Buyers agents
What they do, what they cost, how licensing works by state, and how to verify 100% independence from developers.
Independent Australian Property Intelligence
Australian Property Investing, Explained with Evidence
Data-driven analysis and market clarity for strategic investors. No sponsored hot-spots, no developer kickbacks—every metric verified against official primary sources.
Primary Sourced Data • ABS, RBA & CoreLogic
The Four Research Disciplines
Explore Our Core Categories
Every guide, dataset, and framework on Brick & Basis is systematically categorized to help you build evidence-based property knowledge.
Investment finance
How lenders assess serviceability, the APRA 3% buffer, LVR thresholds, interest-only terms, and loan splits.
Market data
Suburbs medians vs hedonic indices, rental vacancy rates, auction clearance figures, and macroeconomic metrics.
Investor guides
Negative gearing mechanics, 50% CGT discounts, state transfer stamp duties, land tax, and purchase budgets.
Macro Indicators
This Month's Numbers
Key national residential property figures verified against official regulatory and industry releases.
National Dwelling Value Change
+0.4%
MoM
Source: CoreLogic Home Value Index • Updated Monthly
National Rental Vacancy Rate
1.2%
Critical Shortage
Source: SQM Research • Benchmark: 3% Equilibrium
RBA Official Cash Rate Target
4.35%
Monetary Policy
Source: Reserve Bank of Australia • Cash Rate Target
Investor Share of New Lending
38.2%
Expanding
Source: ABS Lending Indicators (5601.0) • Seasonally Adjusted
New Research & Analysis
Latest Articles
Recent evidence-backed guides published by Alyssa John on Australian property investing.
Buyers agents
28 Nov 2025 • 8 min read
Buyers Agent Fees Explained: Fixed Fee vs Percentage Commission
Examine typical fee structures, engagement retainers, success fees, and how fixed fees eliminate pricing conflicts.
Read Full Guide →
Investment finance
08 Feb 2026 • 8 min read
How Serviceability is Assessed for Investment Property Loans
Understand lender net surplus tests, rental income shading, HEM living expense benchmarks, and credit card multipliers.
Read Full Guide →
Investment finance
22 Feb 2026 • 8 min read
The APRA Serviceability Buffer Explained: The 3% Assessment Test
Why banks stress-test mortgages at 9%+ and how macroprudential capital rules impact portfolio scaling.
Read Full Guide →
Market data
18 Apr 2026 • 8 min read
How to Read Median Property Price Data Without Being Misled
Why transaction compositional bias distorts suburb price reporting and how hedonic index models adjust for quality.
Read Full Guide →
Investor guides
29 Jun 2026 • 8 min read
Negative Gearing Explained: Rules, Mechanics and ATO Limits
How net rental property losses offset ordinary salary income, allowable deductions, and true out-of-pocket costs.
Read Full Guide →
Investor guides
24 Aug 2026 • 8 min read
Land Tax for Investors by State: Thresholds and Aggregation Rules
Comparing statutory thresholds across NSW, VIC, QLD, and WA, and using the interstate border strategy to legally reduce tax.
Read Full Guide →
New to Australian Property?
Start Here: The 5-Step Foundation Pathway
Before inspecting properties or talking to selling agents, master the underlying mechanics. Read these five core guides in order.
01
Borrowing Power
Investment Finance
How the 3% APRA Serviceability Buffer Caps Your Borrowing Capacity
Understand how bank assessment rates, HECS debt, and living expenses reduce your actual purchasing capacity by up to 35% below headline limits.
02
Equity & Deposit
Investment Finance
LVR Limits and Lenders Mortgage Insurance: When 88% Beats 80%
The mathematics behind paying LMI upfront versus waiting years to save a 20% deposit while capital growth outpaces your savings rate.
03
Professional Help
Buyers Agents
How Much Do Buyers Agents Charge in Australia? Flat Fee vs Percentage
Unpack fixed retainer models, percentage commissions ($12k–$25k), conflict-of-interest warnings, and when hiring a representative pays off.
04
Tax & Cash Flow
Investor Guides
Negative Gearing Explained: The Real Math Behind ATO Deductions
Why losing $100 per week to claim back $37 on tax is never a standalone investment strategy without compounding capital appreciation.
05
Data Accuracy
Market Data
Why Suburb Median Prices Mislead Investors (Compositional Bias)
How small sample sizes, renovated stock shifts, and stratified hedonic index variations distort real capital growth figures.
Need the complete technical dictionary?
Explore plain-English explanations of 40+ Australian property and mortgage terms in our comprehensive glossary.
Integrity & Standards
How We Work: Research-First Property Journalism
Australian property media is saturated with developer PR and referral kickbacks. Here is how Brick & Basis maintains uncompromising editorial independence.
Primary Data Only
We cite verified primary sources — the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), CoreLogic, APRA, and SQM Research. We never republish unverified developer press releases or unvetted sales claims.
Read Editorial PolicyZero Secret Kickbacks
We accept no undisclosed commissions, no buyers agent referral splits, and no sponsored property developments. If any affiliate relationship or tool test ever exists, it is explicitly disclosed directly at the top of the page.
View Commercial DisclosuresPublic Errata & Corrections
When tax legislation, APRA prudential standards, or statistical releases shift, or if an analytical error is detected, we update our articles and maintain a public log of what was changed, when, and why.
View Corrections LogAbout Our Coverage: Managed under the editorial direction of Alyssa John, our research team synthesizes macroeconomic indicators, tenancy legislation across all 8 states and territories, and residential finance policy to give Australian investors clarity without hype. Have a question or tip? Contact our editorial desk.
Important Regulatory Notice
General Advice Warning
The information published on Brick & Basis is provided for educational and general informational purposes only. It does not constitute personal financial, credit, legal, taxation, or property investment advice. All content has been prepared without taking into account your specific objectives, financial situation, risk tolerance, or borrowing capacity.
Property investment involves substantial financial risk, including illiquidity, interest rate fluctuation, and potential capital loss. Before acting on any analysis, calculations, or market data featured on this website, you should evaluate whether the information is appropriate for your personal circumstances and obtain independent advice from licensed professionals, including an Australian Financial Services Licensee (AFSL), an accredited mortgage broker, a qualified property conveyancer, and a registered tax agent.