The Real Estate Conversation

These are Melbourne's top price growth suburbs

Amid the doom and gloom surrounding the Melbourne housing market, the city’s median sale price crept up last year, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV). These were the top growth suburbs.

Depreciation and off-the-plan properties

Investors who are looking to purchase a new property often look at buying off-the plan, says BMT Tax Depreciation.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Tightened lending rules see new home sales plunge

New home sales fell by 14.9 per cent in the final quarter of last year, dropping to their lowest level in seven years, according to the Housing Industry Association of Australia (HIA).

Featured Property

"Heaven on earth" in the Currumbin Valley hinterland

Get away from the rat race in this stunning hinterland retreat nestled in the Currumbin Valley. For sale by Mishy Canning of LJ Hooker Palm Beach.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne Collingwood

Sellers expected to wait until late February to begin auctioning properties

Australia's auction market has gotten off to a slow start this year.

New South Wales (NSW)

Politics

Renewed calls for stamp duty reform in the wake of REINSW figures

A report commissioned by the Real Estate Institute of NSW has revealed the top 50 suburbs where the most stamp duty is paid, prompting CEO Tim McKibbin to speak out against the the way the tax is calculated.

People

Get to know Scott McElroy

In his more than 25 years with hockingstuart, Scott McElroy has been deeply involved in the early days of Melbourne's push into large residential projects, and the adaptation of large industrial buildings for residential use.

Queensland (Qld)Gold Coast

Featured Property

Hamptons inspired excellence in Robina

Live the Hamptons lifestyle in this dreamy Robina abode. For sale by Renee Morgan of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/executive-management-shakeup-renews-lend-lease/news-story/c0026710cd8ac973fdef67fe40c2abd9?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20TheAustralianProperty%20%28The%20Australian%20%7C%20Property%29

"No good news" in latest housing finance figures

The number of home loan approvals fell by 0.9 per cent in November, and economists warn the weakness in the housing market is likely to be felt for some time.

Pages

News Roundup

Lend Lease has appointed Kylie Rampa to head its local property business

The diversified developer yesterday revealed several executive changes as the group focuses on large-scale urban renewal projects throughout Australia and key global locations.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/investors-feel-pinch-as-rents-start-to-contract/news-story/e00f347dcc4798ec5e17ac12b92513bf

Investors feel pinch as rents start to contract

Rents across Australia’s capital cities could begin to fall in the coming months after posting sluggish increases in the past year, CoreLogic RP Data has warned.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/bureaucracy-hands-sacked-auburn-councillor-ronney-oueik-30m/news-story/9a1ded608c4819d5a9969a8891ac6511

Bureaucracy hands sacked Auburn councillor Ronney Oueik $30m

Sacked Auburn councillor and NSW Liberal government candidate Ronney Oueik has walked away with a $30m property windfall and the public inquiry into the scandal-plagued Sydney council is powerless to stop it.

http://www.afr.com/business/apartment-buildings-with-no-car-parks-to-accelerate-says-global-expert-20160308-gndea2

Apartment buildings with no car parks to accelerate says global expert

John Campbell, the man who steered Toronto's $35 billion waterfront precinct overhaul for 13 years, says authorities around the world will need to factor in the diminishing need for car parks in multi-storey developments as the digital economy and a shift away from vehicle ownership takes hold.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.apimagazine.com.au/2016/03/nsw-strata-changes/

Strata managers – new options for NSW owners

NSW’s new strata laws will make significant changes to the appointment and role of strata managing agents, and although the commencement date of 1 July 2016 is likely to be postponed, investment property owners need to be getting ready for the changes.

Australian Property Investor

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/alexandria-site-nets-30m-after-owners-amalgamate-properties-20160308-gndj09

Alexandria site nets $30m after owners amalgamate properties

Seven owners have sold their office warehouses in Alexandria in Sydney's south in one amalgamated 5590-square-metre site for $30 million.

The Australian Financial Review

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/chinese-developers-plan-to-build-cities-abroad-from-scratch/news-story/a481b2248a9f8604102d6d04d7ae4730

Chinese developers plan to build cities abroad from scratch

Chinese property developers have become a familiar sight at construction sites in the world’s wealthiest and also least developed cities, from New York to Nairobi in Kenya.