By Gemma Crotty A September cash rate rise is likely on the horizon as a major bank adjusts its forecast earlier and the RBA governor warns persistent inflation is still far above target. Westpac has forecast an interest rate rise this month just 11 days from the board’s next meeting, as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) concedes its concerns around inflation had materialised. On Friday,...
By Emilie Lauer At its fifth meeting of the year, the RBA has announced its cash rate decision, with higher living costs and tax changes weighing on buyer demand, borrowing capacity, and property price growth. For the second time this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the cash rate at 4.35 per cent, providing Australians with sustained relief amid mortgage stress, reduced borrowing...
Federal tax reforms have overtaken interest rates as the most widely cited downward pressure on Australian house prices, according to the Australian Property Institute’s first survey of property professionals since May’s Federal Budget. The API’s Q3 2026 Australian Property Market Outlook, drawn from 265 property professionals surveyed between 12 June and 6 July 2026, found the negative gearing...
By Gemma Crotty The federal government’s controversial capital gains tax and negative gearing reforms have now been greenlit after passing through Parliament. A major overhaul to investor tax policies, including capital gains tax (CGT) and negative gearing, has passed through both houses of Parliament. Changes to negative gearing and CGT will go ahead after the Treasury Laws Amendment...
By Emilie Lauer At its fourth meeting of the year, the central bank announced the latest cash rate amid economic headwinds. For the first time this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the cash rate at 4.35 per cent, providing borrowers with more than needed relief amid rampant mortgage stress and high cost of living. The RBA’s decision to keep the cash rate unchanged was expected,...
As interest rates rise and buyers become strained by high fuel prices, Sydney and Melbourne have recorded their first quarterly house price drop in years, with further falls likely to come.New data showed that both Sydney and Melbourne have recorded their first quarterly house price declines in years, as buyer sentiment continued to fall amid rising interest rates and global issues. According to...
By Emilie Lauer What does another rate hike mean for the property market, as higher borrowing costs are set to cool demand, tighten lending, and slow price growth despite ongoing supply shortages? The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lifted the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35 per cent, marking a third straight increase and reversing the easing seen last year.The Board's decision to increase...
By Emilie Lauer At its second meeting of the year, the Reserve Bank announced the latest cash rate amid ongoing global tension. For the second time in 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to hike the cash rate by 0.25 points to 4.10 per cent, costing the average borrower an extra $1,416 per year. The RBA’s decision comes as little surprise amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East...
By Emilie Lauer At its first meeting of the year, the central bank announced the latest cash rate amid limited housing stock and strong buyer demand, further shaping property market activity. At its first monetary policy meeting of 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to hike the cash rate by 0.25 points to 3.85 per cent, putting 1.3 million borrowers at risk of mortgage...
In a revealing new report, Herron Todd White, a leading property advisory firm, has scrutinised the impact of government first homebuyer assistance schemes across Australia. This report emerges at a crucial time, coinciding with the recent expansion of the federal Home Guarantee Scheme on 1 October. The scheme’s expansion includes removing place limits and income caps while increasing price thresholds...
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