BLOG: Commentary

REINSW: as trustworthy as the agents they represent

The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales calls for conveyancing Stamp Duty discounts for first home buyers and “property consumers over 65 years of age” in its submission to the NSW government‘s June 2016 budget. They say: “The ultimate goal must be to abolish...

Australia’s real lifters and leaners

by Philip Soos When the infamous duo of Abbott and Hockey came to power in 2013, they embarked upon a polarising rhetoric of "lifters" versus "leaners" separating Australians into one of two camps. The split was a simple one: those who earn and engage in productive...

Modelling housing failure

Cameron Murray from Fresh Economic Thinking provides insight on why today's housing modeling is not up to the task of providing accurate insights into urban development. The workhorse model of urban economics is the Alonso-Muth-Mills (AMM) model of the mono-centric...

Foreign investor tax slug spreads

Catherine Cashmore appeared on Channel 9 news last night to discuss the fact we are building the wrong type of stock to meet our growing community. The report compared the 80,000 apartments due to come onto the market over the next few years with the 80,000 vacant...

Perth rents free-fall liberates the tenantry

, Perth house rents have fallen 8.4 per cent in the last year and units by 9.3 per cent according to SQM Research. High pay in the mining investment boom drew many skilled engineering professionals and trades to Perth. They are now going home, seen in the steep...

4 Corners: Home Truths

President Catherine Cashmore has been busy with the 4 Corners team filming a number of scenes around Melbourne. Tonight we find out which scenes make national TV in a much overdue investigation into the pressure housing affordability places on society. Thanks to all...