Core Viewpoint - Australia's home prices are projected to rise by approximately 5-6% over the next two years due to lower borrowing costs, although affordability issues may limit these gains [1][4]. Group 1: Home Price Forecasts - Analysts predict a 5% increase in home prices for this year, revised up from previous forecasts of 4% and 3.7% in earlier quarters [4]. - Home prices in major capital cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth are expected to rise between 4% and 7% this year and next [6]. Group 2: Impact of Interest Rates - The Reserve Bank of Australia's 75-basis point cuts since February have reduced mortgage repayments, supporting modest buyer activity [3]. - Rates are expected to bottom out at 3.1% early next year, down from the current 3.6% [3]. Group 3: Affordability Concerns - The national median home value increased by around 4%, from A$814,293 in January to A$848,858 in August, indicating high historical standards [7]. - Analysts are divided on purchasing affordability over the next 12 months, with some expecting modest improvements while others predict a worsening situation [8]. Group 4: Market Dynamics - Lower borrowing costs are anticipated to enhance household buying capacity, exerting upward pressure on the housing market [5]. - However, the chronic undersupply in the housing market raises concerns that increased demand could further exacerbate affordability issues [9].

Housing Market & Inflation - Job creation increase is unlikely to resolve housing affordability issues [1] - Job creation increase is unlikely to resolve inflation pressures [1] Labor Market Sentiment - Worker pessimism will be difficult to change [1]

Let's talk about a tale of two economies. Uh we we talked about it uh in the Biden era where we kept talking about how the numbers uh looked so great for for the US economy compared to the rest of the world and yet a lot of people hurting uh in middle America, a lot of people hurting uh across the country. Uh and a lot of Americans pessimistic.That helped defeat Kla Harris. Uh how has that changed or are they still pessimistic. They're still pessimistic.And let me start with a poll that you guys referred to ...

Housing Market Analysis - U S homes are more unaffordable than the peak of the 2008 housing bubble [1] - Housing is now a politically protected asset class, suggesting long-term price increases despite potential corrections [1] Investment Opportunity - Suggests turning trapped equity into bitcoin [1]

Aesthetics aside, has the flood of new apartments in this area of Washington, DC made a difference to housing affordability? Very possibly https://t.co/Uss0IAHEa9 ...

Housing Market & Affordability - The US is short approximately 5 million housing units, requiring an additional 18% to 2 million units per year to prevent the shortage from worsening [1][12] - Technology can counter cost inflation in the housing sector, which historically has underinvested in tech compared to other industries [28] - AI-driven automation can significantly reduce labor costs, a major controllable expense for housing operators [29] - AI is helping to increase housing supply in areas that have relaxed zoning regulations [19][20] Elise AI's Solutions & Impact - Elise AI aims to enable fully autonomous buildings, where core operations run without human intervention [1][31] - Buildings using Elise AI have demonstrated 2% higher occupancy rates compared to the market average [15] - Elise AI's technology has helped customers like Equity Residential achieve up to 200 units per employee through centralized staff and AI communication [30] - Elise AI is expanding its AI solutions from housing to healthcare, focusing on automating administrative tasks and improving patient engagement [74][76] Future Vision - The ultimate vision is to reduce the percentage of household income spent on housing and healthcare from 42% to around 20% [3][96] - AI can facilitate greater mobility in the housing market by enabling shorter-term leases and reducing the labor required for apartment turnover [55][57]

Core Insights - The August 2025 Buying Power Report from Realtor.com® indicates that only 28.0% of homes on the market are affordable for the typical U.S. household, with the maximum affordable home price dropping to $298,000 from $325,000 in 2019, a decrease of nearly $30,000 [1][9] Economic Context - Despite a 15.7% increase in median incomes since 2019, higher interest rates have significantly reduced the purchasing power of American households, with mortgage rates around 6.75% leading to an additional $7,200 in annual costs for a $320,000 loan compared to 2019 [2][9] - The current typical listing price is $439,450, requiring nearly a 28% down payment for buyers [2] Regional Analysis - Major metropolitan areas such as Milwaukee, Houston, Baltimore, New York City, and Kansas City have experienced the most significant declines in buying power, with Milwaukee seeing a 10.5% drop in affordability [3][4] - In Milwaukee, the maximum affordable home price fell from $314,000 to $281,000, a decrease of $33,000 [3] Affordability Trends - While affordability has declined, some regions still maintain a relatively high share of affordable homes, except for New York City, where only 13.1% of listings were affordable in July [4] - Only six of the 50 largest U.S. metros have seen an increase in buying power since 2019, with Cleveland, Ohio, leading with a 4.4% increase in affordable home prices [6] Buyer Behavior - The decline in buying power is reshaping buyer behavior, leading many to compete for lower-priced homes, turn to rentals, or delay homeownership, particularly among younger households [11] - Sellers may need to adjust pricing expectations or prepare for longer market times due to changing demand dynamics [11] Future Outlook - Restoring lost buying power will likely depend on lower mortgage rates, stronger wage growth, and an increase in housing supply, especially in the affordable segment [11]

Aesthetics aside, has the flood of new apartments in this area of Washington, DC made a difference to housing affordability? Very possibly https://t.co/53TvgqvQr4Photo: Getty Images https://t.co/akfLXwUjvq ...

>> Mortgage rates slipped to the lowest level of 2025. This week, many Americans, though, still feel priced out of home ownership. Joining us now, housing analyst Ivy Zelman.Zelman Executive Vice President. I've been doing this a long time, Ivy. How long at your own company.I remember you were you were toiling with some of the big Wall Street firms for a while and then set out on your own. Right. What year was that.>> Well, good morning, Joe. Thanks for having me. We started in October of oh seven. >> Of ze ...

Economy & Tariffs - The Democratic Party initially predicted economic faltering and recession due to tariffs, but this hasn't occurred [2] - Concerns remain that tariffs will worsen inflation and affordability issues, especially for consumer goods [6] - There is disagreement on whether tariffs have significantly impacted prices [5] Economic Indicators & Performance - Job creation has decreased to near record lows [3] - Inflation reached a high of 9% but is now at 27% year-over-year [7] - Unemployment is at 42%, considered full employment, and GDP was 3% [7] Political Stance & Policy - Democrats advocate for a strong social safety net, including Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act [9][10] - The administration is accused of attacking these programs and nutritional assistance [10][12] - There are concerns about a bill that could negatively impact healthcare access and affordability [11] New York City Mayoral Race & Affordability - Affordability is a key issue in New York City, influencing the mayoral race [14][21][22] - One mayoral candidate is focused on addressing affordability, but his solutions are under scrutiny [14][23] - A proposed solution involves increasing the supply of affordable housing through public-private partnerships [24] Government & Free Market - The Trump administration is accused of attacking the free enterprise system and engaging in "pay to play" schemes [28][29] - There are concerns about political interference in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [27][28] - The President is criticized for bullying corporations and individuals [31][32]