"COMMONWEALTH Bank has moved to rein in some parts of its home lending business by tightening lending criteria for investment borrowers. The bank has written to mortgage brokers advising them that loan to value ratios will be reduced to 80 per cent from 90 per cent on a range of investment home loans." ---What will this to do speculators? Not sure. But it is certainly a sign of tighter credit, and 'probably' the end of the bubble. Join discussion...

And an interesting final quote: "But Lifeline's Ken Campbell said the court data on repossessed homes was misleadingly low, as many others in trouble with their mortgage repayments had been pressured to sell ahead of foreclosure.". Is anything in the property market NOT misleading? Join discussion...

Australian's buying American real-estate. More credit binges! Join discussion...

And the vested interests are still perpetuating the myth of riches through property investments. Join discussion...

Greek debt compared to Australian debt. Join discussion...

In the US, when home 'owners' faced negative equity, the temptation to just give up and walk out (i.e. *deliberately* default) increases as the value of the house decreases. Could this happen in Australia? Join discussion...

Property speculation vs property value investing - why we are in a bubble. Join discussion...

That's why any government attempts to solve the housing 'shortage' problem will come into opposition. That's why the next generation will be stuffed if the opposition have their way. Join discussion...

Australia's most affordable city is Ballarat...ranked 200. Australia = Affordability FAIL. Join discussion...

Even Shane Oliver says that this is a very "scary" survey. As the article reported, "Almost half the first-home buyers lured into the market by the Rudd government's $14,000 grant are struggling to meet their mortgage repayments and many are already in arrears on their loans." Join discussion...