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Affordability is improving, and first-home buyers are back in the market

New data from the HIA shows that housing affordability improved during the September quarter, while Mortgage Choice says loan approvals for first-home buyers are at four-year highs.

International

The Economy

New Zealand financier Rayo Withanage buys Picasso's French Riviera estate

Picasso's magnificent country estate, on eight acres with a large renovated chateau, has been bought by a fellow Australasian, New Zealand financier, Rayo Withanage.

National Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

The Economy

Hobart likely to lead price gains in 2018: SQM Boom and Bust Report

Australia’s housing market is likely to record "moderate" price gains in 2018, says Louis Christopher of SQM Research in the latest Housing Boom and Bust Report.

Victoria (Vic.)

Featured Property

Builder's own luxurious hidden oasis in Lower Plenty for sale

This Lower Plenty home, complete with gym, wine cellar, fire pit, and direct access to Heidelberg Golf Club, is for sale through Rocco Montanaro of Morrison Kleeman Eltham.

International

People

Real estate tycoon Xu Jiayin, now China's richest person, forced to sell Australian home by Joe Hockey in 2015

The Chinese real estate tycoon who was forced to sell his Sydney harbourside mansion by Joe Hockey in 2015, has been named China's richest person.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

People

Get to know Kate Smith, one of Raine & Horne’s top agents

Kate Smith recently won the Raine & Horne award for Top Salesperson (Principal) Number of Sales.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Politics

Sirius listed on World Monument Fund's 2018 watchlist

International historical-site preservation agency, The World Monument Fund, is calling on the NSW government to preserve the Sirius for its architectural and social significance.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Austin Maynard-designed winner of the 2009 Timber Design Awards is for sale

Barrow House, a Victorian house with a contemporary extension designed by Austin Maynard Architects, is for sale through Scott McElroy and Jordan Terlizzi of hockingstuart Melbourne.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

The Economy

Vaucluse mansion hits the market with $70m price tag

Will the waterfront Sydney mansion owned by Singaporean businessman CK Ow break the record for Australia's most expensive home?

National

The Economy

Roy Morgan: 345,000 Aussie mortgage holders have little or no equity in their homes

The proportion of Australians with little or no equity in their homes is rising, according to new research from Roy Morgan.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-news-bc-australia-housing21-20150421-story.html

Mine bust halves home prices in Australia Outback

Australia is experiencing a two-speed housing market: while prices in Sydney have surged to records, the end of the mining boom is depressing home values in commodity-rich regions where prices once rivaled those in New York and London.

Chicago Tribune

http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-property-seen-as-hot-destination-for-money-laundering-20150422-1mqpdn.html

Australian property seen as hot destination for money laundering

Australia needs to tighten safeguards against money laundering in its booming property market, which has attracted Chinese funds with likely links to corruption, an international anti-money laundering body said in a report.

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/housing-affordability-means-re-evaluating-the-australian-dream/story-fndban6l-1227313310496

Housing affordability means re-evaluating the Australian dream

The core issue is being able to afford a property in a location where first home buyers want to live. And the city’s outskirts, where homes are most affordable, are not those places. Chances are they can’t settle where they would like to. They would rather rent.

news.com.au

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/meet-the-aussie-startup-which-gives-businesses-the-same-technology-employed-to-track-serial-killers-2015-4

Aussie start-up helps real estate business

Australian startup Ruppells Griffon uses geospacial technology to help businesses understand their customers better or identify new sales opportunities, and real estate agents can use it to find trends in the rental property market.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/mining-house-prices-heading-south-with-commodities

Mining house prices heading south with commodities

Property prices have plummeted in mining towns around Australia, closely tied to commodity prices according to a new report. Real estate valuers Propell have charted the significant losses in the housing market in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales over the past few years, with projections showing housing prices will continue to fall.

Australian Mining

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/plans-leaked-sydney-s-badgery-creek-airport-said-t

Sydney’s Badgery Creek Airport to commence construction next year

Confidential plans for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek have been leaked, showing that the airport would eventually rival the size of JFK International Airport in New York.

Architecture & Design

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/qualitas-spends-80m-on-st-kilda-road-tower-20150422-1mqdjj

Qualitas spends $80m on St Kilda Road tower

Boutique real estate financier Qualitas has acquired a St Kilda Road office tower for $80 million with plans to convert it into a luxury $300 million apartment development targeted at downsizing empty nesters.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/house-price-growth-to-slow-next-year-nab/story-fn9656lz-1227313312530?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=TheAustralian&utm_medium=Twitter

House price growth to slow next year: NAB

The national growth in house prices is tipped to hit 4.4 per cent by the end of 2015, before slowing next year. The National Australia Bank’s quarterly residential property survey predicts Sydney will lead the charge with house price growth of 7.7 per cent by the end of this year.

The Australian