The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

Get to know Barbara Wolveridge, director of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty - Tropical North Queensland

Barbara Wolveridge leads the Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty - Tropical North Queensland, striving to position North Queensland prestige real estate as a world-class consideration for those seeking the finest in luxury tropical living.

Tasmania (Tas.)

Featured Property

Italianate style in the heart of Launceston: Glenfruin

This iconic home combines original features with contemporary updates, capturing northerly views across the city and Tamar River. For sale by Mathew Chugg and Rodney Rawlings of Knight Frank Hobart.

National

The Economy

Auction activity down due to long weekend celebrations

Auction activity takes a back seat to Grand Finals and long weekend festivities, sending the preliminary combined capitals clearance rate below 50 per cent for the first time since December 2012.

New South Wales (NSW)

Politics

REINSW resigns from Real Estate Reference Group

The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales has formally resigned from the NSW government’s Real Estate Reference Group, through a letter from chief executive officer Tim McKibbin.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

People

Leading agent releases book full of real estate tips

Jacq Hackett of Place Coorparoo discusses her new book full of real estate tips.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

FIRB approved Sanctuary Cove waterfront estate

Be ready to sit at the bar taking in panoramic water views while sipping a cool beverage. For sale by John Manning of Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty - Sanctuary Cove.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Get to know Dion Markovics, sales executive at Raine & Horne Double Bay

Dion Markovics of Raine & Horne Double Bay sold his most lucrative property to date two years ago at the tender age of 23, for a whopping $11.5 million.

International

People

Creators of high end real estate marketing material expanding business

Goldeneye Media, creator of the marketing video for Australia’s most expensive home, Fairwater, is expanding into the United States.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Full house at REINSW Awards for Excellence with John Cunningham taking out top prize

The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales has announced the winners of its 21st annual Awards for Excellence at a packed out Gala Dinner at Sydney Town Hall.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

The Economy

$100 million sale of Fairwater, Australia’s most expensive home

Point Piper estate Fairwater, has been sold to tech billionaire and co-founder of software company Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes, by Ken Jacobs of Christie’s International Real Estate. Mr Cannon-Brookes will become neighbour of Scott Farquhar, business partner and co-founder of Atlassian, who bought Elaine last year for $71 million.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.domain.com.au/news/from-real-estate-to-rhinos-the-australian-rhino-project-to-house-six-rhinos-in-2016-20160108-gm1vv2/

A former NSW real estate agent has turned from finding homes for people to dedicating his life to finding them for rhinos.

In an audacious bid to help the endangered species survive, Ray Dearlove, who used to operate property agencies on the Central Coast, set up The Australian Rhino Project and is now planning his first airlift of six rhinos from South Africa to Australia early this year. Using the skills he learnt in six years of helping humans relocate as the director of McGrath Estate Agents and then the owner of three agencies for Laing + Simmons, Dearlove is negotiating new homes for the animals, which are in dire threat of extinction from poachers in their native Africa.

Domain

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/realestate/news/removing-capital-gains-concession-on-homes-worth-more-than-2-million-would-have-major-impact-on-sydney-homeowners/story-fni0cly6-1227704758931

Sydney families would fund most of $12bn budget boost

Sydney homeowners would foot most of the bill for the billions of dollars raised through proposed changes to the capital gains tax, critics say. A report released Monday by think-tank The Australia Institute said removing the capital gains tax exemption for homes worth more than $2 million would boost the budget by nearly $12 billion over the next four years.

The Daily Telegraph

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/on-the-eve-of-bicentenary-letters-reveal-architect-francis-greenways-visions-for-sydney-20160106-gm0bsy.html

On the eve of bicentenary, letters reveal architect Francis Greenway's visions for Sydney

In 1816, Francis Greenway was tasked with transforming the penal colony in Sydney into a town of significance. Two centuries later, there is renewed interest in his bold plans.

Sydney Morning Herald

https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/china-stock-swoon-could-boost-172014405.html

China stock swoon could boost US real estate

Chinese investors purchased $8.6 billion in U.S. commercial real estate assets in 2015, according to CBRE, a global real estate services and investment firm. That does not even include real estate development, in which Chinese are also investing in a very big way. China still ranks second behind Canada in this race, but it nearly quadrupled its play in just one year. As China's economy and stock market spiral, will that help or hurt U.S. real estate?

Yahoo7 News

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-10/dubai-real-estate-reality-check-felt-by-20-billion-developer

Dubai Real Estate Reality Check Felt by $20 Billion Developer

Dubai Holding’s new plan includes three malls to be built in stages instead of one big shopping center, allowing the project to grow gradually depending on demand and investment. The mantra, Parker says, is now on realistic projects that generate cash quickly instead of expensive buildings intended to burnish Dubai’s international image.

Bloomberg

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-10/consumer-affairs-victoria-cracks-down-on-property-under-quoting/7079094

Consumer Affairs Victoria cracks down on under-quoting by real estate agents

Consumer Affairs Victoria has carried out 200 snap inspections of real estate sellers across the state, investigating incidents where real estate agents had advertised properties for a price that was less than the vendor's reserve price, or well under the likely sale price.

ABC Online

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5b128f44-9dcb-11e5-b45d-4812f209f861.html#axzz3wsu6o6uO

Business schools build on real estate boom

As MBAs ‘flee banking’, programmes that focus on property are becoming more popular.

Financial Times

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/what-australian-renters-really-want-is-to-stay-switched-on-at-home/news-story/34fcc56c89e36940974cdb13b40c4ef8

What Australian renters really want

According to Optus’ Renter of the Future report out today, three out of ten renting households consider themselves as “choice renters” who are not buying into the great Australian property dream. And when it comes to choice renters, they are three times more likely to be tech savvy. The report, which was conducted by McCrindle Research shows that 2016 will see a new generation of tech-savvy renters who favour a lifestyle fuelled by freedom, flexibility and choice.

news.com.au