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Australian suppliers sold cladding they knew was flammable: Four Corners

In the wake of London's Grenfell fire disaster, questions about Australia's own non-conforming building materials remain.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Preeminent architect's modern addition for this Edwardian home

With an almost-new Techne Architects renovation and a plum location opposite Princes Park, this updated Edwardian home is for sale through James Pilliner and Stewart Kyle of Nelson Alexander Carlton North.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Construction

Seven-hectare Brisbane site sold to Singapore-based developer for $20m

The Darra site in Brisbane's middle-ring suburbs is set for residential development, say agents Colliers International.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

People

Get to know leading WA real estate agent, Vivien Yap

Trailblazer Vivien Yap started out as a successful Perth chemist, but after buying and selling a number of her own properties, decided to take the leap into real estate. She recently became the first woman to win LJ Hooker's top selling principal award.

International National

People

LJ Hooker to open seven new offices in time for a busy spring selling season

LJ Hooker will open seven new offices around Australia today, as well as opening a commercial agency in St George, and introducing a sister-agency in New Zealand.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

1850s Surry Hills terrace fronting historic Sydney laneway

Located in one of Sydney's earliest suburbs, this terrace faces historic McElhone Place and is for sale by Bryan Mahlberg and Edward Burns of LJ Hooker Newtown.

The Economy

Lenders offering lower interest rates, incentives in lead up to spring

Competition for good-quality borrowers is hotting up in the lead up to spring, with lenders offering lower interest rates, fee waivers, or lower deposits for favoured customers.

National

People

Get to know Dina Malathounis, award-winning architect and founder of Junctions 90

Dina Malathounis won this year’s BDAV Building Design of the Year award for her project, 'Killara'. She spoke to SCHWARTZWILLIAMS about the prize, and why starting her own architectural practice was so important to her.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Southern Highlands real estate market up 28%: Di Jones

Di Jones has teamed up with CoreLogic to compile the Di Jones Real Estate Annual Market Report, revealing key trends in several Sydney and regional NSW markets.

New South Wales (NSW)

Featured Property

White Chic: Watego's Beach surfing residence, Byron Bay

The White House: front row Watego's, Byron Bay. Watch whales and dolphins go by from three north-facing levels with views from Julian Rocks to the hinterland. For sale through Jeremy Bennett of Byron Bay Property Sales.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-news-bc-australia-housing21-20150421-story.html

Mine bust halves home prices in Australia Outback

Australia is experiencing a two-speed housing market: while prices in Sydney have surged to records, the end of the mining boom is depressing home values in commodity-rich regions where prices once rivaled those in New York and London.

Chicago Tribune

http://www.smh.com.au/business/australian-property-seen-as-hot-destination-for-money-laundering-20150422-1mqpdn.html

Australian property seen as hot destination for money laundering

Australia needs to tighten safeguards against money laundering in its booming property market, which has attracted Chinese funds with likely links to corruption, an international anti-money laundering body said in a report.

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/housing-affordability-means-re-evaluating-the-australian-dream/story-fndban6l-1227313310496

Housing affordability means re-evaluating the Australian dream

The core issue is being able to afford a property in a location where first home buyers want to live. And the city’s outskirts, where homes are most affordable, are not those places. Chances are they can’t settle where they would like to. They would rather rent.

news.com.au

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/meet-the-aussie-startup-which-gives-businesses-the-same-technology-employed-to-track-serial-killers-2015-4

Aussie start-up helps real estate business

Australian startup Ruppells Griffon uses geospacial technology to help businesses understand their customers better or identify new sales opportunities, and real estate agents can use it to find trends in the rental property market.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/mining-house-prices-heading-south-with-commodities

Mining house prices heading south with commodities

Property prices have plummeted in mining towns around Australia, closely tied to commodity prices according to a new report. Real estate valuers Propell have charted the significant losses in the housing market in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales over the past few years, with projections showing housing prices will continue to fall.

Australian Mining

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/plans-leaked-sydney-s-badgery-creek-airport-said-t

Sydney’s Badgery Creek Airport to commence construction next year

Confidential plans for Sydney's second airport at Badgerys Creek have been leaked, showing that the airport would eventually rival the size of JFK International Airport in New York.

Architecture & Design

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/qualitas-spends-80m-on-st-kilda-road-tower-20150422-1mqdjj

Qualitas spends $80m on St Kilda Road tower

Boutique real estate financier Qualitas has acquired a St Kilda Road office tower for $80 million with plans to convert it into a luxury $300 million apartment development targeted at downsizing empty nesters.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/house-price-growth-to-slow-next-year-nab/story-fn9656lz-1227313312530?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=TheAustralian&utm_medium=Twitter

House price growth to slow next year: NAB

The national growth in house prices is tipped to hit 4.4 per cent by the end of 2015, before slowing next year. The National Australia Bank’s quarterly residential property survey predicts Sydney will lead the charge with house price growth of 7.7 per cent by the end of this year.

The Australian