Sold Out: Mark Humphries Exposes Australia’s Housing Obsession in New Docu-Special

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Australia’s housing crisis takes centre stage in Sold! Who Broke the Australian Dream?, a hard-hitting new documentary by satirist Mark Humphries. Airing on subscription services Foxtel and Binge, the one-hour special blends humour, frustration, and social commentary as it digs into the nation’s skyrocketing property prices, the unchecked influence of celebrity realtors, and the broader economic forces that have locked out an entire generation of Australians from home ownership.

Humphries, best known for his satirical takes on news media, steps away from punchlines just long enough to expose a deeper rot in the housing system. As a long-term renter himself, his commentary isn’t abstract, it’s lived. The documentary presents an unvarnished look at the toxic culture surrounding real estate, where home ownership has morphed from a basic goal into a speculative frenzy. From million-dollar “renovator’s delights” to the glorification of developers and house-flipping, Sold! calls out the growing divide between housing as a need and housing as an investment vehicle.

The documentary brings in some surprising names. Veteran economist and finance commentator Alan Kohler  placed, humorously, in a bathtub for one segment – offers sobering insights into market conditions, interest rates, and government inertia. Humphries also interviews squatters, young families, and professionals priced out of their own communities, alongside high-profile real estate figures who seem oblivious to the pain on the ground. The satire never completely dulls the reality: Australia’s housing market is no longer just unaffordable, it’s broken. Though not naming names directly, the special leaves little doubt about who’s been asleep at the wheel, with federal policies under the Australian Labor Party (ALP) facing unspoken but glaring scrutiny.

Sold! ends on a bold note, urging viewers to stop treating property like a game show and start demanding reform. Humphries doesn’t pretend satire can fix structural failures, but he does shine a light on what too many ignore. The documentary is a rare blend of levity and honesty, with its closing message ringing clear: Australia’s obsession with property isn’t just unhealthy, it’s hurting real people. As Humphries puts it, “Get angry about it.” It’s a rallying cry not just for renters, but for anyone who believes the Australian Dream shouldn’t come with a million-dollar price tag.