Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's budget has been welcomed in the building and construction sector, with the Housing Industry Association saying its new initiatives will have a positive effect on housing affordability and the Master Builders Association saying it will promote economic growth.
Our weekly appointments wrap includes Mark Glasson, Philippa Boldy, Chandra Sundareswaran, Rhys Turton, Tracy Taylor, Dean Humphrey, Phill Theunissen, Charlie Gunningham, Robyn Sutherland and Trent Cheetham.
Perth recorded 1,609 lot sales for the September 2018 quarter, up by 8.5 per cent for the quarter and 2 per cent from a year prior, according to the latest Housing Industry Association–CoreLogic 'Residential Land Report'.
The Housing Industry Association has significantly downgraded its forecast for new house builds in Western Australia for 2019, tipping a decrease of 0.9 per cent, compared to its previous estimate in May of an 11.8 per cent rise.
The total number of home loans rose by 2.4 per cent in Western Australia last November, against a 0.9 per cent fall nationally, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
New data out today reveals population growth in Western Australia remains subdued, with only a slight rise recorded in the year to June, while nationally the population increased 1.6 per cent.
Builders could soon face tougher penalties for not paying subcontractors on time, but the Master Builders Association has warned several reforms proposed to solve recurring payment issues could increase construction costs and result in more company collapses.
A crackdown on lending by Australian banking regulators has placed further pressure on Western Australian homebuilders, with a decline in housing finance in the state extending to a sixth consecutive year.
The McGowan government is facing renewed pressure to reconsider its proposed foreign investor surcharge, and its removal of the $5,000 first homebuyers boost.
Federal Labor's proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax would hit Western Australia's residential building sector at a time it is already reeling, according to economic modelling commissioned by Master Builders Association.
A new Housing Industry Association report has again labelled Perth as the most affordable capital city in Australia, but says WA's first home buyers grant is not having the desired effect.
The Housing Industry Association has appointed former Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA director of advocacy Cath Hart as its Western Australian regional director.
The Housing Industry Australia has forecast an 8.6 per cent increase in WA's house building starts in 2019 after four years of declining activity, on the back of positive house building and sales numbers.
A depressed Western Australian housing market has hit residential builders, with the number of housing starts dropping by more than 1,500 in the 12 months to June 30, according to figures released by the Housing Industry Association.
Western Australia's population increased by just 0.8 per cent in the year to March, continuing its recent trend of soft growth, while nationally population growth slumped to a two-year low, new data out today shows.
Property executives John Gelavis and Allison Hailes have both left their respective roles this week, with Mr Gelavis selected to head the Master Builders Association of WA.
Two reports out today highlight the weakness in Western Australian property prices over the past decade, including dramatic falls in some regional pockets, but the upside is the state has the most affordable housing across the nation.
BGC Australia is one of the state's largest and most diverse business groups, with revenue last financial year in excess of $2 billion from its building, construction, property, contracting, trucking and manufacturing operations.
SPECIAL REPORT: Building company collapses leaving projects unfinished and subcontractors empty-handed have prompted calls for a different approach to assessing security-of-payment laws.
Subiaco-based Small Business Matters is hoping the 'buy local' message of its new online portal will resonate with consumers ahead of Small Business Day this Saturday.
SPECIAL REPORT: WA's residential property sector is starting to show signs of stabilising, amid increased industry innovation and evolving housing types.
Dale Alcock's ABN Group has been listed as the largest residential builder in WA in the latest Housing Industry Association top 100 ranking, but more intriguing is the disappearance of long-time industry leader BGC Australia and the inaugural listing of Ventura Home Group.
Western Australia's biggest builders are facing higher insurance costs, in some cases understood to be as high as 25 per cent more, as the Building Commission moves to reduce the reliance on taxpayers to foot the bill for failures in the sector.
There may have been little growth in new home sales last month Australia wide, but Western Australia helped keep the national figures in positive territory, with an industry figure foreshadowing a bottoming-out in the state over the year.
Property industry lobby groups say WA Labor's plan to introduce a 4 per cent tax on foreign buyers of residential property if it wins the March 11 state election is a retrograde step for the state'
Unions have been put on notice with the revival of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, as the building sector celebrates the what it says is the return of law to the industry.
Western Australia's declining residential building sector will bottom out by next year, however the state government's official forecaster says the speed of any potential recovery beyond 2016-17 would be difficult to predict.
Osborne Park-based builder Quattro Homes has been placed into administration, the fourth residential builder in Western Australia to collapse in the past three months.
Slowing residential construction has claimed more scalps, with the flow-on effects likely to have negative repercussions for the affordability of new housing.
Housing affordability in Perth improved 3.2 per cent in the June quarter amid slowing population growth and stagnant property values as Western Australia emerges from the post-resources boom slowdown.
The cost of hiring tradies in Western Australia has fallen over the past year but continues to be substantially more expensive than other states, an industry survey has found.
The number of new homes approved for construction in Western Australia fell for a 15th consecutive month in December, with the industry flagging a downturn in national activity.
