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Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Melbourne's most affordable suburbs

With a median house price of $346,000, Melton West is Melbourne’s most affordable suburb.

International

Live next door to royalty

A unique opportunity has arisen to live next door to Her Majesty the Queen at the ultra high-end 'The Buckingham' apartments.

Western Australia (WA)

The Economy

House prices in regional WA rise for second quarter in a row

Mining towns Karratha and Port Hedland recorded the highest rates of growth in regional Western Australia during the March quarter, as iron ore prices staged a recovery.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Dee Why home with panoramic views of the Pacific

A home in a world-class position and limitless views is for sale by James Smyth and Josephine Wolff of Smyth Estate Agents Freshwater.

International

The Economy

How did Donald Trump’s election victory affect buying Asian property?

The election of US President Donald Trump has created uncertainty in financial markets, affecting currency markets in our region, and influencing cross-border property transactions.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Design

Court dismisses appeal against Hadid-designed Brisbane towers

The Queensland Planning and Environment Court has dismissed an appeal against the approval of Zaha Hadid's three-tower complex at Toowong, with the judge saying its "exceedingly high-quality architectural expression" would make a positive contribution to the site.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

The Economy

Sydney rental market remains tight

Sydney's vacancy rate held steady in April at only 1.7 per cent, indicating there are supply constraints in the rental property market.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

An elegant Toorak home surrounded by serene gardens is on the market

An elegant family home in Toorak, Victoria, is for sale with Tim Derham and Jock Langley of Abercromby's Armadale.

National

The Economy

Investor borrowing moderating, even before latest tightening measures

Housing lending to property investors softened in March, says Malcolm Gunning, president of the REIA, even before regulators and banks tightened lending to investors and before budget initiatives aimed at property investment were announced.

National

People

Rich-list developer Tim Gurner enters smashed avo debate

Successful developer, Tim Gurner, told 60 Minutes that young Australians can't expect to spend $40 a day on smashed avo and coffees if they want to buy their own home.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/real-estate-books-help-news-corp-lift-revenue/story-e6frg996-1227210000841

News Corp makes big profits off real estate

News Corp's second quarter result earning from digital real estate, which includes a contribution from REA Group, surged 50 per cent to $51m.

The Australian

http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-of-the-day-panoramic-sea-views-in-australiaphotos-1423099802

Victorian property gets global attention

A $2.7 million home in the coastal town of Wongarra, Victoria has been featured in an international publication.

The Wall Street Journal

http://www.afr.com/p/business/property/rba_rate_cut_to_spark_record_housing_CewxsQU0uaCNSVuPGDVNyN

Rate cut boom to building industry

BIS Shrapnel predicts the biggest building boom in Australian history is going to accelerate following the Reserve Bank’s interest rate cut. The number of dwellings built this year could come close to 200,000 for the first time, beating the previous record of 187,000 in 1994, when the economy was recovering from a recession.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/industry-backs-fees-for-foreign-property-investors/story-fnko7zi0-1227208359679

PM introduces fee for foreign buyers

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has confirmed the government will introduce an application fee of up to $1500 for foreign buyers purchasing property in Australia.

The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/banks-douse-housing-bubble-fears-after-rate-cut/story-e6frg926-1227208377797

No housing bubble, say banks

Bankers and mortgage industry veterans dispel fears the Reserve Bank’s interest rate cut will further ignite hot property markets like Sydney, insisting regulators were keeping a tight leash on lenders to head off a housing bubble.

The Australian

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-04/national-australia-bank-quarterly-profit-up-6-on-loans-growth

NAB does well on rising mortgage demand

National Australia Bank Ltd. posted a six percent increase in first-quarter profit on increased mortgage lending and higher markets income.

Bloomberg

http://mashable.com/2015/02/03/google-mortgage-calculator/

Google mortgage calculator

Google has now added the ability to calculate mortgage payments. The feature can be used by anyone via verbal interface on mobile devices, or on the desktop by typing in "mortgage calculator."

Mashable

http://www.afr.com/p/business/property/foreign_property_buyers_target_of_alE56ZZPkcK570m0znhkJJ

FIRB announcement soon

Treasurer Joe Hockey is set to announce the government's response to a parliamentary report into foreign investment in housing soon. The government's response is expected to focus on greater enforcement of the existing rules of the Foreign Investment Review Board, a fee of several thousand dollars for all applications and a national register of land title transfers that would be shared with the Department of Immigration.

The Australian Financial Review