Economic updates

Pool prevalence has recovered from pandemic lows, signalling a shift back to aspiration-driven buying. The geography of pools reveals where Australian buyers prioritise outdoor living, and what they're willing to pay for it.

Finding the right person might start with finding the right postcode. Census data reveals single men and women cluster in completely different suburbs at every life stage, creating some awkward geographic distances between them.

The latest inflation data show housing costs rising 5.5 per cent annually, outpacing headline inflation. The RBA's response - raising rates - targets inflation broadly, but the underlying housing problem sits largely outside monetary policy's reach.

Residential sustainability now determines financing and asset values. NABERS apartment ratings surge while green loans offer 0.10-0.25% discounts. Battery subsidies and rising electricity costs reward environmental investment.

Five per cent deposit scheme boosts first-home buyer purchasing power, but Gold Coast affordable housing stock is halving. Supply constraints now threaten to undermine the government's demand-side support measures.

The Reserve Bank lifts rates as it judges the risks of allowing inflation to remain above target outweigh the risks of further tightening. Strong employment and household spending create room for additional restraint on demand.

Price growth and transaction volumes follow surprisingly different patterns. Over the past 25 years, sales have swung between fewer than 380,000 and greater than 580,000 annually - far more sharply than prices or population growth would suggest.

Demand has continued through summer with limited impact from rate rise expectations. National house prices climbed further in January, with broader supply constraints suggesting any slowdown would more likely moderate growth rather than reverse it.

Interest rate cuts now unlikely before second half 2026 as services inflation proves stubborn. Rents, utilities and insurance continue rising, limiting RBA easing despite broader economic slowdown and household spending weakness.

Institutional Build-to-Rent capital reshaping Australian rental market with stable yields and long-term leases. Occupancy rates 95-98% drawing offshore investors. Sector remains small but represents significant structural shift ahead.

Australia's fastest-growing coastal suburbs are no longer in Byron Bay or the Gold Coast. Instead, growth has concentrated in regional industrial hubs where affordability and employment opportunities align with lifestyle demand.

The Australian Open captures public attention around tennis, but a quieter trend is playing out in the residential property market. Growing participation and lifestyle-driven migration are reshaping how these leisure features fit into suburban homes.