Mark Bristow

Housing affordability legislation in the works

The Australian federal government has taken steps towards addressing the nation’s housing affordably crisis, releasing draft legislation to help first home buyers save for a deposit, support retirees who choose to downsize, and to limit the impact of foreign investment on property prices.

The darker side of booming rents revealed

News of rising rental yields for landlords isn't so great for Australians doing it tough. Analysis from the Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) show that rising rents, combined with stagnant wages, means lower-income Australians are being priced out of Victoria’s affordable housing.

Is our superannuation system failing young Australians?

An upcoming research report aims to determine what changes would be required to make Australia’s superannuation system more compatible with the ‘gig economy’ that many young Australians depend on.

Personal loans in high demand

An increasing number of Australians are applying for personal loans and turning away from credit cards and mortgages, according to new figures from Equifax.

Victoria could take top housing spot from NSW

The reign of New South Wales as Australia’s leader in housing construction could be on the verge of coming to an end, with Victoria poised to potentially usurp the position in 2018. Meanwhile, increasing activity in Tasmania and Western Australia could see these areas grow significantly in the future.

Aussies less worried about housing, more about unemployment

New research released from Roy Morgan indicates that Australians are more worried about unemployment than they are about house prices, though interest rates and the economy are also on their minds.

Melbourne remains a sellers' market

New figures from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) show strong property markets throughout Melbourne, the surrounding areas and regional Victoria over the June quarter, with buyers seeking greater value further from the city centre.

Aussies borrowing more conservatively

While Australians are pouring more money into their homes, we’re not borrowing as much with our personal loans or credit cards, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Landlord's market in Sydney _ and Hobart

Property investors hunting for rental returns may find that Sydney has the highest asking rents in the country, but Hobart has experienced the strongest improvement in asking rents over the past few years, according to the latest figures from SQM Research.

CoreLogic tracks slowing housing affordability

CoreLogic has crunched the numbers to confirm what many of us suspected – Australia’s housing affordability worsened over the first quarter of 2017, with several measuring metrics showing a marked deterioration over the past few years.