Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
Real estate faces macroprudential risks and some analysts suggest the multi-decade housing boom could be nearing its end
Gareth Hutchens ABC (No paywall)Despite concerns about the pace of property price growth in Australia, regulators may not step in this year, analysts have warned. But looking further ahead, analysts also suggest Australia's multi-decade housing upswing could be nearing its end and that prices could ease through the decade once this short-term price surge has ended. However, they say much depends on the future level of immigration, the persistence of the working-from-home phenomenon and the levels of interest rates in coming years.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-22/real-estate-faces-macropr…
# Australia, Housing market.Slow down and embrace nature – how to create better cities when the pandemic is over
Bjorn Wickenberg The Conversation (No paywall)This kind of multifunctional infrastructure is becoming increasingly popular, with many cities adopting so-called “nature-based solutions” to not just solve environmental problems and safeguard biodiversity, but to also provide local people with recreation space.
https://theconversation.com/slow-down-and-embrace-nature-how-to-…
# International, Coronavirus COVID-19, Planning and development.It feels like winning the lottery’: confessions of a Sydney homeowner
Jessica Irvine The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)This is the first time I’ve been on the receiving end of such ill-gotten gains, after nearly two decades of railing against declining housing affordability in Australia. ... And, as exciting as that is, it’s not right. I believe those of us fortunate enough to have found our way on to the property ladder have a moral responsibility to consider the plight of those to come. So, what can we do?
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/it-feels-like-winnin…
# Australia, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Local Government, Planning and development, Tax.The cities and regions where rental returns are on the rise
Kate Burke Domain (No paywall)Rental returns have taken a hit from rapidly rising property prices, but there are some cities and regions bucking the trend with rising rental yields, new figures show.
https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-cities-and-regions-where-rent…
# Australia, Rent, Housing market.Vacancy rates still high for inner-city rentals
John Collettt The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Vacancy rates in Melbourne and Sydney CBDs remain elevated in the absence of international students and travellers.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/vacancy-rates-still-high-…
# Australia, Rent, Housing market, Regional NSW.Young mum lands dream home after spending months in homeless accommodation - only to discover it's a tip
Sophie Halle-Richards (No paywall)From the United Kingdom ... A young mum who found her dream home after spending months in homeless accommodation has been left heartbroken after claims the house has been left in a tip. (Manchester Evening News)
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-…
# International, Rent, Homelessness.As property prices surge, Melbourne homebuyer looks to social media for her first property
Yara Murray-Atfield ABC (No paywall)Sick of being outbid at auctions and competing with crowds of other people for a home in her dream suburb, Katie Higgins turned to Facebook.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-22/property-prices-surge-mel…
# Australia, Housing market.Unit prices fall in many city suburbs amid house-led real estate boom
David Chau ABC (No paywall)Despite house prices rising at their fastest pace in 32 years, apartments in Australia's most oversupplied cities aren't getting as much love from buyers. In some areas, unit prices have tumbled in the past year and still haven't recovered from their COVID-19 slump — with Sydney and Melbourne the worst hit capitals. Those cities, in particular, have relied heavily on international students and foreign workers being able to pass freely through Australia's borders, to rent out apartments that their investor landlords don't want to live in themselves.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-21/unloved-apartments-amid-r…
# Australia, Rent, Strata, Coronavirus COVID-19, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, Students.