The popularity of McMansion-ville suburbs dwindles as genuine home-buyers look for communities with character in New home sales retreat: HIA Sales of new homes in Australia dropped in October, an industry survey showed today, in a further pullback from stimulus-driven...
BLOG: affordability
Hudson Multimedia highlights
Following Prof Michael Hudson's recent tour, here are more multimedia highlights: Visual: Hudson on ABC International with Jim Middleton. Hudson on Switzer - Sky TV Business. Forever Blowing Bubbles - Sydney presentation. Hudson tour slideshow Audio: Philip Adams...
Rising Interest Rates in Whose Interest?
Written Oct 16th Raising interest rates will do little to address underlying economic issues, says visiting US economist Professor Michael Hudson. "The market factoring in 7 interest rates rises spells danger for the Australian economic miracle" warns Professor...
RBA Policy Matrix
photo credit: DerGuy82 The Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy objective is to encourage: (a) the stability of the currency of Australia; (b) the maintenance of full employment in Australia; and (c) the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of...
Renters: Stop Walking on Egg Shells
The paranoia many renters face trying to find a place to genuinely call home is undermined by the juggernaut of rising property prices. Why do rents outpace wages? Is the market about to turn? It is time prospective first home owners looked beyond mainstream media to...
Palatial Profits
photo credit: eb0la An interesting read in today's Age: Palatial Spreads Kept Empty? That's Rich Ghost mansions and land banks are sometimes held by those planning a tennis court or swimming pool. Other people are waiting for their children to grow up. Many are...
Madden’s Economic Snubbery
Planning Minister Justin Madden today writes about critics exhibiting cultural snobbery towards sprawling suburbs. He goes on to discuss the rationality behind last week's expansion: Releasing land for homes in Melbourne's west and north will allow for development...
Land Tax to Affordability
photo credit: kodama (home) Suburbs hit with land tax increase TAXPAYERS owed more than $227 million in land tax by the end of February - a 20 per cent increase since last year, Office of State Revenue figures reveal - with a Herald investigation finding that...
Land Tax Can’t be passed on to tenants
photo credit: Roger Lynn The Age today ramps up the property lobby's annual war against contributing to society in Land tax hike to hit tenants Knight Frank managing director Paul Burns said landlords had been complaining about their 2009 land tax bills, and agreed...
Perfect storm threatens housing speculators
photo credit: eb0la Will the FHOG save the housing market? A new report raises fresh doubts: THE Australian housing market is facing the prospect of a "perfect storm" of financial pressures, including high mortgage debt, overvalued homes and rising unemployment, which...