Aidan Devine
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Articles by Aidan Devine
Flood of property listings triggers further price fall warnings across 56 major areas
News Australian Housing Market Add as a preferred source on Google Listings have risen sharply in some areas at a time of falling demand, suggesting imminent price falls. Picture: Andrew Henshaw A massive build-up of unsold housing stock, lengthening sales timelines, and sudden buyer pullbacks have triggered correction warnings for key suburban corridors in Australia’s biggest states.
Investor forced to abandon new home after bank slashes loan over tax changes
Add as a preferred source on Google Investor Sam Coert was told her borrowing power had changed after she had already bought a home. Picture: Jeremy Piper A Sydney woman who recently signed contracts for a home purchase has revealed her horror after learning she could no longer get a loan for the property she was now committed to buy due to recent tax changes.
Vandalised Sydney mega-complex ‘Panjo’ sold with plans for revival
A vandalised Sydney mega-complex – left to ruin after plans to turn it into an entertainment centre were abandoned mid-construction – is set for a new chapter after recently selling. And the new owners are alleged to be planning a dramatic restoration of the original entertainment concept after exchanging contracts on a deal that will settle in the next financial year.
Northern Beaches Hospital car park listed for sale
Northern Beaches Hospital’s dedicated parking lot – which last year generated more than $3.55 million in revenue – has some up for sale through an expressions of interest campaign set to close at the end of September. The 1,389-bay car park on Frenchs Forest Rd in Frenchs Forest was built in 2018 to service the adjacent 494-bed public hospital. The hospital attracts more than 2,000 patients, staff and visitors a day.
Fast-food chains hike menu prices for all customers to cover delivery fees
Fast-food consumers who eat on-site are being charged higher prices to subsidise those ordering from home through popular delivery apps, such as Uber Eats, an industry study has revealed. The review of industry practices by real estate group PRD showed cash-strapped venues were frequently inflating their entire menus to fund the higher costs of home delivery. Those costs were passed on to all customers, including those buying over the counter and dining-in.
Worst time on record for first-home buyers, new study reveals
It’s officially the worst time to be a first-home buyer in at least 56 years. New figures have revealed first-home buyers face the most challenging buying conditions since price records began in 1970 due to soaring debt, high interest and minimal growth in wages. And recent falls in prices in many suburbs and generous government support have done little to help, the FoundIt research noted.
Capital city suburbs facing repeated price collapses
Volatile suburban “repeat offenders” – the capital city areas that suffer the most devastating home price collapses each time a property downturn strikes – have been exposed in a new study. The research provides a blueprint of how the current market downturn might play out and which capital city areas may be worst affected. The exclusive report by analytics group FoundIt revealed several premium and mortgage-belt suburbs across the country are prone to sudden, double-digit drops in home values.
Retail theft hits 10-year high in Sydney amid cost of living crisis
Reports of retail theft have hit a ten year high in Greater Sydney. Picture: John Appleyard Reports of retail theft in Sydney have hit a 10-year high as cash-strapped residents increasingly turn to desperate measures amid the cost of living crisis. Analysis of NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics & Research (BOCSAR) showed reported retail theft has climbed 9.1 per cent over just the last two years.
Australia’s most overvalued and undervalued suburbs revealed
Swathes of the Australia’s property market have become “overvalued”, with some suburbs now dangerously exposed to price falls as buyer demand weakens and listings pile up, new figures show. Many of these overvalued suburbs were prominent areas of Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney that had grown strongly in previous years. But it’s not all doom and gloom: the same analysis reveals there are still pockets where homes are “undervalued”.
McDonald’s goes to Land Court over plans for new inner west outlet
McDonald’s has plans to put up its famed Golden Arches in Sydney suburb Newtown. A McDonald’s push against council to open a new store in a Sydney area famed for bohemian culture and boutique stores has attracted online fury, with one social media user pleading Maccas to “f*** off”. McDonalds earlier this year renewed its efforts to open a new store in the inner west suburb Newtown after twice having development applications for its site knocked back by the City of Sydney.
IGA supermarkets become hot property for everyday investors
An IGA store in Lake Macquarie was part of a tranche of IGAs-anchored sites recently sold. Mum and dads used to go there for a quick bread or milk purchase – but now they’re going there to buy the roof and four walls too. Humble neighbourhood IGA stores have been enjoying a sudden moment in the sun after becoming a surprise new target for investors.
Sydney property market in decline as buyers flee auctions after tax changes
News New South Wales Sydney Add as a preferred source on Google Panicked homebuyers have abandoned Sydney’s normally packed auctions since Labor’s bombshell May budget tax reforms. Auction clearance rates have deteriorated to levels similar to those experienced during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, with Sydney copping its seventh successive week of sub-50 per cent clearance rates, the latest data shows.
Pub baron Justin Hemmes’ $19m plan for nightlife shake-up in Sydney CBD
Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes has made another big purchase. Picture: Jonathan Ng Pub baron Justin Hemmes has added another prime CBD site to his substantial CBD holdings after winning a gruelling commercial property auction with a $19 million offer. The Merivale CEO – whose company runs Sydney venues such as The Ivy, Coogee Pavilion and The Establishment – was seen bidding at the auction for the property formerly known as The Barracks.
Major Sydney venue Qudos Bank Arena to get new name, revamp
Sydney entertainment venue the Qudos Bank Arena will be renamed Afterpay Arena. Sydney entertainment venue the Qudos Bank Arena is about to get a name change and upgrade and will soon become known as the Afterpay Arena. The physical transformation of the venue, which has hosted concerts for international stars such as Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa, will include new external signage and interior refreshes. The partnership is set to officially launch in the coming months with an initial five-year deal.
Luxury retail revealed for Western Sydney airport amid ‘missed opportunity’ for public transport
Western Sydney’s Nancy Bird Walton Airport will open in October. Picture: Britta Campion Western Sydney Airport is set to open later this year with a diverse retail offering including many luxury retail brands – but there are concerns about how travellers will be able to get there quickly without a car. The $5.3 billion airport, set to open in October, began a tender process for on-site retailers last year and recently announced a partnership with one of the world’s largest retail groups.
How one couple acquired 24 properties in just over three years
A 35-year-old gym owner and his wife have revealed the bold strategy that helped them amass a staggering real estate empire worth $11.5 million. Michael Pritchatt and wife Elisha, 32, currently hold a jaw-dropping 26 properties across the country that generate $11,000 a week, or $460,000 a year, in gross rental income. The couple said they sit on about $3 million in equity once accounting for their mortgage debts.
Iran war sparks shift in the countries buying Aussie homes
Add as a preferred source on Google War in Iran has caused a seismic shift in foreign demand for Australian real estate after years of countries such as China and Singapore frequently buying up our newly-built apartments. The biggest change: demand from China has been falling, while demand from the Middle East, including Iran, has risen.
Property prices still growing in most Australian suburbs despite rate fears
News Add as a preferred source on Google Interest rate hikes and global economic turmoil have yet to fully stall growth in Australia’s housing market, with property prices continuing to climb over recent weeks in many areas. New valuations data from PropTrack has revealed house prices continued to grow in 70 per cent of Australian suburbs over the past three months.
Aussie suburbs where units cost same as 2016 revealed
News Numerous units in this building in the Sydney Olympic Park region have sold for similar levels to prices in 2016. It would seem like fantasy – but in a world of soaring inflation, where a coffee that once cost $3 now costs $7, it is actually still possible to land homes in parts of Australia for the same price as in 2016.
New homeowner trend creates insurance nightmare, devalues properties
News Renovations that remove bath tubs to make way for trendy double showers and double vanities can devalue the home as families put a high value on baths. Homeowners are attempting poorly thought out renovations that prioritise aesthetics over function in a dangerous trend that is devaluing homes and complicating insurance claims, a new study shows. The research from Allianz revealed a shift in renovation priorities among some homeowners, driven largely by social media trends.
Sydney, NSW’s biggest property winners of past year uncovered
News New South Wales Sydney This St Marys home recently sold for $2m. The area was once one of Sydney’s cheapest but values have soared recently. They’re suburbs where you’ll wish you bought a home over the past year – the Sydney areas with the steepest value growth that gifted homeowners rapid equity and had aspiring buyers lamenting missed chances.
Inflation slowdown hands mortgage holders lifeline
News RBA Governor Michele Bullock will announce the next monetary policy decision in February. Picture: NewsWire / Christian Gilles A slowdown in inflation has handed mortgage holders a temporary lifeline and raised fresh hope that another punishing interest rate hike may be pushed further down the road. New figures show Australia’s headline annual inflation rate cooled to 3.4 per cent, down from 3.8 per cent, in the 12 months to November.
Six-figure dream is dead as Aussies redefine what it means to be wealthy
News Finder money expert Sarah Megginson said ideas of wealth are changing as cost of living soars. Australians have dramatically reset the meaning of wealth, with research revealing a salary once considered elite no longer cuts it. The survey results from comparison group Finder showed the six-figure dream is officially dead, with Australians saying they wouldn’t feel rich unless they were earning close to $400,000 a year.
Sydney homes sold for millions above previous prices but experts warn market is cooling
News New South Wales Sydney Auctioneer Edward Riley calls bids on a North Sydney home that sold for millions more than the previous price paid by the vendor. Picture: Jeremy Piper Sydney auctions have continued to attract big spending buyers and a variety of homes sold under the hammer for huge prices – in some cases millions more than they traded for only a few years ago. One of the standout sales was the $3,925,000 paid for a Victorian-style home in North Sydney.
Randwick ‘ghost shop’ frozen in time set for auction
An old shop at 196 Avoca St, Randwick is set to go to auction on 20 December. It has been described as a “ghost shop” – the signs are still outside and the interior is packed with inventory – but customers haven’t set foot inside for years and the business has long ceased trading. And now an old ceramics shop in Sydney’s eastern suburbs thought to have been closed for decades is set for a major change after being listed for sale at an undisclosed price described as “land value”.
Investor snaps up 3 burnt Moree homes for $75k in viral deal
News A property investor who snapped up three burnt homes for just $75,000 claims he scored the deal of a lifetime after having them revalued at $600,000 following purchase. And it’s all because of a viral Facebook Marketplace ad was being torn to shreds by keyboard warriors. Charles Corby, 32, said he wasn’t even looking for property when the listing in the NSW town of Moree “just popped up” on his feed.
First-home buyer debt soars by up to $120k under guarantee scheme
News First-home buyer debt levels have exploded since Labor’s signature housing policy was expanded last month, with experts warning of growing risks for the property market. Alarming new figures from mortgage aggregator Loan Market Group revealed first-home buyers signed up for an average of nearly $120,000 more debt in some areas last month. This coincided with the October expansion of the First Home Guarantee Scheme.
Fears of youth crime fuel home security boom
News Half of Aussies have installed security upgrades in the past year. Fearful homeowners have sparked a panic buying spree for home security items in the wake of widely reported youth crimes that have shocked the nation. New data from Compare the Market has revealed half of homeowners surveyed had installed security upgrades in the past year, while insurance claims for theft were rising.
Sydney house prices: The truth about current auction results
News New South Wales Sydney It’s not red hot – it’s a medium-high heat. That’s the feedback from agents and auctioneers after another bumper weekend of auction activity across Sydney. Close to 1,000 homes went under the hammer on Saturday and most sold for high prices but agents explained that the market was not quite at boom levels yet.
Hidden costs push real price of Aussie homes to shock levels
Australians are being blindsided by hidden housing expenses that are quietly blowing out the real cost of owning a home to almost double the advertised price. And experts warn it’s emerging as one of the most dangerous pressure points in the economy. A new Finder.com.au analysis of state stamp duty, deposits, prices and the full interest bill paid over 30 years revealed the true cost of a home is even higher than most Aussies realise.
Hidden charges exposed: true cost of Sydney homes far higher than listed
News New South Wales Sydney Sydney houses have become nearly twice as expensive as listed prices indicate, spurring a growing risk for the economy, retirement incomes and family finances. Forget paying $1m: new research has revealed the average Sydney house will actually cost over $3m once factoring in the hidden long-term costs, while a typical unit will require an outlay of about $1.65m.
Northern Rivers homes snapped up at auction for as little as $50
News New South Wales A NSW home has sold for just $50 as part of the latest round of Northern Rivers’ flood-buyback house auctions. The $50 paid for the home on Simmons St in North Lismore was the star shocker at a packed PRD auction held overnight at the Lismore Workers Sports Club. The property was one of 10 flood damaged homes offered, with sold prices ranging from $50 to $125,000. The buyback scheme followed devastating floods in the region during 2022, which caused substantial property damage.
Major Australian city lost 100,000 people in one year
Rampant housing costs have been hollowing out Sydney as families flee to cheaper cities – with only high overseas migration intake preventing the Harbour City from shrinking, a new study shows. The analysis of ABS figures revealed Australians who grew up in Sydney are packing their bags in unprecedented numbers, while natural births and migration from other parts of Australia are falling.
‘Hidden’ cost of government’s low-deposit home scheme revealed
News Hopeful home seekers are being warned of the true costs of buying through the government’s recently expanded First Home Guarantee Scheme. It follows revelations the incentive will cost homeowners up to $244,000 more in repayments over the life of their loans due to the higher debt burden.
Record migration blamed for worsening Aussie housing crisis
News Australia’s migration intake has hit new record levels in what experts claim could be exacerbating housing shortages in major capitals – especially for renters. Analysis of ABS stats showed net permanent and long-term arrivals over the first nine months of 2025 totalled about 415,000 – a new record for the period. Australia took in a particularly high number of new permanent and long-term arrivals in September, at just under 36,000. The numbers are based on traveller declarations.
Sydney investor now owns 56 properties after buying 18 in last five months
News An IT worker who arrived in Australia as a student 20 years ago has revealed he now owns 56 homes, 18 of which were bought in the last five months – but he claims he isn’t being greedy by buying so many. Sydney resident Bharat Patel, 43, said his properties were worth a combined $20 million and the rents he pockets from his property empire totalled nearly $780,000 a year.
Banks' fixed rate hikes signal major shift in RBA rate cut hopes
News Interest rate hikes could be occurring sooner than many previously thought. Banks have begun to raise their charges on fixed rate loans in a move experts are warning could be an “ominous” sign lenders anticipate the Reserve Bank of Australia will increase the cash rate next year. Lenders had been dropping fixed rates on loans in the lead up to the last Reserve Bank board meeting earlier this month, a trend largely driven by an expectation of more rate cuts this year and in 2026.
Rent crisis deepens as experts warn new housing policy will backfire
News Australia’s renters have hit a tipping point — and critics say the federal government’s housing priorities are making things worse, accusing it of fuelling the crisis with expanded first-home buyer schemes that could deepen the struggle for tenants. A confronting report shows three in four renting households nationwide are now in “rental stress”, spending an unsustainable share of their income just to stay housed.
Hidden trap for Aussies in Trump’s 50-year mortgage proposal
News A radical plan to stretch home loans out to 50 years – floated by Donald Trump in the US – has been savaged by an Australian housing expert, who claims the move would lock property buyers into a lifetime of debt if ever introduced Down Under. The controversial proposal, championed by the US president as a way to make American housing more affordable, has sparked global debate.
Radio veteran John Laws big $26m property moves
News Radio legend John Laws has died at the age of 90. nicknamed “Golden Tonsils”, the talkback host passed away in Sydney. He spent two weeks in hospital last month and was then cared for at his home at Woolloomooloo, where he died peacefully, on Saturday. Before his death, the veteran broadcaster some key property moves. Sales transactions reveal Law quietly sold a slew of savvy property investments over recent years.
Worst Sydney suburbs to be tenant exposed
NSW’s renters are at breaking point — and the government has been accused of misplaced priorities with its expansion of first-home buyer schemes that critics say could worsen the plight of some tenants. A shock report has revealed four in five renting households across the state are now in “rental stress”, spending an unsustainable amount of their monthly income to keep a roof over their heads.
Aussies warned of dangers in AI advice about property market
News Home seekers who turn to AI for financial advice risk being directed to buy properties in risky suburbs where they could lose hundreds of thousands, a new study claims. The report by financial services group MCG Quantity Surveyors sought to measure the accuracy of AI-produced outputs on where property investors should buy.
First-home buyers face impossible choice as property prices soar
ANALYSIS The Australian dream of owning a home is slipping further out of reach as confronting new figures reveal just how much income property buyers now need — even if using government support. Analysis of median price figures and interest rates has found buyers are facing an impossible dilemma in Australia’s largest cities.
Banks fight for borrowers with surprise cashback deals revealed
News Homeowners were left high and dry earlier this week when the Reserve Bank announced it would keep the cash rate on hold but mortgage holders have been served a chance to get free money. Finder.com.au analysis of mortgage deals has revealed banks are in a full blown cash war – and homeowners are the winners. A dozen lenders are currently offering generous cashbacks of up to $5000 – or up to 300,000 in Qantas points – for those who switch lenders.
RBA interest rates timeline: What economists are forecasting
News Australian homeowners are staring down a bleak Christmas as the RBA looks poised to keep the cash rate on hold at its upcoming board meeting today – at exactly the time when families need relief most. The consensus from economists and banks is that high inflation will scupper any chance of another interest rate cut and many are now predicting a new cut, if it comes at all, will occur over February.
First-home scheme triggers huge shift in Australian housing market
News Australia’s housing market has become gripped in a first-home buying frenzy following the federal government’s controversial decision to supercharge its First Home Guarantee scheme last month. The scheme allows buyers to enter the market with just a 5 per cent deposit and have government “guarantee” the rest of a traditional 20 per cent deposit, helping buyers get into the market faster.
Revealed: What average Aussie home is now worth after price surge
News Australian home prices have blasted higher again, with the typical home now worth nearly $65,000 more than a year ago. New PropTrack data has laid bare the staggering impact of three rounds of interest rate cuts this year and a surge in demand from first-home buyers, with national prices jumping 0.6 per cent in October to cap off a 7.5 per cent price surge over the past year.
Revealed: Sydney house prices soar to new record high
Sydney’s median house price has crossed the $1.6m mark for the first time after shooting up nearly $120,000 over the past year. Fresh PropTrack data showed Sydney hit the milestone at the end of October after another monthly growth spurt that saw dwelling values climb by an average of 0.6 per cent. Cumulative growth for the year was 6.4 per cent, which PropTrack noted was “above long-term average” for the market.
Sydney couple double borrowing power after getting low balled by former bank
News A Sydney couple who thought they’d hit a brick wall with their bank have revealed how they doubled their borrowing capacity — unlocking enough cash to secure their dream home after a broker spotted a crucial bank mistake. Kayla Al-Razak and husband Kameran, from Sydney’s south, were hunting for a bigger home after welcoming their second child. They’d bought their first property back in 2019, but with two young kids, space was getting tight.
NSW mortgage stress hits alarming levels despite rate cuts
News New South Wales Sydney Years of soaring bills have left more than one in two mortgaged NSW households in the red each month — even after falls in interest rates. Fresh figures have revealed mortgage stress levels have been steadily climbing all year despite this year’s three cash rate cuts, which banks have largely passed on in full to homeowners. Close to 560,000 NSW households were reported to be in mortgage stress at the end of September, according to the Digital Finance Analytics data.
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