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Housing affordability improving, but number of first home buyers down, report finds

Housing affordability across the nation is slowly improving, but the credit squeeze is putting the brakes on the number of first home buyers entering the market, the Adelaide Bank/REIA Housing Affordability Report has revealed.

National

People

Why you should consider making a horizontal career move, according to a recruiter

Real estate recruiter Virginia Brookes of Resolver Recruitment explains why a horizontal career move is the best one you'll ever make.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

People

Get to know buyers' agent Greville Pabst

Known by many as the Buyer's Jury Judge on Channel 9's The Block, Greville Pabst is also the Executive Charmain of WBP Property Group and a leading property commentator.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Secluded opulence: Grand European luxury in Toorak

Elegant and functional, this beautifully appointed garden apartment celebrates a commitment to quality and refined liveability. For sale by Robyn Feigen and Michael Gibson of Kay & Burton South Yarra.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Melbourne's 'bridesmaid' suburbs offering a more affordable entry point into the market

Savvy Melburnians could save hundreds of dollars per week simply by renting one suburb over from their dream postcode, new data from the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) reveals.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Peek inside Julie Bishop's former grand estate

If you've ever wanted to have a stickybeak inside Julie Bishop's home, her former Perth abode has just hit the market through listing agent Jodie Fewster of Ray White Cottesloe Mosman Park.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Increase in luxury property sales lift Perth's median house price

While house prices fall in Sydney and Melbourne, Perth's median house price has lifted 1.6 per cent during November, thanks to an increase in luxury property sales according to industry body the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA).

Western Australia (WA)Perth

Featured Property

From Swan to the sea: bespoke North Fremantle home

This masterful, Blane Brackenridge designed residence inspires with its soaring ceilings, sleek lines, light reveals and curves. For sale by Vince Epps of Realmark Coastal - North Beach.

National

The Economy

Auction market keeps cool as summer heat arrives

Attendance was down at auctions over the weekend, as the heat of the first weekend of summer keeps buyers at bay.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

The Economy

Brisbane property market leads nation as only city to record house price growth

Brisbane's housing market is leaving the rest of the nation in the dust, as it was the only city to see home values grow over the month, according to CoreLogic's Hedonic Home Value Index.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/australian-economy-wellplaced-to-weather-crazy-markets-says-nab-20160216-gmvdy1

Australian economy well-placed to weather 'crazy' markets, says NAB

Banks are recording very low bad-debt levels.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/acci-grattan-institute-aged-pension-an-inheritance-scheme/news-story/c0d17f613afdda0ef63b6152087e979e

ACCI, Grattan Institute: aged pension an ‘inheritance scheme’

Converting pension payments to retired homeowners into a loan would stop the aged pension becoming a 'taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme'.

The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/payce-buy-bulks-up-holding/news-story/463862e6a9e92b9d19cdca517e650389

Chinese developer Aqualand Australia has reaped $25m landbanking a site in western Sydney.

Demonstrating the health of western Sydney’s real estate market, Chinese developer Aqualand Australia has reaped as much as $25 million landbanking a major site in the area for a mere two years.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/labor-risks-pushing-push-mums-and-dads-into-riskier-investments-20160215-gmujny

Labor risks pushing mums and dads into riskier investments

Labor's crackdown on negatively geared rental homes and flats could push taxpayers into riskier investments with better tax benefits while adding little to housing supply, tax experts say.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.smartpropertyinvestment.com.au/news/15074-middle-ring-suburbs-focus-of-sydney-apartment-boom

Middle-ring suburbs focus of Sydney apartment boom

Increasing affordability pressures are continuing to drive the off-the-plan apartment boom in Sydney, with an increasing number of new approvals located outside of the inner city.

Smart Property Investment

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/9445-apra-eliminates-aggressive-lending-practices

APRA eliminates 'aggressive lending practices'

APRA chairman, Wayne Byres, has reaffirmed the prudential regulator’s stance on mortgage lending in a speech before the Senate Economics Legislation Committee in Canberra.

Mortgage Business

http://www.domain.com.au/news/celine-dion-drops-the-price-of-her-ostentatious-florida-mansion-20160215-gmu6ks/

Celine Dion drops the price of her ostentatious Florida mansion

After another price reduction, Celine Dion's Florida estate is now down $US26 million on the original price and is currently listed for $US45.5 million.

Domain

http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/chinese-buyers-reality-or-a-metropolitan-myth-20160211-gmravm.html

Asian buyers: Reality or a metropolitan myth?

The latest Foreign Investment Review Board figures and ABS data on Chinese investment in residential real estate show Chinese investment accounted for only 2% of transactions in the Australian residential market.

The Sydney Morning Herald