The Real Estate Conversation

Contact

Questions remain about non-conforming building products in Australia: HIA

Kristin Brookfield of the HIA spoke to SCHWARTZWILLIAMS about the continued availability of non-conforming building products in Australia, and what to do if you are concerned about them being used in your building.

Winter chill hits auction clearance rates

Auction clearance rates continue to soften, with CoreLogic's preliminary clearance rate coming in at 69.1% last week, and the final result for the previous week hitting 66.7%, the lowest rate for the year.

Queensland (Qld)Sunshine Coast

Featured Property

Every day's a holiday in this Noosa home inspired by Asian resort design

One of Chris Clout's perfectly crafted, high-luxury designs, this Noosa home is on the market for $3.85 million through Adrian Reed and Darren Neal of Dowling & Neylan Real Estate Noosaville.

International

People

Twenty-six-year-old Ned Allison is New Zealand's top auctioneer

Ned Allison from Harcourts Grenadier, Christchurch, is the winner of the 2017 REINZ National Real Estate Auctioneering Championships.

National

People

Get to know 'thought leader' Douglas Driscoll, CEO of Starr Partners

Douglas Driscoll, CEO and owner of boutique agency Starr Partners, says he is living the dream.

International

People

Take a peek at Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis's new Californian beach house

When the Hollywood sweethearts want to get away from it all - a six-bedroom beach house in Carpinteria, only a couple of hours from LA.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

A family haven only a stone's throw from Broadway

An industrial-style home in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Glebe is for sale through Duncan Gordon of Raine & Horne Newtown.

National

The Economy

Navigating the ever-changing oceans of development finance

When Dan Holden began compiling HoldenCAPITAL's Elite Property Developers Product Guide, the numbers showed how important non-bank lenders have become on the development finance scene.

Western Australia (WA)

The Economy

The most affordable suburbs in Western Australia's South West

The towns of Withers and Usher are "hidden gems" says REIWA councillor Joe White.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Politics

Vic government introduces new laws to protect Yarra River

New Victorian legislation identifies the Yarra River and the land it flows through as one living, integrated entity, the first time in Australia such a declaration has been made.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/gender-pay-gap-hits-record-high/2558853/

Real Estate gender pay gap $28.7%

New Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the national gender pay gap has risen to a record-high. The financial and insurance services industry had the highest gender pay gap (29.6%), followed by health care and social assistance (29.1%) and rental, hiring and real estate services (28.7%).

Sunshine Coast Daily

https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/26456300/real-estate-agent-strips-down-to-sell-homes/

Agent strips down to sell house

Bellarine property agent Levi Turner has switched his suit and tie for swimmers in a promotional video where he sprints shirtless from the Barwon River to the back deck of the house he is trying to market.

Yahoo

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8213-govt-warned-that-real-estate-reforms-could-prove-costly?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter27_02_2015&utm_medium=email

Fees for foreign buyers say 'we don't want you'

Simon Henry, the co-chief executive of Juwai, a listings portal for China-based real estate investors, has labelled the government's proposed fees for foreign buyers "basically a $200 million stamp duty for offshore buyers, and stamp duties discourage investment.” Henry said, “The proposals say to foreign buyers, 'We don’t want you and we won’t treat you fairly’."

Mortgage Business

http://www.afr.com/p/business/financial_services/apra_chief_wayne_byres_flags_financial_OqsPVFCOmY7cnhu6fwfj5M

Warning over loans to property investors

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has warned banks that they must be prudent when lending to property investors. APRA chairman Wayne Byres told a Senate committee on 25 February 2015 that default risk increases when interest rates are low and house prices are high.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/made-in-china-with-asbestos-mba-raises-alarms

Asbestos warning from Master Builders Australia

Master Builders Australia have released an alarming media release warning the Australian design and construction industry to be wary of imported Chinese building products “laced with asbestos”.

Architecture & Design

http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/2015/02/25/facts-defy-claims-qld-fear-mongers-foreign-ownership/

Asian investors do not own vast tracts of Australian farmland

Claims that Chinese investors own vast tracts of Australian farmland are not supported by official data.

The New Daily

http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/how-a-cricketer-became-a-real-estate-agent-mick-malones-interesting-story-256459

From The Ashes to real estate

How a cricketer became a real estate agent: Mick Malone’s interesting story.

Cricket Country

http://www.afr.com/p/national/home_building_grows_stall_record_3vODpyODoKbZwqelPYQd6O

Home building grows to record in 2014

New figures show that $54.4 billion worth of residential dwellings were built across Australia during 2014, compared with $49.3 billion in 2013. Dwelling commencements in the December 2014 quarter topped $14.3 billion, an increase of 12.3 per cent.

The Australian Financial Review