Too late for first-time buyers?
By Graeme Salt In news that surprises nobody, prices on properties suitable to the government’s First Home Guarantee Scheme have risen sharper than the rest of the property market. Research by the Australian Financial Review and Cotality showed that, across the country, 89 per cent of locations saw above average growth in the first home […]
Where do you want to live?
By Graeme Salt I thought about buying an apartment yesterday, but got cold feet as it made me wonder what do we want from a home? I am a ‘rentvester’; I have decided to rent where I want to live while building an investment portfolio of properties around the country. But, I am starting to […]
Unsure where to go?
By Graeme Salt The property market enters 2026 in a state of confusion, with many would-be buyers unsure where prices are heading. Over 2025, home prices rose by 8.6 per cent last year to a median of $991,331 after three Reserve Bank rate cuts boosted borrowing capacity, but the pace of monthly growth slowed to just 0.7 […]
Next Year’s Growth Spots
By Graeme Salt Perth and Brisbane will be where it’s at in 2026. Two research houses (SQM and PropTrack) have concluded that these two cities will see most price growth. SQM predict that Perth could rise as much as 14 per cent next year and Brisbane by 12 per cent (assuming no change to interest […]
A $42 billion value gap driven by flood risk
By Graeme Salt According to new research by PropTrack at least 70 per cent of homes in flood zones have experienced a reduction in property value as a result of flood risk. On average, this equates to a $37,000 drop in property values across all dwellings. Collectively this equates to a loss of $42.2bn in […]
No cuts for ‘foreseeable future’
By Graeme Salt Today, the Reserve Bank Governor said, “it does look like additional cuts are not needed”. She also stated that the Reserve Bank Board was not expecting inflation to come back below three for another 12 months. With no cuts expected for “the foreseeable future” this means rates are either going to hold […]
Will your home’s environmental performance impact its value?
By Graeme Salt Recent analysis by Cotality shows that investing in a home’s sustainability makes financial sense. Its “Watt’s it Worth” report found that adding one star to a home’s energy efficiency rating adds around $10,000 in value, while installing solar panels lifts value by more than double that ($23,100). The federal government is moving […]
Graeme’s 2026 Predictions
By Graeme Salt This year, property prices have grown by around 8.5 per cent. Growth is still predicted in 2026 – though at the more moderate rate of five to seven per cent. In last year’s annual review, I predicted that 2025 would be a year in two halves – with prices growing strongly in […]
How AI can help you buy a place
By Graeme Salt Artificial Intelligence (AI) is supposed to revolutionise many things – but will it help you buy a place? Many experts talk about AI having a huge impact on professional activities – particularly with the more junior ranks. The sorts of roles often mentioned include activities like book-keeping and para-planners. But could it […]
Do you need bridging finance?
By Graeme Salt Bridging finance is almost a dirty word in Australia. Many of us, or our parents, are scarred by the 1990’s when they were stuck holding their old home as well as their new home and paying 18 per cent of the loans! Thankfully there are now many lenders who are offering competitive […]