The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

Wealthy residents put Monaco in top spot: Knight Frank

At $81,000 (€53,000) per square metre, Monaco's residential real estate is the most expensive in the world according to Knight Frank.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

Featured Property

Cottesloe beach summer breezes and views

Perfectly suited to its glamorous Cottesloe address, this architect-designed residence makes a bold statement in coastal living. For sale by Space Real Estate Cottesloe.

National Australian Capital Territory (ACT)Canberra New South Wales (NSW)Sydney South Australia (SA)Adelaide Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Canberra records nation's highest auction clearance rate

Canberra recorded a clearance rate of 72.9 per cent last week, the highest clearance rate in the country, according to CoreLogic.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

People

Get to know Simon McGrath of Abel McGrath, Perth: "I go to bed at the end of the day feeling great about what I do"

Simon McGrath was helping out in a mate's plumbing business when a casual conversation with a customer triggered the realisation that real estate was a career he could excel in.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Buyers can save up to six figures by buying the next suburb on the train line in Melbourne: REIV

Melbournites can save up to six figures by buying a home in the next suburb down the train line, according to new data from the REIV.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

An immaculately restored sandstone terrace in Sydney's inner-city Darlinghurst is for sale

A sandstone terrace, originally built for the warder of Darlinghurst Gaol, is for sale with Fraser Turvey and Chris Chung of McGrath Edgecliff.

National

The Economy

APRA measures push investors out, let first-home buyers in

APRA's efforts to clamp down on investor lending are taking effect, with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing that as investor lending declines, first-home buyers are increasing their presence in the housing market.

National

The Economy

Sunny weather brings higher prices at auction

Auction sales achieved prices that were 0.974 per cent higher on a sunny day, which equates to nearly $11,500, based on the current median Sydney house price of $1,178,000.

National

Design

How do 'green' buildings improve the health and productivity of their occupants?

A new study in the US will look at how the indoor environments of 100 office buildings around the world impacts their occupants' productivity and health.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Dreaming of a Grand Victorian mansion with a tower: 'Waratah' c1890

An impressive refurbishment by award-winning architects Edmond & Corrigan, complemented by interiors designed by Naylor Booth & Associates, for sale by Nelson Alexander Coburg.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8474-investors-loans-to-be-repric?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter12_05_2015&utm_medium=email

Owner-occupiers receive additional rate cut

Advantedge has announced an additional 15-basis-point discount to its owner-occupied loans, signaling the start of price differentiation in the Australian mortgage market. Price differentiation has repeatedly been tipped as a possibility after the RBA and APRA flagged macroprudential tools as a potential means of reining in the investment segment of the mortgage market last year.

Mortgage Business

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8472-nation-s-largest-lender-under-margin-pressure?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter11_05_2015&utm_medium=email

Nation’s largest lender CBA under margin pressure

A report on Australia’s biggest bank has found it will face ongoing margin pressure after its quarterly trading figures came in below system growth. A Morningstar report last week noted that CBA earnings growth “disappointed” in the March quarter.

Mortgage Business

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/home-auctions-hit-record-but-its-not-all-down-to-rbas-rate-cut-20150510-ggy60t

Home auctions hit record, but it's not all down to RBA's rate cut

The weekend after the RBA cut rates to buttress the economy, and help return the budget to surplus, the Sydney market showed no signs of abating, posting a Saturday auction clearance rate of 89.2 per cent, above last week's 86.5 per cent, said Australian Property Monitors.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/politics-news/labor-greens-senators-seek-return-of-rental-affordability-scheme/story-fn59nqld-1227347601787?sv=9b467c7695cf4b0930c7ce9c3d058bea

ALP & Greens seek return of rental affordability scheme

Labor and Greens senators have recommended reviving the troubled National Rental Affordability Scheme, blaming “teething troubles” and understaffing for its shortcomings. The final report of a broad-ranging Senate inquiry into housing affordability said while the scheme needed to be improved the NRAS had made a very significant contribution to the supply side of affordable housing and the government should build on its success.

The Australian

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/foreign-interest-in-real-estate-boosting-aussies-collective-wealth/story-fndbalka-1227343137907

Foreign interest in real estate boosting Aussies collective wealth

“I believe strongly that the collective wealth of Australians is enhanced by having our property markets less restricted to foreign interests than otherwise,” said Brian White, co-chairman of Ray White. “I’m not suggesting the present structure is bad, it’s just some people are trying to restrict further. I would urge caution on any further restrictions.”

news.com.au

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/some-wonder-if-its-time-vancouver-acts-to-slow-foreign-buyers/article24341903/

Some wonder if it’s time Vancouver acts to slow foreign buyers

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver issued a press release this week that said sales of detached properties in April had gone up 70.6 per cent since April, 2013. The benchmark price had gone up 12.5 per cent this year over last, to $1.079-million. The same release said the supply is simply not meeting the insatiable demand.

The Globe and Mail

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/budget/federal-budget-2015-coalition-labor-draw-battle-lines-over-wealthy-retirees-20150507-ggwbk6

Federal Budget 2015: Coalition, Labor draw battle lines over wealthy retirees

Thanks to the work of Social Services Minister Scott Morrison, this budget has set up a political battle for the hearts and minds of the nation's better-off retirees.

The Australian Financial Review

https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/Architecture%20students%20create%20vital%20infrastructure%20in%20remote%20communities

Architecture students create vital infrastructure in remote communities

With support from the MacDonnell Regional Council, 12 University of Melbourne students have travelled to the remote Indigenous communities of Areyonga and Amoonguna in the Northern Territory to build much-needed facilities.

The Age