The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

Industry leader Michael Conolly returns to McGrath at "exciting time"

Michael Conolly has praised founder John McGrath's "determination and focus", saying it's an "exciting time" in the company's history.

National

People

Prominent Queensland agent Sherrie Storor takes Women in Real Estate event national

Well known agent and coach Sherrie Storor will add events in Melbourne and Sydney to her Women in Real Estate Business Breakfast series.

Tasmania (Tas.)

Featured Property

Historic homestead 'Leintwardine' on the market for the first time since 1867

Agent Jim Playsted of Knight Frank Hobart told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS, "The property is a slice of a bygone era in the lives of rich and famous pastoralists."

Western Australia (WA)

Agents

Gidgegannup secret garden the "jewel in the crown"

A "magical" series of hidden lakes, with expansive European and American-style gardens, is for sale through Ross Webster of Brookwood Realty Midlands.

Queensland (Qld)Sunshine Coast

The Economy

Noosa beachfront mansion sells for record $22 million

A beachfront trophy home has sold for a Sunshine Coast record of $22 million through agent Nic Hunter of Tom Offermann Real Estate.

People

Get to know Nicholas Bandounas, architect with Warren and Mahoney

Nicholas Bandounas has degrees in both architecture and engineering, giving him a unique perspective on good building design.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

East Melbourne's “residence in the sky”

Due for completion in the second quarter of 2018, this apartment represents a scarce opportunity within a new Melbourne landmark, for sale through Sam Nathan and Brett Jarvis of NPM.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Sydney buyers "empowered" as cycle turns: Glenn Curran, McGrath

Sydney's auction numbers outperformed Melbourne's last week, a trend the market hasn't observed for some time, says CoreLogic.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Owners

Melbourne's Stonington mansion sells for record $52.5 million

Toorak's Stonington mansion has set a new record for the most expensive home in Melbourne.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Politics

Convict-era bridge uncovered in upgrade of major Brisbane road

Workers on Brisbane's Kingsford Smith Drive have made the "surprise discovery" of a convict-era bridge, and work is now underway to determine how best to preserve the important historic relic.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/realestate/chinese-investors-eyeing-australian-cattle-and-dairy-farms/story-fnjdgobq-1227468665821

Chinese chasing life on the farm

Chinese buyers are looking to snap up Australian farms as they search for reliable new food sources. Chinese money is flowing into Australia, a trend likely to grow even stronger with the signing of a free-trade agreement last month.

Gold Coast Bulletin

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/women-in-architecture-the-focus-of-new-television

Women in architecture the focus of new television series

Sacred Spaces, a highly regarded weekly architecture program hosted by Victoria’s Channel 31, will turn its focus to women in Australian architecture for the upcoming series.

Architecture & Design

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/workers-wealth-in-negative-gearing/story-fn59niix-1227465568833

Workers' wealth in negative gearing

Middle Australia has embraced property investment so eagerly that average workers are using real estate tax breaks more widely than ever, escalating the political risks for Labor as it considers a crackdown on concessions worth $8 billion a year.

The Australian

https://sourceable.net/leadership-change-at-the-australian-institute-of-architects/#

Leadership Change at the Australian Institute of Architects

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced that after careful consideration, David Parken has concluded that it is time for a leadership change in the CEO role at the Institute.

Sourceable

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/sydney-house-prices-jump-at-23pc-pace-in-2015-20150724-gik5xo

Sydney house prices jump at 23pc pace in 2015

One of the most impressive new housing analyses is a fundamentals-based valuation model produced by Craig Shepherd, an economist with the $10 billion fund manager JCP.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.yourinvestmentpropertymag.com.au/news/economic-upheaval-could-stop-flow-of-chinese-money-to-australia-203406.aspx

Economic upheaval could stop flow of Chinese money to Australia

Foreign investors could soon be having less of an impact on the Australian property market as a result of the on-going share market turmoil in China. According to the director of a property group who market Australian properties to Chinese buyers, the recent stock market troubles could the flow of Chinese money to Australia dry up.

Your Investment Property Magazine

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-03/home-prices-melbourne-and-sydney-lead-gains/6667236

Home prices surge, Melbourne and Sydney lead gains again

Melbourne home prices have surged over the past month, pushing it ahead of Sydney for growth over the last quarter. Australia's second-largest capital registered 4.9 per cent home price growth in July, bringing it up to a 6.1 per cent jump over the three months to July 31, according to CoreLogic RP Data's Home Value Index.

ABC Online

http://www.afr.com/personal-finance/superannuation-and-smsfs/westpacs-wealth-chief-brad-cooper-says-cut-superannuation-tax-breaks-for-rich-20150730-ginkpe

Westpac wealth chief takes aim at super perks for rich

The head of Westpac Banking Corp's wealth business will call for retirees to start paying income tax on annual superannuation earnings of more than $150,000.

The Australian Financial Review