News Archive
27 November 2007
Housing shortage? You ain't seen nothing
IF there is not a housing affordability crisis in now, there certainly will be by 2010 when there will be a shortage of 150,000 homes, a leading economist has warned. ANZ senior economist Paul Braddick told an economics forum in Canberra today that buying a house had become much harder over the past 18 months and warned it was not going to get any better. "If we are not in a crisis no... read news item »
22 November 2007
Kirribilli House open for election
THE election has not even been called, but you can make a bid for Prime Minister John Howard's Kirribilli House right now. Clearly the PM has been taken for a ride - instead of his usual walk - with a scammer managing to list the sale of his iconic address on Fairfax's real estate website Domain shortly after 4pm this afternoon, promising a "price negotiable, just like your... read news item »
12 November 2007
All purpose earth friendly cleaning fluid recipe
Do you have spray bottles full of various cleaning chemical concoctions - a liquid for this, a potion for that? Here's a recipe contributed by a Green Living Tips reader for an all purpose environmentally friendly cleaning fluid that's very easy to make and costs well under a dollar a bottle! Thanks to Maureen R. for sharing this! Tip: While this is a tried and tested recipe m... read news item »
05 November 2007
Variable loans cost less
Research shows 83 pc of people on fixed rate loans worse off than variable loans Rate rise speculation often scares borrowers into fixing Official rates have been rising since 2002 TAKEN out a fixed rate home loan any time since 1990? Chances are your efforts to outmaneouvre the Reserve Bank's rate rises have cost you thousands of dollars in extra interest. According to ... read news item »
05 November 2007
PM poll rate escape
A new poll says only 12 per cent of voters will blame the Prime Minister if interest rates rise this week. The Galaxy poll, published in News Limited newspapers, also found while Labor retains an election winning lead over the government of 54 per cent to 46 per cent on a two party basis, 22 per cent of voters are yet to make up their minds. The figures also suggest 37 per cent of voters belie... read news item »
24 October 2007
Share Market Analysts
There is an analyst 'cheat sheet' doing the rounds on how to react to data and market releases in the current market: Weak data - Fed ease, stocks rally; Consensus data - lower volatility, stocks rally; Strong data - economy strengthening, stocks rally; Bank loses $4 billion - bad news out of the way, stocks rally; Oil spikes - great for energy companies, stocks rally; ... read news item »
22 October 2007
I'll debate Costello too, says Rudd
LABOR leader Kevin Rudd has challenged Prime Minister John Howard and his heir designate Treasurer Peter Costello to a "tag-team'' joint debate. Mr Howard repeated his promise during Sunday's debate to hand over the Liberal leadership to Mr Costello during the next term of government, if re-elected. "So with the debate last night, it's true, you should in reality have Mr Costell... read news item »
16 October 2007
Buying an investment property
The number of property renters in Australia is rising as homes become less affordable to buy. This is good news if you own an investment property because maintaining a good occupancy rate is crucial to your investment success. During the property boom of the 1990’s, investment properties were all about capital gains: properties often jumped in value whatever you bought. That&rs... read news item »
10 October 2007
House prices defy relentless interest rate rises
AUSTRALIANS love their patch of land and as money pours into the real-estate market, house prices are expected to keep on rising despite the relentless rise of interest rates. A survey by NEWS.com.au and polling firm Coredata has found most Australians, or 54 per cent per cent, believe property prices will rise over the next three months. Just one in six of the 1530 people surveyed in Septe... read news item »
04 October 2007
Residential market 'best for investment'
The residential market is set for resurgence even if interest rates rise, says the latest property investors survey. The Ashe Morgan Winthrop bi-annual report surveyed 846 small and large property investors on trends in the residential, office and industrial markets. Almost 73 per cent of property professionals said they expected growth in the residential market in the next six months, up 6.8 p... read news item »