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National

The Economy

Melbourne market is still very active at the high end: Chris Savvides, Jellis Craig Doncaster

Auction data shows the Melbourne market continues to outpace Sydney.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Construction

Demolishers of Corkman Pub sue planning minister

The developers who illegally knocked down the historic Corkman Irish Pub in Melbourne without council approval are suing Planning Minister Richard Wynne in an attempt to gain approval to build a high-rise on the site.

National

Design

Barangaroo unanimously named development of the year

Barangaroo South has been named Development of the Year by the Urban Taskforce.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Beyond the traditional facade of this compact terrace lies a contemporary extension and second storey

The classic facade of this tiny Leichhardt terrace opens to a stunning contemporary open-plan extension. The home is close to Norton Street, and is for sale through Michael Hallit and Simone Azzi of Belle Property Annandale.

International National

The Economy

'Super City' Sydney seventh on Knight Frank foreign investment list

Knight Frank's inaugural report, Active Capital – The Report 2017, which looks at foreign commercial real estate investment in ten 'Super Cities', lists Sydney in seventh place.

National

Design

EAC rebrands, introduces new video marketing tools

Estate Agents Co-Operative has rebranded its business, and brought in a range of new technologies to lower costs and boost services for its agent members.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne Collingwood

Featured Property

A Collingwood warehouse conversion where elegant meets industrial

This boutique apartment with stunning interiors in Melbourne's Collingwood is on the market with Damian Ponte and Rick Daniel of Nelson Alexander Brunswick for between $1.1 million and $1.2 million.

National

The Economy

How to prepare for higher interest rates

With the Reserve Bank signalling the cash rate is headed higher, borrowers are advised to prepare for higher rates by calculating how they will be affected, paying off debt now while rates are low, and considering fixing, says Patrick Nolan of ME Bank.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Auctions achieve quicker sales in Perth

It takes around 70 days to sell a property by private treaty in Perth, says Hayden Groves, president of the REIWA, but sellers who go to auction are achieving sales in as few as 28 days.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

Miri Miri: nestled on rainforest edge 330m above sea level commanding Gold Coast views from Currumbin to Stradbroke Island

Hand-crafted contemporary home enjoys open fire-pit, outdoor bathroom amongst 8.5 hectares on the edge of the rainforest in the Tallebudgera Valley; boasts its own rainforest, bush tracks, creeks and waterfalls, and is home to koalas and wallabies. It is for sale through Scott Keatley of Ray White Mermaid Beach.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/03/case-study-real-estate-agents-help-reduce-homelessness/

The Macarthur Real Estate Engagement Project helping to prevent homelessness

Real estate agents in the Macarthur region of Sydney are helping to prevent tenants in crisis from becoming homeless, and in two years they have saved 57 tenancies. It has become an operating practice because the social outcome is aligned with commercial returns.

Triple Pundit

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/china-is-trying-to-reverse-a-real-estate-crash-by-turning-its-unused-properties-into-social-housing-2015-3

The Chinese government thinks it has found the answer to the country's property market crisis

The Chinese authorities have hit on an idea to turn around a worrying oversupply of property that has been dragging down prices — buy them up and convert them into social housing. The plan comes on the back of worrying signs for a key sector for China’s economy. Falling property prices are an indicator for falling land values, a key measure of the health of local government finances that have become reliant on land sale revenues.

Business Insider Australia

https://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2015/3/17/australian-news/looming-risk-australias-international-reputation

The looming risk to Australia's international reputation

The world is starting to look at Australia in disbelief. We are a country with a AAA credit rating yet both our major political parties in state jurisdictions have either expropriated commercially owned assets without compensation or are threatening to do so.

Business Spectator

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/movie-star-and-former-governor-arnold-schwarzenegger-made-his-first-1-million-in-real-estate/story-fndbalka-1227266938927

Schwarzenegger made his first $1 million in real estate

“I made my first million in real estate, not in movies," said actor and former Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on a flying visit to Brisbane to talk to real estate agents about how to succeed.

news.com.au

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-16/singapore-february-home-sales-drop-48-percent-on-property-curbs

Singapore February Home Sales Drop 48 Percent on Curbs

Singapore home sales in February slumped 48 percent from a year ago as lending curbs stemmed purchases. The government began introducing residential property curbs in 2009 as low interest rates and demand from foreign buyers raised concerns that the property market was overheating. Prices surged 40 percent in the five years to 2013 to a record, prompting a cap on debt repayment costs at 60 percent of a borrower’s monthly income, higher stamp duties on home purchases and an increase in real estate taxes.

Bloomberg

http://www.australiaforum.com/information/australia/finance-insurance-and-real-estate-lead-job-possibilities-in-australia.html

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Lead Job Possibilities in Australia

People looking for jobs in Australia might find fewer opportunities in the coming months as the latest hiring intentions survey shows many have no plans to increase their workforce. The latest outlook survey covering the second quarter of 2015 from Manpower suggests that employer intentions remain little changed in comparison for forecasts reported three months ago and at the same time last year.

AustraliaForum.com

https://www.commbank.com.au/blog/renovation-or-relocation.html?ocid=soc-twr-hl-rbs-pai-all-gui-hlq-aus-170315

Renovation or relocation?

So, you've decided your home doesn't quite meet your needs anymore. Should you renovate, or sell up and buy again? How do you decide whether to stay put and renovate your existing home, or sell and buy?

Commonwealth Bank Blog

http://www.smartpropertyinvestment.com.au/news/14061-investors-warned-about-rising-vacancies

Investors warned about rising vacancies

Investors have been advised to be more realistic in their pricing after vacancy rates reached their highest level in a decade. The Real Estate Institute of Australia has reported that the average vacancy rate across Australia’s eight capital cities was 2.8 per cent during the last quarter of 2014. This was compared to 2.7 per cent in the December quarter of 2013.

Smart Property Investment