Build-to-rent incentives ‘may open door for predators’
Incentives to build more rental properties in the midst of a housing crisis may not improve the landscape unless protections are built in, experts warn.
housing and urban planning
Rent-seekers targeted in background-check fee ban
Prospective tenants are pressured to pay for checks on legally dubious databases as technology is installed between tenants and owners in a bid for profits.
Fight against ‘disgraceful’ accessible housing standard
Living in a home built with accessibility in mind is a dream Julie Charlton and others with disabilities like her want to be made a national reality.
construction and property
consumer confidence
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
inflation and deflation
retail
Relief in sight as rates focus switches to cuts
Mortgage-holders appear to have avoided another interest rate hike, in a welcome development for the federal government with an election on the horizon.
Doubt cast over plan to convert CBD offices into homes
The cost of retrofitting under-used Melbourne CBD offices into residential apartments is proving an obstacle to a key housing policy getting off the ground.
Housing ‘defining issue’ for economy, says treasurer
Rents remain a lingering source of inflation weighing heavily on household budgets, with the federal government keen to see more homes built to ease pressures.
Rising property prices push loan sizes through the roof
Soaring real estate prices in mid-sized capitals has pushed the average new owner-occupier mortgage to record levels.
Home office clocks on to win architecture prize
A functional home office is coveted by many work-from-home employees, with one example in Brisbane winning an award for architecture.
Thousands of children homeless in ‘national shame’
Two reports have laid bare the dire situation for Australia's most vulnerable children, with thousands turned away from homelessness services.
‘National shame’: kids facing life on couches, in tents
For many of the 125,000 Australian children without stable housing, a life of disadvantage, crime and poor health outcomes await without intervention.
Liberal leader Pesutto pitches housing plan to faithful
Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto has used a speech to party faithful to pitch a crackdown on cultural heritage process delays to speed up housing builds.
Rent squeeze adds extra juice for first-home buyers
Renters across the nation face increasing rent hikes despite varied rental conditions, which is leading to some buying a home.
Pre-fab homes built up as state fix for housing crisis
Chronically unaffordable property in NSW has prompted a trial of modular housing and calls to appoint a top bureaucrat to overcome planning obstacles.
Rosehill development plan a ‘hijack’: Gai Waterhouse
Champion racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse says a controversial plan to offload Sydney's Rosehill racecourse is like putting Bondi Beach up for sale.
Rates uncertainty takes sting out of home price growth
The temperature in the housing market appears to be coming down as interest rate uncertainty keeps more buyers on the sidelines.
Cheaper materials take edge off home-building costs
Residential construction costs have finally stabilised after a prolonged period of strong price growth put pressure on the industry.
‘Not open to negotiation’: New homes face delays
Australia's housing minister has not said whether she believes having a home should be a human right, as a political gridlock delays building new homes.
Remote housing fix needed to ‘get real’ on closing gap
Homes in Queensland's remote communities are chronically overcrowded, and waiting lists for social housing blowing out, sparking calls for federal funding.
Worsening rental affordability hurting regions
Renters in the regions are having to find an extra $153 a week to go towards keeping a roof over their heads, on average, compared to June 2020.
Government lays foundation for social housing upswing
Billions of dollars in funding have been allocated to states and territories in Labor's plan to address shortfalls in social housing and homelessness services.
Flipping good deal: property profits hit a 14-year high
More than 94 per cent of national home sales in the first three months of 2024 recorded a nominal gain, the highest profitability rate since 2010.
Buying a home now ‘beyond hope’ for essential workers
Most Queensland nurses, teachers and police officers can no longer afford to buy their own home to live in - even with a dual income.
Australian house prices expected to spike again
Australian home prices are set to hit new heights as population growth, construction challenges and borrowing power hits the market.
Renters could be hit in $1.5b ‘sneaky’ budget tax hike
Landlords, holiday-home owners and businesses could be hit with higher taxes in the NSW budget, while $200m has been set aside for homes for regional workers.
Development red tape cut in NSW budget housing plan
Homes will be built quicker and more efficiently under a NSW budget plan that will cut red tape, drawing praise from developer groups and housing advocates.
Targets set as Victoria eyes millions of extra homes
The Victorian government has identified where it wants 2.5 million homes to be built, with Geelong, Melbourne's CBD and outer suburbs to do the heavy-lifting.
Home prices in three cities are outpacing their peers
Australia's housing market is made up of laggards and leaders in home price growth and the gap is expected to linger in the coming months.
All eyes on LNP leader as election cards laid on table
Opposition leader David Crisafulli has made a pre-election pitch focusing on housing but has vowed to scrap a controversial energy project.
Permits for Airbnbs required amid city rental crisis
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is set to introduce a permit system for short-term accommodation including Airbnb.
Stamp duty threshold increased for first home buyers
Queensland's first-time home buyers will get a stamp duty discount, in a bid to get more young buyers into the market.
‘We have a plan’: state reacts to housing crisis outcry
A real estate body has called on authorities to provide an accountable delivery plan, describing the Queensland's housing crisis as "woeful".