When rising tides and relentless erosion threatened to swallow their three-storey beach house, a US couple took an extraordinary step to save it: they moved the entire structure inland. Their decision to relocate the home in Rodanthe, North Carolina, underscores the growing risks faced by coastal communities as erosion and extreme weather reshape the landscape, including more recently on Australia’s popular Gold Coast.

The couple’s dream home, purchased in 2002, was initially free from concerns about erosion. “It wasn’t on our radar at the time,” Dr. Scott Twentyman told Realtor.com.

“We never even thought of it.”

However, Rodanthe’s coastline has been eroding at an estimated rate of 13 feet per year, eventually putting their property in jeopardy.

The turning point came in 2019, when three consecutive nor’easters, including Hurricane Dorian, battered the Outer Banks.

Several neighbouring homes collapsed into the ocean, and debris from one of them damaged Dr Twentyman and his wife’s Cindy Doughty’s house.

“When one of the houses went down, one of the neighbour’s pilings crashed down through our back door, and our first floor had 2 feet of water in it,” Doughty recalls.

“It was crazy.”

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The couple saw several of their neighbors’ houses fall into the Atlantic Ocean back in 2019. Source: Cindy Doughty

With their home uninhabitable and at risk of destruction, the couple decided to move it 100 feet inland to a safer location on their double lot.

“It was clear we had to move or lose the house,” Dr Twentyman said.

“We had no choice.”

If they put the house on the market, the couple feared they would get a lowball offer, since the home was uninhabitable at that point.

“Plus, we could never get something like this house again, so we really didn’t want to sell it,” Dr Twentyman added.

The relocation process was challenging and expensive, costing over $303,000 (US$200,000). Insurance companies refused to cover the expense of proactively moving the house, leaving Dr Twentyman and his wife to finance the project themselves.

“The insurance company says the house has to fall into the ocean before you get paid,” Twentyman laments.

“It’s idiotic.”

In order to save their home, the couple had to take out a home equity loan on another property they owned to finance the move themselves. Source: Cindy Doughty

To cover the costs, the couple took out a home-equity loan on another property.

They hired Expert House Movers, a company renowned for relocating The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the late 1990s.

The first floor of the house had to be removed to install girders under the structure, and the pilings were repositioned onto bedrock for added stability.

Despite the logistic challenges and the stress of securing permits during hurricane season, the actual move took only 20 minutes.

“I was really surprised how quickly that part happened,” Ms Doughty said.

The couple ultimately made the decision to relocate their home 100 feet further inland from the encroaching beach. Source: Cindy Doughty

The night of the move was marked by heavy storms, but a brief calm allowed the relocation to proceed.

“The wind died down, the rain stopped, and it got really quiet,” Ms Doughty said.
“I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.”

Now safely positioned on bedrock, the couple’s home is better equipped to withstand future storms.

The couple have no regrets about their decision.

“It was a big leap of faith, but it paid off,” Ms Doughty.

“We both have such a strong emotional connection to this house, and we didn’t want to lose it.”

The post Revealed: How US couple moved entire house to escape rising tides appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The TikTok Oracle deal, the blurred meanings of memes and new ad benchmarks all reveal how fragile the channels of influence really are. For agents, staying visible means more than posting content; it means understanding who shapes attention, and how quickly that can change.

Roadtripping to that epic holiday home? The worst places to break down have been revealed

New data has pinpointed the highways where a breakdown could turn deadly, underscoring the risks for families heading to holiday homes and buyers chasing affordable property in Australia’s most remote regions.

Car hire comparison site VroomVroomVroom analysed the nation’s most popular road-trip routes against the location of nearby hospitals, fuel stations and mechanics to reveal the top 10 worst places to stop.

With five in Western Australia and the rest in Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory, the results showed how quickly isolation can turn a summer getaway into a survival test for families lured to remote holiday properties and lifestyle blocks.

From famed desert tracks to remote outback corridors, these roads deliver sweeping scenery and an unforgettable Australian experience, but also the stark reality that help may be hundreds of kilometres away.

The Gunbarrel Highway is famed for night-time stargazing and chasing sand dunes. Pic: Supplied/ TWA

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They also cut through regions where cheap land and holiday shacks still tempt buyers, from Birdsville in Queensland’s Channel Country, to Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy in South Australia, to Alice Springs and Halls Creek on the Tanami.

Short-term rental properties in Birdsville included a 2024-built three-bedroom house for just under $700 a week, while 71 properties were listed for sale in Coober Pedy and surrounds on realestate.com.au, starting from $24,000 for a 1,280 sqm block of land.

Buyers in Alice Springs could choose from about 300 properties, from a $150,000 unit to a sprawling homestead on 26ha for $3.8m.

A property for sale in Alice Springs

The Gunbarrel Highway in Western Australia ranked the worst place to break down.

Perfect for night-time stargazing or chasing sand dunes, it connects to Alice Springs and other central states or territories but the isolated terrain is unforgiving if things go wrong.

Next on the list was the Tanami Road, stretching across the Northern Territory and into Western Australia, with breakdowns leaving drivers over 200km from help.

Meanwhile, Queensland’s Diamantina River Road and the Birdsville Developmental Road both rank highly, placing travellers deep in outback country with limited support, and hundreds of kilometres away from rescue.

The terrain is unforgiving if things go wrong

Ex-military survivalist Ryan Wilson said the study was a timely reminder of how quickly a summer road trip can turn serious for holiday-makers.

“Breakdowns happen, and when they do, especially in remote areas, you need more than luck to get through them,” Mr Wilson said.

The former SASR soldier, now founder of Working Paws Australia, has turned his frontline knowledge into practical tips for roadtrippers.

“When heading into remote or rugged parts of Australia, preparation is everything,” he said.

“You don’t need military training to stay safe, you just need the right gear and a clear plan.”

Ex-military survival expert Ryan Wilson

Must-haves include navigation maps and GPS, food, water, a first-aid kit, multitool, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and even snakebite bandages.

A traveller’s mindset was equally important, Mr Wilson said.

“You’re in a situation that requires calm, deliberate action. It’s not about being tough, it’s about being smart, staying focused, and using what you’ve got to stay safe and get through.”

He urged drivers to plan routes carefully, check weather conditions and tell someone when and where they’re travelling.

The Bunda cliff face along the Great Australian Bight on Eyre Highway

Staying with your vehicle was the golden rule, with the car doors or bonnets able to provide shade, while tyres could weigh down seat covers and clothing as a makeshift shelter.

Walking for help should be a last resort:

“If you do have to move, make sure you’ve got a clear plan,” Mr Wilson said.

“Know your directions, use the sun, a compass or GPS. Carry water, sun protection, and a way to communicate.”

Finally, he said, make yourself visible to increase the likelihood of attracting help.

Reflective materials, mirrors, foil to flash sunlight or even using rocks to form ground signals like ‘SOS’ or ‘HELP’ were options.

Be prepared and stay with your vehicle, Mr Wilson says

TOP 10 BREAKDOWN DANGER ZONES

1. Gunbarrel Highway, WA

2. Tanami Road, NT

3. Diamantina River Road, Qld

4. Lyndon-Minnie Creek Road, WA

5. Birdsville Developmental Road, Qld

6. Sandover Highway, NT

7. Eyre Highway, WA-SA

8. Carnarvon Mullewa Rd, WA

9. Goldfields Highway, WA

10. Carpentaria Highway, NT

Stage one of the $150m Carpentaria Highway upgrade is complete

The post Mapped: Worst roadtrip danger zones revealed appeared first on realestate.com.au.

As the Reserve Bank of Australia deliberates its monetary policy for September, the nation’s leading financial institutions – the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac, National Australia Bank, and ANZ – have delivered a unanimous verdict: no rate cut is on the horizon this month.

Their collective analysis of economic indicators strongly suggests that any potential movement in the cash rate will be deferred until November, taking the cash rate from its current 3.60 per cent to 3.35 per cent by the end of the year, with Westpac noting it expects a further 50 basis points of easing in 2026.

However, this suggests that the RBA is likely to hold its cash rate steady at its September 29–30 meeting, following a 0.25 per cent rate cut in August.

It comes as Australian Bureau of Statistics data found employment fell by 5,400 in August, following a solid 26,500 gain in July.

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Full-time employment dropped by 40,900 during the month, while part-time employment grew by 35,500.

The Big Four’s consensus, driven by persistent inflation and a resilient labour market, means sellers are largely holding off listing properties, hoping for a more favourable borrowing environment.

The resulting low stock levels are creating fierce competition for available homes, pushing prices upwards in many areas despite elevated interest rates.

Dwelling price forecasts.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

The Commonwealth Bank’s economic team has consistently highlighted the RBA’s data-dependent approach, noting that recent inflation figures, while moderating, have not yet reached a level that would warrant an immediate rate cut.

Their analysis points to the underlying strength in consumer spending and a robust employment market as key factors supporting the RBA’s current stance.

With that in mind, CBA economists believe a September cut unlikely but tip one more cut in November to bring cash rate to 3.35 per cent.

“This is an RBA Board that appears comfortable with the current inflation outlook and the pace of easing,” CBA Senior Economist Belinda Allen said following the August RBA rates decision.

“We expect another rate cut in November to take the cash rate to 3.35 per cent as the RBA continues its gradual and cautious easing cycle.”

Westpac

Westpac’s economic forecasts align closely with the broader consensus, firmly predicting no change to the cash rate in September.

Their analysis places a strong emphasis on the RBA’s desire to avoid any premature easing that could reignite inflationary pressures.

Westpac Group chief economist Luci Ellis has pointed to the stickiness of services inflation as a particular concern for the central bank, suggesting that this component needs to show more definitive signs of cooling.

She’s effectively ruled out a September cut, but November remains a possibility.

“The team has not changed its view that the RBA will cut twice more this year, with another reduction anticipated in November as well as the one in August,” she said in June this year. “Both cuts are expected to be 0.25 percentage points.”

Ellis further predicts an additional two cuts in 2026.

“These two cuts, also both 0.25 percentage points, are expected to occur in February and May 2026,” she said.

That would mean the RBA cash rate will bottom out at 2.85 per cent, from a peak of 4.35 per cent, according to Ellis.

RBA Governor Michele Bullock addresses the media. Picture: Christian Gilles

National Australia Bank

NAB’s economic team also firmly expects the RBA to maintain the cash rate in September, citing the need for continued vigilance against inflation.

Their analysis often focuses on business sentiment and investment, noting that while some sectors are feeling the pinch of higher rates, the broader economy has demonstrated resilience. NAB economists believe the RBA will be particularly attentive to wage growth figures and their potential impact on future inflation.

The bank’s perspective is that the RBA will use the September meeting to reinforce its commitment to its inflation target, signalling that it is prepared to keep rates at current levels for as long as necessary.

In its latest market update, published last week, the bank predicted further rate cuts in November and February, bringing down the cash rate to 3.1 per cent by early 2026.

“The next meeting of the Monetary Policy Board is not until late September. We expect the cash rate to remain unchanged at 3.6 per cent at this meeting,” the report by NAB’s senior economists reads.

“The flow of data so far does not suggest any urgency to lower rates.

“Our expectation of a relatively cautiously calibrated easing cycle looks to be appropriate. The RBA cites various sources of uncertainty in the outlook, including around both the demand and supply sides of the economy, the trajectory of household consumption and conditions in the labour market.

“In this context, and against the backdrop of a better tone to activity data of late, we believe the RBA will want to see quarterly inflation data before considering the case for further easing.”

Homeowners will have to wait till November to see further easing on their mortgage repayments.

ANZ

ANZ’s economic outlook mirrors that of its peers, with a strong conviction that the RBA will keep the cash rate unchanged in September.

ANZ economists have consistently highlighted the importance of global economic factors and geopolitical risks in the RBA’s decision-making process, noting that these external pressures can influence domestic inflation.

The bank’s view is that the RBA will continue to assess the impact of past rate hikes, allowing time for these adjustments to fully permeate the economy.

In its August economic update, ANZ economists Adam Boyton and Adelaide Timbrell remained of the view that a follow-up cut in November was more likely than not, with

the cash rate to then stay at 3.35 per cent for an extended period.

“We note that the RBA’s forecasts are predicated on a cash rate assumption of 3.4 per cent by the end of 2025, 2.9 per cent at the end of 2026 and 3.1 per cent at the end of 2027,” they said.

The post Big Four banks reveal when RBA will cut rates again appeared first on realestate.com.au.