Australia’s Housing Crisis Just Became Deeply Personal
Hotspotting
Anthony Albanese’s housing debate has become deeply personal. The Prime Minister built significant wealth through Australian real estate, benefiting from the same property tax settings his government now wants to change. So what does that mean for investors, housing affordability and the future of negative gearing? In this episode, we unpack the political fallout, the growing investor concerns and whether proposed reforms could reduce rental supply and push property ownership even further out of reach for younger Australians. From negative gearing and capital gains tax to migration,...
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Why Hotspotting’s Best Buys Report Keeps Finding Winning Markets
Hotspotting
How accurate are property market forecasts when tested against real results? In this episode, Hotspotting revisits the March 2024 National Top 10 Best Buys Report to examine how its recommended Australian property markets have performed over the past two years. The results reveal strong capital growth across key locations, with standout performers delivering exceptional returns and validating the research signals that identified these markets early. We unpack the data, highlight the top performing regions, and explain the market indicators smart property investors should watch when identifying...
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How Media Distorts Property Data And Misguides Investors
Hotspotting
Most coverage of the Australian property market focuses on headlines, not reality. In this episode, we unpack why mainstream media reporting can significantly distort how buyers, sellers, and investors perceive market conditions. We examine recent housing data from leading sources including Domain, Cotality, and PropTrack, revealing a more nuanced picture of Australia’s real estate performance. While media narratives often emphasise short-term weakness, the broader data shows widespread growth across capital city and regional markets, particularly in house and unit price trends over recent...
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Australia’s Rental Shortage Has Reached Breaking Point
Hotspotting
Australia’s rental crisis is deepening, but the real story goes far beyond rising rents and low vacancy rates. In this episode, we unpack the structural forces driving Australia’s worsening rental shortage — from policy decisions at state and federal level, to rising costs of property ownership, and the unintended consequences shaping investor behaviour and housing supply. With vacancy rates at critically low levels across most capital cities, and affordability deteriorating for tenants nationwide, the data reveals a market under sustained and growing pressure. We explore why...
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Australia’s Best Performing Property Markets Revealed By The Pulse
Hotspotting
What if the strongest property investment opportunities could be identified before the market surge? In this episode, we unpack the standout results from The Pulse and reveal how Hotspotting’s market analysis identified 50 Australian locations that went on to deliver exceptional performance over the past two years. With every market recording positive capital growth, average gains of 41%, and top performers climbing as high as 78%, this episode explores the data, trends and market fundamentals driving these remarkable outcomes. We examine the suburbs that delivered the biggest...
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Australia’s Rental Crisis Explained | Supply, Policy & What Happens Next
Hotspotting
With vacancy rates at record lows and rents consuming more household income than ever… is Australia’s rental crisis getting worse? In this episode of The Property Playbook, host Tim Graham is joined by Terry Ryder, Founder of Hotspotting, to unpack the real drivers behind Australia’s housing shortage — and why the situation continues to deteriorate. With national vacancy rates sitting around 1%, well below the ~3% level considered a balanced market, and more than 3,400 people arriving in Australia every day, the pressure on rental supply is intensifying — and there are no quick fixes...
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The Safe Haven Strategy Australians Trust When Markets Turn
Hotspotting
When global markets turn volatile, where does capital seek safety? In this episode, we explore why Australian property continues to demonstrate resilience amid economic uncertainty, share market swings, and geopolitical disruption. Drawing on historical cycles including the dotcom crash, the Global Financial Crisis, and COVID, we examine a consistent theme: while equities react sharply to global events, Australian real estate remains underpinned by structural demand, limited supply, and long term fundamentals. We unpack the key drivers shaping the market today, including population...
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The Myths Driving Australia’s Property Narrative And What The Data Shows
Hotspotting
Australia’s housing crisis continues to dominate headlines, political debate and public discourse, yet meaningful progress remains elusive. In this episode, we take a clear, evidence-based look at why decades of inquiries, policy interventions and commentary have failed to materially improve housing affordability, supply and rental conditions across the country. We unpack the structural drivers behind the shortage of dwellings, the persistent rise in construction costs and build times, and the disconnect between policy narratives and market realities. The discussion also challenges widely...
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Why The RBA Rise Is Kindergarten Economics and Grossly Unfair
Hotspotting
Are interest rate hikes really fixing inflation—or just shifting the pain? In this episode, we take a hard look at the latest move by the Reserve Bank of Australia and unpack why raising rates may be a blunt, outdated response to a complex economic problem. With the cash rate climbing to 4.10% under Governor Michele Bullock, we examine who actually bears the cost—and why mortgage holders continue to carry the heaviest load. Drawing on economic data and policy insights, we explore the real drivers of inflation in Australia, from energy prices and housing supply to government spending...
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The Supply Crisis Keeping Australia’s Property Market Under Pressure
Hotspotting
Australia’s property market is under pressure like never before. Listings are low, vacancies are tight, and new supply is failing to meet demand. Why are prices and rents continuing to rise despite government interventions? In this episode, we cut through the headlines to uncover the real drivers of the housing crunch. From shrinking rental stock to a stalled construction pipeline, we explore the structural challenges shaping the market and what it means for buyers, renters, and investors. Tune in for expert insights, data-backed analysis, and a clear view of why scarcity is the true force...
info_outlineInvestors come to property markets in many different shapes and sizes, but our observation is that most are seeking a level of affordability.
The official data shows that most Australians seeking to buy investment properties are not wealthy, with most having incomes below $100,000, and most have just one property or are buying a rental property for the first time.
This dictates, for many, a purchase somewhere in the range from $400,000 to $600,000.
Fortunately, there continue to be options in regional Australia where buyers can access houses in this price range in locations which have good prospects for future capital growth.
Our day-to-day research shows that investors can buy in regional areas at affordable prices, achieve above-average rental yields and look forward to good price growth.
That old attitude that you have to make a choice between strong capital growth or high rental yields is one of the great misconceptions of residential real estate.
If you choose your location well, you can have a good combination of both.
Those seeking to buy in that price range between $400,000 to $600,000 can still find possibilities for houses in the cheaper areas of some of our capital cities – and, increasingly, investors who are aware of the current trends can find good options in the market for units and townhouses.
In cities like Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne, you can buy units in inner-city areas in that affordable price range.
The rise and rise of apartments and townhouses as the dwelling of choice for many important cohorts has meant that attached dwellings are increasingly challenging detached dwellings on capital growth, while providing cheaper buy-in prices and higher rental yields.
So, how can you find out more about the possibilities?
By reading our new Cheapies with Prospects reports.
We have two editions of the Cheapies reports – the city edition and the regional edition – and in these reports the key criteria are that the locations have affordable options and the credentials for capital growth.
The new editions are available now and provide clues to the places you can look to find that precious combination of affordability, good rental yields and potential for growth.