News Archive
16 November 2009
Reality cheque
First-home buyers have been given a wake-up call with new restrictions on the government grant.
A first-home buyer's grant cheque – or a reality check?
The move to cap the first-home buyer grant for homes worth up to $750,000 in NSW from next year has been welcomed by many experts, arguing that first-timers who need a grant when they're buying houses for that much really have no... read news item »
15 November 2009
Unassuming building the most expensive 100sqm property in Australia
PEOPLE getting on and off the ferry at Cremorne Point don't look twice at this unassuming building, so small it could be an an old toilet block.
But it's the most expensive 100sqm property in the country, with uninterrupted views from one end of Sydney Harbour to the other.
Three years ago, John Gilmour transformed the old tram shed into a two-bedroom house with floor-to-ceiling mir... read news item »
10 November 2009
Whip the backyard into shape
Lavish a little love on your outdoor area now for the perfect relaxation space in summer, writes David Adams.
Summer is looming and the outdoors beckons. But before you can laze away the sweltering days in your backyard oasis, a little preparation is in order. We spoke to the experts to find out what you need to be doing now.
■Put on a coat.
Oiling decks and cleaning paving are... read news item »
03 November 2009
Reserve Bank Interest Rate Announcement
Australians have been hit with the expected 0.25% interest rate rise today, following the Reserve Bank Board's Melbourne Cup meeting.
Economists have been widely predicting the rate hikes, with some anticipating more hikes at the December and February meetings.
"Australian house prices are showing strength, especially in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin, but September figures have shown... read news item »
31 October 2009
Farewell to McMansions
The abodes of tomorrow will be pared back but it may be the owners who really change, writes Kate Robertson.
AS the designers of buildings that may last generations, architects have a vital role to play in creating a sustainable world.
The Age asked three experts to look into their crystal ball to predict what form houses are likely to take in the future and discovered owners might cha... read news item »
29 October 2009
Home prices rise as owners upgrade
Home prices rose across Australia in the three months to September, as investors upgraded to more expensive properties.
The adjusted median price on houses in capital cities rose 3.7 per cent in the September quarter, while prices for units jumped 3.4 per cent, according to Australian Property Monitors.
"The extraordinary recovery at the upper end of the market experienced in June i... read news item »
29 October 2009
House prices surge but there are still property bargains
Despite Australian house prices growing at their fastest pace since 2003, rising 3.7 per cent in the three months to September, there is still a chance for a property bargain.
According to a list of the country's 100 hottest suburbs in Australian Property Investor magazine , the best value suburb is Clarence City in Hobart.
Interested investors can buy an average house here for as littl... read news item »
26 October 2009
The Next Boom
Numbers alone do not drive housing markets but the high levels of migrant intake will be responsible for Sydney's next boom.
Migrants have historically been high housing achievers in Sydney, underpinning both our home-ownership rate and the prices paid for houses.
It's reflected in the higher mortgage payments for recent migrants.
If you're looking for a specific date on when we ca... read news item »
26 October 2009
Millionaire's club grows ...
Bob Carr had just been re-elected as NSW premier, James Packer and Jodie Meares were about to tie the knot and Sydneysiders were cleaning up after a hailstorm shattered thousands of roofs – and BMWs – across the eastern suburbs.
The past, they say, is a foreign country and from today's perspective, the Sydney of 1999 can seem at once terrifyingly familiar, oddly optimistic an... read news item »
15 October 2009
Mosman Festival is 10 days of fun
The Mosman Festival has a diverse range of cultural events from October 23 to November 1.
FAIR DAY - Sunday, October 25
The Mosman Festival Fair Day is the major outdoor events day of the Festival. There are activities for the whole family. Come along and enjoy a great day out.
Fair Day will take place at Allan Border Oval, The Crescent, Mosman Square, the Village Green and Balmoral. ... read news item »