Housing Articles
Housing regulations: a blow to the poor and to everybody’s living standards
Catallaxy Files, 1 March 2018
The information that the price of new housing land in Melbourne jumped 36 per cent last year might be great news for existing house owners who can expect a further leap in value of their main asset but it is a disaster for those who are renters or seeking to purchase a home. The average Melbourne house price at the end of 2017 was $817,000 with Sydney at $1,117,000.
Excessive house prices: land use regulation and not immigration is the solution
Catallaxy Files, 28 January 2018
Tony Abbott must surely be the only possible route by which Australia can emulate the benefits that the US is now reaping from the election of President Trump. While being a more refined politician than The Donald but falling short of many of our hopes when in office, Abbott shares Trump’s goals of small government, and like him contests Political Correctness, and is pro-liberty and democracy. Abbott’s unadvertised selfless, personal charity work amongst
Housing supply chokehold is self-inflicted
Herald Sun, 14 April 2017
FOR the past 30 years, Australian house price increases have vastly outpaced general inflation. We are talking here of standard homes, not those in the inner suburbs, still less harbourside mansions. In the Australia of the 1980s, it took three times the median household income to buy the average house. Today it takes six times the median income (in Sydney and Melbourne respectively it’s over 12 and nine times median household incomes).
Housing policies as a drain on wealth creation
Catallaxy Files, 14 April 2017
Nowadays there is not much dispute that regulatory constraints on supply is the main reason why Australian house prices are up in the stratosphere. Governments are incapable of unwinding decades of cumulative regulatory controls on housing which have created Hong Kong land prices in a nation with the world’s greatest supply of developable land.
Australian housing’s regulatory price boost not about to end
Catallaxy Files, 23 January 2017
Global housing consultancy, Demographia, has confirmed what Australians always knew. Our house prices are extremely high and there is no relief in sight. ​ In 2016, out of 406 world cities surveyed for housing prices in relation to incomes, Australia is the leader with four cities the top 11 and 8 of the top 20 most highly priced housing markets. ​
Saint Tony falters – house prices ARE too high
Published on Catallaxy Files, 3 June 2015
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has said he hopes house prices will continue to rise gradually and is making political capital from suggestions from the Labor side that they are too high. The fact is that median house prices in Australia are, in relation to income levels, two to three times as expensive as in those jurisdictions (including most of the US, and Germany)
Housing taxes on foreigners will backfire on the economy
Published on Catallaxy Files, 4 May 2015
Henry Ergas, points to adverse implications of the attack on tax deductability for housing which would both to raise tax and lower demand competition for owner buyers. Whether or not housing investors are to be hit with taxes, both the Commonwealth and the Victorian State Governments have discovered housing as a new source of taxation revenue.
Land Release the Answer to Hot Housing Market
Herald Sun, 20 March 2015
Surging prices have invited many actions. These include attempts to force developers to include low-cost housing in new projects, a solution that fails at the first jump since it means the other buyers, many of whom are battlers, get charged more and, in effect, pay the subsidies
Killing the housing industry by throttling demand
Published on Catallaxy Files, 26 February 2015
Among the more affluent who are seeking to upgrade their housing to a preferred location, there is considerable discussion about the Chinese squeeze on purchases. This is not just something that is imagined by disgruntled under-bidders, the top end of the real estate industry has recognised the buying power of Chinese speakers,
Houses too Expensive? Blame the Plethora of Planning Laws
Australian Financial Review, 19 January 2015
Among the more affluent who are seeking to upgrade their housing to a preferred location, there is considerable discussion about the Chinese squeeze on purchases. This is not just something that is imagined by disgruntled under-bidders, the top end of the real estate industry has recognised the buying power of Chinese speakers,
Should we do away with negative gearing?
Herald Sun 17 October 2014
THE Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has joined other voices in calling for an end to negative gearing for housing. This involves an investor who makes a loss on an asset, offsetting some of this by paying less tax and hoping to come out on top if the market revalues the asset. The investor’s success depends upon the price of houses rising.
The Aussie dream one of the most expensive
Herald Sun 25th January, 2013
The ninth annual Demographia survey of house prices across the world was published this week. It again shows Australian house prices, adjusted for income levels, are well above those in the UK, US, Canada, and Ireland. Out of the 81 large cities in the survey, Melbourne's prices were the fifth highest.
Government chips away at planning controls
Herald Sun 14th December, 2012
House prices are off the boil. In Victoria they fell two per cent last year. Interest rates have been declining and compared to two years ago it now costs borrowers 15 per cent less to service the average $300,000 mortgage. The Reserve Bank has even predicted that an upsurge in house building will replace the resource boom in driving economic growth.
House prices must be allowed to fall
The Drum 21st June, 2012
The NSW budget allocated $561 million to promote increases in new housing. Part of this was for grants to new buyers of $15,000 plus remission of stamp duty on new houses priced up to $650,000. The $650,000 limit is around the median-priced Sydney home. Sydney has had the most draconian regulatory regime imposed on it since the days of Premier Carr, and its house prices are a fifth higher than in Melbourne, and 50 per cent above Brisbane's.
Access to land the root of soaring house prices
Herald Sun 4th March, 2011
In 2004, a report by the Commonwealth's normally reliable Productivity Commission (PC) completely misread the causes of high house prices. It failed to recognise that government planning processes had boosted house prices by starving the market of land for urban development. The PC instead blamed interest rates.
Government red tape puts us in house bind
Herald Sun 4th February, 2011
According to the English humourist Auberon Waugh, the urge to pass new laws must be seen as an illness, not much different from the urge to bite old women. Perhaps Julia Gillard recognised this in abandoning the cash-for-clunkers scheme. Designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this was to give new car buyers a $2000 rebate to scrap pre-1995 cars.
Surely the election can afford debate on housing
Herald Sun 21st August, 2010
As a concern among the electorate, housing affordability ranks above industrial relations, interest rates and asylum seekers. But until yesterday, housing affordability was missing from the election debate. In Victoria, housing policy is dominated by the government's extension of the urban growth boundary (UGB). This will allow an additional 26,000 hectares to be developed for housing. The enlargement is equivalent to one-thousandth of the state's land area.
It's time misguided land starvation was stopped
The West Australian 18th March, 2010
With boom times returning to WA, the housing market is once again overheating. The median house price in Perth is now $512,000, according to the December quarter figures from Australian Property Monitors, putting it beyond the reach of any new homeowner without substantial savings or parental support. Even in the new suburbs, prices have left all but the most affluent with no foot on the home- ownership ladder.
Price of a new house could be so much cheaper
Herald Sun 6th March, 2010
A misdirected email from Justin Madden's office showed the Brumby Government at its manipulative worst. Following a planning review into the iconic Windsor Hotel redevelopment, the government intended to set up a counterfeit protest group. Then, having "listened to the community", it would reject the redevelopment recommendation.
Price of a new house could be so much cheaper
Herald Sun 6th March, 2010
A misdirected email from Justin Madden's office showed the Brumby Government at its manipulative worst. Following a planning review into the iconic Windsor Hotel redevelopment, the government intended to set up a counterfeit protest group. Then, having "listened to the community", it would reject the redevelopment recommendation.
Government to blame for costly housing
Herald Sun 6th March, 2010
Many businesses are facing softer prices as a result of competitive pressures. However, house prices are soaring. Over the past year, Australian Property Monitors estimates house and unit prices rose by 10 per cent Australia-wide and by 15 per cent in Melbourne. One reason for these price hikes is government-imposed costs on new homes.
Easier zoning would deflate home prices
Sydney Morning Herald 13th February, 2010
Australia has 11 of the world's 25 least affordable cities for housing. The American consultancy Demographia this month released data of 272 urban areas around the world, and Sydney, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast were three of the four least affordable. Melbourne was seventh. The reason for Australia's high prices is extreme zoning measures, which prevent new housing developments.
Sinking benefits for landholders
The Australian Financial Review 19th November, 2009
Agriculture is the latest frontier on which skirmishes are taking place between protagonists on the need for an emissions trading scheme tax. The federal government has indicated it will agree to exclude direct emissions from agriculture from the ETS ambit. Agriculture accounts for about 18 per cent of Australia 's annual 550 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - or about 90 million tonnes.
New housing prices could be so much cheaper
The Herald Sun 30th May, 2009
The State Government levies a charge of $95,000 a hectare on land on the urban fringe that it rezones for housing. That's about $10,000 a housing block. The Government claims this charge is a contribution for infrastructure. But in new housing estates the local infrastructure is provided by the developer, not the Government.
Open convection
ABC Unleashed 24th April, 2009
The Prime Minister's hint that the First Home Owners Grant might be axed has further intensified interest in a housing market which was already at fever pitch. The owner occupied home comprises over half of the average Australian family's wealth. Unsurprisingly, house prices command far more attention than those of shares, which account for 6 per cent of wealth or even super (comprising 15 per cent of wealth).
Costly one day, perfectly prohibitive the next
Courier Mail 26th January, 2009
Queensland has achieved world leadership in housing. But before Queenslanders preen themselves for living in a state that now has worldwide recognition, I hasten to add that the leadership is in the cost of houses. The Sunshine Coast is estimated to be the least affordable of 265 markets in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Britain and the US. And this is no fluke
More land does not mean cheaper housing
Herald Sun 13th December, 2008
House builders and land developers have welcomed Spring Street's decision to allow more land to be used for housing on Melbourne's periphery. All restrictions on urban growth raise the cost of housing. But, with regulations, everything is relative. As pointed out by industry representatives like the Urban Development Institute's Tony De Dominico, the Victorian Government's land release policies have been less harmful than those of other states.
Sydney shuts the door on affordable average price
Australian Financial Review 30th August, 2008
Australia is now at the top of the pack in terms of the shameful measure of housing affordability. House price collapses in Britain and California mean Sydney has become the dearest place among major cities to buy an average house in relation to average family income. And several smaller Australian cities - Mandurah in Western Australia and Queensland's Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast - are even further ahead of Sydney.
Regulations retard home ownership
Herald Sun 14th July, 2008
Housing issues are always news in Victoria. Now we have resident action groups opposing new apartment building in inner suburbs. Moonee Valley was the latest suburb to feature Geoffrey Rush protesting against such redevelopment. Stopping such in-fill development means less land available for home sites. This aggravates the shortages created on city outskirts, due to planning schemes like Melbourne 2030.
Planning adds to high costs
Herald Sun 31st May, 2008
In July, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is due to report on grocery prices. Groceries comprise about a fifth of the family budget. Other retail goods have a slightly smaller share. Regulatory arrangements are the best place to start looking for the causes of any excessive costs. Unless regulation prevents new suppliers from entering a market, businesses will normally cut each others' throats to win business.
State can't afford a home affordability crisis
Courier-Mail 27th March, 2008
From the Gold Coast to Cairns, local elections have delivered office to people whose platform was aimed at controlling (read ``preventing'') further development in their communities. Not only does this deliver a bitter blow to those who want to buy affordable houses but it threatens the state's economy. Modern Queensland owes much to the tourist and retirement industry developments, which from the 1980s plugged a gap created in the state's economy by relatively subdued
More land, lower prices - guaranteed
The Age 13th March, 2008
At the end of last year, the average Australian house sold for $471,000, according to the Real Estate Institute - a 12% increase on the year before. Melbourne shared in the increase and the average price for a Melbourne apartment was higher than anywhere else in the country. Premier John Brumby's decision to unlock land within the urban growth boundary is therefore welcome news to aspiring home buyers.
Land constrictions cause housing pain
Herald Sun 26th January, 2008
Urban planners and politicians have vastly increased the cost of housing with plans such as Melbourne 2030. Last weekend, Demographia released its 2007 housing affordability findings. Covering 227 urban areas in the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, this tracks average house prices compared to average household income.
To Lower The Cost Of Housing, Cut The Red Tape
The Age 6th November, 2007
Urban planners and politicians have vastly increased the cost of housing with plans such as Melbourne 2030. Last weekend, Demographia released its 2007 housing affordability findings. Covering 227 urban areas in the US, Canada, Britain, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, this tracks average house prices compared to average household income.
Government has levers to increase land supply, improve housing affordability
The Age 17th October, 2007
With Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd's pledge to "unlock" federal land for housing, the election campaign has already claimed one policy victim. During the past five years, average house prices have increased by nearly 200 per cent. Over the course of the past year, the ALP has been maintaining that the cause of this was anything but government planning policies preventing land being used for housing.
Markets being stifled by the man with a plan
Herald Sun 22nd September, 2007
It was not so long ago that governments considered themselves better qualified to make commercial decisions than businesses. When companies did not invest the way the government thought they should, or offer the sort of product ranges officials thought were required, government stepped in with "industry plans". These usually involved subsidies and protection from imports in return for industry-wide efforts to develop in particular directions and also to improve productivity.
Housing regulations: a blow to the poor and to everybody’s living standards
Catallaxy Files, 1 March 2018
The information that the price of new housing land in Melbourne jumped 36 per cent last year might be great news for existing house owners who can expect a further leap in value of their main asset but it is a disaster for those who are renters or seeking to purchase a home. The average Melbourne house price at the end of 2017 was $817,000 with Sydney at $1,117,000. Across Australia, house prices adjusted for general inflation increased 34 per cent over the past five years, notwithstanding a s
Excessive house prices: land use regulation and not immigration is the solution
Catallaxy Files, 28 January 2018
Tony Abbott must surely be the only possible route by which Australia can emulate the benefits that the US is now reaping from the election of President Trump. While being a more refined politician than The Donald but falling short of many of our hopes when in office, Abbott shares Trump’s goals of small government, and like him contests Political Correctness, and is pro-liberty and democracy. Abbott’s unadvertised selfless, personal charity work among Aboriginal communities marks him as uniqu
FOR the past 30 years, Australian house price increases have vastly outpaced general inflation. We are talking here of standard homes, not those in the inner suburbs, still less harbourside mansions. In the Australia of the 1980s, it took three times the median household income to buy the average house. Today it takes six times the median income (in Sydney and Melbourne respectively it’s over 12 and nine times median household incomes). The basic reason why prices have risen so strongly is becau
Nowadays there is not much dispute that regulatory constraints on supply is the main reason why Australian house prices are up in the stratosphere. Governments are incapable of unwinding decades of cumulative regulatory controls on housing which have created Hong Kong land prices in a nation with the world’s greatest supply of developable land. Since the 1980s dwelling numbers have increased 40 per cent and people 60 per cent. Prices that used to average three times household incomes are now
Global housing consultancy, Demographia, has confirmed what Australians always knew. Our house prices are extremely high and there is no relief in sight. ​ In 2016, out of 406 world cities surveyed for housing prices in relation to incomes, Australia is the leader with four cities the top 11 and 8 of the top 20 most highly priced housing markets. ​ Sydney comes second (after Hong Kong) where it takes 12.2 times the median household income to buy the median priced house. Sydney’s median priced
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has said he hopes house prices will continue to rise gradually and is making political capital from suggestions from the Labor side that they are too high. The fact is that median house prices in Australia are, in relation to income levels, two to three times as expensive as in those jurisdictions (including most of the US, and Germany) where planning and other regulations are less stringent. This is not because of land shortages (Australia has more abundant land availability than any other nation – even Sydney hemmed in by the ocean and national parks could increase its size by 50 per cent simply within the County of Cumberland). Nor is it because building costs are high – although unionisation of apartment buildings creates excessive costs, single and double story houses are built by small businesses contracting with each in a highly competitive manner.
Text.Henry Ergas, points to adverse implications of the attack on tax deductability for housing which would both to raise tax and lower demand competition for owner buyers. Whether or not housing investors are to be hit with taxes, both the Commonwealth and the Victorian State Governments have discovered housing as a new source of taxation revenue. In both cases the new tax slug is accompanied by claims that it is in accordance with the moral high ground.
Surging prices have invited many actions. These include attempts to force developers to include low-cost housing in new projects, a solution that fails at the first jump since it means the other buyers, many of whom are battlers, get charged more and, in effect, pay the subsidies
Killing the housing industry by throttling demand
Published on Catallaxy Files, 26 February 2015
Among the more affluent who are seeking to upgrade their housing to a preferred location, there is considerable discussion about the Chinese squeeze on purchases. This is not just something that is imagined by disgruntled under-bidders, the top end of the real estate industry has recognised the buying power of Chinese speakers, the majority of whom are probably residents and all major firms have been hiring Chinese speaking sales staff. Data is poor. The RBA estimated that in the most recent year 12 per cent of new dwelling turnover and 3 per cent of sales of existing properties was accounted for by foreign buyers. And these estimates were considered to be on the high side due to some FIRB approvals not being followed up by actual purchases.
Houses too Expensive? Blame the Plethora of Planning Laws
Published in Australian Financial Review, 19 January 2015
Negative Gearing and the Capital Gains Tax Regime are not the reason for High House Prices. Out of 86 cities across the world with over a million people, house prices relative to incomes in Sydney and Melbourne were the third and sixth most expensive. That's the finding of the latest annual survey of house prices released this week by Demographia. Some jurisdictions - the south in the US and most of Canada have house prices relative to incomes that are half of Australia's. The reasons for the differing fortunes of mainly young people looking to buy their first house ..........
THE Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has joined other voices in calling for an end to negative gearing for housing. This involves an investor who makes a loss on an asset, offsetting some of this by paying less tax and hoping to come out on top if the market revalues the asset. The investor’s success depends upon the price of houses rising. This has been the norm in Australia but in the US, following the 2007 crisis, house prices in California, Florida and elsewhere halved and remain below their previous levels
Debt disease sparks stock stampede
The Age 17th August, 2007