Buyers

New data shows the federal government scheme has been used by high-income borrowers, including one couple earning an annual $674,000Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers has enabled the purchase of nearly 1,500 properties that were turned into investments, new data shows.The scheme is also helping hundreds of Australians earning more than $300,000 a year, after Labor stopped excluding high-income borrowers. Continue reading...

Price of an average home now £277,542, up from £277,484 the previous month but lower than in May, says NationwideBusiness live – latest updatesEconomic uncertainty dampened UK house price growth in July as prospective house buyers remained cautious about interest rates during the US war with Iran in what should be peak housebuying season.House prices rose by just 0.1% in July from a month earlier, according to the lender Nationwide, while annual price growth slowed to 1.8% this month, down from 2.2% in June. Continue reading...

Banks and building societies have started relaxing affordability rules and becoming more creative with productsFor many first-time buyers, getting their foot on the property ladder can feel like an impossible dream. However, the good news is that there are a growing number of mortgage deals that require only a small deposit, or no deposit at all.Metro Bank is the latest high street lender to launch a deal that allows eligible first-timers to borrow up to 100% of the value of a property. Home loans that let people borrow 100% have been making a bit of a comeback – they were once fairly commonplace but were axed after the 2008 financial crisis. Continue reading...

• The Economic Times is highlighting the "Most Innovative AI Product Awards 2026," focusing on the gap between AI founders seeking product-market fit and enterprise buyers prioritizing scalability and measurable outcomes. • Google has introduced new tools, Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash, designed to make AI-driven image and video creation faster and more cost-effective. • The report emphasizes that while enterprise AI investment is widespread, few companies have successfully proven the long-term business value and impact of these integrations.

Exclusive: Data shows buyers are not rushing to get into the market, despite lower prices and less competitionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFirst home buyers are starting to step back and investor demand is slumping in all areas except new property, as Australia’s housing market enters a downturn.Research shows the market is transforming, nearly two months on from a third consecutive interest rate rise and sweeping tax reforms. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Research suggests financial penalties necessary if number of large vehicles on roads is to be reducedDrivers who are told about the safety risks posed by SUVs to cyclists and pedestrians are very unlikely to be deterred from buying one, a new study has found.The findings indicate that if governments want to reduce the number of large, dangerous vehicles on the roads, it is likely to require financial penalties, according to the psychologists at Swansea University who led the research. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Economists say falling house prices are largely in the more expensive parts of Sydney and Melbourne’s markets and are less likely to affect first-time property ownersFears that first-time buyers with tiny deposits will find their mortgages are worth more than their homes may be assuaged by new data showing falling prices are concentrated in the top end of the Sydney and Melbourne property markets.Climbing inflation, interest rates and worries about the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict have helped depress housing values in the country’s two biggest cities. Continue reading...

• Siemens Energy AG reports that European buyers are now paying premiums to secure priority spots in production queues for gas turbines. • The surge in demand is driven by the rapid expansion of AI-powered data centers and broader electrification projects across Europe. • This trend highlights a critical shortage of power infrastructure as the AI boom accelerates the need for stable, large-scale energy sources.

Auction success hit a new low for the year on the last Saturday in May, with just 54.5% of homes soldFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has suggested falling auction clearance rates may be a “good thing” for first home buyers if it means they aren’t competing against as many property investors.After data was released showing home prices in Australia’s capital cities had begun to fall and buyers were abandoning auctions, Chalmers on Monday said Labor’s proposed property tax reforms weren’t the only thing slowing the housing market. Continue reading...

Barratt Redrow boss says rising interest rates, higher student debt and squeeze on wages hitting property dreamBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Britain’s largest housebuilder has warned that it is the most challenging time to be a first-time buyer since the financial crisis, as the dream of home ownership moves increasingly out of reach for many young people.A combination of rising interest rates, higher levels of student debt and the squeeze on wages is making it “challenging, very, very difficult” for young people to get on the housing ladder, according to David Thomas, the outgoing chief executive of Barratt Redrow. Continue reading...

Premium editions of Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! cost up to $250 but some say signatures are unnaturally identicalLiza Minnelli fans who bought signed copies of her memoir are seeking refunds because they believe her signature is fake.Copies of Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! by the American 80-year-old singer were marketed around the world as “hand-signed collectibles”, with premium editions costing up to $250 (£185). Continue reading...

‘Least affordable’ areas mainly in London commuter belt, UK Finance finds, with Iran war not yet reflected in dataBusiness live – latest updatesUK homebuyers are facing the worst mortgage affordability pressures for almost two decades, although the “pain” is not being felt equally across the country, according to industry data.The banking body UK Finance said that at a nationwide level, initial mortgage repayments were typically swallowing up more than a fifth (21.3%) of a homebuyer’s gross income – the highest level since 2008. Continue reading...

Property prices are still rising at the entry level and as borrowing costs increase, the home ownership dream is even further out of reach The third Reserve Bank rate hike in a row has delivered a blow not only to mortgaged homeowners, but also to those hoping to break into the property market like Dani Hunterford and her husband.They have been saving for a deposit but have been left frustrated as another rate hike appears to put their homeowning dream out of reach again. Continue reading...

New AAA data shows petrol vehicles fell to a record quarterly low of 66.3% of sales. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows petrol-electric hybrid vehicles have reached record sales, while traditional fuel cars lose ground.In the fourth quarter of 2025, 55,458 new hybrids were sold, accounting for 19.13% of all new light vehicle sales. This comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 16.7% set in the September quarter of 2024. In addition, 15,411 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold – 5.32% of light vehicle sales, up from its previous record of 4.82% in the January quarter of 2025. Continue reading...

The U.S. under President Trump expanded waivers on Russian oil sanctions to all buyers, including easing restrictions on stranded oil at sea, aiming to tame surging domestic gas prices amid global tensions. EU officials pushed back against the move, while NATO leaders urged reversal of the suspension to pressure Russia. The policy shift matters as it balances inflation control against geopolitical leverage in Ukraine support, potentially providing Russia billions. Next steps include monitoring price impacts and possible congressional pushback before midterms.

The US Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on March 12, 2026, aiming to increase construction and limit institutional ownership of single-family homes. The White House endorsed the measure on March 2, highlighting its potential to address affordability challenges. Its path in the House remains uncertain amid midterm pressures. Lawmakers from both parties cite high home prices as a top voter issue, with implementation depending on state and local policies.