Queensland's building sector faces "challenging" year ahead
Queensland's peak building body has warned of a tough year ahead, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing plummeting building approvals.
“The latest National Survey of Building and Construction shows that residential building activity has entered more challenging waters,” according to Master Builders Australia’s Chief Economist Shane Garrett.
A trend of improving affordability is taking root in the major capital cities - due largely to falling housing prices,” commented Geordan Murray, HIA Acting Principal Economist.
“Changes to visas for skilled workers have delivered an immediate hit to Australia’s population growth,” said Geordan Murray, Housing Industry Association Principal Economist.
Bi-partisan support for a Federal Housing Minister recognises the urgent need to address our housing affordability challenges at a national level, said the Housing Industry Association.
“Stronger new home building, off the back of strong population growth, is continuing to drive the improvement in economic conditions in Australia,” stated Tim Reardon, HIA’s Principal Economist.
Fears Melbourne's housing shortage could spark affordability crisis
An undersupply of housing could lead to a housing affordability crisis in Melbourne, finds a report, as Bernard Salt predicts Melbourne's population will shoot past five million by 2021.
What to know when purchasing an investment property
Tim Reardon of the Housing Industry Association and Tony Collidge of the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania discuss what people should know when considering purchasing an investment property.