The Real Estate Conversation

Apartment oversupply pushes Sydney's vacancy rate to its highest level

Older properties are bearing the brunt of Sydney's high vacancy rates, as an apartment oversupply pushes the Harbour City firmly to a tenants market.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Spacious and light early Victorian with outdoor retreat

This South Yarra property blends original details with contemporary design across two dwellings. For sale by Jeremy Fox of RT Edgar Toorak, Jack Edgar of RT Edgar Toorak and Peter Kudelka and Michael Gibson of Kay & Burton South Yarra.

Buyers out in force, as auction clearance rate rises above 50 per cent

Buyers turned out in solid numbers, as the number of auctions scheduled across the capital cities surged above 2,000 for the first time this year.

Five interesting facts about your specialist quantity surveyor

Most first-time property investors soon discover that they need a tax depreciation schedule and require a quantity surveyor to supply one. But what is a quantity surveyor and how do they come up with your depreciation deductions? BMT Tax Depreciation breaks it down for you.

People

REIA reveals finalists for the 2019 National Awards for Excellence

The Real Estate Institute of Australia has announced the finalists of its 2019 National Awards for Excellence, which will be held by the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) in Perth this year.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Elegant Victorian residence in Scotch Hill

Captivating from first sight, this extensively renovated family home enjoys a versatile layout with multiple living and entertaining spaces. For sale by Nicole Gleeson and Scott Patterson of Kay & Burton South Yarra.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Design

10 beachfront properties with direct beach access

Australians are well renowned for their love of the beach. The ultimate dream is direct beach access, here are ten of Australia's beachfront properties with direct beach access featured on Luxury List.

Featured Property

Modern Mediterranean meets casual Australian

With stunning views over Whale Beach, this family home has been extensively renovated inside and out to enhance its natural beach vibes. For sale by Peter Robinson of LJ Hooker Palm Beach.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/why-sydney-is-different-20160331-gnva3z

"It will certainly impact property prices" says agent of Adelaide school zone shake-up

Agents say property prices are likely to fall in suburbs moved out of the zones for two of Adelaide's most sought-after schools.

Pages

News Roundup

Why Sydney is different

Sydney's apartment metrics are very different to those of Melbourne.

http://www.smartpropertyinvestment.com.au/news/15193-industry-member-speaks-out-about-spruiker-scams

Investors duped by hotspot claims

Australian property investors have been warned not to fall for get-rich-quick suburbs.

Smart Property Investment

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/buy-a-miami-condo-and-developers-will-throw-in-a-plane/news-story/2227b51d101839468a35545448739b5b

Buy a Miami condo and developers will throw in a plane

Developers have started cancelling projects, slashing prices and offering incentives such as private jet access to spur sales, an ominous echo of the housing crash that pounded South Florida especially hard.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/banks-the-canary-in-the-coal-mine-20160403-gnwztt

Banks the canary in the coal mine

Australian banks are heavily exposed to property assets. If the property bubble bursts, it will spell disaster for the banks.

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/welcome-to-the-future-middle-class-housing-projects

Welcome to the Future: Middle-Class Housing Projects

In many booming white-collar cities, such as Palo Alto, with its median property value of $2.5 million, even six-figure earners struggle to find affordable housing.

The New Yorker

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/steep-fall-in-new-home-sales-sounds-the-alarm/news-story/b37f29acac829385da8c084ff2e8b917

Steep fall in new home sales sounds the alarm

A steep fall in new home sales during February has put executives and economists on high alert that the property market is entering the first phases of a down cycle.

The Australian

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/mortgage-delinquencies-to-rise-but-will-remain-at-low-levels-20160331-gnv06x

Mortgage delinquencies to rise but remain at low levels

The number of home owners falling behind on their mortgage repayments is set to rise in 2016 but will still remain at low levels, Moody's says.

http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/owneroccupied-lending-picks-up-in-february-20160331-gnut6v

Owner-occupied lending picks up in February

Faster growth in bank lending to people buying a home to live in is helping to offset a slowdown in lending to property investors, new figures show.