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As of most recent mid-2022 figures, it was reported that Australia has “the third-highest house price-to-income ratio in the world” up at 8.5. Back in June 2001 this figure was just 4.5. In Tasmania, an average wage is currently enough to afford just 5% of homes, the lowest percentage of any state, though it isn’t a whole lot better elsewhere. According to a recent PropTrack report, even a six-figure income is enough to afford just 13% of homes, while a household income of $64,000 a year is enough for only 3%. Current forecasts indicate that these figures will continue to deteriorate.

Everyone knows the old adage, “crime doesn’t pay”. But is it true for the property? And how much attention should property investors pay to crime rates? You might expect that fewer people want to live somewhere with a high crime rate, meaning high crime causes the property market to suffer. But this isn’t always the full story. A large body of academic research indicates an obvious causal relationship between property prices and crime, and some similar results have been identified here in Australia.

This is the ASX’s “30 Day Interbank Cash Rate Futures Implied Yield Curve”, and, as well as having an egregious word salad of a name, it can be a pretty useful tool for understanding what the RBA is likely to do with interest rates. How? Well, the key concept at play here is in the title – “futures”. Futures are a clever type of financial contract that can help to hedge against risk. To explain, let’s take a quick example: Imagine you're a farmer who grows apples. For a variety of reasons (say, new competitors, weather, anything really) you’re worried that when it's time to sell your apples in a few months, it looks like prices are going to be lower than normal, and you’re heading straight for a loss.

In an earlier article, we explored some of the ways in which government spending can have a positive effect upon local economies, and real estate markets. Using HMAS Stirling in Perth as a sort of case study, we also threw out a few ideas for how defence spending may be unique compared to other forms of government stimulus. Overall, local government spending is typically a positive sign for a property market – simple. But before you begin to anticipate growth in every region where a government is throwing money around, it’s vital to understand a few exceptions to the rule and be aware of how it can sometimes go wrong.

Statistics reveal that many investors never venture beyond their initial property acquisition, despite their lofty ambitions. While some deliberately choose to maintain a single property as a means of supplementing their income with minimal financial risk, the majority of investors find that achieving their goals necessitates a more expansive approach.   In this article, we delve into the reasons why we believe it's worth thinking big and expanding your portfolio. We also provide valuable insights on growing your property investments and avoiding the pitfalls of relying solely on a single property.

Over the next decade, the Australian government will have sunk $8 billion into expanding Perth’s HMAS Stirling – already the largest naval base in the country. Estimates predict that the plan will create around 3000 new jobs and provide a significant economic boost to both local industry and the rest of the state. Except for some outlying cases, it is generally true that government investment is a positive thing. When a government starts pouring money into their economy, many of the important numbers (things like GDP, unemployment, exchange rates, etc) begin to move in a positive direction.

Game theory, in essence, is the study of how people make decisions in strategic situations, where the outcome depends not only on their own actions but also on the actions of others.   At first glance, you might wonder, "How is this relevant to real estate?" As it turns out, the art of property negotiation can involve many of the same principles. Game theory can offer a fascinating lens through which both buyers and sellers might enhance their negotiation skills.   In this article, we’ll explore some simple game theory concepts and discuss how they apply to real estate.

A couple of weeks ago, the media was abuzz with reports of a new housing policy discussed at a meeting of the national cabinet in Brisbane. Alongside state leaders, the Prime Minister announced ‘a better deal for renters’ via a $3 billion assault on perceived low housing supply. "All governments recognise the best way to ensure that more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home is to boost housing supply," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in the announcement.