How high do we want property prices to keep rising? Who wins and who loses?

Today we ask a question almost no one in property likes to touch - not "will housing prices keep rising?" but "how expensive do we actually want housing to be?"

For decades we've celebrated rising house prices in Australia. If your home was worth more this year than last, life felt a bit easier. Politicians were happy, banks were happy, homeowners were happy.

But after 50 years of almost uninterrupted price growth, we need to ask a harder question: Is it actually good for us if housing just keeps getting more expensive?

The answer, of course, depends on who you are.

Because rising prices have created a lot of winners in Australia: homeowners, investors, banks, governments, tradies, retailers.

But they've also created a growing group of losers - renters, younger Australians, essential workers, small businesses, and even the future middle class.

Takeaways

· Rising house prices benefit homeowners, investors, and banks.

· First home buyers and renters are the primary losers in the housing market.

· The middle class is at risk due to increasing housing costs.

· Government policies often favor rising house prices over affordability.

· The housing market is influenced by political choices, not just market forces.

· Younger generations are becoming a significant voting block for housing issues.

· Sustainable growth in property values is preferable to boom-and-bust cycles.

· Investors should focus on long-term strategies rather than short-term gains.

· The demographic shift may lead to changes in homeownership rates in the future.

· A strong middle class is essential for a balanced economy.

Chapters 00:00 Who really benefits when house prices keep rising. 05:30 Winners of high prices: owners, banks, governments and investors. 10:00 Losers emerge: renters, first-home buyers and essential workers. 15:00 Political choices, vested interests and why reform is so hard. 20:00 Demographic shifts that could eventually change housing policy. 25:30 Why slow, sustainable growth beats booms for Australia's future.

Join Michael and Simon at Wealth Retreat 2026, where Australia's most ambitious investors and businesspeople gather to think bigger, invest smarter, and build intergenerational wealth.

MAY 30th – JUNE 4th 2026 – find out more here: https://www.wealthretreat.com.au/

About Simon Kuestenmacher

Simon Kuestenmacher is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group

Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.

He ranks as one of the world's Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can't get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on Linked In or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.

Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others.

https://www.tdgp.com.au/enquire

About Michael Yardney

Michael Yardney - founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders

While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia's leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.

Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.

Follow Michael on Linked In or Instagram

Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth - producing results.

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast, Property Investment, Success and Money |The Michael Yardney Podcast. Just look for it wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe

About Demographics Decoded

Housing markets don't move randomly - they respond to long-term demographic forces.

In Demographics Decoded, we analyse:

Housing demand and population growth Household formation trends Apartment vs house demand Infrastructure and urban planning Capital city growth patterns Regional population shifts Housing supply shortages Future property market drivers in Australia

If you want to understand how demographics shape property prices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond, this podcast explains the structural forces that will influence Australian real estate for decades to come.

For deeper analysis visit: https://demographicsdecoded.com.au