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Southern Highlands the favourite alternative for Sydney families: Di Jones

The Southern Highlands has become the favourite alternative for Sydney renters and buyers alike, with more affordable homes and lifestyle drawing families to the region.

People

Get to know Ben Khong, sales agent with Cranecorp

Ben Khong is a sales agent with property developer Cranecorp. With a background in fashion, he loves working with the developer's design teams, and takes the 'two ears, one mouth' approach when dealing with his clients.

New South Wales (NSW)

Featured Property

A house designed for maximum joy, with its own waterfall for good measure

This award winning, eco home is for sale through James Leary of Raine & Horne Byron Bay.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Eight tips to consider when purchasing commercial property

When buying commercial property in Melbourne, it's important to wait for the ideal property and the right market conditions, says Dominic Gibson of Melbourne Acquisitions.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

$23m Woolwich sale beats Cate Blanchett's 'Bulwarra' record

The sale of historic home 'Vailele' for $23 million has set a record for the Hunters Hill peninsula.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Design

UK-based architect Foster + Partners reveals design for Sydney's tallest building

Circular Quay Tower and the regeneration of the northern end of the CBD will confirm Sydney's status as a global city, say the architects.

New South Wales (NSW)

Featured Property

Surf on your doorstep, sun all year round, festivals, fine dining - and a super-luxe home in Byron Bay

'Villa Gabrielle', a three-story, resort-style home on Byron Bay's Main Beach, is for sale through Sophie Christou of Raine & Horne Byron Bay.

The Economy

Auction clearance rate three weeks below 70%

Yet the market is still seeing strong results. A four-bedroom Melbourne home with a pool and tennis court sold for $7,650,00 last week through Abercromby's Real Estate Armadale.

National

The Economy

Melbourne leading real estate price gains, says REIA

Melbourne property prices were the fastest growing in the country during the March quarter, according to the latest data from REIA Real Estate Market Facts.

People

Pino Monaco to head residential building body, HIA

Pino Monaco has been elected the national president of the Housing Industry Association, the voice of the Australian residential building industry.

Pages

News Roundup

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/02/24/australias-frothy-house-prices-make-another-cut-unlikely-at-least-for-now/

Australia’s frothy house prices make another cut unlikely–at least for now

Next week the reserve bank is likely to signal its intention to cut rates again–just not immediately.

The Wall Street Journal

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/idUSFit91508520150224

Increased Australian bank mortgage risk manageable, says Fitch

Fitch Ratings says Australian banks' generally strong loss absorption capacity leaves them well positioned to deal with increasing risks in their mortgage books.

Reuters

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/one-of-the-largest-real-estate-firms-in-the-world-may-be-up-for-sale-2015-2

One of the world's largest real estate firms possibly up for sale

New York-based property management company Cushman & Wakefield may be headed toward a sale. The Agnelli family, which owns the firm, is reportedly seeking a buyer in what could be a multi-billion dollar deal.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/cause-alarm-properties-non-compliant/2555580/

More than one third of rented properties don't have correct smoke alarms

Figures compiled by Smoke Alarms Australia, Australia's longest-running residential smoke alarms specialist, after carrying out inspections in more than 140,000 residential properties Australia-wide show that over 1 in 3 (36%) properties managed by real estate agencies in Queensland require at least one of their smoke alarms to be replaced, and almost 1 in 4 (23%) have no working smoke alarms installed at all.

News Mail

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8196-non-major-sees-no-end-to-investor-appetite

No end to property investment boom, says ME Bank

ME Bank's national broker manager, Stewart Saunders, said that with interest rates continuing to drop, it is “definitely becoming attractive” for investors to enter the market, adding that in some areas they are almost able to positively gear properties.

Mortgage Business

http://www.afr.com/p/rate_bubbliness_brewing_in_shares_L4MAdRJTYpuqXc6W83UZYM

Rate bubbliness brewing in property

Expectations of further rate cuts and a lower Australian dollar are giving some fund managers reason to cheer financial markets higher. But others warn the bubble zone is closing in across shares, property and bonds.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-24/kwinana-urban-development-law-delay-sparks-concern/6257728

Developers and Gov at odds over Kwinana industrial area

There are concerns about delays to legislation designed to stop urban development encroaching on the Kwinana industrial area in Western Australia. Property developers have been at odds with the Government over its plans to enforce a legally binding buffer zone in the Kwinana industrial area to keep heavy industry and residential communities apart.

ABC News

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/woods-bagot-rejects-merger-offers-but-other-practi

Oz architecture firms boost global reach

Woods Bagot is not the only Australian firm increasing their global presence, and although they are openly rejecting international offers for mergers deals, other Australian firms are taking the merger and alliance approach in a bid to boost international reach.

Architecture & Design