Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research at Domain, told the Savings Tip Jar podcast Labor plans to implement direct measures, while the Coalition is focused on "market led solutions".
"[Labor] are all about support for first time buyers and increasing social and affordable housing," she told the podcast.
"Things like the housing accord, 1.2 million homes built over the next five years...and then Help to Buy.
"The Coalition are much more focused on market led solutions...it's all about freeing up land supply and reducing red tape."
She said for first home buyers, the key difference is the Super for housing proposal from the Coalition, which she said is "hard" to assess whether it's a positive or not.
"We know we need incentives or initiatives to help first home buyers get onto the property ladder but it is a concern when we're allowing people to dip into their super," she said.
"I understand that there are caveats, that it does need to be paid back into the super, but you've got to remember that you're going to be missing the beauty of compounding interest over time."
In his February appearance on the Savings Tip Jar, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor explained that the thinking behind this policy is to improve the choices available for first home buyers.
"It's bizarre that our superannuation money can be spent or invested on anyone's house except your own," he told the podcast.
What policy proposals have been put forward?
Labor's flagship housing policy is Help to Buy, which the 25/26 budget revealed would have both income and property price caps lifted to allow more Australians to participate.
It is also committed to the Housing Australia Future Fund, a $10 billion investment fund to support the construction of 30,000 affordable homes over its first five years.
In his budget reply, Peter Dutton said the Coalition would abolish the HAFF, saying it has so far produced "no new homes".
Along with Super for Housing, the Coalition is planning a $5 billion investment into "enabling infrastructure" to support new properties being built, which Mr Dutton said will create 500,000 new homes.
Will the election affect property prices?
Ms Powell said it's a "common misconception" that federal elections impact property transactions.
"We looked at the past seven [elections] that had no direct impact on transactional activity, peoples decisions to buy and sell," she told the podcast.
"What does have an impact is political uncertainty... we have seen a bit of an increase in the political uncertainty index, which means that it will weigh down the number of transactions."
On policy though, Ms Powell said Domain's research has found very little difference between the performance of house prices under Liberal and Labor Governments.
"There was a slightly higher proportion of first home buyers under Labor... but very little separating the two," she said.
"I think what it really does showcase is there are many things that influence our property price cycles, and it's not just the policies coming from the government."
Picture by Geometric photography on Pexels
Ready, Set, Buy!
Learn everything you need to know about buying property – from choosing the right property and home loan, to the purchasing process, tips to save money and more!
With bonus Q&A sheet and Crossword!
Denise Raward
Emma Duffy
Harry O'Sullivan
