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đ€ Howdy Readers
In this newsletter, you'll find:
đŹïž Post 1 - đž Taming the Housing Boom: Can APRA Help Cool Prices?
Think interest rates falling means relief?
Not always. In this post we explore how Reserve Bank rate cuts in early 2025 are making borrowing cheaperâbut also inviting a wave of investor activity that threatens affordability for everyday Australians
Why it matters to you:
- When the RBA lower interest rates, investors rush back inâbidding up prices and edging out first-home buyers.
- Actions by APRAâcould help re-balance that demand in favour of owner-occupiers
Why give it a read:
Youâll come away with clarity on how macroeconomic toolsâlike mortgage buffers or investor capsâare potential levers to make housing more accessible.
So if youâre curious about how regulators like APRA fit into Australiaâs housing debateâand what realistic options could help first-time buyersâthis post breaks it down to give you a better understanding.
đ Want to dive deeper? Read the full article for a thoughtful take on housing reformâand why it might just hinge on APRA stepping up.
Anthony Painter
đŹïž Post 2 - đ§ Can You Lay Dirty Bricks? What the Standards SayâAnd What You Can Do If They Have Been
Hereâs what youâll learn in the article:
- Leaching and staining: If bricks were muddy before laying, thereâs little risk of ongoing mud leaching through the wallâunless the wall remains damp continuously. But mud with high oxide content could subtly discolour mortar over time. Essentially, clean bricks dry and breathe properly under normal conditions.
- Compromised mortar bond: Mud-covered bricks may contaminate the mortar mixâintroducing fine silts or pigments that weaken the mortar or affect colour and adherence. Meets the standard? Maybe not.
- Flood-exposed bricks: Saturated bricks might reduce Initial Rate of Absorption (IRA), undermining mortar bond strengthâunless a skilled bricklayer adjusted the mortar accordingly.
- Standards donât mention âdirty bricksâ explicitly, but Australian Standards ASâŻ3700 and ASâŻ4773.2, along with quality guides like the NSW Standards & Tolerances, expect clean, well-finished façades. The NCC refers to these standards for structural compliance and durability, but aesthetic cleanliness is enforced more by best practice than by regulation.
đ Curious about muddy bricks and masonry standards? Check out the full post for an informed, structured discussion click on the banner image below:
Anthony Painter
đŸ Software of the Week: OnlineGantt
(this is not a sponsored post, we are just trialling & testing a boatload of software currently, prior to starting two new projects soon).
đ„ïž OnlineGantt: Your Quick & Simple Gantt Chart Maker
What is OnlineGantt?
OnlineGantt is a web-based tool that lets you build visual project timelinesâcalled Gantt chartsâto plan and track tasks. You donât need to install anything or sign up; it works right in your browser (any browser).
Why use it?
If youâve ever struggled to explain whoâs doing what and when in a projectâwhether a home renovation, event planning, or small work projectâOnlineGantt fixes that. It turns tasks into a clear visual layout, so everyone just gets it.
What we like about it:
- Super affordable: You can get started with the free versionâno cost, forever. For cloud saving and easy sharing, itâs just around USDâŻ$4/user/month.
- Revision saving: Keeps multiple drafts so you can revisit past plans.
- Easy to use: Drag a task and drop it on the timelineâno training or tech knowledge needed.
- Public share links: Quickly share your chart with teammates or clients via a linkâno accounts required.
Who is it for?
Freelancers, small business owners, teachers, students or anyone who wants to keep project plans organised and visual. Perfect for users who donât need complex dashboards, just clarity without paying an arm and a leg!
What about tech requirements?
Itâs browser-based and works on any device with an internet connection. Thereâs no app to downloadâand it handles most screen sizes well. (Note: interface is very simple and mobile layout may feel basic.)
đ Learn more about OnlineGantt by clicking the link below:
Can't see the embed above? Click HERE to open the 1x question Builder's quality survey
ICYMI - the most important construction news from this week
đ The latest residential construction news from new sources around Australia for the news week ending 26-07-2025 đ„
News Theme of the Week
"Perception Over Reality â Keeping the Housing Mirage Alive"
This weekâs news cycle was heavy with government gestures, developer-friendly finance schemes, and public discontentâwrapped in a layer of upbeat market spin. From âbuild now, pay laterâ housing offers and AI solutions to planning backlogs, to warnings of bubble risks and interstate investors pricing locals out, one message comes through: itâs all about maintaining confidence, even if itâs built on shifting ground.
Governments and industry players seem more focused on preserving the illusion of progress than addressing the root causesâlike speculation-driven demand, supply misalignment, and un-affordable entry points. Itâs all smoke, mirrors, and maintaining momentumâeven if people canât afford the ride.
Music of the week
âEverybody Wants to Rule the Worldâ â Tears for Fears (1985)
weâre dancing to a hopeful tune, but the foundations feel less stable by the day.
Why this song? Itâs smooth and upbeat on the surfaceâmuch like the headlines trying to paint a healthy marketâbut the songs lyrics are loaded with themes of manipulation, illusion, and power imbalance.
Itâs about control and consequence. Just like the current housing market: keep the good times rolling, no matter who gets left behind.
Can't see the video embed below? Click here to watch on Youtube.
We've highlighted our favourite news articles for the week by marking with a đ§ââïž or five (yes, we've now changed to Wizards instead of Tacos - because we all need a little magic to make affordable housing appear!).
20-07-2025
East Perth residents rally against planned conversion of Fraser Suites building into public housing â [LINK]
Units to outpace houses for price growth in 2025: REIWA â [LINK]
đ§đ§ Aussies are expecting big house price gains â [LINK]
Our comment: Gotta keep the Kool-Aid and the rhetoric flowingâhouse prices donât hit new records on facts alone. After all, perception is reality.
Article excerpt: "Australia is beginning to resemble a housing bubble with an economy attached."
Melbourne suburbs face 'bubble' risk amid interstate investor frenzy â [LINK]
đ§đ§đ§ Knauf launches Permarock cladding for the Australian market â [LINK]
Our comment: This looks like a sweet product. Canât wait to get my hands on it and play with it (drill it, screw it, cut itâmy definition of play). Also, check out CSR Glasroc X (and F) here. Since CSR Plasterboard was acquired by Saint-Gobain in 2024, weâre now seeing products hit the Australian market that were previously only available internationally. This means builders can now construct better building envelopes using these two systems.
No developer requirements mean limited affordable homes for SRL East, CHIA Vic warns â [LINK]
21-07-2025
Building approvals rise, but more needed to hit housing targets â [LINK]
The tax change that could allow thousands of new homes, ease rental pressure â [LINK]
Record investment in social and supported homes â [LINK]
Interstate investors swarm NT homes, shutting out local buyers and raising rent prices â [LINK]
22-07-2025
đ§đ§ Overhauling contentious tax break would help hit housing target, new report says â [LINK]
Demographic change drives Aussie housing shortage â [LINK]
đ§ Finally, a sensible housing policy solution â [LINK]
Home ownership boost through Help to Buy program â [LINK]
23-07-2025
Housing crisis: Baby Boomer tax cut could help first home buyers â [LINK]
Reward investors who build: The smart plan to ease the housing squeeze â [LINK]
Australian housing values chalk up fifth straight monthly gain â [LINK]
đ§đ§đ§ Efficiency vs supply â [LINK]
24-07-2025
The double-edged impact of rate cuts on housing â [LINK]
25-07-2025
đ§đ§ Queensland family faces loss of $45,000 home deposit in Rochedale development dispute with Kinslake â [LINK]
Our comment: Engaging a lawyer to review your contract before signing probably feels like paying for insuranceâyou donât like doing it, but if something goes wrong, youâll be glad you did. This isnât a great situation for anyone involved.
đ§đ§ Build now, pay later: new finance deals rolled out across NSW home projects â [LINK]
Our comment: Our take on this âbuy now, pay laterâ scheme for housing? Youâre just deferring payments youâd be making anywayâand paying a premium to the provider for the privilege. If the offer is only available on âselectedâ lots, the extra cost is likely built into the land value. Essentially, youâre funding your own rent while also paying a fee for the service. There is no free lunch. Just smile-f***ingâwhen someone grins and says yes a lot while fully knowing they're taking you for a ride.
How AI could cut the red tape so we can build 1.2 million homes â [LINK]
Our comment: Yes, AI can carry out repetitive tasks quickly, but it still needs proper oversight. Itâs not that the tech is badâit's how it's implemented. Any rollout needs to be thoughtfully managed or it could create more problems than it solves.
Labor urged to âscrapâ CGT discount on housing â [LINK]
đ§đ§ This $2.5b shopping mall deal could help solve the housing crisis â [LINK]
đ§ The Private Credit Generation: How Baby Boomers Have Skewed Development Feasibilities â [LINK]
26-07-2025
đ§ Aussie Developerâs Timber Model Wins Support from Heavyweights â [LINK]
đ§đ§ Brokers expect business boost from federal housing policies â [LINK]
đ§đ§đ§ Retirement living exit fees slammed â [LINK]
Our comment/opinion: Deferred Management Fees (DMFs) are predatory. Most buyers donât fully grasp the long-term impact of signing these contracts. The provider benefits enormously from capital growth while the buyerâs estate gets nothing. All future value is consumed in this modelâthe buyer becomes a financial asset used to grow someone elseâs investment portfolio. It wouldnât surprise me if these companies are predicting lifespans and using that data to leverage debt. In my view, this is the lowest of the lowâtreating elderly Australians as little more than equity units in a financial model. Disgraceful.
On why the housing crisis will make for a heated meeting this Sunday at Marrickville in Labor heartland â [LINK]
Our comment: Divide and conquer, baby. While people argue over the small stuff, government keeps piling on debt, pushing house prices up, and collecting more tax to fuel spending. Meanwhile, resource royalties are wasted, and the housing market ends up subsidising industries that donât pay their fair share. How much debt can Australians shoulder before it all comes crashing down? Is the tipping point a $2m price tag for a 4âbedroom, 2âbath, single-storey brick veneer? $2.5m? $3m? Eventually, the music stops, the lights come on, and the cockroaches scatter (robodebt, anyone?).
NSW Delivers First Modular Homes Under Offsite Housing Plan â [LINK]
Our comment: Iâm confused. Maybe itâs my limited understanding of how things really work, but I donât get why, in a country as vast as Australia, the only solution to housing affordability is to build smaller and smaller. Is 110mÂČ going to be the new normal for house-and-land packages? Something here feels deeply brokenâeither Iâve got the whole thing wrong, or weâre all being royally shafted.
The Last Word
This weekâs headlines danced between hopeful announcements and hard realitiesâmodular homes delivered, AI to cut red tape, and families losing deposits in developer disputes. Somewhere between the promise of 1.2 million homes and the fine print of âbuild now, pay later,â it became clear: weâre still mistaking movement for progress.
Whatâs missing isnât just policyâitâs perspective. A home is more than a product. Yet the language of housing has been reduced to numbers, incentives, and schemes. Like we can spreadsheet our way out of a crisis thatâs as emotional as it is economic.
And maybe thatâs why so many of us feel like weâre treading waterâdoing all the right things, yet watching the life buoy drift further away. Weâre told the system is working, even as it slips further from the everyday person. âPerception is reality,â they say. But reality doesnât care what you believeâit just keeps knocking.
Cant see the embed above? Click here to watch on YouTube.
So hereâs to those still asking the hard questions, still showing up, still not buying the gloss. Maybe what we need isnât another taskforce or tax tweak, but a quiet moment to ask: what kind of future are we actually building?
đ„ As Fleetwood Mac once said, âYou can go your own way.â And maybe we shouldâbecause the current path seems more about preserving illusions than delivering homes.
Until next week, build thoughtfully.Can't see the video embed below?
Click here to watch on Youtube.
đ¶âđ«ïž That's all of today
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Feel free to reach out on X or Mastodon or Bluesky - @obiwonky - đ Anthony
PS: Quality Management Checklist Access
All our published checklists are available to download via the Checklists Link in the navigation menu or directly at https://www.constructor.net.au/checklists/.
To download, simply enter your email when prompted. This allows us to assign you a free licenseânothing more. Once completed, youâll be able to view and download the checklists.
⏠Each checklist is formatted for A4-sized paper and ready for easy printing. Please note: the files are larger than typical PDFsâaround 25â85 MB eachâbecause theyâre saved in CMYK (print-ready) format. This ensures high-quality prints, but also means the files are a bit chunkier than usual. They may take a little longer to download depending on your internet speed, so hang in thereâitâs worth the wait!
Enjoy the checklists, we hope they help you identify quality improvements in your new home or next project - or at least, get you thinking.
Anthony Painter
C12 Fixing Stage recently added to the list
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