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National

The Economy

Buyers not deterred by long weekend, as strong sales continue

Despite it being a holiday weekend, last week saw a number of strong sale results around the country.

National

Design

Winners revealed for the 2017 Australian Interior Design Awards

Smart Design Studio’s Indigo Slam has received the Premier Award for Australian Interior Design, the country's leading award in the field.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Melbourne achieves record autumn auctions

While temperatures cooled across Melbourne, the city's auction market remained hot, with more homes sold at auction than during any other autumn.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

Private Queensland beachfront estate for sale for $9.5m

'Trinity Beach Palace' is for sale through Simon J Cowan and Paul Arthur of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty.

National

The Economy

First-home buyers remain out in the cold, despite affordability improvements

The number of first-home buyers in Australia declined 11.2% over the March quarter, according to latest Adelaide Bank/REIA Housing Affordability Report.

International

The Economy

Australia 20th on Knight Frank Global House Price Index

Australia has risen 17 places to 20th on Knight Frank's Global House Price Index, which measures mainstream residential property markets around the world.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

McGrath takes 33 Millers Point apartments to market

Peter Starr is taking McGrath's largest Millers Point offering yet to market, with 33 apartments for sale in four buildings.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Featured Property

A Sanctuary Cove home with views across the river to a nature reserve is for sale

An architect-designed Sanctuary Cove home in a serene setting is on the market for $4,250,000 through Matt Gates of Ray White Sanctuary Cove.

National

People

Credibility and integrity: Cornerstones to securing development finance

Dan Holden of HoldenCAPITAL says the perception of honesty and trustworthiness is an essential driver of credit decisions.

National

Construction

Slow down in housing hits GDP

“A decline in housing investment and a decline in exports were the major factors contributing to the relatively subdued growth in the economy this quarter," says Shane Garrett, senior economist with the HIA.

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