Industry news

Higher rates, less equity and unresolved tax rules have pushed investors to the sidelines. But rents are rising and there's more stock to choose from. Could this be the opening aspiring investors have been waiting for?

Selling for less can feel like a reason to stay put. But if the home you want has fallen further in dollar terms, the cost of moving up may have come down too.

Westpac's October 2026 home ownership research found 75% were holding off buying until prices fell further. If you're doing the same, keep checking what you can afford as well as what homes cost.

The Reserve Bank held the cash rate at 4.35% in August, but lenders kept cutting anyway, and 49 of them now offer variable rates under 6%. The right rate is different for every borrower, but the market is clearly moving. If yours hasn't moved in years, it's worth checking where you sit.

Rates have gone up three times this year. The cash rate is parked at 4.35%. Sydney and Melbourne prices dipped last quarter. And every property headline is screaming a different prediction. So perhaps you’re sitting on your deposit thinking: I’ll just wait until things settle down. Completely understandable. Also, probably costing you more than you think. Because waiting has a price tag. And in this post I’m going to show you exactly what it is, next to exactly what buying costs at today’s rates.

A negatively geared property doesn’t “pay for itself through tax.” If you lose $7,836 a year on an investment property and claim the deduction at 30%, you get $2,351 back. That means you’re still $5,485 out of pocket. And from 1 July 2027, not everyone can claim it at all.