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PHOTO:\u00a0A woman walks by Chinese language advertisements for Australian property in Sydney’s Chinatown on June 21, 2017. Photo: AFP\/William West<\/strong><\/p>\n Sydney housing prices are down 7.6% off last year’s peak as Chinese purchasing eases and easy money dries up, but predictions of a full-blown collapse are overblown.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s property market is falling, with some pundits predicting an unprecedented crash as Chinese buying dries up and easy money lending is shut down.<\/p>\n While the doomsayers may be overstating the risk of a full-blown collapse, declining house prices are exposing some uncomfortable vulnerabilities in Australia\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n In a nation where home ownership is high in global terms at 65%, property has proven a route to wealth and a comfortable retirement for many middle class Australians.<\/p>\n READ MORE VIA atimes<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n