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International investors turning to regional QLD

The recent sale of a 215-ha masterplanned mixed-use development near Rockhampton has marked the start of major investment in the region.

Western Australia (WA)

Featured Property

Magnificent Venetian estate: Villa Dionysus

This 18th Century inspired residence is set among the natural attractions of the iconic Swan Valley region. For sale by Emma Milner of Ray White Claremont.

National

The Economy

Cool weather sees cooler clearance rates, while prime markets perform well

While preliminary clearance rates and auction volumes dropped slightly over the weekend, the prime markets in both Sydney and Melbourne performed well, as buyers seek 'safe haven' suburbs.

National

People

Entries open for 2018 REINSW Awards for Excellence

Entries have opened for the 21st annual Real Estate Institute of New South Wales (REINSW) Awards for Excellence, with three new categories added to the lineup.

National

People

How to overcome being considered 'too qualified' for a role

Having an extensive amount of experience is usually considered a good thing when it comes to landing a new job - but not when it comes at the expense of being considered 'overqualified'.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Cinematic design: former Greater Union warehouse’s skilful renovation

This modern industrial home features soaring ceilings, original steel framed windows, heated polished concrete floors and northern light. For sale by Daniel Joyce and Elliot Gill of Jellis Craig Richmond.

National

The Economy

2018 Budget ignores millennial's housing woes

Despite ongoing concerns around housing affordability, this years' budget seems to have forgotten the housing crisis of an entire generation of young people.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Construction

Howard Smith Wharves development to breathe new life into Brisbane river

Brisbane's derelict Howard Smith Wharves site will soon be unrecognisable, with the development of the $200 million riverside restaurant and hotel complex underway.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

People

Award-winning Perth agent Sam Bevan joins Realmark Coastal

After winning the Elite Agent 2018 Program, Sam Bevan decided to make a career change and become a real estate agent at Realmark in Perth, WA.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Brand new Toorak family residence featuring cutting edge wellness technology

For sale by Oliver Booth and Abby Innes of RT Edgar Toorak, who told WILLIAMS MEDIA, “This is the first home in Australia with 'wellness package', which purifies the water and air throughout the house.”

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/22/turnbull-and-morrison-must-fix-the-housing-crisis-before-the-bubble-bursts

Turnbull and Morrison must fix the housing crisis before the bubble bursts

Australia faces many economic challenges in the near future, whether it is anaemic growth, falling national income, stagnant wages, plunging mining sector capital expenditure, an uptick in unemployment and underemployment, or the collapsing terms of trade. Arguably, the most pressing need is to deal with Australia’s out of control banking and financial system, having blown a housing bubble of epic proportions.

The Guardian

http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/house-price-growth-in-sydney-and-melbourne-continues-apace-20150922-gjrzpq.html

Morgan Stanley says Australian housing boom has peaked

Morgan Stanley analysts says the housing cycle in Australia has peaked, with a tighter regulatory environment, slowing immigration and frothy prices, set to blunt the powerful growth momentum for the sector. The US investment bank said in a note this week housing activity in the country had "peaked", which, in turn, had intensified the risks of recession.

Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8935-almost-one-in-10-loans-would-fail-underwriting-standards-report?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter23_09_2015&utm_medium=email

Almost 1 in 10 loans would fail underwriting standards: report

A new report examining the impact of regulatory changes on the Australian mortgage market has concluded that nine per cent of home loans written so far this year would now fail current underwriting standards. Released this week, The Property Imperative Report V report from Digital Finance Analytics (DFA), applied the typical underwriting criteria being used today to the 26,000 households surveyed in the DFA Household Finance Confidence index.

Mortgage Business

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http%3A//www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australia-is-toast-foreign-investors-tell-nab-20150921-gjrfth.html&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoUMTUwMDYwNjQyOTc1NTIyNDM2NzUyHWM3OTgxMzczYTU0OTI2ZWE6Y29tLmF1OmVuOkFV&usg=AFQjCNFV6Xct6vtWhGgCMNJh6T8KkQq26Q

'Australia is toast' foreign investors tell NAB

Foreign investors have turned especially bearish on the Australian economy, with one describing it as "toast", a National Australia Bank report says. Chief economist Ivan Colhoun said a recent visit to clients in Britain, continental Europe and the Middle East revealed a "uniformly negative view on Australia's prospects".

Sydney Morning Herald

http://news.yahoo.com/symbolic-victory-against-mugabe-government-property-south-africa-125050057.html

'Symbolic victory' against Mugabe as government property in South Africa auctioned

A residential property in Cape Town owned by the Zimbabwean government was auctioned for 3.76 million rand ($281,500) on Monday, in a symbolic victory against the land grab policies of President Robert Mugabe, lawyers said.

Yahoo News

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1509/S00557/auckland-rents-top-400-per-week-for-smallest-properties.htm

Auckland rents top $400 per week for smallest properties

A property renter in Auckland can now expect to pay $400 per week regardless of property size or type, according to Trade Me Property’s monthly report on median rents across New Zealand. Head of Trade Me Property Nigel Jeffries said that even the smallest unit or 1-bedroom home will cost a typical Auckland renter $400 per week.

Scoop

http://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/john-mcgrath-property-expert/20150922australias-1-million-club/

Australia's $1 million club

How times have changed. In June 1995, only 1% of house sales in Sydney over the previous five years were above $1 million. By June 2015, that percentage was 36.8%. In 1995, only 0.6% of apartments sold above $1 million. Today it’s 11.6%.

Switzer Daily

http://www.inman.com/2015/09/21/andrew-dailey-people-dont-buy-a-home-to-get-a-mortgage-they-get-a-mortgage-to-buy-a-home/

'People don't buy a home to get a mortgage, they get a mortgage to buy a home'

It’s very simple: People don’t buy a home to get a mortgage; they get a mortgage to buy a home. For most of us, getting a mortgage is a necessary part of the process, but too often it completely ruins the experience. Buying a home should be a happy time in your life, and we want to make sure the mortgage doesn’t get in the way of that.

Inman