As reports begin to emerge that external cladding caused the London fire to spread so quickly, many in Australia are beginning to ask could the same thing happen here?
First-home buyers remain out in the cold, despite affordability improvements
The number of first-home buyers in Australia declined 11.2% over the March quarter, according to latest Adelaide Bank/REIA Housing Affordability Report.
Capital gains withholding tax too low for foreign residents says REIA
The threshold for foreign-resident capital gains tax withholding has been reduced to an unnecessarily low level, subjecting agents and conveyancers to additional red tape and costs for no good reason, says Malcolm Gunning of the REIA.
Federal government should reconsider changes to investment deductions, says REIA
Changes proposed by the federal government mean that an investor who owns a commercial investment property can claim travel costs for their annual site inspection, but a residential property investor can not.
Investor borrowing moderating, even before latest tightening measures
Housing lending to property investors softened in March, says Malcolm Gunning, president of the REIA, even before regulators and banks tightened lending to investors and before budget initiatives aimed at property investment were announced.
Budget not enough to help affordability in Sydney, Melbourne, but good news for the rest of Australia
The budget's First Home Super Savers Scheme might alleviate some housing affordability pressures, but is unlikely to help first-home buyers who want to live close to the city in Sydney and Melbourne.
'Sledgehammer' approach to risky lending could hurt economy: REIA
Malcolm Gunning, president of the REIA, has warned that the combined actions of APRA, ASIC and the banks could decrease demand for new properties to such an extent that housing supply dwindles and the construction sector weakens.
