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Cooler weather slows NSW rental market: REINSW

Sydney vacancy rates edged higher to 1.8 per cent in May, but a rate below 2 per cent shows the market is still stressed, says John Cunningham.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Featured Property

Surfers Paradise home built for Matsushita family, founders of Panasonic empire, for sale

Originally designed by American architect Edward Larrabee for the Matsushita family, this iconic riverfront home is for sale through Robert Graham of Ray White Prestige Surfers Paradise.

National

The Economy

BMT’s top ten tips for tax time

Bradley Beer of BMT Tax Depreciation lists his top tips to help you make the most of your investment property at tax time.

International

London fire: Could it happen here?

As reports begin to emerge that external cladding caused the London fire to spread so quickly, many in Australia are beginning to ask could the same thing happen here?

International

Design

Pinterest names its top interior trends for 2017

Watercolour wallpaper, plywood kitchens, and 1970s furniture are in style right now.

Western Australia (WA)

Featured Property

An exquisitely designed and built home on Geographe Bay, WA, is for sale

An architect designed and custom built home fronting the serene Toby Inlet in Dunsborough, Western Australia, is for sale through Ben Jecks of JMW Real Estate Dunsborough.

National

The Economy

Great Australian dream still alive, just different

The average age of the Australian first-home buyer has remained remarkably consistent at around 32 years, according to the new CommBank Connected Future Report.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Laing+Simmons embarks on new franchise model

Laing+Simmons opened its first example of a new business model last week with the opening of a Liverpool office that will be partly owned by the group.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Construction

Villa World to build 500 new homes in Melbourne's north-west growth corridor

Residential property developer Villa World has bought two sites in Melbourne's outer suburb of Plumpton, where it is expected to build 500 affordable to mid-priced homes.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Featured Property

Ultra-modern Brisbane home with concrete tunnel entrance for sale

This stunning Ascot residence with a secret Batman-style tunnel is for sale through Tyson Clarke and Stephen Weber of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8188-macquarie-confident-it-will-avoid-wrath-of-regulator?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter23_02_2015&utm_medium=email

Macquarie confident it will avoid wrath of regulator

Macquarie Bank is adamant it will not be targeted by APRA for growing its investor lending by more than 75 per cent in 12 months. Speaking at an operational briefing following the release of its December quarter figures last week, Macquarie group head of banking and financial services, Greg Ward, said he did not believe the bank will be targeted by the regulator since it is “too small”.

Mortgage Business

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-20/real-estate-agents-are-desperate-to-understand-millennial-homebuyers

Selling to the next generation

Real estate agents are desperate to understand millennial homebuyers.

Bloomberg

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46311167.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Rising US dollar strengthening real estate market in Dubai

Regional and international investors are the key drivers of the UAE real estate industry, aided by the maturity of the market, and all this will contribute to further growth of the sector. The strong dollar is cooling the market and weeding out short-term investors. Rental yields in Dubai are still one of the most lucrative worldwide as well as ROI on buying.

The Economic Times

http://www.afr.com/p/devine_profitable_as_sale_lingers_KqXGKtjueUM4X9BuMRerkL

Devine profits up while sale negotiations

Australian-listed residential developer Devine, which is negotiating with potential buyers, has reported a pre-tax profit of $A10 million for 2014. The company lost $A85 million in 2013. Prospective buyers include AVJennings and private equity adviser Proprium Capital Partners.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/realestate/news/modest-merrylands-home-gets-122m-at-auction/story-fni0cly4-1227224306489

$1.22 million for modest house

A modest two-bedroom house in Merrylands in Sydney's western suburbs sold under the hammer for $1.22 million, earning its owners $400,000 in about 18 months

Paramatta Advertiser

http://www.inman.com/2015/02/18/international-portal-lamudi-raises-19-million/

Emerging market portal will bolster presence in Latin America, Asia

Lamudi, a rapidly growing international real estate portal with a focus on emerging markets, has raised $19 million to strengthen its presence in Latin America and Asia.

Inman

http://www.globalpropertyguide.com/news-Did-Hong-Kongs-amazingly-punitive-stamp-duties-work-2303

Stamp duties on foreigners reap rewards for Hong Kong government

The Hong Kong government racked up in the excess of HK$37.7 billion (US$4.86 billion) revenue from stamp duties in 2014. Stamp duties imposed on foreign property buyers, purchasers of a second home and short-term speculators have been a major contributor. The revenue from stamp duties is likely to go up to a whopping HK$70 billion (US$9.02 billion) this year, prompting real estate industry professionals to demand relaxations.

Global Property Guide

http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/18/china_mogul_enemies/

Chinese real estate mogul criticises Xi Jinping government

Ren Zhiqiang, a 64-year-old real estate mogul and outspoken blogger with 29 million followers on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, has accused the Chinese government under Xi Jinping of steamrolling over private property rights, among other criticisms.

Foreign Policy