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Featured Property

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.afr.com/p/national/push_to_grant_pensioners_assets_AXT3GoPCP651BGpULUz9HL

Push to grant pensioners assets-test reprieve for downsizing

A proposal being promoted by the Property Council of Australia, understood to be under serious consideration by Welfare Minister Scott Morrison, would allow people 75 and older to continue receiving the pension as long as they moved into a cheaper retirement home within 12 months.

The Australian Financial Review

http://businessnow.theaustralian.com.au/2015/03/04/sydney-beats-melbourne-for-living-standards/

Sydney beats Melbourne for living standards

Melbourne might have the best art and music in the land but when it comes to quality of living, Sydney has the cultural capital covered. The latest Mercer 2015 Quality of Living Survey ranks Sydney as the Australian city with the best living standards.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/p/national/union_wins_per_cent_pay_rises_with_qU7RSwbM89wyBb685FJlNN

Union wins 5 per cent pay rises with no trade-offs

The construction union has secured wage deals delivering above-inflation pay rises of 5 per cent a year for the employees of up to 200 contractors, who now risk being blacklisted from federal government building projects. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and Master Builders Australia said the union had negotiated new workplace agreements with 150 to 200 companies that did not contain any trade-offs by the union.

The Australian Financial Review

http://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/2015/03/04/depreston-song-highlights-real-estate-problems/

Melbourne singer on first home buyer woes

Melbourne singer Courtney Barnett has written a song about Australia’s housing bubble called ‘Depreston’.The song is inspired by the lack of affordability in Melbourne’s mid-ring suburb Preston, with many of Barnett’s friends struggling to find homes within 20kms of the city’s CBD.

The New Daily

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/houses-awards-2015-now-looking-for-australia-s-bes

Houses Awards 2015 now looking for Australia’s best residential designs

Houses Awards 2015, an annual program celebrating Australia’s residential architecture, is now open for entry. Submissions will be accepted until Friday 27 March, 2015. Houses Awards recognises excellence in architecture across nine categories, with the best architecturally designed house receiving the premier title of ‘Australian House of the Year’ along with a $5,000 cash prize.

Architecture & Design

http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/government-shelves-plan-to-insure-firsttime-mortgages-31042189.html

Ireland shelves mortgage insurance scheme

A government plan to introduce a mortgage insurance scheme in Ireland to protect banks and allow first-time home buyers to borrow more has been shelved.

Irish Independent

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/lease-for-your-first-year-in-new-york?mbid=social_facebook

Humorous take on young renter's life in New York

"By signing this contract, Renter agrees to inhabit 5 GROVE ST., BROOKLYN, N.Y., for twelve months of increasing disillusionment with lifelong dream of being a writer in the city."

The New Yorker

http://www.afr.com/p/business/property/chinese_mega_developer_aoyuan_joins_H4RzkcDWoGhh3OJkuJpioN

Chinese mega developer's plans for $400 million residential tower

Mega Chinese developer Aoyuan Property has made its first foray into the Australian market announcing its plans to develop a $400 million residential tower in the heart of Sydney. The Hong Kong-listed developer has a land bank of more than 12 million square metres across China and has partnered with local developer Ecove to convert an aging office tower at 130 Elizabeth Street into 148 luxury apartments, designed by architects Bates Smart.

The Australian Financial Review