There has been plenty of discussion recently about reducing migration numbers, with the Federal Government under pressure to bring migration down.

I get it. Housing and infrastructure are under pressure, but the reality is we still need skilled workers, and in my view, skilled migration is critical to filling those gaps and keeping our economy growing.

In real estate, finding experienced professionals has become increasingly difficult. We’re having to look beyond our industry for people with transferable skills, and many of the firms we work alongside face the same challenge.

It’s a problem familiar to farming families and regional businesses too. Whenever I speak to clients in the Wheatbelt and South West, the conversation often comes back to the same thing: finding good people with the right skills.

For WA to keep growing, we need to keep attracting skilled people, and we need somewhere for them to live.

That’s why migration and housing shouldn’t be treated as separate conversations. If skilled migration is part of meeting WA’s workforce needs, increasing housing supply needs to be part of the plan too.

According to Property Council of Australia analysis, WA needs to deliver around 130,000 new homes by June 2029 to meet its share of the National Housing Accord target, equivalent to about 6,500 every quarter. As at the March quarter, we were already more than 8,000 homes behind the pace needed to get there.

For those looking to diversify their wealth through property, that’s a huge opportunity.

We’re seeing more clients look beyond established investment properties and consider larger blocks that can be subdivided or developed to create multiple new homes and build long-term value.

Of course, the numbers need to stack up. From the purchase price and construction costs to planning, finance and potential end values, there’s plenty to consider. Our Development team helps clients assess those opportunities upfront and, when the numbers make sense, manage the subdivision and development process from start to finish.

For investors, it’s about looking beyond what property prices are doing today and understanding where demand is heading.

WA needs more homes, and that need is not going away. For those looking to diversify and build long-term wealth through property, development is an opportunity well worth exploring.