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Chinese national Qi Yang confirmed as buyer of Melbourne's $40m Toorak mansion

The agent for the deal, Jeremy Fox of RT Edgar, told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS, the sale is a positive for everyone - the vendors, the tax office, builders, and architects - and helps to keep the whole market moving.

National

The Economy

Deteriorating housing affordability driving a spike in home renovations

The decline in housing affordability is driving a surge in applications for renovation loans, says ME Bank.

Western Australia (WA)

Awards

reiwa.com Awards: celebrating WA real estate's finest

The best and brightest of Western Australia's real estate industry gathered last Saturday night for the 2017 reiwa.com Awards Ball.

Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

Featured Property

Mesmerising designer residence on Tasmania's water’s edge

A stunning waterfront home, 50 Flinders Esplanade is both an architectural masterpiece and sumptuous, luxury home. For sale through Pam Corkhill of Knight Frank Hobart.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Markets

Paul Hogan syndicate to pay $21m for Brisbane's Queen's Arms Hotel

A new $100m hotel syndicate, headed up by Nick Politis and Peter Ashelford, is set to pay $21 million for Brisbane's Queen's Arms Hotel, along with former Crocodile Dundee star, Paul Hogan.

Trends

DocuSign helps REINSW move towards digital future

SCHWARTZWILLIAMS spoke to Brad Newton, DocuSign's vice-president Asia Pacific, about the advantages of the cloud-based system. He told us the technology came about because a tech entrepreneur wanted to spend more time with his real estate agent wife.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Architecture

Ninety of Brisbane's finest homes and buildings will be open to the public at Brisbane Open House

Brisbane Open House will be held on the weekend of 7 October, allowing the public access to 90 of the city's finest homes and buildings, and offering a range of events and speakers.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

Featured Property

Craigburn Farm: a masterpiece of attention to detail and design

This uncompromising home brings together the highest quality finishes throughout. For sale through Grant Wills of Toop & Toop Hyde Park Goodwood.

International National

The Economy

What do China's new capital controls mean for Australian real estate?

For Chinese investors that are already operating outside China, the impact may be negligible, says CBRE.

Victoria (Vic.)

Politics

Victoria's rushed long-term tenancy legislation unattractive for landlords: REIV

Long-term leases must be attractive for landlords if they are to be successful, says Gil King, CEO of the REIV.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/historic-debt-level-sparks-fears-of-what-may-happen-in-new-gfc/story-e6frg8zx-1227263826846

Historic debt level sparks fears

Household debt is higher in Australia than anywhere else in the advanced world, exposing the economy to risks in the event of another financial crisis.

The Australian

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/a-developer-paid-nearly-double-the-reserve-for-an-ordinary-suburban-house-in-sydneys-insane-property-market-2015-3

Gladesville home sells for $1.1M above reserve

A developer paid nearly double the reserve for an ordinary suburban house in Sydney's insane property market. 1 Stansell Street, Gladesville sold for $2.85 million – a staggering $1.1 million above the reserve.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/elenberg-fraser-s-211m-skyscraper-approved-for-mel

211m skyscraper approved for Melbourne CBD

Elenberg Fraser’s 380 Lonsdale Street twin towers, located on the northern end of Lonsdale Street, have been approved by Victoria’s new Planning Minister Richard Wynne, making it his first skyscraper approval for Melbourne since Labor came into power last November.

Architecture & Design

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2993336/Will-Gen-Y-home-Australia-s-agents-forecast-tough-times-ahead-two-young-couples-share-struggle-enter-property-market.html

Will Gen Y ever own their own home?

As thousands of young Australians look to buy their first home, it may be Generation Y that suffers the most as skyrocketing property prices preventing them from entering the market. A survey of real estate agents around the country revealed that 60% believe the Australian dream of owning your home is becoming less obtainable, and young Australians could be forced to rent long-term as residential property prices jumped an average of 6.8% in the last 12 months.

Daily Mail

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/mark-zuckerbergs-real-estate-lawsuit-2015-3

Facebook creator in legal battle over property

Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg is in the midst of an increasingly revealing legal battle regarding a home purchase he made in 2013. Zuckerberg reportedly scooped up the four houses adjacent to his Palo Alto home when he heard that developer Mircea Voskerician planned to build a large, 9,600-square-foot house on one of the lots behind his property. Voskericia now claims that the billionaire never followed through on an agreement the two had made in secret.

Business Insider

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/nsw-election-2015-gbca-urges-all-political-parties

GBCA pushes sustainability agenda in NSW

The Green Building Council of Australia has urged all political parties in New South Wales to ‘seize the sustainability agenda’ ahead of the polls. The state is second only to Victoria in terms of Green Star ratings.

Architecture & Design

http://www.rebonline.com.au/breaking-news/8787-federal-court-to-rule-on-1-real-estate-strategy?utm_source=Real%20Estate%20Business&utm_campaign=Real_Estate_Business_Bulletin16_03_2015&utm_medium=email

Federal Court to rule on $1 real estate strategy

Federal Court proceedings have been instituted against a property company that has allegedly told consumers it can buy houses for $1. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges We Buy Houses and Rick Otton have contravened Australian Consumer Law.

REB

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11417071

Auckland's real estate fail

Auckland recorded the strongest growth in house prices, nearly twice the national average, but is third from bottom of the class in per capita GDP growth over those seven years.

New Zealand Herald