Category Archives: Housing

CommSec highlights importance of residential construction to Qld economy

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Gene Tunny

The latest State of the States report from CommSec highlights the current importance of residential construction to the health of the Queensland economy. As reported by John McCarthy in today’s Courier-Mail: QUEENSLAND’S economy is starting to emerge from the mining … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Macroeconomy, Mining, Tourism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Continuing rebound in Qld private sector job vacancies at end of 2016

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Gene Tunny

There was good news for the Queensland economy yesterday, with the ABS reporting a continuation of the rebound in private sector job vacancies in the final quarter of last year (see chart below). Private sector job vacancies have increased from … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Housing, Labour market, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sydney & Melbourne property prices defy rational explanation

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Gene Tunny

At the Guardian, Gareth Hutchens criticises some market economists for their forecasts of a correction in house prices in 2016, while house prices in Sydney and Melbourne actually grew at double-digit rates. Market economists Saul Eslake and Stephen Koukoulas have … Continue reading →

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Comments in Courier-Mail on residential construction & First Home Owners’ Grant

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Gene Tunny

I am quoted extensively in John McCarthy’s Courier-Mail article this morning Brisbane house prices showing strong growth while regions are suffering (pay-walled), expressing similar views to those in my post from yesterday. In the Courier-Mail article, I sound more alarmist … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Housing, Macroeconomy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Risk to SEQ economy from likely downswing in residential construction, as market absorbs huge supply shock

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Gene Tunny

John McCarthy had a very good opinion piece in yesterday’s Courier-Mail on the “Sorry tale of the great Queensland divide”, in which he contrasted SEQ’s relatively strong economic performance with weakness in many regions, an issue which I frequently commented … Continue reading →

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Recommended holiday reading: The Man Who Knew

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Gene Tunny

The best economics and finance book of 2016 is undoubtedly Sebastian Mallaby’s masterful biography of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, The Man Who Knew. Greenspan was the man who knew that superficially healthy economies, with steady economic growth and … Continue reading →

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“Luxury”: A New Way of Marketing Overpriced Apartments

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I have previously posted on the massive increase in the supply of apartments in Brisbane that we are seeing. In a market with a glut of apartment stock, developers and sales agents are trying to differentiate their own offerings as … Continue reading →

Posted in Brisbane, Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Pets are good for your health, the Budget and the economy

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Gene Tunny

Bondi Vet Dr Chris Brown has noted: “…pets make us happy. They wash away our worries while showing us how life should be lived. And pets are proven to also make us healthier.” Pets also have economic and budgetary impacts, … Continue reading →

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Heat map of Brisbane metro property prices – big opportunities in the Western corridor?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Gene Tunny

It is well appreciated that people are willing to pay more for properties that are closer to the CBD, have a greater range of services close by (e.g. transport, retail) and offer an attractive lifestyle (e.g. a cosmopolitan community, river … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

OECD right to recommend “Close vigilance on housing-market developments is still required”

Posted on June 4, 2016 by Gene Tunny

I was not surprised to learn yesterday that the OECD remains concerned about Australia’s housing market, which has shown signs of over-heating, particularly in Sydney, although the OECD did note that there are “receding risks from the housing boom” (see … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments