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Featured Property

Historical early Queenslander on elevated Latrobe terrace, Paddington, Brisbane

Built in 1886, this magnificent Queenslander in an elevated position on prestigious Latrobe Terrace is one of Paddington's original homes. For sale by Alex Jordan, McGrath Paddington.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

Design

"Majestic" Semaphore water-tower home with 360-degree views for sale

Not only is Adelaide's Semaphore water tower steeped in history and a much-loved local icon, the building contains vast amounts of accommodation, large grounds, and offers the opportunity for an idyllic seaside lifestyle.

National

Design

Approvals for semi-detached housing at 20-year highs

In the year to August, over 15 per cent of new homes approved were semi-detached homes – the highest proportion in 20 years, according to Craig James, chief economist CommSec.

Design

Guide for Sydney Opera House conservation unveiled

The fourth edition of the Conservation Management Plan for The Sydney Opera House was unveiled last night, providing detailed guidance for future work on Sydney's most iconic building.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Featured Property

Nine-hundred-and-fifty square metres of Queensland resort lifestyle on Tristania Road, Chapel Hill

This spacious Brisbane home, set amidst manicured grounds, is architecturally designed and flawlessly built to provide 950sqm of luxury living. For sale by Alex Jordan and Reuben Packer-Hill of McGrath Paddington.

Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

The Economy

Hobart property market has "changed forever": Jim Playsted, Knight Frank

Hobart property prices were the fastest growing in the country in the year to 30 September, rising 14.3 per cent, according to CoreLogic.

Western Australia (WA)Perth

The Economy

Should you buy or rent? REIWA and Curtin Uni launch 'Buy-Rent Index'

The Buy-Rent Index can help to identify the annual house price growth rate required for home ownership to be more financially advantageous than renting.

National

Interiors

Australia's best rooms: House & Garden

The people's choice competition is open now with winners receiving a prize valued at $3,000.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

Featured Property

Glamorous 1915-built villa with return-verandahs, Royston Park, Adelaide

Sally Cameron of Toop & Toop Hyde Park Goodwood told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS, "This property is the ultimate for families and an entertainer's paradise."

National

The Economy

Mortgage stress climbing, affluent borrowers most at risk

More than one quarter of Australian households are experiencing mortgage stress, according to new research by Digital Finance Analytics.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/budget-2015/budget-2015-are-you-a-lost-liberal-then-this-ones-for-you/story-fntfa2d0-1227352659813

Are you a lost Liberal? Then this one’s for you

Working parents, tradies, small business people, self-funded retirees, landlords and farmers are all winners out of last night’s budget. Tax-dodging multi-nationals, backpackers and foreign investors are all slugged by the taxman.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/budget/federal-budget--2015-hockey-banks-on-a-spectacular-return-to-growth-20150512-ggvoai

Hockey banks on a spectacular return to growth

Joe Hockey's second budget is built on a risky forecast that Australia will roar through an unprecedented three decades of continuous economic growth, raising questions about why the government has opted to slow the pace of budget repair.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/federal-budget-2015-how-do-i-claim-this-20000-tax-break-20150512-1mzgpb.html

How do I claim this $20,000 tax break?

Businesses can buy any machinery or equipment related to their business if each item is valued at less than $20,000. You can claim the full amount from your income to reduce your tax bill. There is no limit on the number of items a business can claim.

Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.couriermail.com.au/realestate/news/live-like-steph-rice-in-her-own-home-for-just-over-1k-a-week/story-fnihpu6h-1227352154495?from=public_rss

Live like Steph Rice – in her own home – for just over $1K a week

Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has put her Brisbane home on the rental market, but has a very clear idea of who she does not want to live there – pets.

Courier Mail

http://www.inman.com/2015/05/12/should-real-estate-agents-drive-fancy-cars/

Should real estate agents drive fancy cars?

Real estate agents put in a lot of miles on the road, and the car they emerge from to shake hands with new prospects or use to ferry buyers from listing to listing may influence how they are perceived by potential clients.

Inman

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/real-estate-expert-andrew-winter-says-before-buying-or-selling-find-out-what-stage-of-the-cycle-your-market-is-at/story-fncq3era-1227350208366

Before buying or selling find out what stage of the cycle your market is at

So, whichever category your property market is in right now (booming, improving or I’ll call it dooming) we all need to be aware that the property cycle is a never-ending spinning wheel that believe it or not hits the top and bottom at the same time, just in different places.

The Daily Telegraph

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/mexican-billionaire-carlos-slim-80m-mansion-article-1.2211586

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim wants $80M for his massive Manhattan townhouse

Carlos Slim, formerly the world's richest man, wants $80 million for the Manhattan mansion, at at 1009 Fifth Ave., which he bought for just $44 million five years ago.

New York Daily News

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tpg-backed-dtz-to-acquire-cushman-wakefield-2015-05-11-04851145

$2 billion sale of Cushman & Wakefield

DTZ, a rapidly growing commercial-real-estate-services firm backed by private-equity giant TPG, has cut a deal to buy Cushman & Wakefield Inc. for $2 billion. The deal will alter the global commercial-real-estate-services landscape by creating a clear challenger to the two firms that have been dominating the business until now, CBRE Group Inc. and JLL. Numerous firms had been vying for the No. 3 spot but none have come close to CBRE with $9 billion in 2014 revenue and JLL with $5.4 billion.

MarketWatch