House Prices
MCG’s 2024 Australian Property Market Predictions
What is your overall view on how markets will perform in 2024? The pace of construction cost growth will slow since supply chain pressures we saw during COVID have returned to normal. However, there is still a significant shortage of construction labour, exacerbated by the pipeline of government infrastructure projects. The target of building 1.2…
Read MoreUnit Investment Swell Leaves Housing in its Wake
Australian property has the normal ebb and flow of all market-driven sectors where the relative popularity of different locations and property types will wax and wane over time. A range of drivers come into play helping push one property sector over another. The trick is spotting which type is on the up early enough to…
Read MoreFirst homebuyers success in this hot market
A parent’s drive to protect and nurture their offspring is an unstoppable force. Humans are, quite simply, programmed for it. From the first moment those insidious little buggers look into your eyes, you are smitten. Suddenly, dreams of early retirement, that Lamborghini and quiet holiday getaways at your beachfront unit must be set aside. You’ve…
Read MoreShould you invest in Queensland?
We live in the golden age of borderless investing. Remote inspections, locality-based buyer’s agents and other experts, and open access to a range of data and advice. 2021 has proved you don’t need to leave your armchair to invest in property across the nation. So, in an era where literally every market is open to…
Read MoreBuilding approvals point to a potential future housing shortage
It doesn’t seem that long ago we were talking about an oversupply of apartments across Sydney, South Melbourne, and Brisbane. However, a lot has changed in the past few years. The ABS October figures on building approvals show a seasonally adjusted estimate for total dwelling units falling by 8.1% in October. The graph below from…
Read MoreWrapping up the year with Data, Dance Floors, and Depreciation
Our year started on a high, coming off the back of a massive win for MCG. Landing a position on the Financial Review’s top 100 of fastest-growing businesses, we hit the ground running! Mike Mortlock and Mitch Ford completed their much-anticipated triathlon, with over $2k raised for Heartkids, a charity helping those affected by congenital…
Read MoreProgress Claim Case Study – The MCG Method of Assessment
As part of the services of quantity surveyors, we are regularly commissioned to undertake progress claim assessments on behalf of financial institutions. During the last month, we have seen quite a common conversation held between ourselves and a client (developer) regarding the difference between our assessment of the builders claim and the amount that the…
Read MoreThe ever-changing demographics that drive smart investment decisions
Those who know me, know I don’t mind a chat. Whiling away my time via the exchange of ideas is a joy. Best of all, it’s a move out of my professional comfort zone – a chance to expand the mind beyond ‘rates per square metre’ and legislative minutia. Economists, builders, buyer’s agents and investment…
Read MoreBushfires & Floods – The cost of a Natural Disaster to home owners
Australian Research In 2000, the Construction Data division of Reed Business Information Systems (Reed) surveyed 1000 randomly selected homeowners. They concluded that: 87% of homes were under-insured by any amount The average level of under-insurance was 34% In 2002, the Insurance Council of Australia conducted a survey of seven companies sharing 80% of the home…
Read MoreAn Expert Witness Case Study – Owner V Builder, August 2019
In a recent expert witness case that I was asked to provide my opinion of costs on, the result has now been published. Background The background to both applications is best described as: The Owners’ sought damages from the Builder in respect of: o (Item 1) Defective and/or incomplete works (the Defects Claim); o (Item…
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