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Hot Property: Biggest headlines this week 5 - Oct 2020
With the long-awaited federal budget just around the corner and Victoria now open to one-on-one inspections, it’s been a mixed bag of property news as we move into October: Here are this week’s biggest property stories.
Hot Property: Biggest headlines this week 5 - Oct 2020
With the long-awaited federal budget just around the corner and Victoria now open to one-on-one inspections, it’s been a mixed bag of property news as we move into October: Here are this week’s biggest property stories.

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.
The Real Estate Institute of NSW has lashed out over the NSW government’s decision to extend its rental moratorium. It’s calling for an urgent review of the state government’s decision to extend the rental moratorium, noting the “failure” to explain the rationale as a “critical concern”.
On Friday, 25 September, the government revealed that it was peeling back responsible lending laws, in an effort to increase the flow of credit and promote economic recovery. Who might be better off as a result of the changes and who may struggle?

Wealthi investment director Stephanie Davies has highlighted how prices usually do recover by a large magnitude after a fall – particularly when interest rates are declining.
While it does depend on the velocity of the dip and other factors, Ms Davies said, “If we take a look at the property life cycle, we’ll notice that we usually see property prices return at a rapid speed due to the pent-up demand from buyers holding back for such a long period of time.”
New research by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has found that buyer activity in Perth is tracking 40 per cent higher annually. Further, the data shows that 45 per cent of Perth suburbs recorded price growth in August 2020, with local buyers agents noting high attendance at home opens.
While the specifics of the revocation are yet to be formulated (though a fact sheet has been issued to provide further context), the government said it will consult publicly with stakeholders before finalising any legislation required to implement the reforms.
According to the head of Australian banks research for Citi Research, Brendan Sproules, the Australian mortgage broking sector is set to grow and gain more market share, with the incoming best interests duty showcased as an additional benefit for the sector.
Proposed federal government reforms to responsible lending obligations will help make home ownership more accessible for Australians, mortgage aggregator Finsure Group said.
Custodian CEO and author of “7 Steps to Wealth” John Fitzgerald said there are three myths that could be leading investors astray.
“Property investment is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but if I can do it, anyone can,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
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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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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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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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