Secretary, The Productivity Commission
LB2, Collins Street East Melbourne. 8003

Dear Sir/MS

First Home ownership‑ the effect of rising land values on the building of aged care accommodation

1	The housing boom has facilitated the sale of elderly persons homes in the
	Newcastle region thus allowing them to buy into retirement villages but there
	is now a 3 to 6 year wait to get into villages and the rising land values
	preclude many non profit village providers from building more low cost
	homes.

2	Sydney Estate agents are moving to the region and controlling or
	manipulating the market by buying 3 or more investment units and in some
	cases they are gazumping the purchaser they act for by buying a property
	itself. 1 spoke to one Sydney agent who bought three propertys in the area.

3	Home unaffordability is due to the government not listening to the community 
	just to its own advisors and even the Heads of Public SERVICE departments
are no longer listened to for advice, as contrary advice puts their job contract 
renewal under threat.

J Highfield
NSW

24/09/03