If you were to believe world stock markets, the recession is drawing to a close, with the wisdom of government spending and global monetary easing spurring the world to another economic recovery. But the markets have long proven to be an unfaithful talisman.
First home owners grant
Great Australian dream still sucking them in
The latest housing finance figures confirm there’s still solid demand for housing finance from investors and owner-occupiers.
Keen on Keane: the great population overhang story
On Monday, Bernard Keane took economist Steve Keen to task over his call that property prices will fall next year. Today, Keen has his right of reply.
Housing: the market continues to astound
The most obvious problem with the first-home-owner’s grant is that it doesn’t actually benefit home buyers, since most recipients of the grant will probably be in competition with each other.
Aussie mateship: buying homes together
Okay, so obviously the First Home Owners Grant just pushes up the price of real estate, but if you are still interested in cashing in on it, consider buying a home with a friend. Just pay attention to the legal nitty gritty.
Housing is overpriced, Swan is making it so
As a treasurer, Wayne Swan makes a fine politician. In a free-market economy, it is not the role of the government to prop up over-priced assets — especially an asset as critical to millions of Australians as housing, says Adam Schwab.
Building approvals boom amid “bubble” fears
The ABS released figures showing that building approvals bounced back strong in June after May’s one off plunge. Just don’t mention the housing bubble.
Crikey cage match: the truth about house prices
The crystal ball gazing over house prices continues to twist and turn with two veterans of the genre going head-to-head. House prices will fall, argues Adam Schwab. Are you kidding me? counters Rismark’s Christopher Joye.
Are we paying too much for the Australian dream?
In one of the more remarkable occurrences, residential property, despite macroeconomic indicators to the contrary, has been an incredibly resilient asset class this year. But that can’t last, argues Adam Schwab.
BIS Shrapnel’s property confidence is … BS
When the First Home Owner’s Grant falls away and if interest rates return to 7-8%, it is a more logical response that house prices will fall in the coming years, rather than rise.
ABS figures show the building boom is alive and growing
The 4.25% cut in interest rates and the first home buyer/builders grant continues to feed the rebound in home construction.
Crikey Says: The results are in: Labor’s stimulus worked
The Government targeted retail and construction, two of the biggest-employing sectors, and bombed them with cash, and it has worked.
The FHOG: a band-aid over a gaping wound
The latest RP Data-Rismark property survey has unleashed a predictable bout of optimism regarding the future of the Australian property market.
Rudd persists with first home buyers furphy
The First Home Owners’ Grant is a policy which significantly inflates the cost of property for first home buyers, and mostly benefits wealthy property investors and developers.
Tips and rumours: Stanhope gets his revenge on journos
A tipster tells how ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope got his revenge on journos, and what happened to the Royal Vic Institute for the Blind’s assets?
Building approvals offer glimmer of hope
Despite the sharp fall in home prices in the eight major capitals in the March quarter, there’s still demand for new home loans.
First home owners grant must go
The first home buyer;s boost was the worst thing to ever happen to first home buyers.
Crikey Counterpoint: the Australian property market
Australia’s residential property market delivered a resilient performance during the first quarter, with the RP Data-Rismark National Dwelling Value Index rising 1.6%, writes Christopher Joye. Poppycock, says Adam Schwab.
Political snippets: No good press for MP travel junkets
Why it’s a good idea for pollies to stay home for the holidays and viewing Hillary Clinton through the prism of existentialism.
First home owner grant: just making vendors richer
The first home owners grant, especially in its boosted form, is not a policy which benefit first home buyers, but one which will lock them into a lifetime of possibly unserviceable debt.
The great Australian dream becomes a nightmare
The increased first home owners’ grant is encouraging many young people to buy into a false economy.
Political snippets: The banks’ time will come
Banks might think it is very clever to protect their profit margins by not passing on the cut in official interest rates but their time will come. Treasury officials and politicians have long memories.
RBA rate cut: this could be as good as it gets
Consumer confidence figures out this morning suggest Australia may have to earn its interest rate cuts in future, writes Glenn Dyer.
20-somethings could regret using the homebuyers’ grant
Is it a wise investment to use a $14,000 or $21,000 gift from the government to buy a property that many foirst home buyers probably can’t afford, wonders Adam Schwab.
Banks call time on first home buyer party
The Australian banks are about to kick the chock away from the last remaining support for the weakening Australian economy, writes Glenn Dyer.
