First-home buyers have been locked out of 169 previously affordable Queensland property markets since the federal 5 per cent deposit scheme was expanded a year ago. An analysis of Realestate.com.au data found that 852 of 890 house and unit markets have risen in value. Deagon houses jumped 31.2 per cent to $1.187 million. Since October, new Queensland mortgage lodgements have fallen 30 per cent, with first-home buyer applications down 18 per cent, according to Loan Market. Buyer's agent Lauren Jones said rising interest rates and living costs have cut borrowing power, leaving young buyers largely absent from the market.
Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman says funding has been secured for a secure gate at Flindersia Park, which residents near Arcare Aged Care and Halcyon Rise had raised concerns about over hooning and safety. She has written to mayor Jon Raven and councillor Jacob Heremaia about the gate. Fentiman is also backing the RizeUp Christmas Gift Appeal, which supports families affected by domestic and family violence. Her electorate office is a drop-off point for gifts, which must be left by Thursday 10 December.
Australians are cutting back on groceries, skipping medical appointments and turning to credit as housing costs spread through the wider economy. Experian's latest Housing Pressure Report found 43 per cent of those surveyed had reduced spending on dining out and takeaway food. Almost 18.7 per cent had delayed healthcare or dental treatment. Pubs, bars, cinemas and clothing retailers recorded falls in trading, with construction businesses also weakening. Mortgage stress rose 7.3 per cent in the first half of 2026, with regional borrowers hit hardest.
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Housing advocates want annual rent increases capped across Western Australia. The Make Renting Fair Alliance released a report arguing Perth tenants could save almost $33,000 over five years under a 2 per cent cap. A Broome financial counsellor said her rent rose from $480 to $740 a week since 2021, before her lease ended and the only suitable unit was offered at $1,000 a week. The state government has ruled out rent caps, citing concerns they could reduce investment and supply. It plans to introduce further rental reforms to parliament this year.
Sydney renter Peter Temby, 78, says he has sometimes gone without meals to afford rent in Glenhaven. He says his weekly rent has risen from $270 in 2011 to $400, and he claims the home has mould and little sunlight. A new Everybody's Home report found that over 60 per cent of surveyed NSW households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. Many respondents also reported skipping meals, cutting energy use and avoiding doctor visits.
Mortgage repayments now consume a record 50.9 per cent of family income, according to PRD Real Estate's latest report. Four interest rate rises this year and bigger loans have pushed housing affordability to a new low. Loan Market figures show lodgements, excluding refinancing, have fallen 24 per cent nationally since January, with investors dropping 44 per cent. Queensland recorded the sharpest fall, with investor lodgements down 56 per cent. Refinancing reached a record 57 per cent of Loan Market lodgements in September, as homeowners seek more room in their budgets.
Advocates say the discovery of a homeless man's body in Chermside bushland highlights an urgent need for action on homelessness in Brisbane. Police were investigating a dog attack in a nearby park when Andy Parker, 48, was found dead on Sunday. Beau Haywood, founder of Nourish Street Inc, says demand for his charity's help has risen sharply, citing rising living costs and scarce rental housing. He has called on state and federal governments to fund more social and affordable housing. Police continue to investigate the circumstances of Parker's death.
A Queensland man who has been living in his car for three months has criticised a tiny home listed for $480 a week in a suburban driveway north of Brisbane. Jadon, who posted about the listing on TikTok, said he began sleeping in his car after a $200-a-week rent rise. The listing, which includes a $1920 bond, is set to be available from October 30. A recent REA Rental Report found the national median advertised rent reached $675 a week in September, up 5.5 per cent over the year, though growth had slowed.
New Westpac research shows 38 per cent of South Australians are delaying plans to buy or sell because of interest rate concerns, a higher share than in any other state. Housing affordability was the biggest factor, cited by 44 per cent. Westpac consumer chief executive Carolyn McCann said mortgage applications had fallen about five per cent since May but had risen 15 per cent from the July low. Oliver Hume data shows 89.5 per cent of SA buyers in September were first-home buyers, the highest share in a year.
Research suggests shifting away from stamp duty could ease housing affordability and boost economic activity. The e61 Institute found that stamp duty discourages people from moving and reduces home purchases. The ACT has begun phasing out the tax over 20 years, and its government has abolished it for first home buyers. Researchers from Victoria University found the changes had raised economic activity by about 80 per cent. Experts say a land value tax would be harder to avoid and more predictable for governments.
Melbourne's median advertised rent has reached a record $600 a week, according to REA Group. A new Everybody's Home survey found 43 per cent of Victorian respondents would have to cut essentials or could not afford a $20 weekly rise. Renters already report skipping meals, heating, medical appointments and medication. Housing advocate Maiy Azize has called for limits on Victorian rent increases. Ray White's Luke Banitsiotis warned tighter limits could push landlords to sell, reducing rental options.
Realestate.com.au modelling projects that Sydney houses priced under $1m will almost disappear from the market by the 2030s. Prices are expected to bottom out in the second half of 2027 before rising again. By 2031, no Sydney basin suburb would have a median house price under $1m, while about half the city would average above $2m. Economist Angus Moore said outer suburbs were likely to see continued price pressure, partly due to remote working and investor interest. Median unit prices, by contrast, are expected to stay below $1m in about half of Sydney areas in 2031.
Four in five Australians support limits on rent increases, according to a survey by Everybody's Home for The Australia Institute. Support held across renters and homeowners, and across party lines. Gen Z and the Silent Generation showed the strongest backing for more government help for renters. Spokesperson Maiy Azize said rent rises were affecting all Australians and called on the federal government to apply nationally consistent rules and build more public housing. Realestate.com.au data showed median national rents reached a record $675 a week.
Mortgage demand fell 19.2 per cent year-on-year in September, its sharpest drop since 2022, according to credit reporting body Equifax. Demand from first home buyers fell the most among the young, with loans for 18 to 25-year-olds down a quarter. Equifax chief solutions officer Kevin James said strict serviceability testing and high interest rates were holding buyers back, while average first home buyer loans reached a record $743,000. James said there was no quick fix to make the market more accessible.
Housing affordability is increasingly a business concern for western Sydney, affecting the ability to attract and keep staff. The author says first-home buyers can use federal schemes, including a five per cent deposit option and Help to Buy, which allows a minimum two per cent deposit. NSW also offers transfer-duty assistance. The author notes these programs do not make housing affordable for everyone and that borrowers still need to manage repayments and ongoing costs. Helping people settle locally, the author argues, supports a strong local economy.
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Many Australians are delaying property decisions because of affordability concerns, house prices and uncertain interest rates. The latest Westpac Home Ownership Report found 41 per cent believe now is a bad time to buy a first home, and 47 per cent think it is a bad time to sell. Three in four first home buyers are waiting for prices to fall further, and 73 per cent are waiting for interest rates to stabilise. Westpac chief executive, consumer, Carolyn McCann, said Australians were feeling concern rather than crisis.
Knox Council has allocated funding in its 2026-2027 budget for a new winter shelter program. The program will provide safe overnight accommodation during the coldest months and link people to specialist homelessness services. Council says demand for homelessness support is rising amid housing affordability pressures and cost-of-living increases. There is currently no overnight winter shelter in the municipality. Organisations interested in delivering the program can submit expressions of interest by 10 November 2026.
Around 2.3 million Australian households have missed or delayed at least one bill in the past year to cover rent or a mortgage, according to Finder research. Electricity and gas bills were the most common payments put off, with 8 per cent of people saying they had delayed one. Finder money expert Richard Whitten said other bills can easily slip when housing costs take a large share of the budget. Separate REA data shows the national median advertised rent reached $675 a week in September, up 5.5 per cent over the year.
The Australia Institute says the nation's housing market is seeing its biggest affordability improvement in 50 years. Its chief economist, Greg Jericho, credits Labor's curbs to investor tax breaks. National housing prices have fallen 5.2 per cent since March, according to property data firm Cotality. Investor loans for established homes fell 14 per cent in the June quarter, while loans for new builds rose 4.4 per cent. Rent growth has eased, and independent economist Saul Eslake says the changes have not pushed rents higher.
