A report from News.com.au in Australia. "Deloitte Access Economics’ latest Business Outlook noted average dwelling prices in Sydney had risen by about $3000 per week in September. Melbourne experienced a bounce of about $2500 a week. Deloitte noted that 'Australia needs a renewed housing price bubble like it needs a hole in the head' with the recent rebound 'best understood as a hair of the dog that bit us in the first place.'"

From Independent Australia. "In the months since May’s Federal Election, all eyes have once again turned to the property market, as a combination of factors seemingly combined to create yet another price boom in the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets."

"In a recent interview with Martin North of Digital Finance Analytics, REA Chief Economist Nerida Conisbee had a very different viewpoint. Based on the housing price data compiled by Realestate.com.au’s own records of properties sold and Hometrack, a subsidiary of REA. Conisbee stated that: 'We're not seeing growth in Melbourne and Sydney as yet … we are still seeing price declines.'"

"The question of whether the REA price index or the CoreLogic daily index is actually closer to the mark is a matter for economists and statisticians to debate. But the competing viewpoint put forward by Conisbee and the REA does raise some rather pertinent questions. The Australian people and even the Prime Minister himself have been making determinations and even life decisions, about the health and direction of the property market based on a single data source."

"CoreLogic may be correct and prices may be booming just like their index indicates, but if the REA data is correct and prices are not actually rising, some Australians may have been making one of the most important choices of their life on a boom that never was."

From Business Insider. "Buying off the plan could cost you tens of thousands before you even move in. According to APRA, 'Loans in negative equity, where loan value is greater than the encumbered asset value are increasing.' If your bank values your property as less than the purchase price, you may still owe the developer the purchase price, which could cost you tens of thousands more than you planned for due to shortfall."

"Furthermore, according to the RBA, apartments accounted for roughly one-third of all new dwellings approved for construction in Australia from 2014 – 2018. With such an oversupply of apartments in a suffering market, it’s interesting that negative equity has been going largely unnoticed."

"With the peak of apartment completions occurring in 2018, data from the RBA and ABS below show several of Australia’s capital cities still have a large number of apartments scheduled for completion in 2019 and 2020. This could lead to a potential oversupply and reduction in high density apartment values."

From Domain News. "Renters are enjoying some of the best conditions in years, reaping the benefits of Sydney’s recent property investment boom, new data shows. The cost of renting a house or a unit is lower than what it was five years ago in 55 suburbs, data from the Domain Rental Report for the September quarter shows. Prices have dropped by up to one-quarter over the past year."

"'It’s the strongest annual decline in about 15 years' said Domain research analyst Eliza Owen, noting the 2013-2017 investment boom had put downward pressure on prices."

The Property Observer. "The Bond mansion, the Perth home built by the late businessman Alan Bond, is back for sale after a heavy price reduction. Noted as one of the best homes in Perth, the sprawling home on the Swan River initially sought $50 million when first listed over Christmas 2017."

"Ray White Dalkeith agent Jody Fewster is now marketing the property with a guide of $35 million plus. Fewster, whose father was Alan Bond, grew up in the home. It's likely the vast home will go back in price, having been bought for $39 million in 2011 by Sue Gibson."