Property

Regional Victoria property market shows first signs of revival

Published

6 months ago

August 20, 2025

Prices begin to shift after two-year pause as sales surge across key cities.

The first signs of revival are beginning to show in the Regional Victoria property market, where prices have been on pause for much of the past two years.

Hotspotting analysis of sales activity in the first quarter of 2025 detected early signs of increased buyer activity in Regional Victoria, and the June Quarter data has confirmed this. Transaction levels are now rising strongly in its leading regional cities and are at the highest level since the peak of the pandemic property boom at the end of 2021.

Sales volumes are now 16% higher than a year earlier and 28% higher than the same quarter two years ago. Bendigo, Geelong, Shepparton and Wodonga are leading the charge with rising sales activity which generally leads to future price growth.

In Bendigo, sales volumes are 41% higher in the June quarter and there are similar increases in Geelong and also in Shepparton. Shepparton’s market has been on a general upward trend in the past year and the number of sales in the first half of 2025 was 35% higher than the same period in 2024.

Ballarat’s sales levels in the June quarter are 28% higher than a year earlier and the city is showing signs of a solid revival after a couple of weak years in which prices fell. Something is happening in these key markets in Regional Victoria and part of the reason is that large numbers of Melbourne residents are leaving the big city and moving to regional areas for a different and more affordable lifestyle.

A key factor is that property prices are attractive in these places, after two years in which Victoria has not seen the big capital growth that has occurred in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. So, the timing is good to get into Victoria markets, before markets become competitive and prices start to grow.

You just need to keep in mind that taxes like stamp duty and land tax are much higher in Victoria than other parts of Australia and the State Government of Victoria keeps coming up with new ways to hit property owners and businesses with new or higher taxes.

Property

First-home buyers driving Australia’s rising housing prices

First home buyers drive Australia’s housing market growth with government support, defying claims of being “locked out”

Published

5 days ago

February 26, 2026

Harvey Vargas

First-home buyers drive Australia’s housing market growth with government support, defying claims of being locked out

In Short:
– First-home buyers are influencing Australia’s housing market through government support, leading to rising prices.
– They benefit from lower deposits, stamp duty waivers, and grants while also driving demand in regional areas.

First-home buyers are impacting Australia’s housing market significantly through government schemes and tax benefits, leading to rising prices. Terry Ryder, founder of Hotspotting, indicates that these buyers are a dominant force, supported by federal and state backing. These buyers enjoy several advantages. Federal schemes allow a mere 5% deposit without incurring Lenders Mortgage Insurance. In New South Wales, a stamp duty waiver for properties up to $700,000 offers further financial relief. Various states and territories provide grants for purchasing or building new homes.

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals a 7% rise in loans to first-home buyers, marking the highest quarterly increase since 2023. In New South Wales, this increase reached 11%, indicating a surge in lending to newcomers in real estate.

Ryder challenges the idea that first-home buyers are “locked out” of the market, stating that while high prices present challenges, government support facilitates access. The current market shows medium-level price growth nationwide due to supply shortages alongside strong demand driven primarily by first home buyer activity.

Ryder also mentions potential risks in changing Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing rules, highlighting the importance of small investors who supply over 90% of rental homes in Australia.

Property

Australia’s $15bn housing plan faces soaring costs and policy hurdles

Australia’s housing goal faces $15.2 billion cost surge, raising doubts about affordability reforms amidst global cautionary lessons.

Published

1 month ago

January 21, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s housing goal faces $15.2 billion cost surge, raising doubts about affordability reforms amidst global cautionary lessons.

Australia’s ambitious plan to build 1.2 million new homes by 2029 is under pressure, with projected costs now soaring to $15.2 billion—$3.8 billion higher than Treasury forecast last year. The surge has raised serious questions about whether the target is achievable and what reforms could actually make housing more affordable.

Terry Ryder from Hotspotting explains how construction bottlenecks, labour shortages, and rising materials costs are slowing progress. He also warns that first-homebuyer grants may be ironically pushing prices higher rather than helping, and that deregulation and skilled migration could be crucial to achieving housing goals.

Looking overseas, failed housing strategies in the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand offer cautionary lessons for Australia. Ryder highlights how these challenges will not only affect first-time buyers but also investors and broader property market confidence, making reform urgent if the housing crisis is to be addressed.

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Property

Blackstone acquires Hamilton Island for $1.2 billion

Blackstone acquires Hamilton Island for $1.2 billion, marking a major move in Australia’s hospitality sector

Published

2 months ago

December 24, 2025

Harvey Vargas

Blackstone acquires Hamilton Island for $1.2 billion, marking a major move in Australia’s hospitality sector

In Short:
– Blackstone will acquire Hamilton Island for approximately $1.2 billion, ending Oatley family’s twenty-year ownership.
– The acquisition aims to enhance Blackstone’s hospitality presence in Australia while supporting the local community.

US private equity giant Blackstone has agreed to acquire Hamilton Island for approximately $1.2 billion, marking the end of more than two decades of ownership by the Oatley family. The acquisition, pending regulatory approval, represents a strategic expansion of Blackstone’s footprint in Australia’s hospitality sector. Chris Heady, Blackstone’s Chairman of Asia Pacific, emphasized the firm’s commitment to the island’s long-term success and its local community.

Key gateway

Hamilton Island, spanning over 2,800 acres, features five hotels, more than 20 dining venues, an 18-hole golf course, a marina, and its own commercial airport. As a key gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays, the resort has become a cornerstone of the region’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The Oatley family, who bought the island in 2003 for around $200 million, invested over $350 million into upgrades, including the luxury resort qualia. Expressing satisfaction with the partnership, the family highlighted Blackstone’s role in continuing their legacy while supporting local employees and businesses. Hamilton Island plays a significant role in the Whitsundays’ economy, creating employment opportunities and sustaining the local tourism sector.