The Perth Property Show

Host Trent Fleskens opens with a Perth market update, noting slowing conditions as listings rise, strong competition for quality homes, weaker demand for inferior properties, transactions in the 600s, and uncertainty ahead of an interest-rate decision. He then interviews Aaron Sice from HIA about proposed R-Codes reforms aimed at unlocking subdivision potential in R20-and-under areas, with likely impacts across suburbs such as Joondalup/Ocean Reef and Booragoon–Melville–Willetton–Lynwood, while minimum lot sizes remain. They discuss how ancillary dwellings and subdivision could increase dwelling yields, cautioning not all blocks are suitable and noting constraints like sewer and protected-tree policies. Aaron outlines streamlining changes including splitting the codes by housing type, expanding DA exemptions up to four dwellings/apartments, and simplifying rules (setbacks, privacy, site cover removal), plus proposals like three-storey R40, greater cut/fill allowances, and removing minimum parking requirements.

Host Trent Fleskens welcomes Mike McGowan from the HIA back to the Perth Property Show to rebalance the conversation from demand to the supply side of WA housing. Trent notes established listings are in the mid-6,000s with stock rising weekly, while Mike says new-build inquiry has fallen about 25% since March amid interest rate rises, budgets, and policy uncertainty, though sales remain consistent and most builders hold 8–12 months of work, constrained by titled land delays. They discuss build times (around 10–11 months currently, with a 5–6 month target), a persistent 40,000-home deficit, and expectations that WA will only deliver roughly 20–24,000 homes per year this decade without more land, higher-density feasibility, and skilled trades. They cover material price rises, affordability caps, the state’s Housing Innovation Fund supporting alternative methods like framing and modular, and promote HIA’s September 4 Economic Outlook Luncheon at the Westin featuring chief economist Tim Reardon and a builder panel.

Host Trent Fleskens welcomes Jay Das from Noble Avenue back to the Perth Property Show to review Iluka and Currambine, noting Perth stock on market is in the mid-to-high 6,000s and rising about 150 listings per week due to fewer buyers and lower transaction volumes, pushing conditions toward a more balanced market. Jay says Iluka’s median has lifted from about $1.23m to the $1.7m range, while Currambine’s entry-level stock has moved from around $800k to the mid-$900s/near $1m, after briefly reaching $1.3m–$1.4m. Home open numbers and offers have fallen sharply, competition is thinner, and sales are taking 4–6 weeks. The discussion covers price retraction from earlier peaks, more subject-to-sale offers, reduced investor activity, the importance of pricing and staging, and Jay’s preferred streets: St James Approach (Iluka) and Lagrange Loop or Formby Lane (Currambine).

Host Trent Fleskens interviews WA Minister for Planning and Housing John Carey about housing supply and planning reform, focusing on R-Code changes that scrap average lot size at R20 to enable subdivisions and potentially open up 50,000 new lots over time as “gentle density.” Carey argues WA needs the full housing continuum—greenfield, infill, and medium/high density—alongside station precinct upzoning, transport-corridor increases, and simplification of the now-expanded R-Codes to reduce variations and speed approvals. They address criticism about tree canopy and future redevelopment, with Carey supporting pragmatic local planning policies and stronger justification for low-density areas while aspiring to make R30 the standard. The discussion also covers approval delays, parking minimum flexibility, infrastructure bottlenecks at Water Corp and Western Power, progress and challenges in the Housing Diversity Pipeline, and targets for delivering social and affordable housing through build-to-rent and community housing provider.

Host Trent Fleskens speaks with Byford agent Sean Dunn about why Byford is a “canary in the coal mine” as Perth’s market shifts from aggressive growth to a more defensive phase. They discuss Byford’s new train station and expanding amenities (Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, cafes) alongside its mix of older large rural-residential blocks and newer estates. Against rising Perth listings, fewer transactions, and longer days on market, Dunn describes a sharp slowdown in Byford: home opens falling from 10–15 groups to 1–3, fewer multiple offers, and harder negotiations as sellers cling to last year’s expectations. He cites a recent 4x2 dropping from $860k to high-$700k offers, driven by reduced investor urgency after the budget and interest-rate sensitivity among high-LVR buyers. Dunn expects Byford’s median to move from about $850k to around $800k over 12 months.