An average home would cost $595,500 now if prices were the same relative to income as before John Howard turned the market into an investor casino Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast In the first three months of this year, house prices continued their previously inexorable climb, far outpacing incomes and wages growth. Now, thanks to changes to capital gain tax and negative gearing flagged in the budget, there is finally hope that housing affordability may improve. But after 26 years of damage, there is a long way to go.