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Housing downturn crippling GDP growth

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveal the housing downturn is stunting GDP growth, and the RBA is getting anxious about it.

Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

Featured Property

Sleek architecturally designed home with mountain views in Tasmania

This contemporary architecturally designed home in Tasmania's Acton Park is for sale by Tom Triffitt of Knight Frank Tasmania Hobart .

National

The Economy

New Farm home smashes Brisbane auction records

A prized riverfront holding in New Farm became the most expensive house ever sold under the hammer in Brisbane on Saturday.

National

The Economy

Singaporean co-living giant to debut in Sydney

Singaporean co-living company Hmlet will make its Australian debut in Sydney with the launch of two co-living properties.

Featured Property

Barracks garage transformed to modern residence

‘The Courtyard House' is a contemporary, light-filled home framing a leafy central courtyard. For sale by Andrew De Angelis and Arch Staver of Nelson Alexander Fitzroy.

National

The Economy

3 essential first home buyer tips

Buying your first home is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming if you don't know where to start.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Family haven in Glen Iris

This beautifully presented 1920s inner Melbourne home is for sale by Mark Wridgway and Justine Harris of RT Edgar Toorak.

National

People

The real estate careers portal filling a gap in the market

Proudly supported by the Real Estate Institute’s, RECON Jobs is a jobs website tailored to the real estate industry.

People

Can you ask a woman about her plans for a family in a job interview?

Sharon Bennie, owner of Specialist Property Recruitment discusses interview questions an employer has no right to ask.

National

Design

7 stunning stone houses in Australia

Australia has a heritage of stone homes, some historic, some contemporary, many with modern interiors and meticulously restored spaces. Here are seven of Luxury List's favourite stone houses from around Australia.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/financial-services/commonwealth-bank-joins-foreign-mortgage-crackdown/news-story/e05f9085c4233454fede8eb602d7a733

Commonwealth Bank joins foreign mortgage crackdown

Commonwealth Bank has joined peers in cracking down on mortgage lending to borrowers heavily reliant on income from offshore.

The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/saul-eslake-labor-negative-gearing-policy-could-create-bubble/news-story/33079d91d4a6c09d5e5be23226ee5bf5

Labor negative gearing policy ‘could create bubble’: Saul Eslake

Labor’s negative gearing policy could create a property bubble with investors rushing into the market before the new laws took hold, economist Saul Eslake has warned.

The Australian

https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2016/04/16/new-rules-foreign-investors/14607288003137

New rules for foreign investors

As foreign investment increases, especially from China, new protocols are being weighed to find a balance between Australia’s national security and economic growth.

The Saturday Paper

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/developers-warn-rba-over-apartment-scaremongering-20160418-go8wky

Developers warn RBA over apartment scaremongering

Developers have warned the Reserve Bank that the more it talks up fears of an oversupply of apartments, the more banks will withdraw their lending, leading to a possible self-fulfilling fear of 'apartment collapse'.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.afr.com/personal-finance/are-older-apartments-a-bad-investment-20160414-go6gw9

Are older apartments a bad investment?

The best strategy for owners of older-style apartments is to ensure the property meets the expectations of contemporary tenants, and refurbish if necessary.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.yourinvestmentpropertymag.com.au/news/personal-loans-credit-card-limits-severely-impacting-borrowing-capacity-214700.aspx

Personal Loans, Credit Card Limits Severely Impacting Borrowing Capacity

The desire for a new car or lavish holiday is seriously jeopardising the ability of many Australians to break into the property market.

Your Property Investment

http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/2016/04/13/election-referendum-bubble-economy/

This election is a referendum on the economy

Labor was doing so well with proposals designed to gently deflate the housing bubble. But then it took things a step too far.

The New Daily

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/big-projects-at-record-levels-in-sydney-planners-reveal/news-story/3b690e245c7641184b6026cda717297d

Big projects at record levels in Sydney, planners reveal

Joint Regional Planning Panels, which determine $20 million-plus property projects, have approved $10 billion in development applications so far this financial year, up 70% on total 2013-14 approvals.

The Australian Financial Review