Housing Construction Industry

There are two things the prime minister needs to get into his head about tax. One is that saying he won't make any further changes no longer works. The other is that negative gearing doesn't do much to get people into homes, writes Peter Martin.

Queensland's real estate lobby says people are too afraid to point out that unions are driving up the cost of housing, but an economist says that while wage growth is a contributing factor, so too is growing material costs, labour shortages and excessive government regulations.

As people reportedly wait months just to get approval to build sheds and signs, councils across NSW look to jump on board an artificial intelligence program that aims to revolutionise the development process. 

If you're buying a home that has been "substantially renovated" you may have to pay GST. The problem home buyers face is that what qualifies as a "substantial renovation" is uncertain, writes Christine Peacock.

It seems there's no stopping the march forward in the Australian property market, with housing prices expected to continue to rise by about 6 per cent in capital cities through 2024.

With only 12 public cyclone shelters across Queensland, a leading design engineer recommends more people should consider building dedicated rooms in their homes.

Julia and Matthew Mooney thought they'd be celebrating the new year in their new unit on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Instead, they're back to square one in their property search.

House prices are on track to rise across the country, propelled by renters and migrants wanting to buy their own homes and buyers trying to get in ahead of interest rate cuts expected later this year.

Like many young Australians 26-year-old Cody is struggling with the housing crisis and with dwindling vacancy rates in Perth she, her partner and her friends have landed at her grandmother's place as a last resort as their search continues.

Master Builders Queensland warns there is a new wave of increasing construction costs coming and some believe opportunistic "price gouging" is partially to blame.

From next month, developer Lendlease will start bulldozing 18 properties at the defect-plagued Jordan Springs East estate for not meeting the company's "quality standards".

The 78-year-old co-founder of Walker Corporation passes away peacefully in his Woolloomooloo home surrounded by his family, who say they are heartbroken at the loss of a great man.

One solution to the housing crisis has been raised over and over again for years: building more social and affordable housing. But it doesn't seem to have happened yet.

As Australia grapples with housing affordability, NSW is at the forefront of another crisis sweeping new builds. Problems within the industry have led to an explosion of work for building commissioner David Chandler since his 2019 appointment.

A major road linking south-west Sydney to Wollongong has received NSW government approval for a long-awaited upgrade that accounts for impacts on a growing koala colony.

Consumers could be forgiven for asking themselves if it is safe to buy an apartment off the plan with issues frequently emerging in Sydney's building developments. But industry stakeholders say new laws protect prospective buyers.

The ruins of the Batavia Motor Inne have been an eyesore for some time, but developers want to turn what is left into much-needed accommodation for workers.

The Lachlan's Line precinct was completed in 2020, consisting of four buildings containing a total of 900 apartments, with a retail village on the ground floor.

Homeowners are set to face another wet season in houses found to be unsafe in cyclones, as their builder challenges a compensation order in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. 

The WA government's numerous announcements to help ease the housing crisis are yet to make a meaningful difference. State political reporter Keane Bourke explains what needs to happen to fix the problem.

Tasmania's only hemp stalk processing factory is producing "hempcrete" — an uncommon, but highly sustainable building product. The industry says regulation is blocking access to a multi-billion-dollar market. 

Regional Victorians were still dealing with the effects of the October 2022 floods when the latest weather events rolled through, adding to the damage. 

The cost of renting a house in Perth increases for the ninth consecutive quarter, with one tenant looking for a new home after being told he and his housemates would have to pay an extra $250 a week. 

In an outback town suffering crippling building shortages and an overloaded social housing system, dozens of abandoned properties are like a slap in the face to those in need of a home.

Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne have long been touted as Australia's most expensive cities when it comes to property, but after three years of a COVID-19-bolstered boom, Brisbane has climbed the ranks.