The Real Estate Conversation

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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.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Three-storey penthouse in Sydney's historic Rocks on the market for $18m

A three-level, four-bedroom luxury penthouse in the celebrated Stamford Residences is for sale through Michael Lowdon of Ray White Residential.

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