Property Buzz: Rate rises, housing shortages, and a changing property market

Rate rises, housing shortages, and shifting investor strategies are putting Australia's property market under pressure and raising bigger questions about homeownership.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant is joined by Momentum Media director Alex Whitlock to examine the forces reshaping Australia's property market, from interest rates and housing supply to changing investor strategies.

The pair discuss expectations for further rate rises and why borrowers should be reviewing their mortgage costs, with Whitlock sharing how a conversation with his lender secured a significant rate reduction.

The housing shortage also comes under the microscope, with the collapse of Western Sydney builder Bathla Group highlighting the pressures facing construction and development, while community resistance to higher density continues to complicate efforts to increase supply.

Looking further ahead, Tarrant and Whitlock examine the 2026 Intergenerational Report and its implications for homeownership, wealth transfers and Australians who may rent for life, before turning to the growing appeal of high-yield inner-city Melbourne apartments for investors.