‘Hawkish’ RBA open to more hikes after holding rates

13 August

The Reserve Bank has left the door open to more interest rate hikes as it held the benchmark lending rate steady for a second straight meeting.Falling house prices and lower-than-expected inflation helped convince the central bank’s nine-member...[Read More]

House-hunters face spring sale shortage in market slump

13 August

Would-be home buyers hoping to snag a bargain could face a shortage of options during the usually busy spring sales season as owners try to ride out a price slump.Auction clearance rates have rebounded from recent multi-year lows, rising to a...[Read More]

‘Softer than we thought’: RBA’s admission on inflation

6 August

Surprise inflation data, which came in lower than expected and below the central bank’s own forecasts, was due to softer fuel prices, according to the RBA’s chief economist. Figures released on Wednesday revealed headline inflation for June fell...[Read More]

Housing affordability rises as price downturn continues

6 August

Three decades of home prices outpacing incomes could be over as Australia’s housing market downturn widens. The market recorded the largest single-month decline in home values in almost four years in July, data released by property analysis firm...[Read More]

Surprise inflation drop eases chance of RBA rate hikes

30 July

Falling inflation levels have defied Reserve Bank predictions, alleviating fears another interest-rate hike is imminent. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed headline annual inflation falling to 3.8 per cent in June, down from four...[Read More]

Shoddy bank record-keeping hits savers as scammers lurk

30 July

Systemic shoddy record-keeping at big banks is risking the savings of Australians trying to benefit from a safe investment strategy. The financial regulator issued the warning around mortgage offset accounts, which are marketed to borrowers as a way...[Read More]

Red tape strangling efforts to tackle housing crisis

30 July

Allowing three-storey townhouses to be built on most residential land is one of the key recommendations of a major report outlining what Australia needs to do to fix its housing crisis. Governments have gotten in the way of new housing supply by...[Read More]

How trust in the RBA could help keep interest rates low

23 July

As people lose faith in institutions across the globe, a report shows maintaining trust in the Reserve Bank can help keep inflation under control. A survey released by the central bank on Wednesday showed people who have higher trust in the RBA are...[Read More]

Investors returning after budget blow to housing breaks

23 July

Property investors are regaining a foothold in the housing market after tax changes in the federal budget boosted owner-occupiers. The share of homes bought by investors climbed to 23.2 per cent over the four weeks ending July 18 after sinking to...[Read More]

Trump threatens to shoot down signs of economic rebound

16 July

Just as businesses and consumers were beginning to grow more confident, a return to arms in the Middle East risks sending sentiment back to the doldrums. Business confidence climbed nine points in June, despite warnings the federal budget would...[Read More]

Zoning scorecard reveals most housing-friendly city

16 July

Millions of new homes could be built in Australia’s capital cities if “restrictive” zoning laws are loosened, a landmark planning analysis claims. An online atlas of nationwide zoning laws has been compiled by YIMBY Melbourne, an organisation...[Read More]

Energy rollercoaster: Australian bills to fall and rise

16 July

Solar panels, wind farms and cheaper batteries will help to cut Australian electricity bills in the coming years, even as the artificial intelligence boom pushes up the price of gas technology. But energy prices will rise after 2030, a study has...[Read More]

How to save money around the home amidst the rising interest rates

9 July

With interest rates rising almost everywhere, including Australia, people have begun tightening their purse strings as best they can.   However, decreasing spending to ensure your expenses match your reduced budget could mean barely any savings or...[Read More]

Inflation-fuelling supply shocks under RBA microscope

9 July

Expect to hear more from the Reserve Bank as it grapples with how to navigate a world punctuated by more frequent supply shocks due to heightened geopolitical tensions and climate change. With shocks like the Middle East oil crisis and Donald...[Read More]

Family affair: investor tax changes spawn new tactics

9 July

A 1950s red brick walk-up in southwest Brisbane is a window into how the federal budget is reshaping the property market. Marketed as “the ultimate set-up for multi-generational living”, the three-unit apartment block in Oxley has bucked the...[Read More]