The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

House prices in regional WA rise for second quarter in a row

Mining towns Karratha and Port Hedland recorded the highest rates of growth in regional Western Australia during the March quarter, as iron ore prices staged a recovery.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Dee Why home with panoramic views of the Pacific

A home in a world-class position and limitless views is for sale by James Smyth and Josephine Wolff of Smyth Estate Agents Freshwater.

International

The Economy

How did Donald Trump’s election victory affect buying Asian property?

The election of US President Donald Trump has created uncertainty in financial markets, affecting currency markets in our region, and influencing cross-border property transactions.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Design

Court dismisses appeal against Hadid-designed Brisbane towers

The Queensland Planning and Environment Court has dismissed an appeal against the approval of Zaha Hadid's three-tower complex at Toowong, with the judge saying its "exceedingly high-quality architectural expression" would make a positive contribution to the site.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

The Economy

Sydney rental market remains tight

Sydney's vacancy rate held steady in April at only 1.7 per cent, indicating there are supply constraints in the rental property market.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

An elegant Toorak home surrounded by serene gardens is on the market

An elegant family home in Toorak, Victoria, is for sale with Tim Derham and Jock Langley of Abercromby's Armadale.

National

The Economy

Investor borrowing moderating, even before latest tightening measures

Housing lending to property investors softened in March, says Malcolm Gunning, president of the REIA, even before regulators and banks tightened lending to investors and before budget initiatives aimed at property investment were announced.

National

People

Rich-list developer Tim Gurner enters smashed avo debate

Successful developer, Tim Gurner, told 60 Minutes that young Australians can't expect to spend $40 a day on smashed avo and coffees if they want to buy their own home.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

LJ Hooker Lower North Shore moves to Ray White

LJ Hooker Lower North Shore, one of the group's best performing offices, will join Ray White before the end of the financial year.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Gracious Bellevue Hill estate 'Bonnington' for sale

The elegant home 'Bonnington', built in 1935, is for sale through Michael Dunn and James Dunn of Richardson & Wrench.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/two-australian-property-groups-are-merging-to-create-a-massive-11-billion-real-estate-investment-trust-2015-2

$11 billion REIT

Two Australian property groups, Novion Property Group and Federation Centres, are merging to create Australia’s third-largest listed real estate investment trust. It would be one of the largest retail landlords in Australia.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.afr.com/p/construction_hiring_survey_builders_LBaXqSXw1UvEF4Op9HR1UL

More buildings and construction jobs

The latest Master Builders of Australia survey for the December 2014 quarter shows builders' hiring expectations rose in December to their highest level in seven years to pre-GFC levels. The construction industry is particularly benefiting from rising demand for housing in New South Wales, with an additional 65,400 jobs created in the state's building and construction sector in the 12 months to November 2014.

The Australian Financial Review

http://qz.com/337973/australias-inflated-housing-market-just-got-a-extra-burst-of-hot-air/

Oz housing market 'too hot'

Australia’s booming housing market is exhibiting some classic signs of a real estate bubble, says a Deakin University researcher.

Quartz

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8131-asic-targets-first-lender-in-mortgage-market-probe?utm_source=MB&utm_campaign=MBNewsflash03_02_2015&utm_medium=email

ASIC targets QLD lender

A Queensland-based lender, Wide Bay Australia Limited (Wide Bay), will improve its responsible lending practices following ASIC concerns with the way the group was assessing its customers’ suitability for home loans. The firm has been targeted as part of ASIC's wider focus on the lending industry’s compliance with responsible lending laws.

Mortgage Business

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8126-rba-losing-interest-in-house-prices-deloitte?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter03_02_2015&utm_medium=email

RBA not worried about housing, says Deloitte

In a business outlook note released yesterday, Deloitte Access Economics claimed that housing prices are becoming less of a concern for the Reserve Bank because of below-trend growth and larger forces at play in the global economy. The group is confident interest rates will remain on hold today.

Mortgage Business

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/property-powerhouses-sydney-and-melbourne-set-pace-on-price-rises/story-fniz9vg9-1227205558531

Sydney and Melbourne prices soar

The gap in Australia’s housing market widened in January with Melbourne and Sydney fuelling a 1.3 per cent rise in capital city prices while values fell in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/p/national/labor_pose_risk_to_real_estate_development_8t3S9vBUlRqSiWpZs1ZVnO

Property industry worried about Queensland

A Labor-led minority government in Queensland could spell trouble for property development in the state, warns Stephen Conry, CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle. “The lack of result and the potential for a minority government is disappointing,” said Conry. “Lack of clarity brings lack of business confidence.”

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/frank-gehrys-most-beautiful-squashed-brown-paper-bag-opens/story-e6frgcjx-1227205620191

Gehry's first Oz building opens

The first Australian building designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, a $180 million business school at the University of Technology, Sydney, was officially opened on Monday.

The Australian