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31/08/2026

Are First Home Buyers Using the 5% Scheme Really Falling Into Negative Equity?

With property prices starting to soften, there has been some concern that first home buyers using the 5% Deposit Scheme could quickly find themselves in negative equity.

But what does the data actually show?
According to REA Group research, of the approximately 48,000 properties purchased through the scheme since October 2025, only 87 are currently estimated to be in negative equity. That’s less than 0.2%.

Despite property prices falling slightly in some parts of Australia, the research suggests the overwhelming majority of first home buyers who used the scheme are still holding equity in their homes.

One reason? First home buyers tend to purchase in more affordable areas, including regional locations, which have generally held up better than some of the faster-moving metropolitan markets.

Some areas have actually seen strong equity growth. The Queensland Outback recorded equity growth as high as 14.2%, while the Western Australian Outback reached 12.7%.

So, while buying with a smaller deposit does come with risks and property prices can move in either direction, the numbers so far paint a pretty positive picture.
For first home buyers worried that using the 5% Deposit Scheme automatically means putting yourself at risk of negative equity, the data suggests otherwise.

Congratulations to our Winners and Losers from our AFL tipping comp!
25/08/2026

Congratulations to our Winners and Losers from our AFL tipping comp!

25/08/2026

Property Is Cooling - But Building Isn’t Getting Any Cheaper

Australia’s property market is continuing to cool, with Cotality reporting home values fell 0.7% nationally in July and 1.9% over the quarter.

But according to Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee, there’s one big reason we may not see a dramatic fall in prices- the cost of building is still incredibly high.

ABS data shows the cost of building a new house is now 51% higher than what it was at the end of 2019. In Queensland, costs are up 61%, in South Australia 65%, in Tasmania 69%, and they’ve more than doubled in WA.

Why does this matter?
If established homes become much cheaper than the cost of building new ones, developments simply stop stacking up. That means fewer new homes, tighter supply and more demand pushed back towards existing properties.

So, while some areas could see larger price falls, construction costs may put a limit on how far prices fall nationally.

Once again, it comes back to the same issue - we need more homes, but they’re getting more expensive to build and, most importantly, taking to long.

21/08/2026

Rent Hits Another Record High Yet Again!

Just when renters thought things couldn’t get much worse, national rent has hit another record high.

According to PropTrack, the national median advertised rent reached $670 per week in June, up 3.1% in just three months and 6.4% for the year.

The Australian Government’s Treasury modelling suggested the recent housing tax reforms would only increase median rent by less than $2 per week.

The reality so far? Across houses, units and townhouses, rent jumped by an average of around $21 per week over the June quarter alone!

Sydney renters were hit the hardest, with rent rising $50 per week in just three months, taking the average to a record $850 per week. That's an extra $2,600 a year just on rent

So... the $2 prediction by the Treasury might have been a little misleading. And when has a landlord ever raised rents buy $2 per week!

Of course, there’s more than one thing pushing rents higher. We still have limited rental supply, strong demand, and rising costs, while there are also concerns that changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax could discourage investors and put even more pressure on rental availability.

19/08/2026

The Property Market Is Slowing Down!

Australia's property market continued to slow down in July, with Cotality's Home Value Index recording its largest monthly decline since December 2022.

Sydney and Melbourne led the fall, with home values dropping 1.4% and 1.2%,
We're also starting to see previously strong markets like Brisbane (-0.6%) and Adelaide (-0.2%) lose some momentum.

So, what's driving it?
Higher interest rates, affordability pressures and the rising cost of living have made buyers more cautious. At the same time, many vendors are choosing to hold off selling, hoping market conditions improve before listing their property. As a result, the flow of new listings has started to slow, even though the total number of properties on the market remains above the five-year average.

So what does this mean for buyers?
A softer market isn't always bad news. It can mean less competition, more negotiating power, and more time to make decisions something buyers haven't had much of over the past few years.

The biggest takeaway?
Property markets move in cycles. Rather than trying to perfectly time the market, focus on whether the timing is right for you. Having a plan and understanding your options will always put you in a stronger position than simply waiting for the next headline.

06/08/2026

Construction Costs Rebound to Steady Growth

After a sharp slowdown earlier in the year, Australian construction cost growth accelerated over the June quarter.

Cotality’s Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) recorded a 1% rise in construction costs nationally over the quarter, a significant acceleration from the 0.2% rise in the March quarter.

On an annual basis, construction costs rose 2.8% over the 12 months to June, up from 2.3% in March. This demonstrated stronger growth; however, it still sits well below the rates experienced post- pandemic.

Cotality’s Cordell Costings Estimation Manager John Bennett is quoted as saying:
“The return to a 1.0% quarterly increase brings cost escalation back to levels seen prior to the softer conditions seen at the start of 2026, highlighting the ongoing resilience of underlying construction cost pressures across the country.

“While the current annual result is approaching, but still marginally below, the 2.9% annual growth recorded in the March and June quarters of 2025,”

On a state-by-state basis, NSW was the strongest, up 1.1%- up from 0.2% in the previous quarter. Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia each recorded growth of 1%. Victoria was the lowest nationally at 0.9%. These, however, are below the 5-year average rates of cost growth.

Materials hit with a supplier waiting game
Some early supply-chain disruptions have been felt associated with the Middle East conflict.

Notable categories include PVC and PEX pipe, while increases were also noted in the cost of heavy plant, crane hire and associated machinery.
It appears that suppliers are holding back on passing through the full force of cost increases until the global economy stabilises.

Construction sector outlook for 2026
Mr Bennett says that market observations suggest the industry is remaining cautious as pressures continue on margins and overhead costs. Future increases will largely depend on how both domestic and global market conditions evolve over the coming quarters.

“Overall, the June quarter results indicate that construction cost escalation has returned to a more established growth pattern, albeit at rates that remain well below long-term historical averages.”

02/08/2026

Sydney Feeling the Housing Crisis the Most

Buying a home has become tougher across Australia, but nowhere is the challenge greater than in Sydney.

A recent KPMG report found Sydney has experienced one of the biggest declines in home ownership, as property prices continue to grow faster than wages. For many Australians, especially first home buyers, saving a deposit and getting into the market is becoming increasingly difficult.

The borrowing figures highlight just how expensive Sydney has become. The average new home loan in New South Wales is around $860,000, compared to approximately $521,000 in Tasmania, the lowest in the country. That's a difference of almost $340,000, simply based on where you live.

It's easy to see why many families are holding onto property for longer, with younger generations staying at home for longer or relying on family support to help them get into the market.

The numbers tell the story.
The 2025 Demographia International Housing Affordability Report ranked Sydney as the second least affordable housing market in the world, with the median home costing 12.9x the median household income. In comparison, a housing market is generally considered affordable when homes cost around three times the median household income.

So, what's driving it?
It's more than just high demand. Years of housing undersupply, strong population growth, rising construction costs, and planning delays have all contributed. Simply put, we're not building enough homes to keep up with the number of people who want to live in Sydney.

While Sydney is under the greatest pressure today, it's also a reminder of what's happening across much of Australia. As demand continues to outpace supply, affordability will remain one of the biggest challenges facing both buyers and renters.

30/07/2026

Harvey Norman & Latitude Fined $55 Million!

If an "interest-free" finance offer has ever tempted you, this is a good reminder to always read the fine print.

ASIC recently fined Harvey Norman and Latitude Finance a combined $55 million after finding customers weren't clearly told they needed to sign up for a credit card to access a 60-month interest-free payment plan.

While the purchase itself was interest-free, the credit card came with additional fees. In some cases, customers who paid off their purchase within the interest-free period still ended up paying at least $537 in fees.

It's also a timely reminder that buy now, pay later and interest-free offers aren't always the cheapest option. While they can be useful in the right circumstances, they often come with fees, conditions, or can encourage spending more than you originally planned if you had just saved up for the item.

What’s the biggest takeaway?
Don't get tricked by businesses. Before signing up for any finance, credit card, or buy now, pay later product, take a few extra minutes to understand exactly what you're agreeing to. Reading the fine print today could save you hundreds of dollars tomorrow.

21/07/2026

Is It Really Investors Driving Australia's Housing Crisis?

When people talk about Australia's housing affordability issues, property investors often get the blame.

But the latest data suggests there’s a bigger picture.

According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), around 71% of property investors own just one investment property, while 19% own two. That means almost 9 in 10 investors are everyday Australians, not large-scale property owners, like the media and the government are making them out to be.

At the same time, concerns are growing that higher costs and changing property policies could see more investors leave the market. If that is to happen, it could mean fewer rental properties available at a time when we are already running short on rentals.

The reality is that Australia's housing problems don't come down to one specific group of Australians.

Population growth, limited housing supply, construction costs, planning delays, and investor confidence all play a role in where the market is today.

The positive is that for first home buyers, fewer investors competing for established homes could create more opportunities to purchase.

For renters, however, a reduction in investment properties could place even more pressure on an already tight rental market if enough new homes aren't being built.

The biggest takeaway?
Rather than pointing fingers at one group, the focus needs to be on increasing housing supply to meet demand. More homes would mean more opportunities for buyers, more choice for renters, and a healthier property market for everyone.

17/07/2026

Property Prices Are Falling… But What Does History Tell Us?

If you've been keeping an eye on the property market lately, you've probably seen the headlines saying house prices are starting to fall.

For buyers, especially first home buyers, it can be a little unsettling. Should you wait? Is now the right or wrong time to buy? Or could this actually be an opportunity?

A recent report by Domain looked back at Australia's housing market over the past 30 years, and one thing stood out - this isn't anything new. Australia has now entered its ninth housing downturn in three decades, and every previous downturn has eventually been followed by a strong recovery that pushed property prices to new highs.

The report also found that previous downturns have generally been much smaller than many people expect. On average, they've lasted around eight months, with prices falling by just 2.9% before recovering. Compare that to the average upswing, which has lasted almost three years and delivered around 32% growth.

Another interesting fact is that property prices would need to fall by 22.8% just to erase the gains made since March 2023. Current forecasts are nowhere near that, with Sydney expected to fall by up to 7% and Melbourne by up to 8% over the next financial year.

So, what does this mean if you're thinking about buying?

It could actually create opportunities. A softer market often means less competition, more room to negotiate, and a little more time to make decisions. Something first home buyers haven't had much of over the last few years.

The biggest mistake we see is people trying to perfectly time the market. In reality, buying a home should be about whether you're ready or not, not whether the market is ready.

If your income is stable, your finances are in good shape, and you're planning to own the property for the long term, a short-term dip in prices is often much less important than buying the right home with the right loan.

Property markets will always move in cycles. The headlines might change, but history shows that downturns are a normal part of the market, not necessarily a reason to put your plans on hold.

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