Australian Housing Affordability & Shortage

| September 30, 2008
housing

The vast majority of Australians are spending a considerable portion of their income on mortgage repayments or rent, and the squeeze is getting tighter.

Access to decent, safe and affordable housing is recognised internationally as a basic human right, but we expect a lot more from our homes than mere shelter.

Let’s discuss how we can ensure Australia has an ample, adequate and affordable supply of housing now and for the future.

Should our taxation system be reviewed to help home buyers enter the market? How can the Government make it more accessible for lower or single income earners?  What are the most successful low-income housing initiatives and can Australia learn anything from similar initiatives in other countries? How do our cultural standards for housing influence our choices and will we ever be satisfied?

Whether you are in the field of building and construction, planning and infrastructure, lending and finance, housing assistance, property sales and management, or have learnt something through your personal experience in the housing market, please share your insights with the rest of us.

Our new ‘Topic of the Month’ is something that each and every one of us can relate to – Australian Housing Affordability & Shortage.

The vast majority of Australians are spending a considerable portion of their income on mortgage repayments or rent, and the squeeze is getting tighter.

housing logoAccess to decent, safe and affordable housing is recognised internationally as a basic human right, but we expect a lot more from our homes than mere shelter.

Let’s discuss how we can ensure Australia has an ample, adequate and affordable supply of housing now and for the future.

  • Australian Housing/Rental Crisis: Fact or Fiction?
  • If the US Government isn’t going to bailout the banks, what will this mean for us? Has it been a case of irresponsible lending or reckless borrowing?
  • Should there be a stricter approach to lending? Is offering no deposit home loans and large mortgages to those who may have trouble making repayments contributing to the housing crisis?
  • What should the role of government be? How much is within their control?
  • Should the taxation system be reviewed to help home buyers enter the market? How can the government make it more accessible for lower or single income earners?
  • Should stamp duty be abolished?
  • How do our cultural standards for housing influence our choices? Will we ever be satisfied?
  • Are you renting? What’s changed for you during the last twelve months?
  • What are the most successful low-income housing initiatives? Can Australia learn anything from similar initiatives in other countries?
  • How can we make green housing affordable to low and moderate-income families?
  • How can we help those facing homelessness?

If any of the points above strikes a chord, then get blogging now! Whether you are in the field of building and construction, planning and infrastructure, lending and finance, housing assistance, property sales and management, or have learnt something through your personal experience in the housing market, please share your insights with the rest of us.

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0 Comments

  1. Dave

    October 24, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Where to start?
    The Australian housing market is the most distorted market in Australia – it is a mess and it is central to our economy.  All levels of government are incompetent on this issue and nobody has the political strength to deal with it.

  2. sally.rose

    October 24, 2008 at 10:56 pm

    Well, for a start…

    For a start, some of that money being spent on increasing home buyer grants could be spent on providing more public and conmmunity housing?

    Sally Rose

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