Industry News
Breaking stories, regulatory changes, market data, and major developments across Australian and New Zealand real estate.
Payday Super reforms will reshape real estate payroll from July 2026
Real estate agencies face major payroll and cashflow changes under the new Payday Super rules, with contributions due every pay cycle from 1 July 2026 and significant compliance, administrative, and financial pressures for businesses of all sizes.
New land wealth levy could cut stamp duty for homebuyers
The McKell Institute proposes taxing land portfolios over $20 million to fund stamp duty reductions on new homes…
First-home buyers now need seven years to save Sydney deposit
Domain research reveals rising entry-level prices have wiped out gains from 2025 rate cuts, with Brisbane, Adelaide and…
John Lewis abandons ambitious UK rental housing venture
The retail giant has scrapped plans to build 10,000 homes, blaming rising interest rates and construction costs for…
National rental vacancy rate hits three-year high as market pressure eases
Melbourne leads capital cities with highest vacancy rate while Hobart remains the tightest rental market in the country.
REIQ returns to REIA after 11-year break, strengthening national real estate voice
Return gives Queensland agents a seat at the federal table and pathways to the REIA National Awards for…
House hunting now the biggest stress for Australian movers
New research reveals finding a property to buy or rent consumes dozens of hours and ranks among the…
South Australian Labor pitches $500m land fund in housing push
Premier Peter Malinauskas has unveiled stamp duty relief for downsizers and a revolving land acquisition fund as Labor…
Price-to-income ratios don’t tell the full affordability story
While the headline numbers look dire, Ray White's chief economist argues buyers are adapting in ways traditional metrics…
Land prices surge as supply constraints choke new home building
Median residential land prices hit a record $391,420 nationally, with land costs rising three times faster than inflation…
Councils unlock surplus land: new affordable housing pipeline for agents
New resource walks local governments through identifying unused depots and facilities that could become homes for low-income households.
Investor capital rotates: Melbourne gains as Perth and Queensland cool
Investor activity shifts from Perth and Queensland toward Melbourne and select smaller capitals, signalling opportunities for sales and…
Underquoting uncovered: how accurate pricing builds trust and keeps you compliant
Learn what underquoting really means, the rules in each state, and how new agents can stay compliant while…
Gen Z now most likely to consider regional move
New research shows almost half of 18-to-29-year-olds are contemplating leaving metro areas, overtaking Millennials as the generation most…
Policy change to CGT could tighten rental supply
Changes to investor tax incentives could tighten rental supply and push rents higher, leaving renters to bear the…
First home buyer loans hit record size as deposit scheme takes effect
The average first home buyer mortgage jumped 8.5 per cent to $607,624 in the December quarter, the largest…
Victoria’s property tax reliance highest in Australia
Victoria is forecast to rely more heavily on property taxes than any other state in Australia, with new…
Valentine’s Day postcode: Why Australia’s singles aren’t living in the same neighbourhood
New Census analysis reveals stark gender imbalances across Australian suburbs at every age, as men and women follow…
‘Death tax by stealth’: Why inherited homes may hit the market faster
Proposed ATO changes could accelerate estate sales, tighten timelines and pull agents into more tax-driven conversations with grieving…
Thinking of switching careers into real estate? Read this first
With career-changers flooding into real estate, a former compliance professional outlines why the industry still rewards discipline, mentoring…
Housing costs driving inflation despite RBA rate hikes
The Reserve Bank of Australia's recent interest rate increase highlights a growing disconnect between monetary policy and housing-driven…
CGT discount to cost $247 billion over next decade, analysis shows
New Parliamentary Budget Office figures reveal the tax measure will cost more in the next ten years than…
Government to sell off defence properties for $1.8 billion
Victoria Barracks sites in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are among 67 defence properties identified for disposal as the…
Major bank warns the housing boom is ending for half of Australia
ANZ is predicting a market slowdown as the RBA admits rate cuts fuelled excess demand faster than expected.
Australian house prices rise 560 per cent over 25 years
New Propertyology research reveals property values grew from $210,000 to $1.18 million nationally, with 16 townships achieving 700…
How to become an auctioneer: Andy Reid on the skills that matter, how to practise, and what separates the best from the rest
What aspiring auctioneers need to understand before they ever call an auction
Rate hike signals slower gear for the housing market
The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates in response to stubborn inflation. Experts assess the impact on borrowing…
National home prices reach new record despite uneven growth
Home prices across Australia have hit a new record high despite signs of slowing growth in major markets,…
What drives people to sell?
Housing transactions follow complex patterns beyond price growth, with volumes swinging dramatically as financial conditions, confidence, and lending…
House prices forecast to rise despite interest rate uncertainty
Australian house prices are expected to surge by 7.7 per cent this year, with growth momentum continuing into…
Rental markets ease slightly, but pressure remains as vacancies stay below long-term norms
SQM Research data shows vacancy rates lifted slightly at year end, but most capital city rental markets remain…
Agencies prioritise data ownership
Three-quarters of property professionals want to control their digital footprint, but advertising spend still flows to portals.
Housing market confidence strong but varies by state
Housing market confidence remains strong across Australia heading into 2026, despite growing economic challenges and affordability concerns that…
OECD urges housing reform as new data shows home building starts to lift
The OECD has called for higher social housing targets, tax reform and planning changes to tackle Australia’s affordability…
Chinese investors dominate foreign-owned Australian property
Chinese buyers account for a staggering 67 per cent of the more than 40,000 Australian residential properties registered…