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Tom Panos has blamed tradies and developers for worsening the housing crisis as soaring prices and dwindling availability lock homebuyers out of the market.
The real estate coach revealed the 'truth' in two Instagram videos last week claiming tradies were asking for too much pay while developers just weren't willing to build.
'Let's be clear, it's not a housing problem we've got, it's a construction problem,' he said.
'Right now, it's costing you 40-50 per cent more to build something than a couple of years ago.
'(Approval) delays are roughly about 40 per cent. The truth is, there is no developer that is going to pull their finger out and sign a contract.'
According to the Property Council of Australia, the cost of construction is about 30 per cent higher in 2025 than it was pre-Covid.
Mr Panos said land and resale values don't 'stack up'.
He said developers have been having trouble finding tradies, with many choosing to work for themselves at a higher price.
Real estate agent Tim Panos has unleashed on tradies expecting '$900 per day' on Instagram
'I heard a bricklayer today say he has an expectation he's getting $900 a day. This is what they expect. So you can't get tradespeople,' Mr Panos said.
He said recent legislation in NSW approved by nearly all Sydney councils reduced the red-tape for many new developments.
The legislation allows the development of a duplex on a 12m frontage and 400sq metre block, instead of the previous size requirement of 15m frontage and a 600sq metre block.
'So it's become easier. But that's not the issue: it's finding people to do it,' Mr Panos said.
'We need some incentive for developers. Australia is three to five times more expensive to construct.'
The real estate coach revealed a table of construction prices he'd developed himself with the help of ChatGPT.
His estimates suggested the cost of construction in Australia was about $14,000 to $18,794 per square metre.
He said the UK, USA and Canada had costs between $5,480 to $6,100.
He said many tradies are working for themselves rather than traditional construction companies, at a higher cost to builders
'A brickie is on a grand a day,' Mr Panos said.
'You couple that with building delays and then when you take into account so much risk involved, developers don't want to participate.'
His message appeared to strike a chord with many tradies slamming the real estate guru.
'You likely charge one per cent per house sale. That's way more than $900 a day what makes you so special?' one wrote.
'Good bricklayers deserve every cent for the back breaking work they do! When a bricklayer completes his job it is done for 100 years,' another said.
'Don't pic on the trades.'
A third added: 'Our biggest problem in every sector is bureaucracy, government paperwork, charges and taxes.'
