LATEST NEWS
3 Oct 2023
RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank keeps cash rate on hold at 4.1% for fourth straight month
Key points:
The decision to keep the cash rate at 4.1% is the first one made with the new governor of the RBA, Michele Bullock, in charge.
The decision to hold the key interest rate gives mortgage holders another small reprieve.
The new governor warns Australia isn’t out of the inflation woods and further interest rate rises remain on the cards.
22 Sept 2023
Ten locations for downsizers to consider
Key points:
Australia has a housing shortage and 9 million spare bedrooms, many of them in the homes of empty-nesters. Here are 10 downsizer destinations to consider.
About 80 per cent of owner-occupied properties have spare bedrooms, equating to more than 9 million spare bedrooms nationally.
“This would encourage seniors to downsize to a smaller property and help them find more suitable accommodation, reducing affordability pressures by making more suitable homes available to meet the needs of younger families.”
21 Sept 2023
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman calls for stamp duty exemptions for empty nesters to help housing crisis
Key points:
As dwindling housing supply continues to drive up property prices, a plan to free up homes for younger families has been proposed.
The Opposition Leader also criticised the government for taking profits from stamp duty and land tax while offering minimal cost-of-living benefits
"The only way to ease housing prices is to ensure that we’ve got supply in the pipeline"
8 Sept 2023
Student accommodation sector faces critical shortage crisis
Key points:
The number of new visas being issued far outweigh the chronic level of low supply of available beds, forcing developers to demand better planning laws to kick-start more construction.
Calls for more land release dedicated to development of student housing in 2024
5 Sept 2023
RBA leaves interest rates on hold at 4.1 per cent after Philip Lowe's last meeting as governor
Key points:
The RBA has not lifted interest rates since June, when the cash rate target rose to 4.1 per cent
But the central bank says future rate rises may be necessary to ensure inflation continues to fall
Tuesday's meeting was Philip Lowe's last as RBA governor before he hands over to Michele Bullock next week
