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Construction to begin soon on Brisbane residential tower 443 Queen Street

The Brisbane apartment tower 443 Queen Street, which features subtropical design and units promoted as 'houses in the sky', will close its display office on 23 July, as the developers prepare for construction.

National

Politics

Rental contracts are being amended to restrict subletting tenants

There are good reasons for landlords to require written permission for tenants to sub-let their properties, says REIA president, Malcolm Gunning.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

On top of the world: 'Eagles Nest' Port Douglas has views from the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree

A 1,000sqm immaculate Port Douglas home is for sale with Callum Jones of The Pink Company Port Douglas for $4.25 million.

National

The Economy

2016 Census: what does it tell us about housing in Australia?

The data in the 2016 census confirms trends we already know about: the population is growing strongly, fewer people own their homes, more people are renting, and household size is shrinking.

National

The Economy

The best and worst suburbs to buy off the plan

Waterloo in NSW, inner-city Melbourne, and Fortitude Valley in Queensland are higher risk areas to buy off-the-plan apartments, according to new research from Risk Wise Property.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Construction

Tim Gurner to expand into offices

Tim Gurner, best known for residential property development, has revealed plans to develop a $90 million office tower.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Ornate Victorian home with sleek contemporary addition creates a timeless investment

An attractively renovated Brighton home in a quiet cul-de-sac is for sale through Justin Follett and Marcus Heron of Follett & Co for $2.45 million.

National

The Economy

When is the right time to refinance?

Bill Tsouvalas, CEO of Savvy Finance, says borrowers should wait until they have built up at least 20% equity in their home before refinancing.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Design

Danish architects 3XN to redesign Sydney Fish Market

Sydney Fish Markets will be redeisgned by Danish architects 3XN Architects, who are also designing Quay Quarter Tower.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

People

Get to know Vanessa Grant, sales partner with Toop&Toop

Vanessa Grant, sales partner with Toop&Toop, says "service is my mantra".

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