“With the average Australian house price now nearly nine times the average household income, the dream of owning your own home is increasingly out of reach for many Australians,” said COMPANY RE managing director Talei Watene.
Real estate disruptor COMPANY RE has announced an exclusive partnership with one of Australia’s leading sustainable home builders, Alphaline to deliver a national rollout of small affordable homes in a bid to address Australia’s housing crisis.
The collaboration aims to provide a solution for Australians struggling with skyrocketing property prices by bringing high-end, sustainable and architecturally designed tiny homes to market, says COMPANY RE.
“With the average Australian house price now nearly nine times the average household income, the dream of owning your own home is increasingly out of reach for many Australians,” said COMPANY RE managing director Talei Watene.
“To combat this, COMPANY RE and Alphaline will make luxury, customisable compact homes much more accessible, particularly as secondary residences added to existing residential properties.
"This goes beyond affordability; it's about reshaping the future of housing. We’re introducing sustainable, beautifully designed homes that offer a more adaptable, cost-effective way to live and invest.”
Ms Watene says the opportunity to deliver customised secondary homes at an affordable price alongside existing homes on traditional lots offers the opportunity to unlock the nation’s housing market. She also explains that for tiny homes which can be moved, there is no requirement for council approvals.
“We’ve seen the rise of movements like tiny homes and sustainable living and these are trends that continue to gain momentum. Together with Alphaline, we’re committed to providing Australians with the opportunity to own a quality, customisable secondary home that meets the needs of today’s market,” she said.
Alphaline is one of Australia’s leading builders of compact homes. Together with COMPANY RE’s national network of property agents, the partnership aims to roll out its secondary homes offer initially on the East Coast.
Bruce Cook, Founder and Board Director, Company RE who is heading up the secondary residences department for COMPANY RE said: "At Company RE, we recognise the massive opportunity for existing property owners to enhance the value of their homes in response to evolving lifestyle trends.
With the rise of extended family living, the increasing demand for dedicated home workspaces and the potential for additional income streams through secondary dwellings, the Property Investment Division is focused on unlocking these possibilities.
“We are thrilled to partner with Alphaline, a true leader in compact living and tiny home solutions. After an extensive search, we found the absolute best in the market for the design and construction of high-quality, innovative compact living spaces. Whether it’s creating pool houses, secondary dwellings, or bespoke workspaces,
Alphaline’s expertise aligns perfectly with our vision of helping homeowners maximize their property’s potential,” Mr Cook said.
Ms Watene says the rise of the tiny home movement signals a fundamental shift in the way Australians view property. These homes, whether in backyards, beachfront locations or even on luxe rooftops at major hotels, provide an opportunity for individuals to own property or expand their investment portfolios without the overwhelming cost usually associated with traditional real estate.
Speaking to the unique opportunity for its luxury tiny home offerings, Director of Sales for Alphaline, Ben Parker explained how hotel group, QT Hotels commissioned a special project on the Gold Coast.
“Working for QT Hotels, we custom-designed a range of six luxury compact houses, which we placed on the rooftop of the QT Hotel in Surfers Paradise,” said Ben.
“The idea was to create a suite of special residences offering guests a unique, elevated stay with all the comforts of modern living, seamlessly blending innovative design with compact, beautifully crafted spaces.”
COMPANY RE and Alphaline say their secondary residence offerings to market directly address Australia’s housing affordability crisis.
In 2025, 64% of the Australian public cites the rising cost of living as their primary challenge, with housing affordability the top concern for 44% of Australians. The situation is dire, with Australia ranking second globally for housing affordability dissatisfaction in a recent Gallup report, which found that 76% of Australians are unhappy with the current housing market.
“The housing market in Australia can feel tough for a lot of people at the moment,” said COMPANY RE Mortgage Partner, Michelle Southern.
“We’ve seen a demand for high-quality, eco-friendly, affordable housing solutions. From a lending and financial position, the value for money in tiny homes as secondary residences really stacks up, often saving savvy investors upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars and reducing mortgage payments significantly.
“As a business, it is our mission to reshape the future of real estate, offering solutions that are not only innovative but designed to meet the needs of the modern Australian.
“Our customers want and deserve more, and we are determined to be able to provide solutions that offer more.”