CBA recently published research showing that more housing was unaffordable, and that was based on two full incomes going to pay the mortgage. Now another report from Domain and Unloan shows that aspiring house buyers in Sydney are indeed largely priced out from the cheapest segment of the market after interest rates and home prices … Continue reading "First Time Buyers Dudded, Again!"

Sparked by Nvidia’s latest blowout earnings report, stock surge and general excitement about a “tipping point” in generative artificial intelligence, Thursday was the best day in more than a year for Wall St’s main stock indexes. And the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out another closing record high on Friday, with all … Continue reading "AI Feeding Frenzy Creates A Headache But The Stock Market Is Not The Economy!"

This week the Senate held hearings into the proposed changes to the way the RBA works. The original review was led by three Technocrats included a recommendation to remove the overrule power. This power specifically, section 11 of the Reserve Bank Act 1959 enables the federal treasurer to “overrule” an action taken by the Reserve … Continue reading "A Question Of Democracy!"

It was a confusing day on the markets on Thursday as AI related Stocks drove higher on Nvida results, while weak purchasing managers index (PMI) readings from Australia and Japan, together with FED signals for higher rates for longer saw Asian traders favour the dollar, as business activity in both countries slowed through February. NVIDIA … Continue reading "Winners And Losers: AI Versus PMI"

The RBA minutes just out included a discussion about the case to raise the cash rate further. It centred on the observation that it would take some time for inflation to return to target and the labour market to full employment. Inflation was expected to take a further two years or so to return towards … Continue reading "Property: The Dark Truth Politicians Don’t Want To Hear!"

This is a recorded version of my latest live show in which I discussed the current state of play of the property and mortgage markets with Chris Bates. Chris started as a Financial Adviser back in 2007 and sold his Financial Advice business in 2020. Over the past 9 years, Chris has grown into one … Continue reading "DFA Replay Q&A: A Mortgage Broker’s View Of The Property Market: With Chris Bates"

More sites have now been confirmed to have asbestos including transport infrastructure projects, primary and secondary schools, supermarkets and hospitals, according to the EPA, across NSW. The premier, Chris Minns, has said the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is examining the sites as it undertakes its largest investigation ever. The agency on Saturday said a public … Continue reading "Tip Of The Asbestos Iceberg: The Nightmare Continues Across NSW"

We are back for another Monday rant with our property insider, Edwin Almeida. We look at the political “fixes” versus reality as rental supply dwindles, and the costs of new builds go through the roof. Its not a pretty picture and there are social consequences emerging. Can we get politicians to move beyond the political? … Continue reading "Its Edwin’s Monday Evening Property Rant!"

In my latest surveys we showed that cash flow stress among households has risen to an all time high of 73.47% or more than 2.27 million households. Mapping the Market data from CoreLogic shows the high proportion of areas where house rents have risen by 20% or more across Sydney, and Melbourne, those here, some … Continue reading "The Rental Market Is Broken…"

This is our weekly market update covering the US, Europe, Asia and Australia plus gold, oil and bitcoin. This was another volatile week on the markets, as traders played the volatility card and as U.S. stocks fell on Friday with the Nasdaq showing the largest decline after a hotter-than-expected producer prices report eroded hopes for … Continue reading "Another White-Knuckle Ride On The Markets!"