I’m constantly startled at how much commentary in the media about property markets comes from individuals and organisations with very limited understanding the topic.

Real estate consumers in Australia – many of whom unfortunately rely on news media for market information – are constantly beset by misinformation and shallow analysis from people who clearly have only the thinnest of knowledge about residential real estate.

I classify much as what we see in news media as kindergarten analysis – commentary and so called analysis at an almost childlike level.

Most of the forecasts about property prices are sourced from economists, notably those with fancy titles at the big 4 banks, whose track record in predicting real estate incomes is quite dismal.

Anyone who monitors their predictions and compares them with actual outcomes, as we do here at Hotspotting, will be stunned at how often they get it wrong – and, usually, spectacularly so.