A former mortgage broker – who is now facing fraud charges – has blown the whistle on predatory lending practices in Australia’s financial services industry.
Image from www.shutterstock.com
The level of sub-prime mortgages in Australia may be far in advance of what was previously assumed and provided for by banks. The story was broken on the ABC, and covered elsewhere. The revelations centred…
There is little evidence to suggest that foreign investment is driving up the prices of Australian real estate.
AAP
One question that arises on the topic of real estate is the scale of foreign investment and ownership in Australia. It is understandable that the public has concerns about such investment, especially as…
Damned lies and statistics: the figures indicate a significant deficit of dwellings in Australia. But is the methodology sound?
Capt' Gorgeous
One of the more interesting outcomes the 2011 Census produced was the figures concerning the housing market. The reason for this interest is how the results contrasted with the idea that Australia currently…
The foundations of the real estate industry are threatened by entrenched conflicts of interest.
thinkpanama
Conflicts of interest undermine the quality of advice and policy. It is critical to the functioning of markets and government that parties involved are free of conflicts, especially monetary ones. We would…
Our property prices are propped up by a range of political, economic and even emotional reasons.
AAP
Welcome to Safe as Houses, a series delving into a topic close to the heart of many Australians – property. This is not a series on where the market might be heading. Instead we aim to explore how we view…
Reducing the finance costs of housing will also reduce house prices.
Flickr/kennymatic
Welcome to Safe as Houses, a series delving into a topic close to the heart of many Australians – property. This is not a series on where the market might be heading. Instead we aim to explore how we view…
The US Occupy movement has turned its attention from corporate greed to the housing market.
AAP
Welcome to Safe as Houses, a series delving into a topic close to the heart of many Australians – property. This is not a series on where the market might be heading. Instead we aim to explore how we view…
Buyers' playtime: Australians have splurged on mortgage debt.
Flickr/Bill Ward's brickpile
Our Safe as Houses series delves into a topic close to the heart of many Australians – property. This is not a series on where the market might be heading. Instead we aim to explore how we view property…
Are ordinary homeowners perpetuating Australia’s property bubble?
AAP
While my recent commentary (here and here) demonstrates Australian housing is in a bubble, I have not explained where this situation has come from.
Asset markets, in this case, property, are the subject…
House prices grew by 127% between 1996 and 2010, but few people believe there is a property bubble.
AAP
One aspect of housing and stock market bubbles continually repeats: the vast majority of economists either miss or deny their existence.
In recent years, enormous asset bubbles have burst in many countries…
