The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

Featured Property

Tasmanian avant-garde meets waters edge from Knight Frank Hobart

Nestled on a ridge overlooking the Derwent River, this minimalist home's elevated outlook is pure nautical with two-storeys of sweeping water views. For sale by Tom Triffitt, Knight Frank Hobart.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney Queensland (Qld)Brisbane Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Melbourne auction market outperforming Sydney

Auction clearance rates were below 70% around the country last week except in Melbourne, where solid volumes were recorded and the clearance rate was in the mid 70s.

Victoria (Vic.)

Politics

Victoria's tenancy reforms could weigh on supply at a time of strong population growth: Gil King, REIV

The Victorian state government's draft tenancy reforms haven't taken the supply-side impact into account, says Gil King, CEO of the REIV.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

People

Allard Shelton appoints John Mascaro as associate director

Senior property manager John Mascaro has been appointed Associate Director of Allard Shelton.

New South Wales (NSW)

Featured Property

'Garden Island' paradise in Port Stephens

A pavilion-style home with Japanese and Australian design influences in a tranquil island paradise, 'Garden Island' is a magnificent whole-island retreat in the heart of Port Stephens. Designed by award winning architect Philip Pratt, the home has sweeping sea views from Nelson Bay to Lemon Tree Passage and Soldiers' Point. For sale by Adrian Culpin, McGrath.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Perth real estate: "We should just hang in there" says David Arnold of Ethos Property

The latest data from the REIWA shows the Perth property market held steady in September.

International

Design

Berawa beach 5 villa integrated complex blends outdoors with indoor living Bali

Bali gardens highlight this private five villa, nine bedroom compound for sale Berawa beach, Neil Power Xclusive property Bali.

Design

Australia's best architecture: have your say

Vote for 'Australia's Favourite House' in the Australian Institute of Architects' People's Choice awards.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Middle Harbour Alex Popov-designed home with tennis court, pool, and jetty

With a cantilevered pool, private jetty, tennis court, and perfect Middle Harbour views, this five-bedroom home is anchored in its Sydney harbour setting. For sale by Michael Coombs and John Melville of McGrath Lower North Shore Neutral Bay.

National

The Economy

Are Australians too relaxed about their mortgages?

Australian homeowners might be too lazy to make sure they have the best home loan, and some might not even know what type of mortgage they have, according to two new studies released this week.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budget-2015/budget-2015-are-you-a-lost-liberal-then-this-ones-for-you/story-fntfa2d0-1227352659813

Are you a lost Liberal? Then this one’s for you

Working parents, tradies, small business people, self-funded retirees, landlords and farmers are all winners out of last night’s budget. Tax-dodging multi-nationals, backpackers and foreign investors are all slugged by the taxman.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/budget/federal-budget--2015-hockey-banks-on-a-spectacular-return-to-growth-20150512-ggvoai

Hockey banks on a spectacular return to growth

Joe Hockey's second budget is built on a risky forecast that Australia will roar through an unprecedented three decades of continuous economic growth, raising questions about why the government has opted to slow the pace of budget repair.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2015-how-do-i-claim-this-20000-tax-break-20150512-1mzgpb.html

How do I claim this $20,000 tax break?

Businesses can buy any machinery or equipment related to their business if each item is valued at less than $20,000. You can claim the full amount from your income to reduce your tax bill. There is no limit on the number of items a business can claim.

Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.couriermail.com.au/realestate/news/live-like-steph-rice-in-her-own-home-for-just-over-1k-a-week/story-fnihpu6h-1227352154495?from=public_rss

Live like Steph Rice – in her own home – for just over $1K a week

Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has put her Brisbane home on the rental market, but has a very clear idea of who she does not want to live there – pets.

Courier Mail

http://www.inman.com/2015/05/12/should-real-estate-agents-drive-fancy-cars/

Should real estate agents drive fancy cars?

Real estate agents put in a lot of miles on the road, and the car they emerge from to shake hands with new prospects or use to ferry buyers from listing to listing may influence how they are perceived by potential clients.

Inman

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/real-estate-expert-andrew-winter-says-before-buying-or-selling-find-out-what-stage-of-the-cycle-your-market-is-at/story-fncq3era-1227350208366

Before buying or selling find out what stage of the cycle your market is at

So, whichever category your property market is in right now (booming, improving or I’ll call it dooming) we all need to be aware that the property cycle is a never-ending spinning wheel that believe it or not hits the top and bottom at the same time, just in different places.

The Daily Telegraph

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/mexican-billionaire-carlos-slim-80m-mansion-article-1.2211586

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim wants $80M for his massive Manhattan townhouse

Carlos Slim, formerly the world's richest man, wants $80 million for the Manhattan mansion, at at 1009 Fifth Ave., which he bought for just $44 million five years ago.

New York Daily News

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tpg-backed-dtz-to-acquire-cushman-wakefield-2015-05-11-04851145

$2 billion sale of Cushman & Wakefield

DTZ, a rapidly growing commercial-real-estate-services firm backed by private-equity giant TPG, has cut a deal to buy Cushman & Wakefield Inc. for $2 billion. The deal will alter the global commercial-real-estate-services landscape by creating a clear challenger to the two firms that have been dominating the business until now, CBRE Group Inc. and JLL. Numerous firms had been vying for the No. 3 spot but none have come close to CBRE with $9 billion in 2014 revenue and JLL with $5.4 billion.

MarketWatch