Economic updates

Homes are becoming income-generating assets as solar, batteries and smart systems create financial returns. With 180,000+ batteries installed and new free-electricity schemes from July 2026, homes delivering financial returns will command higher prices.

Regional house prices grew 98.8% since 2015 as city buyers escape expensive markets for lifestyle benefits. Pandemic accelerated the trend, with regional NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania seeing 51%+ growth. Commodity booms fuel Queensland and WA.

Interest rate outlook grows muddier as contradictory signals emerge. Unemployment falls to 4.3%, delaying rate cuts, while construction activity cools rapidly and consumer sentiment remains divided. Data dependency will guide the next move in December.

Meeting Australia's 1.2 million home target requires a shift from site-based to factory-built homes. Modular construction boosts productivity where traditional methods have stalled for decades, but only five per cent of homes use modular methods today.

RBA holds rates at 3.60% as inflation resurges to 3.2% annually. Labour market weakens with unemployment rising to 4.5%, leaving the central bank walking a narrow line between price pressures and economic growth.

Australia's housing market hits double-digit growth sooner than expected, with house prices up 10.6 per cent annually to $940,000. Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide lead the surge amid tight supply.

Where do Australia's ghosts live? 296 haunted locations reveal their preference for residing in hotels, heritage properties, and public infrastructure. Newcastle-Cooks Hill tops the haunted list, with most sites in pricey inner-city precincts.

Gold Coast units have leapfrogged Sydney in median unit prices ($956,000) as interstate migration floods southeast Queensland. Rate cuts, and luxury development drive demand, but supply constraints keep unit prices climbing into 2026.

Adelaide has overtaken Melbourne to become Australia's second least affordable city after Sydney, as house prices in the traditionally affordable capital rise faster than incomes.

Melbourne and Darwin's housing markets are finally heating up after sitting out the boom, with Darwin prices jumping 11 per cent and Melbourne hitting a new all-time high.

The real estate industry is undergoing one of its most significant demographic transformations in years. While traditional name patterns lose ground, a new generation of diverse talent is driving growth.

Buyers are abandoning expensive lifestyle hotspots like Byron Bay and Lorne for more affordable regional alternatives as premium destinations price out the market.