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Two finalists announced in REINSW Senior Auctioneers Competition

Clarence White of Bresic Whitney and auctioneer Stuart Richie have been announced as the top two finalists in the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) Senior Auctioneers Competition.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Avalon Beach deep-waterfront modernist gem with two titles

One of the few properties in Sydney offering Full Title below the high water mark, this Arthur Baldwinson-designed home enjoys spectacular views across Pittwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. For sale by Andrew Mappin and David Watson of LJ Hooker Avalon.

National

The Economy

Housing affordability driving buyers away from capital cities

Long-time residents are moving away from capital city suburbs, with many shifting to regional Australia, according to analysis by buyers’ agency, Propertyology.

Queensland (Qld)

The Economy

Ray White Special Projects fielding strong inquiry for Mango Hill redevelopment site

Ray White Special Projects is marketing the 2.298ha site in Mango Hill on behalf of a Mortgagee.

Design

Ownit Homes wins Brisbane Master Builders Award

Brisbane project home builder Ownit Homes has been named as the Brisbane winner of the Master Builders Queensland Display Home.

New Developments

Rainforest Rise Estate, Macaranga Road land for sale

Tony Williams and Mark Creevey from Ray White Special Projects are offering for sale the balance of Rainforest Rise Land Estate for sale in Cairns approved for 146 Lot Subdivision.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

Featured Property

Stately Freshwater Bay residence designed by Rodney Alsop

With unrivalled Swan River views, this renovated historic home combines riverside living with heritage grandeur. For sale by Deborah Brady of ACTON - Cottesloe.

National

The Economy

Prestige market holds up amid one of lowest auction clearance rates in 10 years

While it was a slow weekend for auctions across the nation, with one of the lowest clearance rates in ten years, there is still "plenty of heat in the luxury end of the market".

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Design

Owner occupancy on the rise as apartment design changes

Owner occupancy in the central coast strip between Surfers Paradise and Mermaid Beach is set to trend upwards over the coming years, with the introduction of a new generation of apartments suited to permanent residents.

Queensland (Qld)

People

Representative announced for Queensland Government's housing supply expert panel

Knight Frank’s Associate Director of Commercial Sales, Julie Saunders, has been appointed Chair of the Queensland Government’s new housing supply expert panel.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/29/this-city-is-worlds-riskiest-for-property-bubble-ubs.html

London world's riskiest city for property bubble: UBS

UBS said that property in all European cities now exceeds fair valuation, with London the most overvalued market on the continent and the city most at risk in the world for another housing bubble.

CNBC

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2015/10/31/chinese-investment-and-extradition/14462100002571

Chinese investment and extradition

The unending extradition issue illustrates Australia’s deep ambivalence to our economic relationship with China: Australia wants the goods they send us, but we’re suspicious of the provenance of capital inflows and dubious about its benefits.

The Saturday Paper

http://architectureau.com/articles/nightingale-slapped-down-by-tribunal-thats-lost-the-plot/?utm_source=ArchitectureAU&utm_campaign=e9d7d33ff7-AAU_2015_10_27&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3604e2a4a-e9d7d33ff7-40540417&mc_cid=e9d7d33ff7&mc_eid=d865be39ad

Nightingale rejected by tribunal that’s ‘losing the plot’

Roz Hansen, planning expert and chairperson of the Victorian government’s Ministerial Advisory Committee for Plan Melbourne, said the decision was “pretty concerning.” “The site actually ticks all of the strategic boxes in terms of the integration of land use, transport, particularly active transport, and [when] we get caught up on the fact that a development doesn’t have two or three car park spaces, my view is we’re losing the plot,” Hansen said.

Architecture AU

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/index.html?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&mode=premium&dest=http%3A//www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/housing-market-tipped-to-soften-further/story-fn9656lz-1227586672607&memtype=anonymous

Housing market tipped to soften further

Australia’s housing market is expected to soften further, with price growth and rents scaled back in most states, according to a sentiment survey released by National Australia Bank.

The Australian

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/global-architecture-firm-benoy-names-first-australian-projects-in-perth-and-mandurah/news-story/3c400cb923b06c13672f4de17b6e6151

Global architecture firm Benoy names first Australian projects in Perth and Mandurah

UK architecture firm Benoy has named its first Australian projects in WA. Working closely with Melbourne developer Federation Centres, Benoy will complete the redevelopment and expansion of two retail centres — Mandurah Forum and Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley.

Perth Now

http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-firms-vie-to-buy-starwood-hotels-1445968609

Chinese firms vie to buy Starwood Hotels

At least three big Chinese companies are competing to win Beijing’s approval to bid for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., according to people with knowledge of the discussions, setting the stage for what could be the largest-ever Chinese takeover of a U.S. company.

The Wall Street Journal

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/27/us/in-drought-ridden-california-the-classic-lawn-loses-ground.html?ref=realestate&_r=0

In drought-ridden California, the classic lawn loses ground

With help from public rebates, yards are being redefined as grass gives way to less thirsty materials, including decomposed granite.

The New York Times

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/dataroom/lj-hooker-seeks-22m/story-fnjw8txa-1227586064867

LJ Hooker seeks $22m

The owners of LJ Hooker and its advisers, Citi and Morgans, are believed to be making attempts to secure $22 million ahead of the company’s initial public offering to pay down part of a $61m loan to Macquarie. The real estate chain, which is chaired by Janusz Hooker, the grandson of the company’s founder, has aspirations to list on the Australian Securities Exchange around March next year, just months after the anticipated float of rival McGrath Estate Agents.

The Australian