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First-home buyers at highest levels since 2013: REIA

The proportion of first-home buyers in the home lending market is at a four-year high, says Malcolm Gunning, president of the REIA.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Featured Property

Exceptional and elegant entertainer in Clayfield, Brisbane

An impeccably refurbished home in a quiet blue-ribbon pocket of Clayfield, Brisbane, with a private north-facing garden and pool is perfect for contemporary family living. For sale with Alma Clark of Alma Clark Real Estate.

National

The Economy

Australia's migrants gravitate to university suburbs: CoreLogic

CoreLogic analysis of the 2016 Census data shows that migrants tend to live in our capital cities, often close to universities.

National New South Wales (NSW)

The Economy

NSW apartment construction at record highs

The latest data from the ABS shows that 64,470 apartments are being built in New South Wales, a record for the state.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

The Economy

Learn how to become a Quest franchisee

Learn about becoming a Quest franchisee at a seminar at 6pm, Tuesday 17 October at Quest Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Hear from industry experts Holmans Accounting, Mike Phipps Finance, Milicevic Lawyers, and Resort Brokers Australia.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Iconic Castlecrag family home designed for peerless luxury

'Meller House' was designed by Harry Seidler in 2003, and its fluid, open-plan layout takes in the local bush setting and sweeping Middle Harbour views. For sale through Michael Coombs and John Melville of McGrath Mosman.

National

The Economy

It pays to haggle on your mortgage

Mystery shopping by mortgage comparison site Mozo has found that the Big Four banks are offering discounts of up to 0.82 per cent to customers who ask for a better deal.

People

Get to know Peter Downes: 'Never live in a boring house again'

Peter Downes designs adventurous but unpretentious homes, often on difficult sites with spectacular views, around Sydney's beautiful northern beaches.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

George Miller's The Metro art deco icon goes to market for the first time in 35 years

Potts Point's iconic The Metro building, where George Miller produced more than 25 Australian films and mini-series, including classics such as Babe, Happy Feet and Mad Max, is for sale for the first time in 35 years.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Palm Beach classic intrigues with two-storey boat house

Peter Robinson LJ Hooker Palm Beach told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS, "The property is incredibly unique for a few reasons – it is one of the largest blocks and one of the widest frontages of any waterfront property on Pittwater. The boathouse is the only two-story boathouse we know of on Pittwater and the facilities on the waterfront, including pool, slipway, boat pen and jetty are incredible."

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/the-risky-property-tax-grab-grows-faster-than-gst-income-tax-20150520-gh5cwb

The 'risky' property tax grab grows faster than GST, income tax

If you thought you were slugged for stamp duty or land tax last year, you are not alone. Taxes based on property - on sales or values - topped $40 billion for the first time in 2013-14, according to the latest analysis of taxation revenue, released last week, by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/sydney-real-estate-narrowest-home-on-the-market-expected-to-fetch-upwards-of-700000/story-fngr8h22-1227360122039

Narrowest home on the market expected to fetch upwards of $700000

At only 2.85m wide, the narrowest house on the market in Sydney is expected to sell for upwards of $700,000. With an internal area of 48sq m and a land area of 38sq m, the two-storey Victorian terrace at 29 Terry St, Surry Hills, is roughly the same size as a one-bedroom unit.

The Daily Telegraph

http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/2015/05/19/dark-days-wa-property-market/

Dark days for Western Australian property market

Western Australia is facing serious problems. Plunging commodity prices are forcing iron ore mines to shut, mining companies to cut jobs, and tax revenue for the state coffers to plummet. But one of the big casualties in this painful process that hasn’t received a lot of attention is the WA property market.

The New Daily

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-us-bank-bank-of-america-win-dismissal-of-mortgage-claims-2015-5#ixzz3aadGI3Rj

US Bank, Bank of America win dismissal of mortgage claims

U.S. Bancorp and Bank of America Corp won a dismissal of claims in lawsuits accusing them of breaching their duties as trustees for residential mortgage-backed securities that suffered losses tied to the global financial crisis.

Reuters

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/comment/in-profile-the-face-behind-mirvac-design-national

The face behind Mirvac Design, national director Peter Cotton

Cotton joined Mirvac Design in 1989 and became the National Practice Director in 2004. As the Design Director for the Newington Olympic Village, he led the architectural team through the successful bid phase to the start of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Architecture & Design

http://www.propertynews.com/blog/mortgages-money/money-matters-what-s-to-gain-with-long-term-mortgage/

What's to gain with long-term mortgage?

The advantage of fixed-rate mortgages is knowing how much your monthly repayments will be for some time into the future. In theory, that means you will be able to rest reassured that your mortgage will be affordable for the length of your fixed deal. In practice, it could mean you end up paying more than you need to if the rate at which you fix remains higher than standard rates for any length of time.

propertynews.com

http://www.smartcompany.com.au/finance/investment/46948-do-we-tell-foreign-buyers-to-buy-or-bye-robert-simeon.html#

Can the government stop foreign buyers?

It’s interesting to note that last week a Senate committee made 40 something recommendations pertaining to housing affordability which included calls to review negative gearing and the appointment of a federal minister for housing, to name just two.

Smart Company

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/gpt-leading-the-way-in-parental-leave-and-childcare-policy/story-fn9656lz-1227358033235

GPT leading the way in parental leave and childcare policy

The conservative world of Australian commercial real estate has begun to redouble its efforts to foster workplace diversity. Two days after the federal government announced a significantly revamped childcare scheme, GPT Group, one of the country’s largest diversified property landlords, unveiled its parental leave and childcare support policy, which it says is one of the most generous yet.

The Australian