Preface Most comments on foreign investment in Australia are based on lack of data, as recent surveys of foreign investment in residential real estate show. At present, it seems that the only agency that collects data on this sensitive issue is the Foreign Investment Review Board, and it seems limited. Even the Australian Bureau of…
Preface Housing prices soared again, and “economically affordable housing” grew the fastest. There are indeed many factors at play, which is not surprising. The market instability caused by COVID-19 is driving asset acquisitions-real estate is a classic port in investor storms. Interest rates are at their lowest point in history and may remain in this…
There is no doubt that Australia’s construction industry is facing difficult times. COVID-19 has caused slow migration. This will reduce the number of houses built in total. This means fewer jobs in the construction industry, which employs nearly one in ten Australians. The Morrison government is announcing a stimulus package for the construction industry. But…
The federal government has repeatedly stated in its 2017 budget that it tends to use “scalpel” rather than “chain saw” or “sledgehammer” methods in the housing market. The number of housing measures in the budget is wider than the most recent previous budget. The policy levers of both supply and demand have been incorporated into…
Preface Being in the following environment: You have just bought a house and have moved in. In a friendly chat with your neighbors, you found that the property was a serious crime scene or used to manufacture some chemicals. How will you react? If you know some background about the property, will you still buy…
Preface Mandatory energy efficiency ratings for houses have been in effect for some time in parts of the UK and other parts of Europe, and seem to be generally accepted. In particular, new houses must comply with strict architectural design and construction standards to ensure that household energy consumption is minimized. In Australia, in order…
From 1900 to 2010, the amount of materials accumulated in buildings and infrastructure worldwide increased 23 times. We are consuming resources at an unprecedented rate. Now is not to start extracting dwindling raw materials from nature at higher and higher costs, but time to start reusing the raw materials in our cities’ buildings and infrastructure.…
Demolition work is the most dangerous work in construction, and construction itself is one of the industries with the highest injury rate. Abandoned Didcot Family The tragic collapse and death of the Didcot Family Abandoned Building is a strong reminder of the danger of demolition. Not long ago, after a major boiler room collapsed, one…
Preface Whether you are a boatman or not, when you sail or fish, everyone realizes the importance of keeping the water outside. The fewer leaks on the ship, the less you need to rely on equipment such as bilge pumps to float. What does this have to do with housing? Well, as we all know,…
Ten years of state reforms to ease supply restrictions have enabled the development of apartments in the inner city and produced a stable supply of land in the outer suburbs. With the number of housing construction reaching a record level, the national planning system is clearly able to cope with growing market demand. Regardless of…