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Featured Property

Multiple-award-winning South Fremantle apartments with sustainable features and industrial finishes

Two apartments in the multiple-award-winning development, 19 Douro Road, South Fremantle, are for sale with Christine Majeks of dethridgeGROVES.

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

The Economy

Vaucluse vendor makes over $1 million in 13 months

Limited stock in Sydney's eastern suburbs means prices are still rising rapidly, says James Nixon of Belle Property Double Bay.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

People

Melbourne's Art Deco 'Cyclone House' sold for $6.71 million

'Cyclone House' on Melbourne's Hardware Lane went to auction last week with Allard Shelton's Joseph Walton.

International

Design

Cape Town's bold adaptation of historic silos for museum of African art

The Zeitz MOCAA, designed by Heatherwick Studio, is an astonishing piece of readaptive architecture: a nine-storey museum hewn from disused grain silos.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Featured Property

Paradise Waters landmark, Surfers Paradise

The landmark Gold Coast residence is positioned right on the point in Paradise Waters, close to the Broadwater, and with direct ocean access. For sale by Russell Rollington and Bob Rollington of First National Real Estate Surfers Paradise and Sam Guo and Julia Kuo of Ray White Broadbeach.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Menulog founder wins approval to build French chateau on Australia's most expensive parcel of land

The founder of Menulog, Leon Kamenev, has received council approval to build a two-storey mansion on the $80 million harbourfront block of land he bought on Coolong Road, Vaucluse.

National

People

Get to know Amy-lee Hay, finalist in the 2017 Schools Auctioneering Championship

Still at school and holding down three jobs, Amy-lee Hay still found the time to compete in the Schools Auctioneering Championships. She told SCHWARTZWILLIAMS she hopes to own her own real estate agency one day.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

People

Next tranche of Millers Point public housing goes to market with McGrath

The state government's public housing sell-off in Millers Point has raised more than $420 million to build new public housing around the state.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

'Tresco': 1868 waterfront estate on Sydney harbour in Elizabeth Bay

Park-like grounds on one of Elizabeth Bay's largest landholdings. For sale by Ken Jacobs and Darren Curtis of Ken Jacobs Christie's International Real Estate Double Bay and Brad Pillinger of Pillinger Real Estate Double Bay.

International

People

Build your own resort on this pristine beachfront for sale in Gili Air, Indonesia

Enjoy the sand, sunsets and snorkelling from this land for sale in Gili Air, just off Lombok, by Eugene Shivnan from Exotiq Property Bali.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/commercial/global-appetite-rising-for-australian-penthouses-after-25m-sale-20150408-1mgrvu

Global appetite rising for Australian penthouses

Australia's reputation as a global luxury property destination has been enhanced after an ultra-wealthy China-based businessman paid a record $25 million for a 750-square-metre Melbourne penthouse on the very top of Australia 108 – the Southern Hemisphere's tallest tower, being developed by Singapore's Aspial corporation.

The Australian Financial Review

http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/04/07/placester-raises-15-million-to-polish-real-estate-agents-web-presence/

Startup enables agents to get their own digital platforms

Boston-based Placester Inc. has developed a marketing-automation platform that gives real-estate agents and brokers tools to build websites and mobile sites for $10 per month. The company’s service also helps the agents promote their properties through online advertising.The company has now raised $15 million Series B round to double its head count and roll out new products.

The Wall Street Journal

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/blueprintforliving/the-end-of-the-mcmansion/6359438

Tiny houses spell the end of the McMansion

After all these years, the Australian love affair with the McMansion is finally having a midlife crisis. Let's just say one of us does not need space. Our houses are finally getting smaller.

ABC Radio National

http://www.afr.com/markets/commodities/rba-surprises-markets-again-by-holding-rates-20150407-1mg3sg

RBA surprises markets again by holding rates

The Reserve Bank of Australia held back from a widely expected cut in official interest rates, caught between falling prices for Australia's main commodity exports and surging property prices.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-a-chinese-officials-idea-to-support-the-property-sector-is-good-news-for-australias-iron-ore-miners-2015-4

Why a Chinese official's idea to support the property sector could be good news for Australia's iron ore miners

The Chinese economy is slowing. With the 7% official growth target for 2015 already looking shaky, policymakers in Beijing are worried enough to reverse many of the structural barriers erected in recent years to slow rampant property speculation. Last week we saw the release of new rules making it easier for investors to buy a second and subsequent home.

Business Insider Australia

http://www.mortgagebusiness.com.au/breaking-news/8343-tumbling-rates-fuel-refi-boom?utm_source=Mortgage%20Business&utm_campaign=Mortgage_Business_Newsletter08_04_2015&utm_medium=email

Tumbling rates fuel refi boom

Falling interest rates are driving demand for refinancing as borrowers consider whether they are paying too much for their mortgage.

Mortgage Business

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/china-investment-may-cool-off/story-fn9656lz-1227293403522

China investment may cool off

The rapid pace of Chinese investment in Australian residential property may begin to slow as the deregulation of China’s mortgage market tempts mainland investors to bring their money home. BIS Shrapnel managing director Robert Mellor said Chinese investors would have less of an appetite to invest overseas because it has recently become easier to do in their home market.

The Australian

http://www.yourmortgage.com.au/article/aussies-increasingly-choose-variable-rates-198878.aspx

Aussies increasingly choose variable rates

Aussies remain optimistic that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will continue its cash rate cuts, figures from Mortgage Choice claim. Consequently, more borrowers are now opting for variable rates - as opposed to fixed - as they expect even lower rates from the RBA at some point this year.

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