The Real Estate Conversation

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Rental contracts are being amended to restrict subletting tenants

There are good reasons for landlords to require written permission for tenants to sub-let their properties, says REIA president, Malcolm Gunning.

Queensland (Qld)

Featured Property

On top of the world: 'Eagles Nest' Port Douglas has views from the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree

A 1,000sqm immaculate Port Douglas home is for sale with Callum Jones of The Pink Company Port Douglas for $4.25 million.

National

The Economy

2016 Census: what does it tell us about housing in Australia?

The data in the 2016 census confirms trends we already know about: the population is growing strongly, fewer people own their homes, more people are renting, and household size is shrinking.

National

The Economy

The best and worst suburbs to buy off the plan

Waterloo in NSW, inner-city Melbourne, and Fortitude Valley in Queensland are higher risk areas to buy off-the-plan apartments, according to new research from Risk Wise Property.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Construction

Tim Gurner to expand into offices

Tim Gurner, best known for residential property development, has revealed plans to develop a $90 million office tower.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

Ornate Victorian home with sleek contemporary addition creates a timeless investment

An attractively renovated Brighton home in a quiet cul-de-sac is for sale through Justin Follett and Marcus Heron of Follett & Co for $2.45 million.

National

The Economy

When is the right time to refinance?

Bill Tsouvalas, CEO of Savvy Finance, says borrowers should wait until they have built up at least 20% equity in their home before refinancing.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Design

Danish architects 3XN to redesign Sydney Fish Market

Sydney Fish Markets will be redeisgned by Danish architects 3XN Architects, who are also designing Quay Quarter Tower.

South Australia (SA)Adelaide

People

Get to know Vanessa Grant, sales partner with Toop&Toop

Vanessa Grant, sales partner with Toop&Toop, says "service is my mantra".

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Join the Palm Beach A-list in a home with self-contained apartment

A newly built home in Sydney's Palm Beach with ocean views and within an easy stroll of the beach is for sale for $5.5 million through David Edwards of LJ Hooker Palm Beach.

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