News Archive
12 August 2010
Negative Gearing Here to Stay
The federal government and the federal opposition party have ruled out the prospect of abolishing negative gearing.
At a debate held at the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday, both parties said they would not consider abolishing the investment strategy.
Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) president David Airey welcomed the government's unanimous stance.
"This is ... read news item »
11 August 2010
Rental Growth Flat for Houses, Solid for Apartments
After showing signs of growth recovery in the March quarter, national rental growth for houses remained largely flat over the June quarter, the latest report has shown.
According to Australian Property Monitors (APM), national house rents rose by only 0.7 per cent over the June quarter of 2010.
On the flipside, unit rents showed solid rental returns, national growth coming in at 3.5 pe... read news item »
29 April 2010
Rate rises hurt house price growth
House price growth is expected to slow in 2010 after exceptionally strong annual growth in 2009.
According to Australian Property Monitors’ March Quarterly House Price report, the 2010 annual rate of national house price growth should settle in the eight to 10 per cent range.
While national house prices managed to climb 3.1 per cent during the March quarter, the g... read news item »
27 April 2010
Govt backflips over foreign investment laws
The federal government’s decision to reinstate the foreign investment guidelines has been welcomed by Australia’s real estate industry body.
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) president David Airey yesterday said the government’s backflip on foreign investment guidelines was exactly what Australia needed.
Late last week, the government announced that foreig... read news item »
18 March 2010
Draft tenancy laws anger agents
Agents are concerned that if the state government passes the proposed NSW residential tenancy laws, investors could be deterred from entering the property market.
According to the Real Estate Business monthly straw poll, 83.9 per cent of real estate agents believe the proposed changes to the NSW residential tenancy laws will deter investors.
Of 180 respondents, only 11.1 per cent sai... read news item »
10 March 2010
Investors dominate property market
Property investors are dominating the mortgage market, new data from Australian Finance Group (AFG) has found.
According to AFG’s latest mortgage index, 34.1 per cent of all mortgages arranged nationally in February were for property investors – the highest percentage ever recorded by the company.
The amount of investor mortgages arranged was 25 per cent higher than the level of... read news item »
04 March 2010
Property activity surges, supply plummets
Real estate groups continue to report strong sales month on month, in a sign that the property market is on track for another solid year.
Australia’s largest property group, Ray White, announced yesterday that it had recorded its best ever residential sales in results in Victoria last month.
According to the real estate group, statewide sales figures for February totalled in excess of... read news item »
19 February 2010
Strong Australian dollar hits super returns in January
SUPER funds retreated last month under pressure from a strong Australian dollar that hit overseas earnings, while local equities and listed property markets pulled back from a strong finish to last year.
Median growth funds retreated 2.2 per cent in the month, while median balanced funds went backwards 1.2 per cent, according to figures from research house Chant West, The Australian ... read news item »
18 February 2010
First-home buyers set record
FIRST-HOME buyers leapt to the highest level on record during last year, with 191,000 Australians taking their first step on the property ladder.
Last year saw almost 70,000 more first-home buyers pile into the market than in 2008, a 55 per cent leap, according to property research firm RP Data.
The jump is directly linked to the government doubling the first-home buyers grant to $14,... read news item »
18 February 2010
Want a 100pc mortgage? Not likely
INQUIRIES for 100 per cent home loans have surged 250 per cent since the Federal Government's more generous first home owners grant ceased at the end of last year.
But mortgage broker Loan Market says these potential borrowers are likely be unsuccessful and will need to show they can save for a deposit.
Loan Market chief operating officer Dean Rushton says there is still a huge amount... read news item »