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Home owners in Australia's biggest cities are most at risk if property values continue to sink. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumHousing nosedive: biggest cities have the most to lose

Soaring property values in mid-sized capital cities could cushion them against a housing downturn forecast to be hardest felt in the biggest centres.

Will Nicholas

Artist impression of Finbar's development at 236 Railway Parade in West Leederville.

Commercial PropertyPremiumBid for two towers to transform West Leederville skyline

The Town of Cambridge is backing plans for the 18 and 19-storey towers, comprising two ground-floor commercial tenancy shells and 244 apartments.

Laura Pond

A senator's pitch to extract more tax dollars from tech companies has been shot down by experts. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremium'Stop the madness': Liberal eyes big tech, party policy

A Liberal frontbencher has called on his party to slash the construction code, cut migration, tax big tech more and freeze the NDIS to fix Australia's malaise.

Jacob Shteyman

The proportion of houses resold for a profit in Sydney and Melbourne has declined, Domain says. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumHome sellers still reap huge profits but cracks appear

A sharp decline in property prices has sparked fears of negative equity but less than three per cent of houses sold for a loss in the first half of 2026.

Jacob Shteyman

About 35,000 people were estimated to be homeless in NSW, according to the previous census. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumInnovative proposal pitched to ease homelessness crisis

Tens of thousands of vacant homes could be made available for homeless Australians while the properties are waiting for a permanent use, advocates say.

Jacob Shteyman

The latest data has pointed to a continued fall in house prices across Australia. (Christopher Hopkins/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumHouse price decline speeds up as downturn spreads

Home values have fallen at their fastest monthly rate in nearly four years as a dip in prices spreads to more of Australia's major cities.

Farid Farid

A peak building industry body is urging a higher priority be given to skilled immigration. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumMigrant tradies a net benefit to housing, say builders

The building industry is pushing for a better skilled migration intake having totalled how many homes a migrant tradie could help build in their career.

Max Aldred

An artist’s impression of the Ocean Reef Marina once complete.

Design disputeREVEALED: Will roller shutters be banned on future homes?

‘I think we can all agree that they do nothing for the aesthetic quality of a streetscape.’

Liam Murphy

Irwin Barracks in Karrakatta, could possiably be sold. Sandra Jackson

Commercial PropertyPremiumSale of barracks could pave way for up to 4000 homes

Divesting the land could create space for up to 4000 new dwellings and open the way for a broader investment in housing, services and community facilities in this uber chic suburb.

Belinda Hickman

UDIA boss Tanya Steinbeck said the reforms have the potential to shave more than a year from the time it takes to bring a land subdivision to market.

Commercial PropertyPremiumNo guarantees faster access to land in Perth will cut prices

Land supply is set for a boost with new planning reforms set to shave 12 to 18 months off the time it takes to create a new housing estate, following significant changes. But will buyers see the savings?

Kim Macdonald

Governments have gotten in the way of new housing supply by imposing layer upon layer of regulation. (Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumRed tape strangling efforts to tackle housing crisis

Removing layers of rules and having the political will to stand up to NIMBYs are among a raft of measures put forward to fix Australia's housing crisis.

Jacob Shteyman

The federal government is way behind on its target to build 40,000 new social and affordable homes. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumLess than four per cent of social housing target built

There is "considerable uncertainty" the government's signature social housing program will deliver as many homes as promised by the end of the decade.

Jacob Shteyman

There's signs more investors are going back to Australia's housing market. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumInvestors returning after Budget blow to housing breaks

The share of homes bought by investors compared to owner-occupiers is returning to levels seen prior to the federal budget.

Jacob Shteyman

More people are turning their backs on auctions and listing homes via private treaty as prices dip. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumHome sellers shy away from auctions as demand dips

More people are looking to sell their homes on the private market as low clearance rates scare vendors away from going to auction.

Jacob Shteyman

The proposed eight-storey development on Glyde Street.

Commercial PropertyPremium$20m Japanese restaurant alley project on a knife edge

A leafy suburb council wants plans for a new mixed-use project on the former Tsunami restaurant site rejected because the developer is refusing to pay a larger community contribution.

Kim Macdonald

Passionate locals filled the public meeting rooms of the Albany Public Library for the Albany Community Environment Centre’s growth forum.

degrowthChallenges of city’s future growth in spotlight at forum

Capping the population at 50,000, improving public transport and addressing water shortages were among the ideas and concerns raised at a forum discussing how to manage Albany’s future growth last month.

Melissa Sheil

Rents remain at record levels around the country but the rate of growing is starting to slow. (Michael Currie/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumSome relief ahead for renters but prices remain high

Rental prices across the country are soaring to record highs, but the pace of growth is slowing and there is a ray of hope for tenants.

Lucinda Garbutt-Young

Tax changes are prompting home buyers to rethink the type of property they're after. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumFamily affair: investor tax changes spawn new tactics

Prospective home buyers are rethinking the type of properties they want to purchase in response to changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax.

Jacob Shteyman

Millions in funding for urgent repairs and upgrades in First Nations homelands will soon expire. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumIndigenous housing progress staring into funding abyss

Short-term funding for Aboriginal homelands is failing to deliver housing and infrastructure needs in communities stricken by poverty, MPs have been warned.

Abe Maddison

Brisbane median unit values are forecast to finally eclipse Sydney in 2027. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumCity to take mantle of nation's most expensive units

Most property markets in Australia will slip in value over the 2026/27 financial year, but there are some outliers in latest data.

Lucinda Garbutt-Young

The Ascot Gateway site sells to Singaporean investor.

SQMPremiumDreaded airport-to-city stretch may soon get a makeover

It has long been a tourist’s first, and most uncomfortable, glimpse of Perth. But could the Great Eastern Highway be due for a change?

Kim Macdonald and Eliana Hullett

A new State Government plan to bypass local planning laws and allow for greater density around three western suburbs train stations will go before WA’s peak planning body in a confidential meeting this week.

Urban PlanningPremiumCouncils fight back amid Perth train station density plan

A new State Government plan to bypass local planning laws and allow for greater density around three western suburbs train stations will go before WA’s peak planning body in a confidential meeting this week.

Harriet Flinn

While house prices in the biggest cities have slipped, higher rates mean they are more unafforable. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

Urban PlanningPremiumBuyer blow as rising rates offset dip in home prices

Despite property prices falling, the annual income required to afford a median house has risen by thousands of dollars in Sydney and Melbourne since January.

Jacob Shteyman

GEN John Carey press conference at Salter Point. Pic. Danella Bevis

Urban PlanningPremiumCambridge backs away from high-rise density plans

Taller buildings could soon be allowed in the Town of Cambridge.

Harriet Flinn