In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie unpack one of Australia's biggest issues right now: building approvals are rising, but construction output is falling — all while the country faces the largest population boom on record. Australia approved more homes than ever in 2024–2025, yet fewer houses are actually being built.

In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the housing supply crunch — from labour shortages, skyrocketing material costs and developer feasibility, to the impact of surging investor lending and record migration.

We also analyse how government planning reforms, council delays, CDC pathways and the Housing Future Fund are affecting supply, rental prices, and long-term affordability for first-home buyers and investors.

🔍 Key Topics Covered in This Episode

✔️ Why building approvals are rising but construction is falling

✔️ Labour shortages, high materials costs & builder insolvencies

✔️ Investor lending at record highs — how it affects first-home buyers

✔️ Australia's population surge (380K → 470K) and pressure on housing

✔️ NSW planning reforms: CDC fast-track, dual occupancies & DA changes

✔️ How government policies are shaping supply, rent, and house prices

✔️ Why developers are building less despite huge demand

✔️ What needs to change to fix Australia's housing shortage

✔️ The outlook for construction, rental markets & property prices in 2025

Australia is heading into a critical phase: approvals are up, supply is down, migration is booming, and investors are flooding the market. Understanding these factors is essential for buyers, sellers, renters and investors.