Jessica Giandomenico Buyer's Agent

Jessica Giandomenico Buyer's Agent Taking the stress out of buying property in Brisbane

No vacancy: Australia's rental crisis rolls onIf you're searching for a rental right now, the numbers explain why it fee...
17/06/2026

No vacancy: Australia's rental crisis rolls on

If you're searching for a rental right now, the numbers explain why it feels so hard.
SQM Research data shows Australia's national vacancy rate held at just 1.2% in May 2026.

Five capital cities are recording vacancy rates below 1%, led by Darwin at just 0.3%, followed by Perth and Adelaide at 0.7%, Brisbane at 0.9% and Hobart at 0.6%.

To put that in perspective, a balanced rental market typically sits around 3%.

Rents are feeling the pressure too. Annual asking rent growth ranges from 4.5% in Canberra to 14.0% in Darwin, with the national average sitting at 7.8%.

SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher warned that relief is not on the horizon.

"Australia's rental market remains fundamentally undersupplied. Without a substantial increase in housing construction and rental stock, and/or a meaningful decrease in population growth rates from current levels, affordability pressures are likely to persist through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027."

What the budget tax changes could mean for property pricesAustralia's property market is adjusting to a new set of rules...
15/06/2026

What the budget tax changes could mean for property prices

Australia's property market is adjusting to a new set of rules, and Westpac has revised its price forecasts accordingly.

Following the federal budget's proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, the bank now expects dwelling price growth to finish flat on average across the major capital cities in 2026. Sydney is forecast to fall 3% and Melbourne 4%, while Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are expected to remain positive at 9%, 13% and 7% respectively.

Those revisions also reflect the Reserve Bank of Australia's three rate increases so far this year, which have returned the cash rate to the restrictive levels seen through 2023 and 2024.

Westpac notes that grandfathering provisions are an important buffer. Because existing investors can retain their current tax treatment, widespread selling is unlikely, which should limit the downside risk in most markets.

Brokers now write 8 in every 10 home loansMortgage brokers have reached a record 81% share of Australia's residential ho...
10/06/2026

Brokers now write 8 in every 10 home loans

Mortgage brokers have reached a record 81% share of Australia's residential home lending market, according to the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).

That means more than 8 in every 10 new home loans are now written with the help of a broker – a figure that has grown from just 55.3% in 2018.

So what's driving it?

Well, home lending has become more complex. There are more lenders, more products and more variables to weigh up – particularly as interest rates have moved sharply over the past few years.

Brokers cut through that complexity. They compare options across the market, explain the trade-offs clearly and are bound by a best interests duty that puts the borrower first. They're not selling one lender's products – they're finding the right fit for your circumstances.

As borrowing conditions become more complex, more Australians are recognising that value.

The home loan terms most Australians can't explainIf you've ever nodded along at the mention of LVR or comparison rates ...
08/06/2026

The home loan terms most Australians can't explain

If you've ever nodded along at the mention of LVR or comparison rates without really knowing what they mean, you're not alone.

New research from Money.com.au found 58% of Australian homeowners don't fully understand key home loan terms.

Loan-to-value ratio (LVR) topped the list, with 26% of respondents unsure how it works. Redraw facilities and offset accounts followed at 17% each, then lender's mortgage insurance (LMI) at 16%, comparison rates at 14% and equity at 10%.

So, in plain English. Your LVR is your loan amount divided by the property's value – borrowing $800,000 on a $1 million home is an 80% LVR. Go higher than 80% and you'll usually need LMI, a one-off insurance premium that protects the lender, not you. An offset account reduces your interest bill by offsetting your savings against your loan balance. A redraw facility gives you access to any extra repayments you've made.

Economy slows as rate rises biteAustralia's economy is losing steam, and the latest data makes that clear.According to t...
03/06/2026

Economy slows as rate rises bite

Australia's economy is losing steam, and the latest data makes that clear.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the March quarter, but the quarterly result told a different story. Growth came in at just 0.3% for the quarter, a sharp drop from the 0.9% recorded in the previous three months.

ABS head of national accounts Grace Kim said rising interest rates and significantly higher fuel costs likely created an environment for more cautious consumer behaviour, resulting in reduced spending across a range of household expenditure categories.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) expects further softening ahead. Governor Michele Bullock has noted that monetary policy works with a lag, meaning the full impact of this year's rate rises is still to be felt. In its most recent statement on monetary policy, the RBA is forecasting annual economic growth to ease to 1.3% by the end of 2026.

Australia's housing market hits pauseAustralia's housing market essentially ground to a halt in May, with Cotality's nat...
01/06/2026

Australia's housing market hits pause

Australia's housing market essentially ground to a halt in May, with Cotality's national Home Value Index recording 0.0% growth for the month.

But a flat national number masks a growing divide. Sydney fell 0.9% and Melbourne dropped 0.8%, both now sitting meaningfully below their November peaks. Perth and Darwin, meanwhile, rose 1.5%, and Brisbane gained 0.9%.

Cotality research director Tim Lawless said the direction is becoming more consistent across the country, even if the pace still varies. "Most markets are losing momentum as demand-side headwinds intensify."

Higher interest rates, stretched affordability and the federal budget's changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax are all bearing down on buyer demand. National home sales over the past three months were 2.2% lower than a year ago.

“The largest drop in estimated sales can be seen in Sydney and Melbourne, down 17.0% and 14.2% on levels a year ago,” said Mr Lawless. “These are also the cities where advertised supply has risen to above average levels, providing more choice and better leverage for buyers.”

Headline inflation falls, but deeper pressures are buildingFirst, the good news: the latest inflation figures have proba...
27/05/2026

Headline inflation falls, but deeper pressures are building

First, the good news: the latest inflation figures have probably reduced the chances of another interest rate hike in June.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, annual inflation slowed from 4.6% in March to 4.2% in April. That was broadly in line with market expectations and will likely, at least, provide some breathing room for borrowers after the February, March and May rate hikes already delivered this year.

However, the fall in headline inflation was heavily influenced by lower petrol prices after the federal government temporarily halved the fuel excise. As a result, the headline figure may look healthier than the underlying reality.

This explains why the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will probably be more concerned about the trimmed mean inflation figure, which actually increased from 3.3% to 3.4% during the month.

That’s significant because trimmed mean inflation strips out volatile items like fuel and gives a better indication of whether higher costs are spreading through the broader economy. And right now, they are.

Higher energy, freight and construction costs are increasingly flowing into other goods and services, suggesting inflation pressures are becoming more embedded rather than fading away.

27/05/2026

What is happening with Brisbane auctions?

They did it 🥂These two worked so hard to get here and last week, they got the keys to their first home 🏡 A home to renov...
26/05/2026

They did it 🥂

These two worked so hard to get here and last week, they got the keys to their first home 🏡

A home to renovate, to grow into, to make completely theirs. In a family friendly suburb, surrounded by a community that suits them perfectly.

Bayside gained a great family this week and we couldn’t be happier 🌿

Congratulations 🙌

26/05/2026

Your window is now 🏡

For the buyers who’ve been waiting - really waiting - this is your moment.

Sellers are coming to the table. Prices are being reduced. Open homes are quieter. The opportunity is real and it’s here right now.

But these windows don’t stay open long - and knowing how to move through them is everything.

Having the right people in your corner right now matters more than ever.

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Brisbane, QLD

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+61476566407

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