Category Archives: Housing

Still waiting for a recovery in building approvals

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s new building approvals data from the ABS were disappointing, as the recovery in building approvals I thought was occurring a few months ago has not eventuated, and building approvals remain flat at a relatively low level: It appears OESR … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Bad news for renters, but drop in vacancy rates is good news for building industry

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Gene Tunny

A friend of mine recently complained about how hard it is to find a suitable flat at the moment in inner city Brisbane, and data on residential vacancies released today by OESR back up this complaint. In inner Brisbane, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gold Coast, Housing, Macroeconomy | Leave a comment

Property industry confident Qld will out-perform other States

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The latest Property Council of Australia-ANZ Property Industry Confidence Survey found the industry is confident Queensland’s economy will out-perform other States and the property market will improve over 2012 (ANZ analysis: Confidence survey): As the latest PCA-ANZ survey results indicate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Mining | Leave a comment

Government right to consider scrapping ULDA

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I’m pleased to see the Government is following through with its election commitment to review the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA), as reported in the Townsville Bulletin this morning (Development authority in Newman’s sights): Mr Newman has committed to scrapping … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment

Valuer-General’s report shows big slump from pre-GFC Gold Coast land values

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Gene Tunny

While I’m generally positive about the Queensland economy, I remain concerned about the short-term prospects of Cairns and the Gold Coast. Loose Change has coverage of the bad news on land valuations in the Cairns region contained in today’s report … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Gold Coast, Housing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Building activity improving, but will remain “fairly subdued” in many regions

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Queensland Master Builders yesterday released its regional snapshots from its quarterly survey of industry conditions. The following conditions are expected over the March quarter: “fairly subdued” in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Far North, North Queensland, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay Burnett … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, North Queensland | Leave a comment

Home loans data confirm Qld economy is strong

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s new ABS housing finance commitments data show strong growth nationally in December 2011 (up 2.3% seasonally adjusted), with Queensland in second place among States and Territories:

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment

Gold Coast over-supply of residential property persists

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Gold Coast building industry is likely to be in for another tough year at least, based on December quarter 2011 rental housing vacancy rates reported in today’s information brief from OESR: Gold Coast tradies will log a lot more … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment

Newman Government to cut stamp duty and weaken ULDA

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Gene Tunny

A change in Government in Queensland now appears inevitable. Opposition Leader Campbell Newman is treated almost everywhere he goes as if he is the Premier-in-waiting, with business and community leaders listening intently to him, to discern how Newman Government policies … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Tax | 1 Comment

Should the Government provide social housing?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Gene Tunny

Today’s Courier-Mail report on problems with the management of Queensland’s social housing stock makes me wonder if there is a better way for the Government to assist poor households (70,000 on housing wait list): There are 69,180 people, roughly the … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Leave a comment