AshwoodPlace

What the changing face of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs could mean for Victoria’s state election

Melbourne's eastern suburbs are shaping up as key battlegrounds in Victoria's state election. The Liberal party must win back several seats, including Box Hill, Glen Waverley, Ashwood, Ringwood and Bayswater, to govern in its own right. Labor holds all of them by narrow margins. Local voters raise concerns about small business costs, public safety and state debt. Some say they may back Labor despite criticism of its economic management.

18 Melbourne suburbs outrun Albanese’s $950k first-home cap

Typical home prices in 18 Melbourne suburbs have moved above the $950,000 cap for the federal first-home buyer scheme, according to new REA Group figures. The cap was lifted by $150,000 last October, but rising prices have pushed these suburbs beyond it again. Templestowe's median unit price now sits $31,500 above the limit. Industry figures say the scheme makes larger mortgages easier to access but does not necessarily make housing more affordable, while one builder reports packages starting at about $450,000.

KINGSTON: Caught out at the pump at Moorabbin