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Queensland Sotheby's International Realty welcomes new auctioneer Gavin Croft

The Brisbane market is beginning to take on a more sophisticated approach to its auction culture, according to Gavin Croft.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Featured Property

Grand Chandler estate set on sprawling outdoor space with rolling lawns and hedgerows

This impressive seven-bedroom Georgian-inspired residence is for sale through Sarah Hackett of Place Bulimba.

National

The Economy

Federal Budget holds good news for buyers and sellers

While the 2018 Budget had no measures specifically addressing housing supply and affordability, the Budget's approach recognised the state of the property market, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA).

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Women dominate novice auctioneering competition

An all female final is looming at the 2018 Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) Novice Auctioneers Competition for the first time, according to the REINSW.

National

Design

Housing affordability driving Aussies to spend up big on styling

Australians are spending more money than ever on styling their homes to compensate for being unable to afford their dream home, a recent survey from ME Bank has revealed.

Victoria (Vic.)

Featured Property

A slice of Noosa on sparkling Aspendale Beach, Melbourne

Picture perfect, relaxed coastal entertaining in this absolute beachfront home. For sale by Garry Donovan and Natalie Lerpiniere of Hockingstuart.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

People

Get to know Gary Connolly, Head of Investments at HoldenCAPITAL Partners

Gary Connolly began his financial services career in banking, transitioned to funds management with a strong focus on property and has recently become Head of Investments at HoldenCAPITAL Partners.

Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

The Economy

Hobart housing demand higher than anywhere in Australia

While dwelling values fall across the nation, prices in Hobart are steadily rising.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

House prices in Melbourne and Sydney tipped to fall

Housing prices are tipped to fall by as much as four per cent, a major reversal of the previously rosy forecast, according to SQM Research.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

1854 Swallow and Ariell Biscuit Factory warehouse conversion metres from Port Melbourne beach

This seaside sanctuary with resort style amenities is for sale through David Lack and Will Jonas of Biggin & Scott Port Melbourne.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/turnbull-and-morrison-must-fix-the-housing-crisis-before-the-bubble-bursts

Turnbull and Morrison must fix the housing crisis before the bubble bursts

Australia faces many economic challenges in the near future, whether it is anaemic growth, falling national income, stagnant wages, plunging mining sector capital expenditure, an uptick in unemployment and underemployment, or the collapsing terms of trade. Arguably, the most pressing need is to deal with Australia’s out of control banking and financial system, having blown a housing bubble of epic proportions.

The Guardian

http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/house-price-growth-in-sydney-and-melbourne-continues-apace-20150922-gjrzpq.html

Morgan Stanley says Australian housing boom has peaked

Morgan Stanley analysts says the housing cycle in Australia has peaked, with a tighter regulatory environment, slowing immigration and frothy prices, set to blunt the powerful growth momentum for the sector. The US investment bank said in a note this week housing activity in the country had "peaked", which, in turn, had intensified the risks of recession.

Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8935-almost-one-in-10-loans-would-fail-underwriting-standards-report?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter23_09_2015&utm_medium=email

Almost 1 in 10 loans would fail underwriting standards: report

A new report examining the impact of regulatory changes on the Australian mortgage market has concluded that nine per cent of home loans written so far this year would now fail current underwriting standards. Released this week, The Property Imperative Report V report from Digital Finance Analytics (DFA), applied the typical underwriting criteria being used today to the 26,000 households surveyed in the DFA Household Finance Confidence index.

Mortgage Business

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http%3A//www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australia-is-toast-foreign-investors-tell-nab-20150921-gjrfth.html&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoUMTUwMDYwNjQyOTc1NTIyNDM2NzUyHWM3OTgxMzczYTU0OTI2ZWE6Y29tLmF1OmVuOkFV&usg=AFQjCNFV6Xct6vtWhGgCMNJh6T8KkQq26Q

'Australia is toast' foreign investors tell NAB

Foreign investors have turned especially bearish on the Australian economy, with one describing it as "toast", a National Australia Bank report says. Chief economist Ivan Colhoun said a recent visit to clients in Britain, continental Europe and the Middle East revealed a "uniformly negative view on Australia's prospects".

Sydney Morning Herald

http://news.yahoo.com/symbolic-victory-against-mugabe-government-property-south-africa-125050057.html

'Symbolic victory' against Mugabe as government property in South Africa auctioned

A residential property in Cape Town owned by the Zimbabwean government was auctioned for 3.76 million rand ($281,500) on Monday, in a symbolic victory against the land grab policies of President Robert Mugabe, lawyers said.

Yahoo News

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1509/S00557/auckland-rents-top-400-per-week-for-smallest-properties.htm

Auckland rents top $400 per week for smallest properties

A property renter in Auckland can now expect to pay $400 per week regardless of property size or type, according to Trade Me Property’s monthly report on median rents across New Zealand. Head of Trade Me Property Nigel Jeffries said that even the smallest unit or 1-bedroom home will cost a typical Auckland renter $400 per week.

Scoop

http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/john-mcgrath-property-expert/20150922australias-1-million-club/

Australia's $1 million club

How times have changed. In June 1995, only 1% of house sales in Sydney over the previous five years were above $1 million. By June 2015, that percentage was 36.8%. In 1995, only 0.6% of apartments sold above $1 million. Today it’s 11.6%.

Switzer Daily

http://www.inman.com/2015/09/21/andrew-dailey-people-dont-buy-a-home-to-get-a-mortgage-they-get-a-mortgage-to-buy-a-home/

'People don't buy a home to get a mortgage, they get a mortgage to buy a home'

It’s very simple: People don’t buy a home to get a mortgage; they get a mortgage to buy a home. For most of us, getting a mortgage is a necessary part of the process, but too often it completely ruins the experience. Buying a home should be a happy time in your life, and we want to make sure the mortgage doesn’t get in the way of that.

Inman