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Owner-architect designed ‘The Courtyard House’ merges contemporary home with Gothic Revival church

Designed by owner-architect Ilana Kister, 'The Courtyard House' in Collingwood extends from the former St Saviour church; it has been nominated for architecture prizes and featured in magazines. The home is for sale through Rick Daniel and Arch Staver of Nelson Alexander Fitzroy.

International New South Wales (NSW)Sydney Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart climb Knight Frank global price-growth index

Knight Frank has released its latest Global Residential Cities Index: Sydney is up from 30th place to 23rd, Melbourne is up from 28th to 24th, and Hobart has rocketed from 77th position to 34th.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Pace of decline in Perth property prices steadied in June quarter

Though 54% of sellers had to lower their asking price in the three months to June, the size of the discount has levelled out at 6.5%, preventing the median price from falling futher.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

Glass House Mountain views from this architecturally designed 40-acre property on Mount Mee

A private getaway that doesn't compromise on quality: this property is for sale with Terry Ward of Ray White Wamuran.

Tasmania (Tas.)

Design

The best Tasmanian architecture

The Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects has revealed its top 2017 projects.

International

People

Rebel Wilson buys 'paparazzi-proof' New York apartment

Rebel Wilson has bought a two-bedroom apartment in the 443 Greenwich Street building in TriBeCa, and will count Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Lawrence among her neighbours.

National

Design

Keep your home warm this winter - and give the environment a break

Before you switch on the heater this winter, consider other ways to keep your home warm.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Featured Property

See the sixty-sixth-floor, whole-level apartment in Surfers Paradise for sale

This whole-floor apartment on level 66 of the Peppers Soul building is for sale by Rob Patis of Mantra Group Realty with an asking price of $5,980,000.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

John McManus recognised as LJ Hooker's top NSW/ACT salesperson

At LJ Hooker's annual awards event on the weekend, John McManus snapped up the prize for leading selling business owner in NSW and the ACT, ending Bill Malouf's 16 years in the top spot.

Victoria (Vic.)

Design

Victoria's best architecture on display at 2017 Victorian Architecture Awards

The 2017 Victorian Architecture Awards winners were announced last week, revealing a focus in the state on designing healthy and highly liveable buildings.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-18/morgan-stanley-fund-to-exit-a-9-billion-of-australian-properties

Morgan Stanley Fund exits Australian real estate

Morgan Stanley’s property unit appointed advisers as it seeks to exit its $9 billion real estate business in Australia. Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing said in a statement it plans to sell its holding in Investa Property Group, Australia’s third-biggest owner of city center offices, and that UBS AG and Morgan Stanley Australia would “explore strategic alternatives.”

Bloomberg

http://www.afr.com/p/folkestone_increases_profit_as_platform_nQlf1ytiA6biuRy4iOS0gI

Folkestone profits soar

Sydney-based fund manager Folkestone has posted a 2014-15 interim net profit of $2 million, which is 23 per cent higher than previously. Headed by property veteran Greg Paramor, the boutique manager boosted funds under management to $870 million, across a range of syndicates and development opportunities.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/comment/preparing-for-the-worst

New scorecard for measuring resilience to disaster

The United Nations’ Office for Disaster Risk Reduction scorecard measures how well prepared a city is for a disaster, including responding to and recovering from it. Developed by engineering and IT giants AECOM and IBM, the scorecard has extensive assessment categories based on the UN’s Ten Essentials for urban resilience.

Architecture & Design

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/chinese-househunters-click-on-victorian-real-estate-listings/story-fncq3era-1227224368399

Victoria first choice for Chinese buyers

Property portal myfun.com, owned by REA Group, says Victoria was the most clicked state among Chinese buyers in 2014. The site was designed by REA Group to showcase Australian property to Chinese buyers.

news.com.au

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/property-red-tape-stifles-aborigines-tim-wilson/story-fn9hm1pm-1227224642501

Property red tape stifles Aborigines

The ability of indigenous Australians to reach their full potential is being undermined by legal and regulatory restrictions on their freedom to exercise property rights in Aboriginal communities, says Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson.

The Australian

http://www.theage.com.au/business/online-property-transaction-system-pexa-tipped-to-cut-conveyancing-costs-20150217-13grh0.html

Online property transaction system PEXA tipped to cut conveyancing costs

Property sellers and buyers could find that settlement times drop to one week and conveyancing costs fall 25 per cent under a new online property transaction system. The $100 million Property Exchange Australia e-conveyancing platform began full digital property transfer services in NSW last November and rolled out similar services in Victoria two weeks ago.

The Age

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/17/genworth-mtg-ins-westpac-contract-idUSL4N0VR2AD20150217

Westpac scraps mortgage insurance deal with Genworth

Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia Ltd, the Australian affiliate of United States Genworth Financial Inc, said on Tuesday Westpac gave the company 90 days' notice that it was ending a sales agreement after a review of its riskier loans, a move that will hit the insurer's 2016 earnings. The cancellation came after the bank reviewed all new residential loans with a loan-to-value ratio of more than 90 percent.

Reuters

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/02/17/11/27/people-struggling-to-survive-as-western-australian-mining-boom-grinds-to-a-halt

WA mining boom grinds to a halt

The once-booming real estate market in Port Hedland has collapsed in the past year, with more than 400 homes available to rent – unheard of at the height of the mining golden years.

9 News