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Kim Macdonald

The wealth effect happens when people feel like they are rich because the value of their assets — usually housing — have risen, encouraging them to loosen the purse strings.

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Perth homeowners guilty of the ‘wealth effect’

The wealth effect happens when people feel like they are rich because the value of their assets - usually housing - have risen, encouraging them to loosen the purse strings.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Domestic Violence and Phones Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Your old mobile gathering dust could save a life

Here’s something you can do today, in the 16 days DV awareness campaign, to help save a life.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Metropolitan Area Footprint Illustration: Don Lindsay

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It’s time for Perth to ignore the NIMBYs and grow up

Unless we rein in the urban sprawl, WA will be left with endless suburbia and little green space, so we need to support train station high rise in Perth and 24 storey towers in Rockingham.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

‘If nothing changes, housing is on track to be twice as unaffordable when today’s primary school children start house-hunting,’ writes Kim Macdonald.

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The Great Australian Dream is doomed unless changes are made

If nothing changes, housing is on track to be twice as unaffordable when today’s primary school children start house-hunting.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Wait Awhile WA Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Pubs win over NIMBYs proves WA is the Wait Awhile State

The Waikiki Tavern saga sums up WA in all its frustrating glory, highlighting many of the good and bad features of our fair State.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Bridgetown's main street

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Young homebuyers hitting a dead-end on country road

Inland WA is full of charming towns, but house shortages stop metro homebuyers venturing outside of Perth.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Climate Change and Cost of Housing Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Climate risk is eroding the value of West Aussie homes

If you can’t stand the heat, improve your kitchen’s energy efficiency.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

A ‘coffee rave’ in Perth. These are DJ sessions at coffee shops during the day instead of at clubs at night, to cater for a young crowd that apparently isn’t so into the club scene

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The simple reason why Gen Z aren’t boozing

Life is different for this generation of sober-curious online addicts, the sons and daughters of millennials and gen X nightclubbers who used to spend half their weekends drunk or hungover.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

For and Arm and a Leg....and a Kidney Illustration: Don Lindsay

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There’ll be winners and losers under the Home Guarantee

The Home Guarantee, which kicks in Wednesday, is already driving prices up. But what do you expect when you add a demand side stimulus into a supply-wide crisis?

Kim Macdonald

Stamp Duty Exemptions for Downsizers Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Downsides to downsizing: System treats seniors with contempt

Axe stamp duty for downsizers, and leave their swap meet income alone.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Real Estate Lotto Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Property heartbreak sends people to psychologist couch

If you’re haunted by the spectre of missed capital gains, you’re far from alone.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

The big dreaded property frenzy of recent years has returned just in time for spring - at least in some patches of Perth, writes Kim MacDonald.

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Perth’s property frenzy is back and here to stay

It’s official - we are in the tightest property market for at least a decade.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

locked in to Councils Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Why council and community are two different things

Postcode pride has a price, don’t let attachment to your suburb get in the way of cutting council waste.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Artificial Intelligence and Real Estate Illustration: Don Lindsay

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Rise of AI flags concerns about being left on the streets

The rise of AI has raised alarm bells over the thought of rapidly advancing technology taking not just people’s jobs, but their homes as well.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Housing should be a must-have for all, not a luxury only for the rich or lucky, writes Kim Macdonald.

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The great Aussie dream of buying a house is a human right

Housing should be a must-have for all, not a luxury only for the rich or lucky.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Neighbours of the building formerly known as Fraser Suites in East Perth are protesting the State Government's plans to turn it into social housing.

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NIMBYs fear not: Fraser Suites plan won’t tank unit prices

I’m not sure of the legality of removing amenities that were priced into the cost of apartments next to Fraser Suites. But it certainly does not pass the pub test.

Kim Macdonald

Fraser Suites will be turned into social and affordable housing

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Luxe skyscraper is good bang for our social housing buck

The State Government is finally putting a bit of grunt and commercial nous into addressing the housing crisis.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

“We need to remember why it is so important to make sure boys reach out in times of trouble.” says Kim Macdonald.

Kim MacdonaldCommentsPremiumThe scientific reason why boys should talk and cry too

Tears and talking have been scientifically proven to help make you feel better. Boys and men need to do it too.

Kim Macdonald

With commissions worth 2 to 2.5 per cent in Perth and 3 per cent regionally, agents have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the property boom.

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Time to reassess real estate agents fees amid the boom

Real estate agents are making almost twice as much per home as they did five years ago. Perhaps it’s time to reassess the pay structure.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

The $165 million price tag of the new school is expensive, but the amount is beyond the price of many luxury skyscrapers.

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Luxury skyscrapers are cheaper than the inner city school

A 36-storey state of the art skyscraper in the city sold for $20 million less than the price taxpayers will pay for the inner city school. Are we getting value for money?

Kim Macdonald

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates once suggested a robot tax, which is effectively a levy on the higher profits that come from AI-driven productivity. 

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Should a robot tax be levied to boost the public purse?

Every time someone loses their job to AI, the public purses loses the income it would have received in income and pay roll tax. Do we need to tax robots?

Kim Macdonald

According to ABS, I am far from alone in having a stressful day.

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Budget overlooks mental health of our stressed-out nation

The Federal Budget missed an opportunity to help mental health issues for a very stressed-out nation.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

But if home ownership is top of your list, you probably can not afford a pet just yet.

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If home-ownership is your goal, you shouldn’t buy a new pet

Owning a dog can delay homeownership by two and a half years, so be sure to do the maths to ensure you can afford a puppy.

Kim Macdonald

Bella Poll is a university student and the board president of Millennium Kids.

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Young people are missing out on one of life’s greatest joys

The broad sense of loneliness and disconnection among young people today strikes me as the most concerning aspect of the Youth in Focus report.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald