Australia's Morning Mail covers significant news including falling house prices, concerns over First Nations deaths in custody, and the start of Alan Jones' trial. International news features the Middle East crisis and wildfire tragedies.
Australian house prices have fallen in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, with national median prices down $19,000 since March, according to Cotality data. The downturn, linked to RBA interest rate hikes and reduced investor tax concessions, has led to decreased home loan applications, though the RBA expects the market to stabilize.
UK house price growth slowed to 0.1% in July, with annual growth at 1.8%, as economic uncertainty, high interest rates, and geopolitical tensions from the Iran war dampened buyer demand. The average home price edged up slightly to £277,542, according to Nationwide.
The UK housing market is poised for a prolonged period of stagnant house prices due to elevated mortgage costs, geopolitical tensions, and domestic political uncertainty, according to Bloomberg's analysis of RICS survey data. Buyer activity is slowing, with little expected movement in prices over the next three months.
Australian house prices fell 0.7% in the June quarter to $937,000, following a peak in March. Despite recent drops and bank predictions of further declines, a decade of significant price acceleration means affordability remains a major long-term challenge, with median prices still costing over 15 years of disposable income.
House prices in Spain and Portugal are rising sharply due to high demand, limited supply, and immigration, making homeownership difficult. Spain saw a 12.9% increase and Portugal 17.8% in Q1 2026. Both governments are monitoring markets, with Portugal tightening lending rules.
UK house prices saw their first monthly increase since February in June, rising 0.2% to £299,330, according to a Lloyds survey. Despite this uptick, values remain below the start of the year, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty and stretched affordability for buyers.
UK house prices saw no growth for the second consecutive month in June, with average prices falling slightly. Rising interest rates, influenced by the war in Iran, have dampened buyer demand, leading estate agents to predict a quiet summer.
An abuse survivor feels betrayed after his trial was aborted due to the Christian Brothers' financial issues. A poll shows Australians reject some One Nation policies. Australia's women's cricket team reached the T20 World Cup final.
House prices are falling in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra. Sydney and Melbourne saw their largest monthly declines since August 2022, with Sydney values down $48,000 year-to-date. This slowdown is attributed to rising interest rates and reduced investor borrowing capacity.
I prezzi delle case in Italia hanno registrato un'accelerazione nel primo trimestre dell'anno, con un aumento dell'1,0% rispetto al trimestre precedente e del 5,2% su base annua, trainati dai prezzi delle abitazioni nuove.
UK house prices increased by 3.8% year-on-year in April 2026, reaching an average of £270,000. Property transactions surged 53.2% from the previous year, indicating market recovery. The North East saw the highest annual growth, while London experienced the largest monthly rise despite annual declines.
Fears of negative equity for first-time buyers in Sydney and Melbourne are easing as falling house prices are concentrated in the top end of the market. Data shows the cheapest properties have seen modest gains or slight declines, unlike the upper quartiles. Experts suggest low unemployment and low arrears rates mitigate mortgage payment risks, though negative equity can limit options for selling or refinancing.
New data suggests falling house prices in Sydney and Melbourne are concentrated in the upper market segments, potentially assuaging fears for first-time buyers with small deposits who typically purchase in the lower end.
Australian house prices continue to outpace income growth, with a 10.3% annual increase. Budget changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing aim to improve affordability after 26 years of escalating prices, though a 10% price drop would only reverse a small fraction of the damage.
Buying a home in Spain now requires 8.4 years of gross salary, up from 7.1 years in 2024, due to a 20.5% jump in housing prices vs. a 1% wage increase. The Balearic Islands and Madrid are the least accessible markets.
Labor faces a "diabolical political conundrum" regarding the housing affordability crisis. Any attempt to solve it risks either lowering house prices or failing to address the core issue, leaving the government in a no-win situation.
Australian house prices stagnated last month, with Sydney and Melbourne seeing price drops. This shift, driven by interest rate hikes, contrasts with the public and political view of housing as an investment rather than a basic need, hindering affordability efforts.
UK house prices dropped 0.6% in May, the first decline this year, as rising interest rates and Middle East conflict hurt demand. Average prices are up 1.7% year-on-year, but growth has slowed.
Halifax says cost of typical home fell by 0.1% in April, the second consecutive monthly drop, with pace of annual growth down from 0.8%. to 0.4%Business news – live updates UK house prices fell for a second consecutive month in April, as Halifax halved its estimate for the annual rate of growth due to the conflict in the Middle East.Halifax, which is part of Lloyds – Britain’s biggest mortgage lender – said that the cost of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in April, to £299,313. This followed a 0.5% fall in March. Continue reading...
Halifax says cost of typical home fell by 0.1% in April, the second consecutive monthly drop, with pace of annual growth down from 0.8%. to 0.4%Business news – live updates UK house prices fell for a second consecutive month in April, as Halifax halved its estimate for the annual rate of growth due to the conflict in the Middle East.Halifax, which is part of Lloyds – Britain’s biggest mortgage lender – said that the cost of a typical UK home fell by 0.1% in April, to £299,313. This followed a 0.5% fall in March. Continue reading...
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsAcross the UK, house prices are rising faster in the north of the country, and falling parts of the South.Halifax reports:Northern Ireland still leads UK annual house price growth, with average prices up +7.6% over the past year to £224,851.Scotland also recorded strong growth, rising +4.0% annually to an average price of £222,448.Wales has seen property price growth continue to slow, now +0.7% on annual basis, taking the typical home value to £230,952.The North East of England saw prices rise +4.5% over the year to £183,445, while the North West recorded annual growth of +3.4%, with the average home now costing £248,945.By contrast, the southern markets continue to see prices fall. The South East led declines, with prices down -2.0% year‑on‑year to £383,044, while London saw average values fall by - 1.4% to £536,051.“After a strong start to the year, recent global developments have added a greater degree of uncertainty to the outlook. In particular, higher energy prices have fed into inflation expectations, prompting markets to reassess the path for interest rates – a shift that has already pushed up borrowing costs for many buyers.“This understandably leads to more caution among some households, with the cost-of-living once again front of mind and extra thought being given to planned property moves. Continue reading...
UK house prices rose at the fastest annual pace in 11 months in April, jumping 3% year-on-year to £278,880, according to Nationwide. The 0.4% monthly increase marked the fourth consecutive month of growth, surprising economists who had expected a 0.3% fall. Despite weakening consumer confidence and rising uncertainty from Middle East tensions, the housing market showed resilience with the three-month growth rate reaching 1.2%.
Diageo shares rose 2% after Trump announced removal of 10% tariffs on Scotch whisky in honor of King Charles. UK house prices unexpectedly increased 0.4% in April with annual growth reaching 3.0%, while NatWest reported Q1 profits of £1.4bn despite setting aside £140m for potential economic worsening.
