Suburbs for first buyers
They may be cheap, but cutting stamp duty means prices will rise without a lift to supply at the same time.
They may be cheap, but cutting stamp duty means prices will rise without a lift to supply at the same time.
Treasurer says any move to cut tax breaks on property investment would crash a market that is already slowing.
The Treasurer says that better housing affordability is needed for social stability and keeping the longer-term welfare bill lower.
The improvement in WA and decline in NSW points to the emergence of a new picture of regional disparities in housing.
Auction activity is running hot in Australia's east-coast markets and investors remain keen to snap up properties.
Australia's housing market accelerated in the final three months of last year at its fastest pace in at least five years to $656,800.
While overall picture is better than a year earlier, rising mortgage values pose a risk for first-home buyers.
Auction markets in the two largest cities picked up from where they ended last year.
It will weaken, but the surprising strength of demand in the second half of 2016 is likely to continue into the new year, bank says.
Sydney's median house price jumped to a record $1.1 million in the December quarter.
Housing price growth slowed in the September quarter as unit values in Melbourne and Brisbane hit the brakes.
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