home price growth in check.
Corruption call fuels ugly row over historic racecourse
A corruption watchdog will be asked to probe a state premier's involvement in what could become one of Australia's largest-ever real estate deals.
‘Not bringing down a premier’: new turn in track plan
A probe into a controversial proposal to turn a historic racecourse into housing has delivered the latest salvo in a divisive debate over the facility's future.
Worst housing affordability in almost three decades
Homeowners and renters face some of the most challenging conditions in years, with both groups spending a growing proportion of income on a place to live.
New homes lead the way in energy efficiency
Canberra boasts the most energy efficient homes in Australia but cities with older stock like Sydney and Hobart are lagging.
Housing policies at lock-up stage with Greens support
Labor has had a breakthrough on its stalled housing agenda after securing Greens support for a federal shared-equity scheme and build-to-rent policies.
Door opens for first-home buyers to unlock ownership
Headway has finally been made on federal housing policy reform with laws set to pass parliament to allow home buyers to buy with a smaller deposit.
Fresh hope for those wanting to buy own home sweet home
Australians locked out of the housing market will soon have a viable option to buy their own piece of paradise with a significantly smaller deposit.
Mining hubs lead regional property price rise
Affordability and lifestyle choices continue to drive up property prices in regional Australia, but there are signs the heat is coming out of the market.
Building data nailed but future framework doubts linger
Home building approvals have broken a two-year ceiling but industry groups warn it's not enough to meet a target of 1.2 million homes by 2029.
‘Flippant’: Greens’ housing scheme demands draw ire
The housing crisis is too serious for the Greens' "flippant ideas" about help-to-buy and build-to-rent scheme reforms, the Property Council of Australia says.
Housing plea as millions more at risk of being homeless
A huge surge in people being on the brink of homelessness has led to renewed calls for more social housing to be built for people at risk.
Task force to tackle crime in Brisbane’s tent cities
A task force has been established to tackle 'anti-social behaviour' at tent cities in Brisbane's parks, as homelessness services buckle under pressure.
Supply the key to fixing housing, not taxes: Treasury
The focus of the government should be on increasing housing supply rather than cutting tax concessions for property investors, the Treasury chief says.
Property market easing with falls across four capitals
Slowing momentum in home price growth bodes well for those hoping to get a foot on the property ladder as the central bank weighs rate cuts.
Housing groups shore up support for build-to-rent bill
Australians want "action, not politics" when it comes to the build-to-rent bill, a federal MP says, as new data shows public support for the legislation.
‘Everything points to a slowdown’: property loses heat
House and unit prices may have found new record highs but interest rate cautiousness has tempered the pace of growth.
Ban on landlords evicting tenants for no good reason
Tenants would no longer be evicted without a valid reason and face softer penalties for breaking leases in reforms aimed at making life easier for renters.