Real estate
House prices hit a debt ceiling
Mortgage debt is by far the largest component of debt in Australia today – government debt, which is the focus of political debate, is trivial by comparison, writes Steve Keen.
Held up by red tape, developers want ‘super councils’
As new home sales decline and residential construction remains in the doldrums, Australia’s biggest property developers are pointing the finger of blame at councils.
Why abolishing negative gearing makes complete sense
Negative gearing is a poorly thought out policy which benefits a wealthy minority and penalizes the majority of Australians, both young and old.
Australian house prices continue to soar, but at what cost?
Another year, another massive increase in house prices and more excuses proffered by the real estate industry as to why Australia’s houses are among the most expensive in the world.
Meet the dream-gone-sour faces of the housing boom
The stressed recent first-home buyers are likely to be the first front in any housing collapse.
Housing shortage? Don’t dwell on it, there isn’t one
If there is a housing shortage, why are rents not increasing? The mythical housing shortage claims continue in earnest as self-interest market participants warn of a dire deficit of suitable dwellings.
Our dangerous debt affair
Is our economic future at risk as a result of the huge debts we’ve accumulated to indulge our love affair with housing?
No longer safe as houses
The US housing market is recovering post-GFC, but property will never be the guaranteed money maker it once was, warns experts.
Residential property prices: why the big ship is difficult to turn
Clearance rates are falling, stocks dwindling and even some real estate agents are expressing concerns about the prospects for the property market.
Residential housing market losing its froth
While the federal government does its best to quell the booming mining sector, the other boom area, residential housing, appears to be finally losing its froth.
Interest rates send building approvals into a tailspin
A very sharp slump in building approvals will keep the Reserve Bank’s hands from the interest rate lever later today and for several more months as the size of the fall has come as a surprise.
Holy real estate prices: how churches make money
Churches aren’t just selfless, religious organisations. If the Mormon church was a company, it would make the Fortune 500 list, while the Catholic Church owns more real estate globally than anyone else.
Our deep, bitter anger over housing prices
House prices is an election changing issue and not because homeowners are crowing about profits. Houses are too expensive, interest rates are rising and voters are getting resentful, writes Charles Purcell.
Should you rent or buy?
A very clever interactive calculator by the NY Times showing exactly when is the best time to make the switch over from renting to buying a property. It’s aimed at the US market, but it’s fun to play with anyway.
How much for the Hollywood sign?
The iconic Hollywood sign is at risk of being surrounded by new developments and a star studded cast are attempting a US$12.5 million public buyout. But will a mega-graphic ad company beat them to it?
Colebatch: Stop cheering the rising house prices
Homeowners might be counting their riches as house prices rise, but it’s screwing young Australians financially. Those who are down-grading win but the rest of society suffers, writes Tim Colebatch.
Property value never falls? Don’t put the house on it
Australians’ household debt levels are world leading. We pay about five-six times our household disposable incomes for our average dream home. This won’t end well.
Residential property: bubble, bubble, toil and trouble
Property is a slowly moving beast, but as Japanese and American home owners found it, is can be quite a terrifying one as well.
What’s the White House worth? About $15m less than a year ago
Even the White House is not immune to falling US property prices: real estate bloggers Zillow say the building is now worth $292.5 million — $15.6 million less than when Obama took office a year ago.
Why the property boom? Simple. We’re borrowing more
Assets prices inflated by excessive leverage are not sustainable, leading to a gross misallocation of scarce resources. It is a lesson that Australian property buyers appear slow to learn.
The murky world of buyer’s advocates
The rise of buyer’s advocates has coincided with the continued inflation of Australia’s residential housing bubble. Why is this happening?
The ins and outs of underquoting
With residential property real estate bubble appearing to rapidly re-inflate, the focus has once again shifted to allegations of under-quoting.
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.
