Cost of living

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Rising rents make it harder to save for a home.

The modest type of housing where rents have soared

Landlords are asking tenants to find hundreds of dollars more a week for the same properties than they were a few years ago.

  • Elizabeth Redman

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Builder Anthony Malone just got approval to build a home - with 86 conditions.

Anthony is trying to build a house. It comes with 86 conditions

The builder has seen regulations blow out over the years, making it harder to deliver affordable housing.

  • Elizabeth Redman and Kristy Johnson
Kenmore residents Rebekah and Tex Treloar volunteer for a charity making lasagne for those in need.

No questions asked, just free lasagne: The Brisbane volunteers offering cheesy goodness

With food insecurity affecting almost 700,000 Queensland households, the Lasagna Love movement dishes out hope without a side of shame.

  • Nick Dent
REA says a note reminding agents that their pricing arrangements are confidential has nothing to do with an ACCC investigation into how the real estate listings giant sets prices.

Why people who borrowed $1 million-plus are more likely to fall behind

Home owners who took out supersized mortgages are now falling into arrears at a greater rate than those with smaller loans.

  • Alice Uribe
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says there is still plenty of uncertainty around the Australian economy.

RBA cuts rates again, warns of rising threat to pay packets

The Reserve Bank has cut the official interest rate for the third time this year, but governor Michele Bullock said another factor is now hitting people’s hip pockets.

  • Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.

Rate cut brings rapid relief but RBA’s statement contains sting in the tail

The Reserve Bank was keen to talk up its rate cut, but it has drawn attention to a problem that is hanging around the economy like mouldy bread.

  • Shane Wright
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Melissa moved into a share house in her 50s. More people are doing the same

Her move sparked curiosity in some corners, but communal living provides a social and financial lifeline for a growing number of people.

  • Alice Uribe
Becky Lois said early intervention and social housing was key in helping her, her eight-year-old son, and dog Coconut to avoid homelessness.

Becky was priced out of a home. This is how she got one

Even working full-time wouldn’t have been enough to manage, but now she has a smart apartment and much less stress.

  • Jim Malo
Home prices usually rise as interest rates fall.

How far property prices rose last time interest rates fell

Lower rates pushed up home prices in five out of the last seven easing cycles, but the gains vary widely, and this time could be different.

  • Elizabeth Redman
Productivity Commission head Danielle Wood.

Workers facing $14,000-a-year penalty if Australia can’t find its mojo

Business, university, technology and farming groups have combined to propose a raft of solutions to Australia’s growth malaise.

  • Shane Wright and Jessica McSweeney