Today’s big announcement promoted by the Rudd government: The $512 million Housing Affordability Fund, promised before the last election, is expected to help 50,000 new home buyers in the next five years. “What I am signalling loud and clear is that we want to tackle the housing affordability crisis for Australian families which has gotten out of control, and we … Read More
Speed Renting Takes Off
Quoted in today’s Melbourne Leader: DESPERATE room seekers fret not: speed renting has arrived. In ways similar to its dating counterpart, speed renting gives desperate room seekers in Melbourne the chance to meet leaseholders without excess travel or advertising costs. Tomorrow dozens of potential housemates and leaseholders will gather at digital arts bar, Horse Bazaar, for the first ever Melbourne … Read More
Bursting the Bubble – SBS Insight
Last night’s Insight focused on the tragedy unfolding in the housing market and it’s effects on the rest of the economy. It was good to see that Housing Supply side issues got some time on air, but again the property lobby had large numbers in the crowd, no NGO’s got a guernsey, the omnipresent Ross Gittins took the softly softly … Read More
Sales Plummet – Suprise Suprise
photo credit: Daquella manera MELBOURNE’S property market has slumped dramatically over the past three months – and by a staggering 44 per cent over the past year. We must reiterate that buyers are on hold because land prices have escalated to such epic proportions. Auction prices now constitute over 7 times the average wage, more than double the long term … Read More
Will Higher Handouts Help Uni Students?
Is marrying your housemate the way to survive uni? That’s the question Farrah Tomazin puts forward in today’s blockbuster edition of the Age as she discusses recomendations for higher Austudy payments. This will see a short term benefit for students being able to afford more food. However, those versed in economics will understand that in the near future landlords will … Read More