The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 288: Can Government and Private Sector Collaboration Solve the Housing Crisis?

In the face of soaring property prices and an ongoing housing crisis, the conversation around property affordability has expanded beyond first home buyers and now encompasses the rental sphere. Despite interest rates on the rise, property prices continue to climb, leaving many wondering how long this upward trend will persist.

The root of the issue lies in the scarcity of supply, with listings at an all-time low and little indication of improvement. While supply on the rental side poses an even greater challenge, requiring years of rectification and substantial investment, the consequences for dual income families struggling to secure housing are dire. It seems that the housing crises have outgrown the capacity of governments to handle alone. Is Australia's property market, which has been deemed "too big to fail," possibly too big to fix?

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into a discussion with Evan Thornley, CEO of LongView, and Jane-Frances Kelly, Head of Strategy & Insights at Longview, who have dedicated considerable time, energy, and resources to understanding the underlying causes of Australia's housing woes. Longview, in collaboration with Pexa, recently released a series of three housing affordability Whitepapers, with the third installment offering potential solutions to the identified housing crises.

Tune in as we explore the innovative thinking and fresh perspectives brought forth by Evan Thornley and Jane-Frances Kelly as they shed light on the complexities of Australia's property market and the urgent need for collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including governments, community housing providers, and the private sector.

Join us as we uncover the proposed solutions that could help alleviate the housing challenges faced by individuals and families across the nation. Can a breakthrough be found amidst this housing turmoil? Discover the insights, ideas, and potential solutions that could shape the future of Australia's property landscape.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Welcome

08:34 - Rhetoric surrounds individual landlords, both pro and con.

13:45 - What are some solutions for the overall market?

20:36 - What lending-level changes would make this model more attractive?

26:04 - How does the $2.1 trillion invested in residential property unlock more investment?

30:00 - Why don't we have existing residential property funds like this?

36:43 - How do you identify properties with high land content and values?

41:18 - Medium rise is the cheapest housing form.

46:55 - What are your thoughts on the power of the labor market?

50:40 - Investors hinder first-time homebuyers' opportunities.

55:57 - What's happening in the home loan space?

1:02:14 - The importance of scalable, effective solutions.

About Our Guest:

Evan Thornley is a technology and social entrepreneur who, with 30 years of property investment experience in Australia and the US, has been dedicated to finding solutions for Australia's housing problems for the past seven years. Starting from the ground up, he built a firm focused on acquiring and managing investment-grade residential properties, which has since evolved into LongView—a recognised industry leader in residential property buying and management. LongView is at the forefront of pioneering the development of a funds management industry in the existing dwelling asset class. With his extensive experience, Evan brings a wealth of knowledge to address the intricate challenges within Australia's housing landscape.

As Head of Strategy and Insights at LongView, Jane-Frances Kelly leads the data and analytics function, transforming extensive historical property data into actionable insights for clients. With a background at the Boston Consulting Group and experience in public policy work for notable figures including Prime Minister Blair and indigenous leader Noel Pearson, Jane-Frances brings a wealth of expertise. She holds a first-class honours degree in English language and literature from Oxford University, an MBA from Wharton, and a Masters of Public Policy from Princeton University, showcasing her diverse academic accomplishments.

Connect with Evan Thornley:

Connect with Jane-Frances Kelly: 

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Resources:

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Chris Batesde-index