REAL ESTATE – AUSTRALIA – RESIDENTIAL

Three-storey new houses should be the norm: PC

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Original article by Michael Read, Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 28-Jul-26

A report to be released by the Productivity Commission today will propose measures aimed at boosting the supply of new housing. Amongst other things, the report will recommend a reduction in the minimum size of housing lots and encouraging developers to build upwards by allowing three-storey homes in most residential areas. Meanwhile, the Productivity Commission notes that it now takes the average family 11 years to save for a housing deposit of 20 per cent, compared with just eight years in 2005.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Biggest house price fallers since the budget

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Original article by Lucy Slade
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 & 26 : 15-Jul-26

Analysis by data provider Cotality shows that house prices in some of the most premium suburbs of Sydney and Melbourne have recorded the biggest falls since the federal government’s budget in May. House prices in Bellevue, which is Sydney’s most expensive suburb, fell by two per cent during May and June; other prestigious suburbs that have record sharp falls in home values include Balmain East, Double Bay and North Bondi. House prices in affluent inner-city and bayside suburbs of Melbourne have also fallen; they include Albert Park, Collingwood, Elwood and Port Melbourne.

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COTALITY

Housing slide to lift ASX, but banks face risk

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Original article by Grace Lagan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 7-Jul-26

House prices fell 0.4 per cent nationwide in June, while the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained about 0.5 per cent. Historical analysis by Morningstar suggests that the Australian bourse is likely to benefit from the latest housing market weakness. The firm notes that excluding the global financial crisis, there have been five housing market downturns since 1980 that have resulted in dwelling prices falling by at least five per cent; the ASX 200 has in turn gained 7.5 per cent on average during each of these downturns. Looking ahead, Challenger’s chief economist Jonathan Kearns says the nation’s banks are likely to record lower growth in new home loans as an expected rise in the unemployment rate results in increased mortgage arrears.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF

First-home negative equity alarm

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Original article by Noah Yim, Mackenzie Scott
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Jul-26

Property industry data shows that dwelling prices have fallen in nine of the 10 postcodes nationwide that have had the highest uptake of the federal government’s five per cent deposit scheme. The vast majority of these postcodes are in Melbourne, which has recorded the biggest fall in dwelling prices. Tim Lawless from Cotality says that some buyers who used the First Home Buyer Guarantee scheme are likely to experience a short-term period of negative equity; he adds that most of them will not be unduly impacted unless they need to sell their home for some reason.

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COTALITY

More people will retire with housing debt

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Original article by Lucy Slade
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 & 26 : 14-Apr-26

Research by Loan Market Group has found that 40 per cent of respondents do not expect to have paid off their mortgage by the time they retire. Meanwhile, data from credit bureau Equifax shows that the number of enquiries from Australians aged 55+ about refinancing their mortgage rose by 12 per cent year-on-year in February, while there was eight per cent growth in enquiries from the 46-55 age group. Westpac in turn notes that people over the age of 40 accounted for about 20 per cent of mortgage loans issued to first-home buyers in 2025. Howard Osmond Financial Services MD Patricia Howard stresses that buying a home is essential to having a financially secure retirement.

CORPORATES
LOAN MARKET GROUP PTY LTD, EQUIFAX INCORPORATED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, HOWARD OSMOND FINANCIAL SERVICES

Sydney and Melbourne home prices fall

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Original article by Lucy Slade
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 1-Apr-26

Data from Cotality shows that dwelling prices rose by 2.1 per cent nationallly during the first three months of 2026. The prices of homes in Sydney and Melbourne fell by 0.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively in the March quarter; in contrast, Perth recorded price growth of 7.3 per cent, ahead of Brisbane with 5.1 per cent growth. ANZ Bank economist Madeline Dunk notes that there has been no growth in dwelling prices in Sydney and Melbourne since November; the prospect of further interest rate rises could put further downward pressure on both housing markets.

CORPORATES
COTALITY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Capital gains tax reform needed to address inequality

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 27-Aug-25

The National Housing Supply & Affordability Council’s chair Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz was one of the participants in the federal government’s economic reform roundtable. She contends that a "very large conversation" is needed with regard to intergenerational inequity and intra-generational inequality; Lloyd-Hurwitz adds that any such discussion must include changes to the capital gains tax regime for investment properties, in order to address the issue of housing inequality. Lloyd-Hurwitz is the former CEO of listed property developer Mirvac Group.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL HOUSING SUPPLY AND AFFORDABILITY COUNCIL, MIRVAC GROUP – ASX MGR

Rate hold may take wind out of home sales

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Original article by Lucy Slade
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 9-Jul-25

AMP’s chief economist Shane Oliver says the Reserve Bank’s decision to leave the cash rate unchanged on Tuesday is likely to "dampen down" enthusiasm among prospective home buyers. He adds that while the decision will not led to a dramatic shift in sentiment, buyers are likely to be a bit more cautious. Oliver had thought there was an 80 per cent chance of a rate cut in July, but he expects the next cut to occur in August. Eliza Owen from Cotality believes that a rate cut next month is almost certain.

CORPORATES
AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COTALITY

Build times go through the roof

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Original article by Jessica Wang
The Australian – Page: 7 : 2-Jul-25

Analysis by the Institute of Public Affairs shows that it took an average of 12.7 months to build a new home in 2024, from initial approval to completion. This compares with an average of 8.5 months in 2014. The IPA’s analysis of building activity data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also shows that the cost of building materials has increased by 53 per cent over this period. The IPA’s research director Morgan Begg says all levels of government must take action to address the housing crisis; amongst other things, he has called for a reduction in the migrant intake, less red tape and the release of more land for housing development.

CORPORATES
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Gurner warns tenants of 15-year rental crisis

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Original article by Sarah Petty
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 14-May-25

Data from Cotalitys shows that housing market rents have increased by 39.9 per cent since March 2019. Rent payments now account for about one-third of many tenants’ income. Apartment developer Tim Gurner has warned that the nation’s rental crisis is likely to last for up to 15 years, due to the lack of sufficient new housing supply. He notes that vacancy rates are about one per cent in every state, while construction supply is at a 10-year low and population growth is at record levels. Gurner adds that high construction costs are the biggest problem for property developers.

CORPORATES
COTALITY