Iran conflict raises spectre of triple RBA rate hike

12 March

Three of Australia’s four major banks predict the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for the second month in a row as fears that war in the Middle East will worsen inflation fuelled a drastic turnaround in markets. Westpac, NAB and Commonwealth...[Read More]

Not migrants: research pinpoints housing crisis culprit

12 March

Restricting Australia’s migrant intake is not a silver bullet that will fix the nation’s housing crisis, an influential think tank has warned, challenging an argument often put forward by coalition MPs. Australia’s shortage of homes is not an...[Read More]

Energy rating report card urged for all Aussie homes

11 March

All Australian homes should receive a score out of 10 for energy efficiency before they can be sold or rented, experts say, as part of an expansion to a national assessment program. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, which is used to rate...[Read More]

Major cities flounder in ‘two-speed’ housing market

5 March

Home prices in Australia’s biggest cities are treading water while smaller capitals notch record growth as new data suggests the cycle has become a tale of two vastly different markets. Two months into 2026, home values in Sydney and Melbourne...[Read More]

Rate hike odds spike for ‘live’ March RBA meeting

5 March

Traders upped their bets for a Reserve Bank rate hike in March to a one-in-three chance after the central bank’s governor said the meeting would be “live”. While Michele Bullock was careful not to signpost the RBA’s decision on March 17, her...[Read More]

Good news is bad news: GDP growth fuels inflation fears

5 March

Higher spending on defence, data centres and Black Friday sales has helped the economy grow at its fastest pace in almost three years, boosting living standards but raising fears of more interest rate hikes. Gross domestic product expanded 0.8 per...[Read More]

Minister won’t rule out tax change as Greens up demands

5 March

Young people see the housing market as being stacked against them, Australia’s housing minister says, as the Greens call for drastic changes to property tax concessions. Clare O’Neil continues to play a straight bat to suggestions the government...[Read More]

Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living

5 March

In a time of climate change and strained housing affordability, sometimes it pays to think small. At just 50 square metres, the apartments and townhouses inside the Two Sisters development in North Melbourne are far smaller than the 236 sq m average...[Read More]

Young women giving up on home ownership as costs rise

4 March

Young women consider owning a house less of a priority than men their age, with many citing affordability and not being able to qualify for a mortgage as major barriers. Women in both the millennial and generation Z age groups consider property...[Read More]

Rent-to-own: housing plan aims to boost home ownership

4 March

Thousands of renters will be able to save deposits and purchase homes through a multimillion-dollar program pitched to voters ahead of a state election. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced Labor’s rent-to-own policy on Wednesday,...[Read More]

Seeking professional advice when looking to buy your dream home

26 February

Seeking professional advice when looking to buy a property is an important step, especially if you’re new to the market or dealing with complex situations. Here are some key instances when you should consider consulting a property agent and what...[Read More]

Housing and energy costs surge higher in inflation data

26 February

The first round of inflation data for the year has arrived, which is likely to increase pressure on the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates further. WHAT DID THE DATA REVEAL? * Headline inflation remained steady for January at 3.8 per cent * Trimmed...[Read More]

‘Dumbest option’: top economist slams housing tax break

26 February

A major rewrite of Australia’s tax rules is needed to make them fairer and more efficient, one of the nation’s top economists has warned. Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry, who led a 2010 review of taxes, said the current system could be...[Read More]

Stubborn inflation could spell further rates pain

26 February

Higher levels of inflation will stick around for several months, the treasurer has warned, as new figures put pressure on the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates further. Underlying inflation ticked up for January, coming in at 3.4 per cent, up from...[Read More]

Vested interest ‘cartel’ killing Aussie housing dream

26 February

A “cartel” of vested interests is stymying crucial tax reforms which could help free up more homes, a former boss of the Reserve Bank says. Bernie Fraser, the only person in Australian history to have served as both RBA governor and Treasury...[Read More]