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Hot Property: Biggest headlines from the week that was
Why Australians could be given $50,000, how to terminate a tenancy, and why we need a stamp duty plan: Here are some of the biggest stories from this week.
Hot Property: Biggest headlines from the week that was
Why Australians could be given $50,000, how to terminate a tenancy, and why we need a stamp duty plan: Here are some of the biggest stories from this week.

Welcome to nestegg’s weekly round-up of the bricks-and-mortar stories that we think will be most relevant to you, whether as a first-home buyer, a seasoned investor or anyone in between!
To compile this list, not only are we taking a look at the week’s most-read stories and the news that matters, but we are also curating it to include stories from our sister platforms that could have an impact on your buying, selling or investment journey, no matter where you find yourself on the property ladder.
$50k boost on the cards for new property purchasers
A radical plan to kickstart economic recovery post-COVID-19 could see Australians handed $50,000 for buying a brand-new home: It’s one element of a seven-point plan put forward by the Property Council to stimulate construction, grow skills, attract investment and boost industry confidence.

Such a scheme could stimulate the building of 50,000 new dwellings, support more than 200,000 jobs and bring forward market demand for new housing at a cost of $2.5 billion to the government.
Stamp duty plan required to boost confidence
OPINION: In the race to reach the post-COVID recovery stage as quickly as possible, the necessity is to bring confidence back, writes Mathew Tiller. It’s important that communication is clear and transparent to boost confidence. Recent discussions surrounding changes to stamp duty have not been one such communication.
How to terminate a tenancy agreement
NSW Fair Trading has published a guide detailing the steps landlords can take in terminating an agreement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When and why an agent might have to act in the tenant’s interest
It is common knowledge that agents should act in the best interests of landlords. However, COVID-19 has thrown a spanner into the mix. NSW Fair Trading has explained that “agents may be required to play more of an intermediary role between tenants and landlords to comply with the new tenancy laws and the government’s relief package”.
McGrath eyes off-plan development sector, makes key appointments
McGrath has bolstered its project marketing division, McGrath Projects, by securing Colin Griffin and Murray Wood as associate directors. The pair bring 40 years of experience to the McGrath fold.
McGrath looks to focus on the “re-emergence of the off-plan development sector” upon identifying “excellent opportunities for growth in this area for the company”.
Lending officer sentenced for giving misleading information
A former lending officer will serve an Intensive Corrections Order after pleading guilty to five charges of giving misleading information in the course of engaging in a credit activity. According to an ASIC investigation, between December 2013 and March 2014, Mr Fares created 12 payslips, six income tax payment summaries and three letters of employment to support five loan applications.
Major bank hikes fixed rates amid turnaround time debacle
ANZ has increased its two-year fixed home loan rate for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest by 10 basis points. It follows reports of a “blow-out” in ANZ’s turnaround times, with data from the bank revealing that mortgage applications are taking up to 23 days for approval.
Western Australia is braced for a recession, with the state’s Treasury baseline modelling indicating a “significant” economic shock before growth resumes in 2021-22.
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Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
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Twice the demand: the case study behind Melbourne’s first‑home buyer surge
Melbourne has quietly engineered one of Australia’s most consequential housing turnarounds, with first‑home buyer demand running at roughly double the national pace and four of the top five buyer ...Read more

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First‑home buyers now anchor Australia’s mortgage growth — but the risk maths is changing
Great Southern Bank’s revelation that nearly one in three of its new mortgages went to first‑home buyers is not an outlier. It is the leading edge of a broader market realignment powered by government ...Read more

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Home guarantee scheme shake-up challenges Australia’s housing market players
From 1 October 2025, the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) materially widens what first-home buyers can purchase and where. By sharply lifting price caps and relaxing eligibility settings, the ...Read more

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GSB’s first‑home buyer play: turning policy tailwinds into market share
Great Southern Bank’s latest results show that nearly one in three of its new mortgages now go to first‑home buyers—evidence of a fast‑moving market reshaped by government guarantees, easing rates and ...Read more

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Why investors are fleeing and renters are scrambling in Australia's housing maze
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Australia's 5% deposit guarantee: Unlocking gains while balancing risks in the market share race
Can a bigger government guarantee fix housing access without fuelling prices? Australia is about to find out. The Albanese government’s expanded 5% deposit pathway aims to help 70,000 buyers, remove ...Read more

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Australia's bold move the 5% deposit scheme shaking up the housing market
Can a government guarantee replace lenders mortgage insurance without inflating prices or risk? Canberra’s accelerated 5% deposit scheme is a bold demand-side nudge in a supply‑constrained marketRead more

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