Housing Portability Research Hub
Unpacking the five ‘handbrakes’ on the Australian property market. Our definitive research series.
This landmark research series provides a forensic, evidence-based analysis of the key structural impediments restricting housing mobility and market efficiency in Australia. Moving beyond singular issues, our work dissects the five interconnected ‘handbrakes’, from distorting government taxes and restrictive lending practices to industry inertia, supply-side constraints, and the complex human factors that influence decision-making.
The challenge of housing portability is not a single issue, but a complex gridlock. To provide a clear and comprehensive understanding, we have structured our analysis into five key areas of friction. Each report below isolates and dissects a specific impediment, from government policy to human psychology, to build a complete picture of the problem.
The Government Handbrake
An analysis of stamp duty and other distorting government taxes that create multi-thousand-dollar barriers to moving, suppressing labour mobility and locking households into unsuitable accommodation.
Read the report →The Lender’s Handbrake
A critical examination of how conservative lending practices, complex mortgage portability rules, and the high cost of Lender’s Mortgage Insurance (LMI) penalise households for moving.
Read the report →The Industry Handbrake
Investigating the principal-agent problems, high commission structures, and upfront, non-refundable marketing costs that misalign the incentives of real estate agents and their clients.
Read the report →The Supply Handbrake
A deep dive into how planning restrictions, development bottlenecks, and an inefficient use of existing housing stock create artificial scarcity and exacerbate affordability pressures.
Read the report →The Human Handbrake
Exploring the behavioural economics and psychological barriers, from loss aversion to the stress of moving, that create personal friction and contribute to market inertia.
Read the report →