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National

The Economy

Deteriorating housing affordability driving a spike in home renovations

The decline in housing affordability is driving a surge in applications for renovation loans, says ME Bank.

Western Australia (WA)

Awards

reiwa.com Awards: celebrating WA real estate's finest

The best and brightest of Western Australia's real estate industry gathered last Saturday night for the 2017 reiwa.com Awards Ball.

Tasmania (Tas.)Hobart

Featured Property

Mesmerising designer residence on Tasmania's water’s edge

A stunning waterfront home, 50 Flinders Esplanade is both an architectural masterpiece and sumptuous, luxury home. For sale through Pam Corkhill of Knight Frank Hobart.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Markets

Paul Hogan syndicate to pay $21m for Brisbane's Queen's Arms Hotel

A new $100m hotel syndicate, headed up by Nick Politis and Peter Ashelford, is set to pay $21 million for Brisbane's Queen's Arms Hotel, along with former Crocodile Dundee star, Paul Hogan.

Trends

DocuSign helps REINSW move towards digital future

SCHWARTZWILLIAMS spoke to Brad Newton, DocuSign's vice-president Asia Pacific, about the advantages of the cloud-based system. He told us the technology came about because a tech entrepreneur wanted to spend more time with his real estate agent wife.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Architecture

Ninety of Brisbane's finest homes and buildings will be open to the public at Brisbane Open House

Brisbane Open House will be held on the weekend of 7 October, allowing the public access to 90 of the city's finest homes and buildings, and offering a range of events and speakers.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

Featured Property

Craigburn Farm: a masterpiece of attention to detail and design

This uncompromising home brings together the highest quality finishes throughout. For sale through Grant Wills of Toop & Toop Hyde Park Goodwood.

International National

The Economy

What do China's new capital controls mean for Australian real estate?

For Chinese investors that are already operating outside China, the impact may be negligible, says CBRE.

Victoria (Vic.)

Politics

Victoria's rushed long-term tenancy legislation unattractive for landlords: REIV

Long-term leases must be attractive for landlords if they are to be successful, says Gil King, CEO of the REIV.

National

The Economy

Chinese investors leave half their properties vacant: UBS

A UBS survey has found that nearly half of all real estate owned by Chinese investors is not fully used.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/sydney-rental-prices-stay-at-highestever-levels-in-first-quarter-20150416-1mloby

Sydney rental prices stay at highest-ever levels in first quarter

Sydney rental prices held at their highest-ever levels in the first quarter as soaring residential investment failed to dent the city's pent-up demand for housing. The median asking rent for a house in the NSW capital was a record $520 a week in the first quarter, unchanged from December and up from $500 a year ago, the latest Domain Group Rental Report shows.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-15/imf-lowers-growth-outlook-for-australia/6393426

International Monetary Fund lowers growth outlook for Australia

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted the damaging effect the iron ore slump is having on Australia, as the Treasurer seeks a discussion with the Chinese finance minister on the matter.

ABC News

http://architectureau.com/articles/inner-melbourne-suburbs-locked-up/?utm_source=ArchitectureAU&utm_campaign=33bf43f694-AAU_2015_04_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3604e2a4a-33bf43f694-40540417&mc_cid=33bf43f694&mc_eid=d865be39ad

Sixty square kilometres of inner Melbourne locked away from major development

Sixty square kilometres of inner suburban Melbourne have been locked away from significant development after the state government passed legislation containing a range of restrictions put forward by the City of Boroondara. Three storey limits have been applied to a large number of commercial precints within the area.

Architecture AU

https://www.jbaurban.com.au/article/11-takeaways-residential-developers-new-metro-strategy

11 takeaways for residential developers from the new Metro Strategy

It doesn’t matter if you are a CBD, brownfield or greenfield developer; with the Strategy targeting 664,000 new dwellings by 2031 (a 20% increase from the 2013 Draft Strategy target) there are opportunities in the Strategy for everyone, from the Northern Beaches to Picton.

JBA

http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/aussie-home-loans-chief-executive-james-symond-says-greater-oversight-of-banks-is-likely-20150414-1mks3f

Aussie Home Loans chief executive James Symond says greater oversight of banks is likely

New Aussie Home Loans chief executive James Symond believes banks are likely to face increased oversight from regulators in response to the boom-time conditions in parts of the housing market, despite a recent slowing in lending to investors.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/judge-calls-for-investors-to-be-protected-from-craig-gore/story-fn9656lz-1227304014568

Judge calls for investors to be protected from Craig Gore

A Federal Court judge has declared investors should be protected from fallen Gold Coast property developer Craig Gore, after finding he made a profit of $1.7 million from an overseas investment scheme through a web of companies that targeted people’s retirement funds.

The Australian

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/affordable-housing-shortage-drags-australia-down-social-rankings/6391350

Affordable housing shortage drags Australia down social rankings

Australia is the world's 10th most socially advanced nation but a lack of affordable housing is holding it back, a survey shows. However, while Australia scores well on personal rights - such as freedom of speech, freedom of movement and political rights - it is falling well behind in housing affordability.

ABC News

http://www.moneymanagement.com.au/news/smsf/asic-%E2%80%98working%E2%80%99-spruiking-agents

ASIC ‘working’ with spruiking agents

Some real estate agents and others simply don't understand that they need to hold and Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) to provide advice relating Self Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) investments, according to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Money Management