Why Building New Homes Is No Longer Financially Viable
Hotspotting
When even the NSW Government cannot make housing projects financially viable, what does that say about the real state of Australia’s housing market? In this episode, we unpack why Landcom has scrapped major housing developments across western Sydney and what that reveals about construction costs, feasibility pressures, government housing targets and the growing gap between political promises and commercial reality. If you follow Australian property, housing affordability, real estate trends or market analysis, this episode cuts through the noise and gets to the numbers that actually matter.
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Australia’s Growth Leaders of 2026 Revealed
Hotspotting
Australia’s property markets are set for growth in 2026 – but not in the way most experts think. In this episode, we dive into the Growth Leaders 2026 report from Hotspotting and Finance Better to uncover which cities and regions are poised for the biggest price increases. From capital cities to regional hotspots, even the markets thought to be “weaker” are showing strong signs of upward movement. We explore six key metrics that reveal the real drivers behind property value growth – beyond interest rates and media speculation. Tune in to discover where smart buyers and investors...
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Red Tape and Taxes Are Killing Housing Supply
Hotspotting
Australia’s housing crisis isn’t a mystery – it’s the result of government choices. In this episode, we dig into why Victoria is making home ownership harder than ever, from excessive red tape and slow approvals to punitive taxes that push costs through the roof. We break down the numbers, explore the real impact on buyers and developers, and uncover the structural barriers keeping new homes out of reach. If you’ve ever wondered why supply isn’t meeting demand or why building a home is so expensive, this episode explains it all. Tune in to get the full picture behind Australia’s...
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What the Headlines Are Getting Wrong About Home Building in 2026
Hotspotting
Australia’s home building “recovery” is dominating headlines — but does it actually stack up? In this episode, we unpack the latest building approvals data and explain why a single strong month does not signal a genuine turnaround in Australia’s housing market. We explore the real gap between approvals, commencements and completions, why so many approved projects never get built, and how construction costs, labour shortages and government red tape are constraining housing supply in 2026. If you care about housing affordability, property markets, real estate trends or policy reform,...
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The Housing Market Myth the Media Pushes Every New Year
Hotspotting
Every January, the Australian media dusts off the same story. A single month of housing data is framed as a turning point for the property market and a warning sign for the year ahead. This episode unpacks why December housing figures are routinely misunderstood, how seasonal slowdowns skew the data, and why mainstream commentary often mistakes noise for insight. We examine what actually drives Australian house prices, from chronic housing undersupply and population growth to infrastructure investment, and why interest rate speculation is so often used as a lazy explanation. If you want a...
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Red Tape and Taxes Are Killing Housing Supply
Hotspotting
Australia’s housing crisis isn’t a mystery – it’s the result of government choices. In this episode, we dig into why Victoria is making home ownership harder than ever, from excessive red tape and slow approvals to punitive taxes that push costs through the roof. We break down the numbers, explore the real impact on buyers and developers, and uncover the structural barriers keeping new homes out of reach. If you’ve ever wondered why supply isn’t meeting demand or why building a home is so expensive, this episode explains it all. Tune in to get the full picture behind Australia’s...
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Small Cities and Regional Markets Driving Big Growth in 2026
Hotspotting
2026 is set to shake up the Australian property market, and the winners might surprise you. While the usual capitals have led growth in recent years, this year it’s the small cities and overlooked regional markets stepping into the spotlight. Join us as we explore why Darwin, Hobart and Canberra are on the rise, and uncover the hidden hotspots across Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales that investors are starting to notice. If you want to stay ahead of the market and spot the property growth leaders before everyone else, this episode is a must-listen.
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The Property Hotspots Everyone Loves That We Said No To
Hotspotting
In this episode, we unpack the property markets that didn’t make our National Top 10 Best Buys 2026 — and why those omissions are just as important as the locations we included. Markets like Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Darwin and parts of regional Queensland have delivered standout growth. But we explain why being hot today doesn’t always translate to strong future returns, and how competitive conditions can make buying well far more difficult. You’ll hear how we identify early-cycle markets, why we avoid locations that have already had their best run, and where we believe the...
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Exposing Self-Proclaimed Property Experts on Social Media
Hotspotting
Social media is packed with self-proclaimed property gurus promising the “secret” suburbs set to boom in 2026. But how much of it can you actually trust? In this episode, we cut through the hype, exposing the telltale signs of fake property experts and showing you how to make smarter decisions when investing in Australian real estate. If you want to avoid costly mistakes and understand what really drives property growth, this is the guide you need. Tune in and learn why there are no shortcuts, no secrets, just proven strategies backed by real experience.
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The Hard Truth About Australia’s Record High Rents and Prices
Hotspotting
Australia’s housing crisis is at record highs, but why aren’t things improving? In this episode, we break down how government policies, constant law changes, and supply shortages are driving up house prices and rents. We explore why state and federal actions often make the problem worse, who really bears the cost, and what could actually help fix the affordability crisis. Tune in to get a clear, no-nonsense explanation of why homes are so expensive and what it means for renters, buyers, and investors across Australia.
info_outlineThe trend we call the Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle is among the most powerful forces impacting real estate markets across Australia.
It’s a trend that been around for at least the past 10 years, with more and more residents of the biggest cities relocating to smaller cities or regional areas in search of a different and more affordable lifestyle, empowered by technology which allows many people to work remotely.
It was NOT created by the Covid lockdowns. It was under way long before Covid appeared in 2020 and it continues to have considerable momentum now that we are well beyond the pandemic restrictions.
But media continues to perpetuate the fiction that this was a Covid thing – and to express surprise that, now that we no longer have lockdowns and border restrictions, people are not all moving back to the big cities.
The latest quarterly edition of the Regional Movers Index confirms that this trend is as strong as ever – and it has generated more shock/horror/amazement from journalists who think it was all about the Covid lockdowns.
One article in major media expressed surprise that “Australia is not going back to the pre-pandemic way of life”.
And there’s a very good reason for that: this trend has very little to do with the pandemic.
The Regional Movers Index – which is a collaboration between the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) and the Commonwealth Bank - has once again reported that there are far more people relocating to regional areas than making a move in the opposite direction to major cities, with a 27 per cent difference in the June 2024 Quarter.
What the latest figures confirm, according to RAI chief executive Liz Ritchie, is that “the population movement we’re seeing is a sustained trend”.
Ritchie says: “Regional Australia has become the nation’s new frontier.”
The latest data highlighted a number of specific hotspots that are reaping the benefits of Australia’s romance with the regions.
Lake Macquarie, which sits beside Newcastle in NSW, has emerged as one of Australia’s most popular destinations for movers, securing an almost 5 per cent share of net internal migration over the past year.
Neighbouring local government areas on the NSW south coast such as the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla both experienced strong annual and quarterly surges in movement, according to the report.
Large centres within a few hours’ drive of capitals remain popular with many movers, however the regions that experienced the biggest population changes over the past 12 months were generally further afield, including Townsville (Qld), Mid-West Regional (NSW), Strathbogie (Vic), Murray Bridge (SA), Greater Geraldton (WA) and George Town (Tas).
Approximately three-quarters of the city dwellers who made the move to the regions in the past three months found new homes in either regional NSW or Victoria, confirming that Sydney continues to shed the highest number of residents, followed by Melbourne.
But that’s not to say that Queensland’s appeal has waned entirely, with regional Queensland’s share of net city outflows sitting at 19 per cent, even though it was as high as 41 per cent this time last year.
Indeed, the Sunshine Coast has retained its title as the nation’s most popular destination for relocators, accounting for a 14 per cent share of net internal migration. The Gold Coast has slipped down in the rankings, however, with the city experiencing a net outflow of people to other regional areas.
Western Australia also proved attractive for relocators, with Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel and Northam all seeing an inflow of new residents.
The overall picture is that the trend of people moving from Sydney and Melbourne to regional areas continues strongly, with large numbers of big city dwellers still seeking a different and more affordable lifestyle.