It's been a hectic few months for property journalists and the inevitable has once again happened. When house prices go up as they have in the last quarter, we get the typical "The Aussie Dream is Over!" and "First Home Buyers priced out of the Market!" and "Affordability Worse Then Ever!" and "I Have to Come Up With a Controversial Title!". Example
here.
This sickens me to my core (unlike KFC, which now is sickening me in my stomach). As you are probably aware, Melbourne is going through the roof, house prices climbing everywhere, but most noticeable in the inner city. Yes, of course your typical buyer or investor will not touch these properties. Wealthy businessmen, overseas investors (Chinese, American and English from what I hear) and cashed up investors are snapping these up like my grandma snaps up plastic containers at Crazy Clarks. But who reads the papers??? Yep, typical blue and white collar workers, wanting to purchase their own special little piece of Austrelya (pun), perhaps first home owners. Unfortunately, people who write these stupid articles are using this segment of the population to inadvertently boost the prices and create an emotional landscape that ultimately drives people to buy as close to the MCG as they can. Hmmm....counter-productive anyone?
In many of my
posts I have already discussed why first home owners need to get their feet wet in the burbs. I still can not fathom how a first home owner, perhaps earning the average wage of 60K-ish, is looking at 400k+ homes. I still can not understand why people are so against driving an extra 20 minutes, or 4 or 5 train stops further from work, but are renting. When will common sence prevail. When will youngens realise that they can still buy a house, sub 200K even, just by moving an extra 200km away. Wow, two hours of driving to see mates etc (who rent by the way), to set you up with the "Australian Dream". Plus, has anyone heard of up-sizing? It's not rocket science... beggars can't be choosers.
Topsy turvy scenario this is.
