Grab a slice of city life

Posted on 2012-02-06

IT sounds like an investment for a high-flying VIP, but an inner-city crash pad is a reality for a growing number of busy professionals. For contract workers, out-of-towners or those who just dont appreciate a long commute, the city pied-a-terre can An IT manager, has been working in contract roles in Sydney for a number of years and has recently taken up a full-time role with the University of Sydney. Although he calls Lake Macquarie home, where he brought up his children and the permanent home of his wife, he has been renting a Potts Point unit for four years. Read More

Is it time to fix?

Posted on 2012-02-03

The gap between variable and fixed interest rates has just passed a historic peak. Is it time to fix? An interesting fact in the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Housing Finance data was the continued trend towards fixed rate loans. The data showed that over the month of November 11.1% of borrowers opted for a fixed rate mortgage; that’s the highest percentage of fixed rate commitments since June 2008. It’s interesting in the sense that rate cuts were widely anticipated prior to the first actual cut in November; in fact speculation that interest rates could potentially fall started as early as July 15 when Read More

Recovery and growth tipped for retail, housing

Posted on 2012-02-02

TWO further interest rate cuts over the coming months will be enough to kick start the struggling retail and housing sectors, according to HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham. The former Reserve Bank economist says the Australian economy is in a strong position, with the mining boom set to drive around 60 per cent of GDP growth this year. Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens is widely tipped to lower rates to 4 per cent on Tuesday, with a further 25-basis point cut to follow around mid-year. Releasing HSBC\'s latest report on the Australian economy, Mr Bloxham said betting on futures markets - which suggest that rates will drop as low as 3.25 per cent this year - was off target. Read More

Australian Bureau of Statistics Says

Posted on 2012-02-01

RENTS on residential property may be rising at a rate above inflation according to figures released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. However, the run of good returns could be over for investors in Melbourne and Canberra, where rents are forecast to fall this year and beyond. \"Slowing of rental growth is likely to occur in Melbourne and Canberra, as apartment project completions start to increase from the latter months of the year and into 2013. Read More

Look to the west for first signs of a price recovery

Posted on 2012-01-31

And so another new property season is about to begin. The February auctions will be here in no time. There\'s already a new wave of open-for-inspections under way, with eager, shiny-shoed agents spinning their lines, promising you eternal happiness if you buy their vendor\'s house - at the right price. And of course, everyone will provide an opinion on what is going to happen with the market. Read More

Small business sales beat expectations

Posted on 2012-01-30

SALES by small businesses over the all-important Christmas period were better than expected in year-on-year terms, but calendar 2011 figures were less impressive amid subdued market conditions. According to ANZ Banking Group\'s monthly Small Business Sales Trends, report released on Thursday, sales increased by 3.3 per cent in December 2011, compared to the same month in 2010. It was the eighth consecutive month of higher year-on-year sales by small businesses, driven by growth in the mining states as well as non-retail and services sectors, the report said. Read More

A NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND A NEW LOCATION!

Posted on 2012-01-10

Over the Christmas/New Year break we have relocated our head office to the hub of Leichhardt\'s retail precinct, an area known in Sydney as \'Little Italy\'. Visitors and locals alike enjoy the piazza environment, a lazy walk around the traditional stores, a coffee from some of Sydneys finest baristas, shop at the boutique designer outlets or experience some of the finer culinary delights that Leichhardt has always been known to provide. Read More

Looking Back on 2011 Year in Property

Posted on 2011-12-20

If you are considering buying or selling any kind of property in Sydney, New South Wales, or even if you are only trying to get the hang of how real estate market is tracking, you should be consulting professional companies that can deliver accurate and valuable information. For example, the market in Sydney is anticipated to grow with up to twenty-one percent due to the incentives offered by the government to the investors and homeowners willing to enter the market, but there is a lack of interest in infrastructure. Professional advisors, such as Gerard Cole Property Consultants, can offer clear overview of the market, explain its ins and outs and, on top of it all, they will be able to provide you great offers and properties, like 323 Darling Street, Balmain NSW 2041 or 8-16 Moore Street Leichhardt NSW 2040 Read More

Technology gives Gen Y a financial edge

Posted on 2011-12-14

GENERATION Y is far more financially savvy than you might think, according to a new survey. A survey of 2300 Australians showed 64 per cent of people aged between 18 and 29 had drawn up a personal budget, compared to 59 per cent of generation X and 60 per cent of baby boomers. The survey, carried out by online savings bank RaboDirect, also found Gen Y had a higher proportion of their savings in high interest savings accounts than other age groups. Read More

New asbestos legislation from January

Posted on 2011-12-13

Australian Property News New asbestos legislation from January. Fines of up to $60,000 could be dished out from January 2012 for workplaces, including unit buildings, not complying with new Federal Government law changes on asbestos, according to Archers Body Corporate Management director Andrew Staehr. The new law will require all buildings built prior to December 1, 2003 to be inspected for asbestos-containing material (ACM) and recorded on the asbestos register. If ACM is discovered then a management plan needs to be set up so that residents or workers in the building can identify where the ACM is and how to treat it. Read More

Sydney Olympic Park a commercial real estate boomtown

Posted on 2011-12-12

ONCE tipped to become a great white elephant, Sydney Olympic Park has transformed into a commercial real estate boomtown 11 years on from the 2000 Games. While empty offices gather dust in the rest of the city, Olympic Park is hot property. Sydney Olympic Park appears to be holding the torch for the otherwise sluggish commercial market after the latest Sydney metropolitan office report showed the area had the tightest vacancy rate of all Sydney markets, at just 0.7 per cent. The area, which officially became a suburb in 2009, has approximately 100,000sq m of net lettable office space, with more ear-marked in the 2030 master plan. The 130 businesses on site employ 12,000 people, not including temporary staff brought in for the 5000-plus events which attract about 10 million visitors a year. Read More

Tips when buying a property

Posted on 2011-12-06

Step 1 - Do your research Step 2 - How much can you afford? Step 3 - Find a lender Step 4 - The buying process Owning property has always been the great Australian dream, and the right planning can help to turn that dream into reality. Step 1 - Do your research Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced homebuyer, you need to ask yourself why you want to buy. Will you want to live in it or are you buying it as an investment to rent it out and pay it off? Do you want a house or apartment, large or small, townhouse or land to build? Whatever your answer, the more real estate market research you do, the more likely you are to effectively define your goals and understand what\'s affordable. Read More

Propertys Bright Spot

Posted on 2011-12-06

People with savings, rather than credit. China’s appetite gets far more insatiable for Australia.We may be in the thick of a subdued atmosphere of caution and uncertainty, but there’s something to be said for Dr Megan Walters’ unabashed enthusiasm – not just for property, but particularly the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, the head of research, Asia Pacific capital markets for Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), hovers around the word ‘cautiously’ when discussing her ultimately optimistic outlook. The next 12 months are likely to be uncomfortable, she concedes – but she refers to the Asia Pacific as the “bright spot” in the global property universe. Within the region, people are “cautiously optimistic about the global growth prospects”, she says, but in its favour are the dynamics of its population. “At the end of the day, growth in Asia Pacific is fundamentally driven by people with savings, rather than credit,” says Walters. All of the basic human functions generate economic growth, she points out. “It’s sustainable levels of growth as opposed to what you might describe as credit-driven levels of growth that we saw, really, throughout all advanced economies in the boom from 2004 to 2007. It’s not to pick on any particular country; we were all caught up in it.” Read More

For some, lifestyle is the most precious

Posted on 2011-12-02

Been thinking a lot about how people feel with all the confusion around the economy, the sharemarket, house prices and interest rates. While economists look at stats and charts, my most trusted information comes directly from the people in the suburbs and working every day to support their families the best way they know how. So I got on to Twitter to ask my followers where they\'d prefer to invest their money in this current economic climate. Read More

New green homes could save you $300,000

Posted on 2011-12-01

Carbon-neutral houses could save owners $300,000, if a minimum of 7.5-star rating is achieved says study. Investing in new green housing could save people hundreds of thousands of dollars over a 25-year mortgage, according to a study backed by a state government agency. Read More

Worst nearly over for Sydney property prices

Posted on 2011-12-01

RELIEF is in sight for Sydney\'s bruised property market, where the average family home has fallen in value by 1.4 per cent over the past year. Western Sydney homes are leading the recovery, according to latest hotspot reports that identified nine of the top 10 boom towns as being more than 30km west of the CBD. An RP Data Rismark report yesterday found Sydney\'s home prices fell 1.4 per cent in 12 months, while a separate Residex report predicted values would rise a boom 5 per cent a year over eight years. Read More

How to access more equity faster

Posted on 2011-11-29

There are plenty of bargains around in the current market and for some investors that could well mean finding a property well below its true value. So once you’ve found your cheap investment and finally gotten used to another mortgage, you might want to start thinking about investment number two, or tapping into equity from another property. The trouble is, the current financial situation around the globe means banks have tightened their lending and may be reluctant to lend you more money in a short space of time. However, Your Property Success director Jane Slack-Smith says those hoping to tap into more equity using either their home or an investment can use a few handy tricks to pull equity together, especially if you hope to borrow more money within just six months. Read More

Small business sales up 2.8 per cent in October

Posted on 2011-11-28

SALES by small businesses increased by 2.8 per cent in October compared to the same time last year, a survey shows. It was the sixth consecutive month of positive annual growth in sales for Australian small businesses, The ANZ Small Business Sales Trends report said. But conditions in the retail sector remain challenging, with services and trades outperforming retail stores. Read More

Shave a tonne off your mortgage

Posted on 2011-11-26

With the Reserve Bank serving up a rate cut, it\'s a smart move to keep your repayments at the same level. Many lenders don\'t automatically reduce your repayments when rates fall. That doesn\'t mean, of course, that you\'re not getting a cut in interest rates – just that your weekly or fortnightly (or monthly, but don\'t pay monthly, it will cost you more in the long run, as explained below) repayments stay the same. Read More

Several rate cuts needed to dig non-mining out of its hole, says Ed Shann

Posted on 2011-11-25

THE Reserve Bank should cut rates further just on domestic grounds. Europe\'s problems will just increase the size of the rate cuts next year. The Australian non-mining sectors are hardly growing. Rising unemployment in Victoria and NSW should keep wages and inflation subdued. Read More

Innovation culture for small businesses

Posted on 2011-11-24

Innovation is a way of being. It is the application of creative thinking in all aspects of a business. Innovation is a popular buzzword these days in business. An innovative business means an agile business, one that can continually stay on or ahead of the wavefront of change. Ultim Read More

Monetary policy dissected

Posted on 2011-11-23

Have you ever wondered what goes on in setting interest rate policy in this country? And why there is so much attention focused on the Reserve Bank each Tuesday at 2:30pm? Let me explain. Firstly, there are typically two levers that can be used by governments to stimulate or dampen economic activity; they are fiscal policy and monetary policy. Fiscal policy is all about how much stimulus a government provides to an economy through its spending initiatives, which are designed to promote employment, output and consumer Read More

Start investing

Posted on 2011-11-13

Beginner\'s guide to investing Step 1 - Understand the need to invest Step 2 - Look at where you can make money Step 3 - The power of time Step 4 - Develop your risk appetite Step 5 - Take the first step Step 1 - Understand the need to invest PUTTING money in the bank is lending out your money for a fixed return. It’s safe but you only get your money back – and inflation undermines the purchasing power. So you need money to grow to keep up – that’s investing, putting your money to work. Read More

Learn the golden rules for buyers

Posted on 2011-11-05

Consider these tips when looking for property in a depressed market. Purchasing an investment property when the market is down can be extremely profitable. But you still have to make sure you\'re getting a good deal in a buyers\' market - and wise investors won\'t be so blinded by the chance of a \'\'bargain\'\' that they ignore their long-term strategy - which all means it isn\'t as simple as it might look. Read More

Business research grants up for grabs

Posted on 2011-11-04

Commercial Real Estate News Sydney. RESEARCH grants to support many small and medium businesses have been unveiled by the Federal Government. More than $310 million in funding for more than 1000 national research projects have been announced. The funding under the Australian Research Council, will assist in the development of manufacturing via grants to researchers at educational institutions. Read More

Markets biggest monthly gain in two years

Posted on 2011-11-01

Commercial Real Estate Property News. THE Australian share market has ended another volatile month on global stock markets by posting the biggest one-month gain in two years. That was even after today\'s 1.2 per cent slump, and analysts say the volatility is likely to continue. The 7.1 per cent gain in the All Ordinaries between September 30 and October 31 was the largest rally since July 2009, when the market rose 7.6 per cent as it recovered after the worst of the financial crisis. October\'s gain, in the wake of the Eurozone\'s long awaited debt deal, followed six straight months of falls, for a total loss of 18.7 per cent. Read More

Invest your time before investing your money

Posted on 2011-10-31

Commercial Real Estate Property News TO invest, or not to invest; that is the question. On the surface, parking money in Sydney property seems to be the obvious decision for anyone alarmed by the uncertain global economy or losing faith in shares. But even in today\'s buyers\' market, where rental yields have improved, it is important to look before you leap.More Sydneysiders than ever are hunting for investments to top up their super or create a promising property portfolio. Read More

Social media marketing: how to get your message heard

Posted on 2011-10-28

When it comes to social media marketing, businesses have an ever-increasing number of online channels they can use to quickly spread the word about their products and services. In fact, the number of social media communications platforms is growing month by month. Beyond the more well-known platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and the recently launched Google+, businesses can now tap into more than 300 social Read More

EDUCATION

Posted on 2011-10-26

Gerard Cole Commercial Property Consultants helps ordinary Australians to build wealth by empowering those who want to take fuller responsibility for their own wealth building. We offer genuinely informative,investment property advise throughout Australia at levels to suit both more and less experienced investors. Read More

Market s silver lining

Posted on 2011-10-25

Commercial Real Estate Property News Sydney MANY would argue that selling up in a buyers\' market is surely a fool\'s game. On the contrary; it could be the most financially savvy move for anyone wanting to upgrade. Even if a vendor\'s property sells for a little less than it might have a year ago, the savings will almost certainly be greater on the next purchase. Read More

Regulation helps avoid meltdown: RBA

Posted on 2011-10-20

Commercial Real Estate Property News Sydney. REGULATORS and governments can help avoid financial market meltdowns sparked by credit booms like the global financial crisis in 2008, an Australian central bank official says. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) head of financial stability Luci Ellis today addressed the Paul Woolley centre for the Study of Capital Market Dysfunctionality. \"Recent events in the United States and several other countries show just how damaging financial instability can be to employment and human welfare,\" Dr Ellis said. Read More

Why Sydney prices will keep going up

Posted on 2011-10-19

Commercial Real Estate Property News Sydney.If you’re wondering where your next investment should be, chances are Sydney is pretty safe, according to the Housing Industry Association. Chief executive officer Graham Wolfe says despite speculation prices could fall next year, they’re actually likely to increase. “There’s an undersupply in Sydney and it’s our view that the undersupply is providing that floor, below which the prices cannot possibly fall as some might otherwise speculate,” he says. Read More

Sydney rents rocket by 13 per cent

Posted on 2011-10-17

Sydney rents have risen by as much as 13 per cent in the last year, with the biggest hike at Edgecliff in the eastern suburbs. Tenants are now paying about $60 more a week than they were a year ago, latest figures from Run Property show. The Sydney suburbs of Edgecliff, Randwick, Ryde, Newtown, Surry Hills and Neutral Bay all recorded rent increases of more than 10 per cent for new tenancies in the past year, the report released today said. Advertisement: Story continues below Edgecliff topped the list with a 13.1 per cent rent hike. Read More

Less tax talk, more action needed

Posted on 2011-10-14

Commercial Real Estate Property News Sydney LET S call for an official end to talking about tax reform and simply demand action. Last weeks tax forum was interesting and there appeared to be a lot of goodwill from the delegates for change. But it was the same old issues being rehashed by the same people from the same special interest group with the same agendas. Read More

Employment growth jumps in September

Posted on 2011-10-13

Commercial Real Estate Property News INTEREST rates look unlikely to change in the next few months after an more jobs than expected were created in September, economists say. At 11.30am (AEDT) today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced that 20,400 jobs were added to the economy in September, double the 10,000 rise that economists were expecting. Read More

The GFC changed our lives, and now its all-change again

Posted on 2011-10-12

Commercial Real Estate Property News. THERE is an argument the 20th century did not end in 2000 but rolled ahead until it bumped into the 2008 global financial crisis. Up to then, many business and social institutions that had shaped Australian society in the late 20th century still prevailed. The way we worked, shopped, went on holidays and formed ourselves into relationships and tribes was pretty much an extension of the way these things had been organised for decades. Read More

Return on Investment (ROI)

Posted on 2011-10-11

Commercial Real Estate Property News Return on Investment (ROI) analysis is one of several commonly used financial metrics for evaluating the financial consequences of business investments, decisions, or actions. ROI analysis compares the magnitude and timing of investment gains directly with the magnitude and timing of investment costs. A high ROI means that investment gains compare favorably to investment costs. In the last few decades, ROI has become a central financial metric for asset purchase Read More

Sydney property prices set to double

Posted on 2011-10-10

Commercial Property News Sydney property prices set to double Home prices tipped to double in Sydney Perth, Brisbane predicted to boom Thousands will be locked out of market UP TO half of Sydney homeowners are set to become property millionaires, with house prices predicted to double in the next decade. Read More

Strategies essential for investment

Posted on 2011-10-07

Commercial Property News Sydney ONE of the important superannuation rules is that trustees of a self-managed super fund must formulate and put into effect an investment strategy. The strategy must set out the investment objectives of the fund, and detail the methods the fund will adopt to achieve these objectives. The four major things that trustees are asked to pay attention to while formulating the investment strategy are: Read More

Budget changes have first-time buyers abuzz

Posted on 2011-10-07

Commercial Property News Sydney THIS time last year, first-time buyers made up the bulk of house hunters shopping around the $500,000 bracket as they tried to snap up their first piece of real estate before the end of the First Home Owner s Boost on October 1.Now, in some parts of Sydney, they are back on the war path, desperate to get on the property ladder before they will cop an up front stamp duty bill of up to $22,490. Read More

Time to invest in the western suburbs

Posted on 2011-09-30

Commercial Property News SYDNEYS western suburbs have become a hot spot for property investors following a spike in rental yields. Property researchers and estate agents say a lack of housing supply in western suburbs such as Blacktown and Penrith combined with stagnating prices, has proved to be a popular proposition for investors. MacroPlan Australia manager of economics Jason Anderson said investors could snap up gross yields of 6 per cent in the west - 2 per cent higher than in inner Sydney suburbs and the eastern suburbs. Read More

When buying property to generate wealth, keep your cool and plan carefully.

Posted on 2011-09-06

Most of us are taught from an early age to learn from mistakes. But it does not pay to slip up when you sink thousands of dollars into an investment property. The stakes are too high and the potential losses too great. You can slide into bankruptcy simply by taking out Read More

Property News Sydney Easier lending for small firms - Reserve Bank

Posted on 2011-07-28

SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. SMALL businesses can expect better lending conditions as the economy strengthens, the Reserve Bank says. Read More

Feeling totally gloomy? You need not, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says Australian Property News

Posted on 2011-07-27

Feeling totally gloomy? You need not, Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says Read More

Property News Sydney Property hits new records

Posted on 2011-07-22

MORE properties sold for record prices in Sydney\'s west than in any other region over the past year. Sales across the city fell by just over 11 per cent last year, but this failed to halt the march of prices in the western suburbs - where most people can afford to buy. Read More

Property News Australia Prudent to wait on interest rates - RBA

Posted on 2011-07-20

THE central bank says time is on its side and it will wait for more economic data before moving on interest rates. Read More

Property News Australia Oz commercial property market soars after disaster struck first quarter

Posted on 2011-07-19

Commercial property transactions in Australia have jumped fourfold in the second quarter of 2011 after the sector was adversely affected by natural disasters in the first three months of the year. Read More

Property News Sydney Do not let savings go up in smoke

Posted on 2011-07-18

POLITICAL footballs do not come much bigger than last week\'s carbon tax announcement. Read More

Australia Property News Australian dollar keeps rising on strong Chinese data

Posted on 2011-07-15

THE Australian dollar was higher at noon as China\'s better-than-expected domestic product (GDP) data continues to buoy the local currency. Read More

SYDNEY PROPERTY NEWS Carbon tax will not impact Australian corporate issuers, says Moodys

Posted on 2011-07-14

Carbon tax won\'t impact Australian corporate issuers, says Moody\'s Read More

Sydney Property News Two tier property market opening up in Australia

Posted on 2011-07-13

A gap is opening up in the Australian property market with prices in Sydney and Canberra continuing to rise but those in Perth and Brisbane falling, according to the latest house market index. Read More

Sydney Property News Does this qualify?

Posted on 2011-07-12

This is probably one of the most commonly asked questions tax depreciation experts get asked every day from investment property owners wanting to claim construction costs as a tax deduction. Read More

Property News Australia Bank branches to disappear within years as customers migrate online, expert says

Posted on 2011-07-11

THE days of face-to-face transactions at your local branch appear to be numbered, despite a concerted push by banks to show a human side, experts predict. Read More

Property News Sydney Oz commercial property market soars after disaster struck first quarter

Posted on 2011-07-08

European investors were also active, with the $170 million sale of the new Australian Taxation Office project in Brisbane to Credit Suisse Asset Management Read More

Property News Sydney

Posted on 2011-07-06

The only way is up for rental yields and housing affordability Read More

Property News Sydney RBA board leave cash rate at 4.75%

Posted on 2011-07-05

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate steady at 4.75 per cent at its regular monthly board meeting on Tuesday. Read More

Property News Sydney End of Financial Year Tax Planning Tips

Posted on 2011-07-01

It’s always \'almost that time of year\' again! The end of the financial year. Here are a few tips worth considering at any time of the year. Read More

Property News Sydney Rents rise while home values fall by 2.7 per cent in 2011

Posted on 2011-06-30

Capital city dwelling values declined by 0.3 per cent (seasonally adjusted - s.a.) in May, and are down 1.2 per cent (s.a.) over last 3 months. Read More

Sydney Property News Investment property

Posted on 2011-06-29

Property has always been a popular investment option in Australia, particularly investing in residential units or houses. It is an asset class that has historically, over the long term, Read More

Sydney Property News Sydney backwaters become desirable - and expensive

Posted on 2011-06-28

THE air was thick with an odour of rotten eggs and the way to the river was barred by barbed wire. Read More

Property News Sydney Property hits new records

Posted on 2011-06-27

MORE properties sold for record prices in Sydney\'s west than in any other region over the past year. Sales across the city fell by just over 11 per cent last year, Read More

Australian Property News SCOREBOARD: RBA steps back

Posted on 2011-06-22

Today’s minutes show the RBA board has taken a fairly significant step back from where they were in May. The minutes of its May meeting revealed a board that had their finger on the trigger. Read More

Property News Australia Small business calls for its own ombudsman - survey

Posted on 2011-06-21

SMALL businesses say all political parties are on the nose and they need an ombudsman to look out for them. Read More

Property News Australia LAND TAX Frequent questions

Posted on 2011-06-20

What is land tax? Land tax is an annual tax on the total land value of all taxable land owned in NSW. You are assessed on all land held as at midnight 31 December the previous year eg 2011 is based on all land held at as 31 December 2010. Read More

Foreign investors flock to buy commercial real estate

Posted on 2011-06-17

OFFSHORE investors bought $3.1 billion worth of Australian commercial real estate last year, an almost threefold increase from the $1.2bn bought in 2009. Read More

Property hits new records

Posted on 2011-06-15

MORE properties sold for record prices in Sydney\'s west than in any other region over the past year. Read More

Australian Investors Will Move Towards Property

Posted on 2011-06-14

An increasing number of Australian investors will rebalance their portfolios and hold less cash this year, according to research company CoreData. Read More

Australia Property News Surge in overseas investors buying commercial property in Oz

Posted on 2011-06-10

Overseas property investors bought $3.1 billion worth of Australian commercial real estate last year, an almost threefold increase from the $1.2billion bought in 2009, a new report shows. Read More

Property News Sydney Financial misconduct report prompts calls for compulsory compensation scheme

Posted on 2011-06-09

BAD advice, fraud, misleading information and deceptive conduct are causing \"catastrophic\" losses for investors and their families, the government\'s investment watchdog has found. Read More

Sydney property prices on their way back up

Posted on 2011-06-07

SYDNEY house prices rose over the April quarter and as auction clearance rates have recently consolidated, homeowners can expect house prices to rise over the May quarter. Read More

Australian Property News RBA keeps rates steady for another month

Posted on 2011-06-07

Mortgage holders have been spared an interest rate rise after the Reserve Bank today decided to leave rates on hold for the sixth straight meeting. Read More

Australian Property News Tips on how to have your mortgage application approved

Posted on 2011-06-06

BANKS have become much tougher about who they will lend money to since the global financial crisis and the situation shows no signs of easing in 2011. Read More

Sydney Property News Which bank s credit card offers free cash?

Posted on 2011-06-06

Commonwealth Bank offers $1 credit cards and $100 cash via Jump On It site Read More

Australian Investors Will Move Towards Property

Posted on 2011-06-03

An increasing number of Australian investors will rebalance their portfolios and hold less cash this year, according to research company CoreData. Read More

Australia Property News Housing wobbly, but not collapsing

Posted on 2011-06-02

AUSTRALIA\'S housing market is unlikely to suffer a \"structural collapse\" on the scale of America\'s property rout, a new report says. Read More

Propert News Australia Is negative gearing “worth it”?

Posted on 2011-05-31

Well, it’s heading towards that time of year that we all love – tax!! So it’s a timely opportunity, I thought, for me to share with you all a reader question: Read More

Australia Propert News A to Z guide to a foreign language

Posted on 2011-05-17

FROM the world of bulls, bears and fat cats we now have killer bees, dead cats and kangaroos. Not to mention the Dog and Pony Show, Skirt Length ... and Zombies. Read More

Property News Australia Credit card surcharge way beyond Visa, Mastercard cost

Posted on 2011-05-16

TWO out of three Australian retailers are slugging customers with a credit card surcharge as high as triple the actual payment fee it is meant to recoup. Read More

Property News Sydney Inaugural ANZ Pan-Regional Housing Outlook.

Posted on 2011-05-12

The global financial crisis sparked unprecedented volatility in housing markets around the world, particularly in the major developed economies. Several countries suffered extraordinary falls in house prices and analysts Read More

Australia Property News Senate banking inquiry recommends banks should be forced to be more transparent

Posted on 2011-05-09

BANKS should be forced to be more transparent about their huge profits and interest margins to test there is enough competition in the industry, a Senate committee report told the Government today. Read More

Property News End of commissions for financial advisers

Posted on 2011-05-04

FINANCIAL advisers have been banned from receiving commission payments, backhanders and volume sale bonuses, including so-called soft dollar handouts such as free overseas trips and cars. Read More

Australia Property News ASIC gives banks green light to relax loan rules

Posted on 2011-04-29

THE corporate regulator has ended months of confusion for banks, ordering them to relax the purse strings and resume lending to middle-aged and older Australians. Read More

Is a low-doc loan right for you?

Posted on 2011-04-28

With credit becoming more readily available, low-doc options have started to come back on to the market. Read More

Preparing for a Property Valuation

Posted on 2011-04-26

We often get asked a lot of questions about valuations, so we recently interviewed a Sydney Based Valuer and here are the top tips and a checklist for achieving the best possible valuation result: Read More

Economic growth in 3-9 months look solid

Posted on 2011-04-20

THE outlook for economic growth in the next three to nine months looks strong owing to healthy business investment and a robust labour market, a report has found. Read More

Australians hit the jackpot as property prices rise

Posted on 2011-04-19

AUSTRALIANS are richer than ever before as we ride high on a new property-backed wealth boom. According to the latest statistics, private wealth held through property, shares and other assets has hit a record $6 trillion, up 1.3 per cent in the three months to December. Read More

Property Tax In Australia

Posted on 2011-04-18

Due to the in-depth nature of the tax system, it is important to consult an expert tax advisor when considering your particular purchase in Australia. Below is a brief guideline to Australia\'s property tax system which will help you to become familiar with the system. Read More

Capital Gains Tax Australia

Posted on 2011-04-16

Capital gains tax in Australia applies when a profit is made on the disposal of a capital asset that was acquired after 20 September 1985 Read More

Property News Sydney Bank clients switch to mortgage brokers

Posted on 2011-04-15

A GROWING number of Australian bank customers are using a mortgage broker to secure a new home loan, as the major banks remain dominant in the market. Read More

Sites near the city are few and far between

Posted on 2011-04-13

Starting afresh in an established area appeals to many clients but finding empty blocks is tricky, writes Mary Costello. Read More

Property hits new records

Posted on 2011-04-12

MORE properties sold for record prices in Sydney\'s west than in any other region over the past year. Read More

How to recognise and avoid key investment risks

Posted on 2011-04-08

INVESTING involves a variety of risks that differ across the various asset classes and through time. Here\'s a checklist of some key risks facing the investor and an outline of what they may Read More

Sydney rental crisis worsens as people hunt pricier properties

Posted on 2011-04-05

THE Sydney rental crisis has hit new heights with the number of people looking for properties with rents higher than $400 a week doubling in the past four years. Read More

RBA board gets new members March 29, 2011

Posted on 2011-03-29

Businesswoman Catherine Tanna and economist John Edwards have been appointed to the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia. Read More

ANZ RESEARCH QUARTERLY

Posted on 2011-03-29

Economics, Commodities and Markets ECONOMICS & GLOBAL MARKETS RESEARCH | ISSUE 3: Q1 2011 Read More

To gift or not to gift? That is the Stamp Duty question

Posted on 2011-03-09

Question: In my Will I leave all my estate to my three children equally. My estate includes my home, investment property, cash and shares. My daughter’s deadbeat husband went bankrupt. Julie lost everything except her children. Read More

Fees slicing into your super

Posted on 2011-03-08

BY 2050, almost one in four Australians will have reached retirement age, compared with one in seven today Read More

It is time to examine your financial future

Posted on 2011-03-07

DON\'T let time run out, there are some simple steps Gen Y and Gen X can take to ensure they enjoy future wealth. Read More

Choice calls to end unfair treatment by major banks

Posted on 2011-03-04

HARD-hearted banks will be targeted in a new consumer campaign to force them to scrap unfair fees, poor service and dodgy computer systems. Read More

Costly toll tipped for big bank rivals

Posted on 2011-03-03

THE price war erupting in Australia\'s mortgage market threatens to hit profitability in the banking industry and spill over into other products, wreaking even further havoc. Read More

SUPERMARKET giants Woolworths and Coles are pushing corner shops

Posted on 2011-03-01

SUPERMARKET giants Woolworths and Coles are pushing corner shops, milk bars and cafes out of the market by selling milk at $1 a litre, an opposition backbencher says. Read More

It is on a great street, but what a dump

Posted on 2011-02-28

It\'s an old real-estate catch-cry: \"Buy the worst house in the best street and you can never lose.\" But is it always the case? Are you better off buying the best house in a less-desirable street? Read More

Construction data shows two-speed economy, mixed signals for rates

Posted on 2011-02-23

New construction work data and the labour price index give mixed signals for the outlook for interest rates, economists say. Read More

Q&A: First home owner accounts

Posted on 2011-02-18

Q: I\'m trying to persuade my two sons to take part in the First Home Saver scheme, which appears very generous on the government\'s part. Read More

Q&A: Redrawing on a mortgage

Posted on 2011-02-17

Q. My partner and I became first-home owners two years ago with a mortgage for a townhouse. Read More

Home loans: to fix or not to fix?

Posted on 2011-02-16

Interest rates are on hold for now but economists expect the next move to be up. Read More

IT GIVES new meaning to home sweet home.

Posted on 2011-02-14

A former sugar mill, a winery and even old hospitals are being redeveloped into apartments because of Sydney\'s housing shortage Read More

Hermes announces record sales, plans to expand branches

Posted on 2011-02-10

FRENCH luxury brand Hermes showed overnight that luxury can prosper even in a time of belt-tightening, announcing record sales in 2010 and increasing expectations of impressive annual results in March. Read More

Consumer sentiment rebounds after Queensland floods - study

Posted on 2011-02-09

CONSUMER sentiment has rebounded in February after the Queensland floods put a short-term dent in sentiment, a survey shows. Read More

Insurance firms too stubborn to provide universal flood cover

Posted on 2011-01-31

AUSTRALIANS have been denied affordable, universal flood insurance because insurance companies are too stubborn and narrow-minded to introduce it, one of the country\'s leading experts on disaster risk says. Read More

Bargain property is a shore thing

Posted on 2011-01-27

THE secret is out - property analysts have revealed off-radar waterfront suburbs where bargain beach houses can be found for a tenth of a Sydney equivalent. Read More

Australian housing market strongest in the world

Posted on 2011-01-24

AUSTRALIA experienced one of the strongest housing markets in the world during 2010, new research shows. Read More

Superannuation savings pool hits record $1.23 trillion in 2010

Posted on 2011-01-21

AUSTRALIA S pool of superannuation savings has swollen to a record level, bolstered by strong investment returns after two years of costly losses. Read More

It is time to X-amine your financial future

Posted on 2011-01-20

SEE that bright light? Unless Generation X has solid financial plan it could be an oncoming train, writes Anthony Keane Read More

Eight tips to help with your mortgage

Posted on 2010-12-20

1.Interest rates will cause the biggest difference over the life of your mortgage but all banks can change them and establishment and exit fees may wipe a fair bit of that dough from your hot little hands. Read More

Treasurer needs to go further on banks - Choice

Posted on 2010-12-15

CONSUMER group Choice has told a Senate inquiry that Treasurer Wayne Swan has done a reasonable job so far with his banking reforms but it wants him to do more to improve competition. Read More

The perfect stock market strategy

Posted on 2010-12-14

Racing sailing boats is very much like investing. In hindsight there is a \"Perfect Race\" you could have sailed. A perfect position on the start line, a perfect side to the course, a perfect sail setting. Hindsight delivers the perfect race strategy Read More

CROPPER PrimeAg says heavy rains have damaged its crops, but losses are unlikely to compromise the achievement of its forecast result in 2010/11.

Posted on 2010-12-09

PrimeAg said in a statement that rain had cost less than 3 per cent of its cotton crop near Emerald, Read More

Home loans stabilising, starting to expand

Posted on 2010-12-08

An improvement in home lending in October for the fourth consecutive month shows loans have stabilised and are growing again, economists say. Read More

Run the numbers on your mortgage

Posted on 2010-12-06

MORTGAGE holders will be able to compare costs for switching banks with an online calculator launched by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Read More

Addicted to a stamp duty fix

Posted on 2010-11-15

Don\'t expect our politicians to scale back the huge bite. Despite some options, the situation remains a huge cash cow that is difficult to replace. Read More

Government confident jobless rate will decline - Evans

Posted on 2010-11-12

FEDERAL Jobs Minister Chris Evans says today\'s labour force report for October was a very strong result, despite the unexpected rise in the unemployment rate. Read More

Rate rise dictates new approach in mortgage lending

Posted on 2010-11-10

With an interest rate rise last week and the banks proving they are happy to move out of step with the Reserve Bank, many property owners will be wondering whether they should lock in the rate on their loans. Read More

Rates hike could boost property sales

Posted on 2010-11-05

Contrary to expectations, yesterday\'s rate rise may spur on potential home buyers in Brisbane, one property analyst says. Read More

Commonwealth Bank lifts rates by almost double Reserve Bank\'s hike on Cup day

Posted on 2010-11-03

THE Commonwealth Bank has slugged homeowners on Melbourne Cup Day by raising its standard mortgage rate by almost double the increase in official rates announced by the Reserve Bank. Read More

Houses crowded out in unit boom

Posted on 2010-11-02

THE Great Australian Dream is dying in Sydney with startling statistics showing the number of houses within a 15km radius of the CBD rapidly decreasing. Read More

Houses crowded out in unit boom

Posted on 2010-10-28

THE Great Australian Dream is dying in Sydney with startling statistics showing the number of houses within a 15km radius of the CBD rapidly decreasing. Read More

Forced west by prices

Posted on 2010-10-25

FIRST-HOME buyers Claire Nesbitt-Hawe and Nari Sahukar have helped make Campsie a real estate hot spot. Read More

The money suburbs

Posted on 2010-10-25

SYDNEY’S inner west is the stand-out real estate performer of the past year, spearheaded by the booming multicultural suburb of Campsie. Read More

Coalition wants Swan to limit rate hikes

Posted on 2010-10-21

THE Federal Opposition is demanding Treasurer Wayne Swan use all the levers of his position to prevent banks hiking interest rates over and above Reserve Bank adjustments. Read More

Share market sharks circle top companies

Posted on 2010-10-20

SHARE market predators who trick people into selling their shares cheaply have again targeted some of Australia\'s biggest companies. Read More

Poll shows more use technology to work from outside office

Posted on 2010-10-18

NEARLY one in four Australian workers spends at least five hours working outside the office each week and one in 10 dedicates at least 10 hours - or 13 weeks each year - to working on the run, a study revealed today. Read More

Want a better home loan? Just ask

Posted on 2010-10-13

WITH the threat of another interest rise on the horizon, a new consumer survey has offered homeowners a ray of hope. Read More

Five strategies to ensure the best price

Posted on 2010-10-11

Looking to sell your house and wanting to get the most out of the property? While vendors should be careful about carrying out major renovations just before selling — you not only run the risk of overcapitalising but your changes might not appeal to buyers Read More

Online banking making it easier for customers to switch, says BoQ CFO

Posted on 2010-10-08

ONLINE banking has caused a \"permanent change\" in people\'s behaviour when it comes to deposits, with a senior lender saying more consumers are switching institutions for the best interest rates. Read More

Australia in new phase of expansion- Reserve Bank

Posted on 2010-10-06

AUSTRALIAN householders and businesses have entered a new phase of expansion, but are more cautious than they were before the global financial crisis, the Reserve Bank (RBA) says. Read More

What is freehold title?

Posted on 2010-10-05

A Freehold title means the land owner (and any of their beneficiaries) owns the property outright in perpetuity (which is legalese for \"until the world ends\"). According to property lawyer Charles Xuereb Read More

Weak data may prompt RBA to stay on hold

Posted on 2010-10-01

Weaker-than-expected building approvals data could prompt the central bank to hold off raising interest rates next month despite firm job vacancy figures, economists say. Read More

CGT rules have devilish details

Posted on 2010-09-30

When it comes to tax legislation in general, and capital gains tax (CGT) legislation in particular, the saying the devil is in the detail applies. In a recent answer concerning the impact of CGT on non-resident taxpayers I got the answer wrong. Read More

Dollar dazzles as it breaks through US96c

Posted on 2010-09-29

The dollar has broken through the 96 US cent barrier to reach a two-year high but forecasting its next move is a mug\'s game. Read More

Moving your mortgage to another lender

Posted on 2010-09-28

MOVING your mortgage from one lender to another is not as simple as it sounds. Read More

Split parliament puts super rise in doubt

Posted on 2010-09-27

AUSTRALIA\'S peak superannuation bodies have warned that Labor\'s proposed increase to the superannuation guarantee levy from 9 per cent to 12 per cent is in jeopardy in the wake of the expected hung parliament. Read More

A Must Read. Are you competitive about money?

Posted on 2010-09-24

Q: Do you earn more than or less than your friends – and does it matter? A: Well actually yes, for most people it matters a lot. Read More

Budget deficit improves by $2.3 billion

Posted on 2010-09-24

THE final budget outcome for the 2009/10 financial year was a $54.8 billion deficit, the Federal Government has announced. Read More

Warning on overdraft trap set by banks

Posted on 2010-09-16

BANKS are enticing depositors to take out overdrafts on basic transaction accounts. Read More

Business confidence rebounded in August - study

Posted on 2010-09-14

BUSINESS confidence rebounded to levels last seen in April as profits improved although sales and employment conditions weakened, a survey shows. Read More

Lenders back to throwing cash at buyers

Posted on 2010-09-13

MORTGAGE lenders are returning to \"reckless\" practices last seen before the credit crunch, lending desperate homebuyers more than a property is worth in a bid to keep the market rising. Read More

Buying a property

Posted on 2010-09-10

Owning property has always been the great Australian dream, and the right planning can help to turn that dream into reality. Read More

Homebuyers have spring in their step

Posted on 2010-09-09

MORE than 100,000 Sydneysiders are waking from winter hibernation ready for a spring home-buying spree that experts predict will jump-start Sydney\'s property market. Read More

Sales survive election woes

Posted on 2010-09-01

The August residential auction market finished on a strong showing with a 68 per cent weekend success rate, despite the uncertainty of the election. Read More

Paying off a mortgage quickly?

Posted on 2010-08-30

Question: I am 26 years old and purchased property in March valued at $805,000. My mortgage is currently $241,000, and I earn $45,000 before tax. Read More

Current market value of property

Posted on 2010-08-30

Question: How is the current market value of a house/land calculated? Who calculates it? If these calculations are open to the public, where could they be found? Read More

Island holiday homes beckon for Aussies

Posted on 2010-08-27

FORGET the traditional shack on the coast - Australians are taking advantage of the strong Aussie dollar and abundance of budget flights to buy holiday homes overseas instead. Read More

Spring property market seen delayed by political stalemate

Posted on 2010-08-26

The drawn-out political wrangle to form the next federal government looks set to affect the nation\'s real estate market, delaying the start of the key spring auction season and adding further pressure on house prices. Read More

Slash bank fees

Posted on 2010-08-25

MINIMISING fees depends on understanding what you are being charged for on your account and why. It also depends on having the right accounts for your spending and transaction patterns Read More

Virgin territory: how to name your business

Posted on 2010-08-24

What\'s the best or worst business name you have heard? Leave your comment below Read More

Richard Branson s leadership tips

Posted on 2010-08-23

Sir Richard Branson had his first jolt of entrepreneurial success when he published a magazine at 16. Since then, he’s become a respected leader of cutting-edge enterprises and an inspiring pioneer of humanitarian projects. Read More

It is never too early to start budgeting

Posted on 2010-08-20

YOU may be studying, looking for your first job or just trying to decide what life is all about. Your 20s are a time for firsts. This may be when you first move out of home, Read More

Reserve Bank comfortable with current rate levels

Posted on 2010-08-18

THE Reserve Bank was \"comfortable\" leaving interest rates at average levels at its August board meeting during a period of market volatility, minutes of the monetary policy board meeting reveal. Read More

Profits push shares higher at noon

Posted on 2010-08-18

THE share market was marginally higher at noon (AEST) today, with strong profit results driving higher share prices. Read More

Australia property prices soar 20%

Posted on 2010-08-17

Residential property prices in Australia have increased by almost 20 per cent in the past 12 months, according to latest figures from the nation\'s Bureau of Statistics. Read More

Australian auctions maintain strength

Posted on 2010-08-17

The rate of sales success in Australian residential property auctions has continued to exceed 70 per cent, it has been revealed. Read More

Rich on $120 million mansions hunt

Posted on 2010-08-16

SYDNEY\'s super rich have shrugged off the latest interest rate rises and falling stock market to splurge more than $120 million on just 10 homes in three months. Read More

Getting a personal loan

Posted on 2010-08-13

Australians owe over $100 billion in personal lending; approximately 55 percent as revolving credit and 45 percent as fixed loans. Read More

How to renovate your property for a profit

Posted on 2010-08-10

IF PROPERTY is Australia\'s \"first love\" then renovating has to be a close second. Billions of dollars are spent renovating every year, from humble suburban shacks to blue-ribbon mansions. Read More

Hot investing trends bringing boring back

Posted on 2010-08-09

INVESTING in infrastructure stocks has tested people\'s patience in the past few years, but there are signs the sector is turning a corner. Read More

Super - the basics

Posted on 2010-07-28

Superannuation - the basics Get to grips with the basics of superannuation - who contributes what, the law, the jargon... Read More

Low interest rates make Australian property affordable

Posted on 2010-07-27

While other economies have struggled during the recession, Australia\'s has remained resilient, keeping its housing market strong while others have floundered. Read More

Your top 20 tax questions answered

Posted on 2010-07-26

ATO\'s most commonly asked questions Same-sex couples; truck drivers in spotlight Your Money: Ten tax traps New section: Win your tax back Read More

Setting priorities for the new financial year

Posted on 2010-07-23

A NEW financial year is a great time to take stock of your business and re-assess priorities and business goals. Read More

Fix a bad credit record

Posted on 2010-07-22

BEFORE banks or non-bank lenders lend you money for a car or a home, or phone companies enter into a mobile phone contract with you, they look at your credit record to assess whether you have a good record of repaying your debts. Read More

Insider s guide to interest-free deals

Posted on 2010-07-20

Consumer finance lenders say interest-free shopping is smarter and cheaper than using a credit card or personal loan for big-ticket items such as televisions, computers, whitegoods and furniture. Read More

The risk of a double dip has risen, but is still not probable

Posted on 2010-07-19

OPINION: While the risk of a double dip for the global economy has increased we remain of the view it will be avoided. Read More

Buying a Property. The Contract.

Posted on 2010-07-16

The contracts Step 1 - Making an offer Step 2 - Bidding at auction Step 3 - Is an offer a contract? Step 4 - What\'s in a contract? Step 5 - The conditions Step 6 - Being gazumped Read More

Small businesses battling shopping giants

Posted on 2010-07-15

SMALL businesses are calling for a regime, similar to victim impact statements, to be introduced before mega-shopping centres are built. Read More

Consumer confidence bounced back on interest rates decision

Posted on 2010-07-14

CONSUMER sentiment has bounced back sharply after the Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged for a second month in a row earlier in July. Read More

Fatter pay packets are on the cards

Posted on 2010-07-12

THE new financial year has brought some good news for workers, with many finally enjoying a pay rise after wage growth last year was stifled by the lingering effects of the global financial crisis. Read More

Deposit your dollars for tax free, higher returns

Posted on 2010-07-09

STASHING your spare money under a mattress is no longer the best way for investors. Read More

How to get rich Step 1

Posted on 2010-07-08

How to get rich Step 1 - Borrow to invest Step 2 - Choose shares wisely Step 3 - Think quality and long term Step 4 - Time your run Step 5 - Tax deductible borrowing Read More

Rates stay put but aren’t going down

Posted on 2010-07-07

THE Reserve Bank has kept interest rates unchanged at 4.5% but despite further deterioration in global markets, economists said the RBA remains committed to its tightening policy. Read More

Monthly trade surplus tops $1 billion

Posted on 2010-07-06

AUSTRALIA posted its largest trade surplus in 14 months as exports surged a further 6 per cent in May. Read More

Tax cuts, super hike might go - PM Gillard

Posted on 2010-07-01

THE Gillard Government has warned it may have to forego company tax cuts and higher superannuation contributions to offset any loss of revenue from a likely deal with mining Read More

If I rent before buying am I exempt from capital gains?

Posted on 2010-06-22

If I rent before buying am I exempt from capital gains? Read More

Buying a property. Step 1

Posted on 2010-06-21

Buying a property Step 1 - Do your research Step 2 - How much can you afford? Step 3 - Find a lender Step 4 - The buying process Read More

Buying an investment property Step 1

Posted on 2010-06-18

Buying an investment property Step 1 - Location Step 2 - Buy quality Step 3 - Gross vs net returns Step 4 - Coping with vacancies Step 5 - Triggers for failure Step 6 - Top tips Read More

Home building biggest in nearly 6 years

Posted on 2010-06-17

BUILDERS started work on a total 42,399 new homes in the three months to the end of March, the biggest quarterly number in nearly six years, data shows. Read More

Banks to face a battle over interest rates

Posted on 2010-06-16

SYDNEY\'S stressed mortgage holders could be the winners from a push by a non-bank lender to gain market share by sparking an interest rate war. Read More

Property author Terry Ryder lists top no go home zones

Posted on 2010-06-11

THE Sydney shire that is home to the head of Australia\'s central bank has been named as one of the worst areas in the nation to invest in real estate. Read More

NSW Budget slashes stamp duty to 0% (for some)

Posted on 2010-06-09

New South Wales is the first state government in Australia to introduce zero percent stamp duty, but with limitations and a two year trial period. Read More

Constructions industry remains solid

Posted on 2010-06-08

THE Australian construction industry has expanded for the third consecutive month in May but the pace of growth has slowed due to tougher operating conditions, according to the Australian Industry Group Read More

Ride the property express via train

Posted on 2010-06-07

LOCATION, location, transportation is fast becoming the Sydney real estate mantra. Traditionally, water views, a northeasterly aspect and golf course frontage could add hundreds of thousands Read More

Selling with a DA

Posted on 2010-06-04

The strategy of selling property with a development application (DA) already signed, sealed and delivered is a little like completing a small development project, except with the construction process stripped off the end. Read More

Dollar higher on trade data

Posted on 2010-06-03

THE dollar was higher at noon as investors continued to move into risk assets on the release of strong domestic trade data. Read More

Interest rates relief - at least for a month or two

Posted on 2010-06-02

RBA likely to hold rates for a few months Keeping watch on uncertainty in Europe Banks won\'t hike rates ahead of RBA moves Read More

Interest rates in holding pattern

Posted on 2010-06-01

* RBA tipped to leave rates at 4.5pc * Slowing trend in the economy * \"Consumers and businesses are confused\" Read More

New laws limit developers’ flexibility

Posted on 2010-05-31

DEVELOPERS in the habit of making changes to off-the-plan contracts could potentially void their sales agreements under new “unfair” Read More

ARE AUSTRALIAN HOUSE PRICES OVERVALUED?

Posted on 2010-05-27

ARE AUSTRALIAN HOUSE PRICES OVERVALUED? (DEBUNKING HOUSE PRICE TO INCOME MEAN REVERSION) International comparisons of house price to income ratios have been widely Read More

Residex figures show 5347 Sydney streets now on millionaires row

Posted on 2010-05-26

BOASTING an address on millionaires\' row used to be the preserve of Sydney\'s elite. Read More

Median prices and what they represent

Posted on 2010-05-24

The median selling price is a widely quoted statistic that is used to provide a measure of housing prices around Australia. In this week’s Property Pulse we provide an insight into the suburbs across each capital city Read More

Premier s sneaky tax on property

Posted on 2010-05-19

NSW homebuyers will be slugged with a $90 million property tax in an audacious Keneally Government cash grab under the cover of the Federal Budget. Read More

Rents across Sydney stay stable, new figures show

Posted on 2010-05-19

RENTS across Sydney have not risen dramatically despite rising property prices, new figures show. Read More

Choosing Your Agent

Posted on 2010-05-04

Often the debate around choosing a real estate agent is focused on how much their commision is as opposed to, what do they do and how good are they at what they do? Read More

Aussie Home values up 1.4 per cent in March; 4.2 per cent over quarter

Posted on 2010-05-03

Aussie Home values up 1.4 per cent in March; 4.2 per cent over quarter. The RP Data – Rismark March Hedonic Home Value Index results released today reveals that home values in Australia’s capital cities rose by a sprightly 1.4 per cent Read More

Early bird gets the property

Posted on 2010-04-30

A PRIVATE developer has swooped on a development site in Surrey Hills, 11km east of Melbourne CBD, ahead of auction. Read More

State is paying double for land

Posted on 2010-04-28

THE State Government is paying up to double the market value for land as part of a $250 million property buy-up for public housing. Read More

NSW gives developers more time

Posted on 2010-04-27

THE New South Wales Government has proposed to extend existing development approvals to five years to help developers having trouble accessing funding. Read More

Office rents & values to double

Posted on 2010-04-22

AN OVERREACTION to the GFC has resulted in a lack of new office buildings and spaces in the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, which is setting the scene for rents and asset values to double, according to BIS Shrapnel. Read More

Push to change law on flat selling

Posted on 2010-04-21

APARTMENT blocks would go under the wrecking ball with just 75 per cent of owners agreeing to sell under a proposal before the State Government. Read More

Industry welcomes planning laws review

Posted on 2010-04-16

THE development industry’s peak body has a welcomed the Productivity Commission’s decision to review of the nation’s 40-year old town planning laws. Read More

The calm before the boom

Posted on 2010-04-15

The boom is coming but you\'ll just have to be patient, and it won\'t be like the last one, a leading economic forecaster says. With the resources industry in full swing again, Read More

Sydney suburbs ready to go boom as population soars

Posted on 2010-04-13

SOME Sydney suburbs will have their populations double or even quadruple in just 25 years, official Government documents reveal, as the city hurtles towards a population of six million people by 2036. Read More

Construction falls but commercial recovering

Posted on 2010-04-12

THE construction industry has contracted slightly in March with demand weakening across the sector, following two months of growth. Read More

No Suprise From The Reserve Bank

Posted on 2010-04-07

The Reserve Bank\'s decision to lift interest rates again came as no surprise - rates were lifted by 0.25%. Read More

Sydney in the grip of auction fever

Posted on 2010-04-04

SYDNEY\'S property market is preparing for record sales on the back of a searing-hot auction list today. Read More

US investor sentiment improving

Posted on 2010-03-31

US commercial real estate investor sentiment is slowly improving, according to a survey. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers\' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey, investors also expect cap rates across 19 of the 30 markets Read More

Auctions hops to new Easter record

Posted on 2010-03-29

THE residential real estate market has recorded its strongest result before Easter with Melbourne raking in $931.5 million worth of sales on the weekend. Read More

Bright economic outlook for Australia - Reserve Bank

Posted on 2010-03-25

AUSTRALIA\'S economic outlook appears to be \"considerably brighter\" than most other advanced economies, the Reserve Bank says. Read More

Revisiting the ‘worry list’ for investors

Posted on 2010-03-22

It is in the nature of humans to worry about what may go wrong. Maybe it has something to do with our evolution in the Pleistocene era when the trick was to avoid being attacked by a woolly mammoth or sabre toothed tiger. Read More

Watch on rate rises as building picks up

Posted on 2010-03-19

THE long slide in the housing construction industry has come to an end with a big jump in the number of new starts, although the recovery may be slowed by rising interest rates. Read More

Dollar up on US wholesale drop

Posted on 2010-03-18

THE dollar opened at a two month high as risk appetite surged following a steeper-than-expected drop in US wholesale prices. Read More

RBA to keep rates on hold: economists

Posted on 2010-03-17

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is likely to spare borrowers an interest rate rise in April due to uncertainty surrounding the housing lending figures, economists say. Read More

NSW Govt cans $1.8bn projects

Posted on 2010-03-16

THE GFC and lack of credit are not the reasons $1.8 billion worth of projects have been stifled in Sydney. A Freedom Of Information obtained by the Urban Taskforce reveals the NSW Government Read More

What is Strata Title?

Posted on 2010-03-15

Horizontal Subdivision Strata title is also part of the Torrens title system. It permits the horizontal subdivision of land into separate titles for separate \'strata\' lots or units, which is Read More

House prices soar in city s hot suburbs

Posted on 2010-03-15

SOME of Melbourne\'s hottest suburbs have seen average house prices skyrocket by more than $500,000 in a year. Home owners in country town Ouyen and trendy St Kilda Read More

Property experts form advisory firm

Posted on 2010-03-12

CRAIG Dunstan, the founder of MacarthurCook has teamed up with Stephen Hawkins, the former head of funds manager at the Goodman Group, to form a new corporate advisory business. Read More

Lack of housing puts pressure on prices

Posted on 2010-03-11

INVESTMENT in the housing sector has been above the average over 50 years but Australian’s predilection for McMansions meant fewer Read More

Investors back with a revenge

Posted on 2010-03-10

RESIENTIAL property investors are flocking back to the market, according to Australia’s largest mortgage broker AFG. The AFG Mortgage Index in February shows that 34.1% of all mortgages arranged Read More

Men take brunt of job losses worldwide

Posted on 2010-03-09

THE global recession has caused more men than women lose their jobs around the world, following a pattern already well established in the US, according to new research. Read More

Buyers not spooked by rate rise

Posted on 2010-03-08

THE latest interest rate rise has failed to dampen activity in the residential property auction market. Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2010-03-07

The strong level of pre-listing activity across the real estate market has continued again during the most recent week with the Market Activity Index once again eclipsing its previous record high during the previous week Read More

Affordability back to the future

Posted on 2010-03-05

HOUSING affordability has quickly returned to pre-GFC levels. According to the Rismark December Quarter National Account, the average Australian home prices across all metro and non-metro regions Read More

56 Gladesville Road Hunters Hill

Posted on 2010-03-02

TIGHTLY HELD REAL ESTATE! First time offered in over 15 years, located on the corner of Gladesville Road and Ryde Road. Read More

An expert gives tips on how to make the perfect rental property

Posted on 2010-02-25

APPLYING for rental properties can be extremely frustrating, especially after a few knockbacks. As a property manager, people often ask me what am I doing wrong? My answer? Probably nothing. Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2010-02-21

The strong level of pre-listing activity across the real estate market has continued again during the most recent week with the Market Activity Index eclipsing its previous record high Read More

Does capital gains have to be applied directly to a new investment property?

Posted on 2010-02-20

Q If I sell my investment property and purchase another one, can I pay my principal residence home loan down and mortgage the new investment property without incurring CGT on the sale? Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2010-02-17

The real estate market continues to record a strong start to the year with higher than normal levels of property professional activity during the first week of February. Comparable Market Analysis activity has continued to increase and sits at its highest ever Read More

Dividends the key to long-term investing

Posted on 2010-02-12

AS with house prices, we still tend to become fixated by capital return when investing in the share market. Read More

19 - 23 Norton Street, Leichhardt

Posted on 2010-02-11

19 - 23 Norton Street, Leichhardt Italian Forum Car Park, Opportunity to buy secure parking. Up to (23) spaces available, in the heart of Leichhardt\'s major commercial precinct. Norton Street, Leichhardt!! Read More

Weekend property auction results point to another buoyant year

Posted on 2010-02-11

DESPITE the threat of more interest rate hikes, the nation\'s property market continues its stellar run, with strong clearance rates on the first big auction weekend of the year. Read More

AVJennings swings back into profit

Posted on 2010-02-10

AVJennings has kick started the half year reporting season with a positive return to profit result. AVJennings -- one of a handful of listed property Read More

Industry welcomes fast track approval system

Posted on 2010-02-09

THE property industry has welcomed the New South Wales Government’s plan to extend its fast track development approval system for public sector projects to the private sector. Read More

8 - 10 Leeds Road, Rhodes

Posted on 2010-02-08

8 - 10 Leeds Road, Rhodes Just Listed For Sale Industrial / Factory / Warehouse / Office. Clear Span, Container Access, Two High Clearance Roller Doors, Fully Air-condioned Modern Office, Ample Off-street Parking. Read More

Construction shows signs of a recovery

Posted on 2010-02-08

While the Australian construction industry was hit by the global financial crisis (GFC) last year, things are looking up this year. Last year commercial tender prices were Read More

74 Glebe Point Road, Glebe

Posted on 2010-02-06

Glebe Point Road, Glebe Prime Retail Property, Commercial Property, Investment Property, Development Site Sold Prior at Auction $1,025,000 Read More

83 Majors Bay Road, Concord

Posted on 2010-02-06

83 Majors Bay Road,Concord Sold $1,775,000 Investment Property Retail Investment Property Commercial Investment Property Concord Sydney Read More

227 Great North Road, Five Dock

Posted on 2010-02-06

Great North Road, Five Dock Prime Retail Property,Commercial Property,Investment Property,Development Site Sold Prior to Auction $2,400,000 Read More

491 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt

Posted on 2010-02-04

491 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt Just Listed Commercial Property For Sale Bargain less than $799,000 Rear Lane Warehouse plus shop and residence Read More

37-39 Parramatta Road, Haberfield

Posted on 2010-02-04

Leased By Imposing commercial building with huge exposure to Parramatta Road, Haberfield Rental $110,000 Per Annum Read More

Light at the end of the tunnel

Posted on 2010-02-04

BUSINESS confidence is rising and tenant demand is improving. However the Property Council said the office market will remain on a tightrope in the year ahead, as almost 1 million sqm of space is added. Read More

227 Great North Road Five Dock

Posted on 2010-02-03

FANTASTIC RESULT!!! (SOLD PRIOR TO AUCTION) Read More

Get in whilst rates stay on hold

Posted on 2010-02-03

BUYING conditions for commercial property remains favourable thanks to the Reserve Bank’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.75%. Read More

Living the dream as a landlord

Posted on 2010-02-01

BECOMING a landlord is the aim of many, but you need to know what you\'re doing. Property investing is the subject of countless books and seminars in which so-called experts Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2010-01-29

The real estate market has shown a stronger than expected start to 2010 with the level of professional activity ramping up rapidly. Read More

CPI rise doesn’t mean rates should rise

Posted on 2010-01-29

The consumer price index (CPI) increased by 0.8 per cent for housing in the December 2009 quarter, compared to an increase in overall inflation of 0.5 per cent. Read More

House prices rebound strongly

Posted on 2010-01-28

AUSTRALIAN house prices have recorded the strongest growth in six years. Affluent suburbs lead the charge, as prices rebounded 12.1% in 2009, according to Australian Property Monitors. Read More

Property red hot in 2010 according to economists

Posted on 2010-01-27

A surge in building approvals in November points to a \"red hot\" property sector in 2010, but this could be cooled if the central bank continues to lift interest rates, economists say. Read More

Development assessment must move faster

Posted on 2010-01-22

Australia underperforms in the delivery of efficient, fair and consistent planning and development assessment systems, according to the Residential Development Council (RDC) and the Property Council of Australia. Read More

Sydney median to hit $1 million

Posted on 2010-01-21

Sydney\'s median house price has been tipped to reach $1 million before 2020. According to Residex data the median 10 years ago was $328,000 and it\'s now up around $630,000. Read More

Property industry needs green education

Posted on 2010-01-20

SUSTAINABILITY is a major issue for the property industry, however a joint API and ADPIA survey found, few truly understand the impact of potential changes to government policy Read More

Race on as keen buyers chase too-few properties

Posted on 2010-01-19

The property scramble is on. Supply, or rather, a serious lack of it, is tipped to become one of the driving forces shaping the 2010 residential market. Read More

A look at economic developments around the globe

Posted on 2010-01-18

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world.... BEIJING — China\'s foreign reserves, already the world\'s biggest, surged 24 percent last year to $2.4 trillion.... Read More

Can I use my super to build a new house?

Posted on 2010-01-17

Can I use my super to build a new house, sell our current house and contribute the amount back into super I\'m 60 and retired. Can I use part of my super to build a new house... Read More

12 tips to getting a great property valuation

Posted on 2010-01-16

It\'s quite frustrating to have your home loan application knocked back or the loan amount reduced because the valuation came in too low. Here\'s 12 ways to get a good one. by Michaela Ryan Read More

Rebound tipped for stagnant rents

Posted on 2010-01-15

2009 weak year for rent growth Still down in 2010 But will rise within months RENTS across Australia stagnated and in some cases even fell in the December quarter, but are expected to rise later this year. Read More

Top surfers - sealords to landlords

Posted on 2010-01-03

THE Cooly Kids have transformed themselves into Gold Coast mini-property moguls, keeping an eye on their stocks between riding 5m barrels at Pipeline, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin. Read More

Landlords to pocket $1.9bn in extra rent

Posted on 2009-12-26

STRONG demand for housing amid a growing population and record low levels of property construction will help to tighten rental markets considerably, pushing rents higher in 2010 and beyond, a report says. Read More

House prices hit two year high

Posted on 2009-12-14

MEDIAN house prices have jumped to $481,310 in the September quarter, the highest level recorded since December 2007. Read More

Housing market faces $14 billion hole as house prices escalate

Posted on 2009-12-14

AUSTRALIA\'S housing market is heading into a deep $14 billion hole as house prices escalate, the first home owners grant stops and banks tighten the lending requirements. Read More

Tony and Carmen George breached planning consent that forbid bathroom window from opening

Posted on 2009-12-08

A COUPLE have appeared in court for opening their bathroom window. Tony and Carmen George breached planning consent that forbid the window from being opened. Read More

Lend Lease shopping for ING assets

Posted on 2009-12-08

LEND Lease has confirmed that it is on the prowl for new shopping centres to add to its real estate portfolio. Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2009-12-07

RP Data’s weekly leading indicator of market activity once again recorded a slight easing over the last week. Activity still remains heightened and in comparison to last year the downturn to date is quite minor. Read More

Office market poised for upswing

Posted on 2009-12-04

Research demonstrates that, not only is employer sentiment up right across Australia, but enquiry levels are stronger than they were this time last year. Read More

Buyers get Dutch courage

Posted on 2009-12-03

THE average size of a new mortgage has hit a record of $367,000 in November, as strong demand push up house prices. Read More

Careers in Real Estate

Posted on 2009-12-02

We have a position available for a dedicated and motivated person wanting to join our sales and leasing team. Gerard Cole Property Consultants is a fantastic place to work. With ‘real’ opportunities. We offer a foundation of experience combined with real results and incentives. Read More

Relative merits of family businesses

Posted on 2009-12-01

THERE are many big issues facing family businesses. For a start, the family members are not only the shareholders and the board of directors, but the management of the company too. Read More

Reserve Bank lifts interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75pc

Posted on 2009-12-01

THE Reserve Bank has delivered Australian homeowners a pre-Christmas interest rate rise, which is the first time the central bank raised rates three months in a row. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-30

RP Data – Rismark Home Value Index Release Australian House Prices Rise Strongly in October after Sluggish September… Australia’s growth in home values rebounded in the month of October increasing by 1.4 Read More

34 Victoria Road rozelle

Posted on 2009-11-30

DEVELOP or OCCUPY DA approved mixed development Prominent location, only minutes from the Roof top parking for 11 vehicles. Exceptional location. Read More

412 Lyons Road, Five Dock

Posted on 2009-11-30

Office / Showroom for lease. 412 Lyons Road Five Dock Ideal corporate headquarters, with basement car park for 13 cars. Quality fitout, inlcuding executive offices, boardroom, work stations and eat-in kitchen Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-30

Lack of supply pushes rents higher. BIS Shrapnel is calling on all levels government to alleviate the soaring costs of housing. The firm predicts renters will be forking out an extra $1.9 billion to landlords each year. Read More

Sign your lease before the boom

Posted on 2009-11-26

TENANTS should take advantage of low rents and attractive incentives, which are as high as 30%, in Sydney’s CBD office market before market conditions change. Read More

It pays to go green

Posted on 2009-11-25

The white paper, Refurbishing office assets in a down-cycle, said the move can help retain existing tenants and position assets ahead of the anticipated rebound in tenant demand in late 2011. Read More

Retail sales recovery ahead

Posted on 2009-11-25

RETAIL property investment sales are expected to recover in 2010, provided interest rates do not rise too high, according to CB Richard Ellis. Read More

AVJennings...they are back!

Posted on 2009-11-23

PROPERTY developer AV Jennings is poised to bounce back swiftly in FY2010 after avoiding a bloodbath in the real estate sector in the last year Read More

Business at disadvantage as tax system ranked 47th in world

Posted on 2009-11-21

AUSTRALIA\'S corporate tax system has limped into 47th place in the world, a new global survey has shown. The study by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank highlights the complexity of paying tax in Australia and has prompted Read More

Industrial Property News

Posted on 2009-11-20

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition 20 November 2009 - This week\'s edition covers... rpdata.com Market Activity Index Industry Market Wrap Article: Greatest annual rental growth Commercial: Sold in the CBD Read More

Shop 1 & 2/ 50 Victoria Road Drummoyne

Posted on 2009-11-19

Successfully SOLD at Auction! Read More

Shares up despite Wall St falls

Posted on 2009-11-19

THE share market has opened higher, led by mining and energy stocks despite a disappointing performance by Wall Street overnight. Read More

Twitter. Facebook and LinkedIn

Posted on 2009-11-18

Follow Us Now! Read More

The new wolf on the block

Posted on 2009-11-18

AUSTRALIA\'S biggest retailer Woolworths is the new wolf on the block in the hardware sector and the ghost at Caltex\'s -- attempted -- feast of Mobil service stations. Read More

\'No regrets\' bet for RBA

Posted on 2009-11-18

A THIRD official interest rate rise in two weeks is now likely. It\'s the \'no regrets\' option running down to the next inflation numbers at the end of January. Read More

Markets betting on a rate rise

Posted on 2009-11-18

MARKETS are tipping a third straight jump in interest rates next month after an upbeat assessment of the economy by the RBA. Read More

2A GEORGE STREET, LEICHHARDT

Posted on 2009-11-17

Industrial property for sale. 2a George Street, Leichhardt Showroom, Office, Warehouse, Factory Building Read More

61-63 VICTORIA ROAD, ROZELLE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Industrial property for lease. 61-63 Victoria Road, Rozelle. EYE OPENING LANDMARK!! Be seen in this fantastic building. Read More

300 PYRMONT BRIDGE ROAD, GLEBE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Commercial property for lease. 300 Pyrmont Bridge Road, Forest Lodge Floor Area: 900-2000sqm Rental: $300/sqm + GST Read More

50 VICTORIA ROAD,, DRUMMOYNE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Retail/ Commercial property For Sale, 50 Victoria Road Drummoyne. Occupy or Invest Corner position... Read More

314-316 NORTON STREET, LEICHHARDT

Posted on 2009-11-17

Commercial property for lease 314-316 Norton Street, Leichhardt Wide quality glassed shopfronts frontage Read More

39 NORTON STREET, LEICHHARDT

Posted on 2009-11-17

Commercial property for lease. 3/39 Norton Street, Leichhardt. Situated in the heart of Norton Street retail strip. adjacent to the Italian forum and Norton plaza. Read More

206 - 210 VICTORIA ROAD, DRUMMOYNE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Commercial property for sale. 206-210 Victoria Road, Drummoyne. Substantial well maintained commercial building. Located with high profile Read More

135 VICTORIA ROAD, DRUMMOYNE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Retail property for lease. A fantastic opportunity to secure a premium retail showroom located within Drummoynes newest commercial development. Read More

76-78 MAJORS BAY ROAD CONCORD, CONCORD

Posted on 2009-11-17

Two Shops - Two Incomes - Two long term tenants with long leases. Flight Centre (National Tenant) New 7 year lease from 28/01/2009 Read More

111-115 PERCIVAL ROAD, STANMORE

Posted on 2009-11-17

Investment Property For Sale. 111-115 Percival Road Stanmore. High Yield Investment A unique opportunity to purchase four brand new shops Read More

70 PARRAMATTA ROAD, CAMPERDOWN

Posted on 2009-11-17

Retail Investment For Sale. 66 - 70 Parramatta Road Camperdown PRIME RETAIL INVESTMENT! 458sqm of prime ground floor showroom. Huge window frontage exposure to Parramatta Road. Read More

34 Victoria Road, Rozelle

Posted on 2009-11-17

Development Site, For Sale 34 Victoria Road Rozelle Read More

Retail Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-17

Sydney CBD fashionable for high end retailers. SYDNEY’S King and George Streets precinct is evolving into New York’s famed Fifth Avenue. Read More

Industrial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-17

Industry welcomes marriage. THE property industry has welcomed the New South Wales Government’s decision to merge the planning and infrastructure portfolio. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-16

A beginner\'s guide to commercial property. COMMERCIAL property investment is not just about investors with deep pockets and buying tall buildings. Read More

Big profit from nature protection

Posted on 2009-11-15

Money invested in protecting nature can bring huge financial returns, according to a major investigation into the costs and benefits of the natural world. Read More

UPDATE 1-Buffett says his businesses bottomed

Posted on 2009-11-15

NEW YORK, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Billionaire Warren Buffett said that while his businesses have bottomed after the worst financial crisis in decades, he saw few upticks and ruled out a buoyant holiday season. Read More

Obama seeks rebalancing, Asia warns of protectionism

Posted on 2009-11-15

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama called on Saturday for a new strategy to rebalance global growth, but leaders around the Pacific rim, gathering for a weekend summit, took aim at signs of U.S. trade protectionism. Read More

Big bonuses giving short-term boost to hard-hit savers

Posted on 2009-11-14

Big bonuses giving short-term boost to hard-hit savers If you search the best buys for a top-paying easy-access account, the likelihood is that it will include a large introductory bonus as a significant part of the rate. Read More

Buy-to-let mortgage market shows signs of recovery

Posted on 2009-11-14

Buy-to-let mortgage market shows signs of recovery The buy-to-let mortgage market grew for the first time in two years during the third quarter, new figures show Read More

Europe s recession officially ends as Britain lags behind

Posted on 2009-11-14

Europe s recession officially ends as Britain lags behind. Europe s worst recession since World War II is over, figures showed today, leaving UK companies hoping that a recovery on the continent will help drag Britain from the downturn. Read More

Industrial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-13

China hints at currency appreciation before Barack Obama arrives China has moved to defuse a currency spat with the United States by hinting that it will allow the yuan to rise in the coming months. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-12

Property executive take up to 30% pay cut. 2009 has been a horror year for people working in the property sector. The Avdiev Property Remuneration report November update has found the luckier senior executives have only had their pay frozen, Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-10

Brace for a stronger dollar, Crean warns. The strength of the Australian dollar reflects market views and manufacturers should prepare for a stronger currency, Trade Minister Simon Crean says. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-10

Mining digs Perth offices out of a hole. PERTH’S office market has received a much needed boost from the $43 billion Gorgon LNG project. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-09

Commonwealth Bank Says Bad Debts Have Peaked. MELBOURNE, Australia — Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. reported a strong bounce in first-quarter earnings and, like its rivals, said that charges for bad loans have probably peaked amid improving economic conditions. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-09

Job ads on the rise Tasmania\'s economy continues to rebound strongly, with newspaper job advertisements up almost two per cent last month. The latest survey by the ANZ bank shows the ads in local papers\' increased for the seventh month in a row, to just under 500 a week. Read More

Retail Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-08

KEENSIAN ECONOMICS by Steven Keen It\'s the leverage, stupid So I\'m walking to Kosciusko – now that the ABS Established House Price Index has cracked its September 2008 peak of 131 to reach an all-time high of 134.4 (as of September one year later). Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-06

RBA Says Australian GDP to Grow Faster, Rates to Rise. Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Australia’s central bank said the nation’s economy will expand at more than three times the pace forecast in August, and signaled it will continue to lead the world in raising interest rates. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-06

Wayne Swan seeks 10-year tax plan. THE Rudd government is preparing to fight next year\'s election campaign seeking a mandate for a 10-year program of tax reform. Read More

Retail Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-05

INVESTORS have shrugged off the global financial crisis and are increasingly optimistic about the retail property sector. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-05

Building approvals rose by a seasonally-adjusted 2.7 per cent in September after falling in the previous month, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Read More

Retail Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-05

Australian dollar loses half a cent after CPI data. The Australian dollar closed more than half a cent lower after official inflation data quashed hopes of a bigger than expected 50 basis point interest rate rise next week. Read More

Retail Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-04

US Fed Likely to Signal Economy Improving, Keep Interest Rates Low. USA Federal Reserve officials may today indicate their $1 trillion injection into the economy is helping to revive growth without requiring an increase in interest rates from near zero, economists said. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-04

Rudd warns banks on interest rates hike.AAP Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wishes retail banks would cut interest rates as quickly as they raise them in response to official cash rate moves. Read More

Commercial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-04

Rates moving towards to 5%. THE Reserve Bank will steadily raise interest rates to 5% by the end of next year, economists have predicted. As widely tipped the RBA yesterday increased interest rates by 25 basis points, for the second month in a row after the initial move in October, to 3.5%. Read More

Industrial Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-04

Unlisted property values nearing recovery. OPINION: SINCE peaking in late 2007, unlisted commercial property prices have fallen by around 20%. However, values are at or close to the bottom, as upward pressure on yields is fading and demand/supply fundamentals are improving. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-03

You are paying too much tax if you are not capitalising on the Tax Depreciation advantages available to you. Did you know that 1 in 3 investors don\'t even have a Tax Depreciation Schedule? Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-02

Govt slashes insulation rebate by 25%. The federal government has slashed its home ceiling insulation rebate by 25 per cent. Environment Minister Peter Garrett on Sunday announced Labor would reduce the maximum subsidy for the $3.9 billion program from $1,600 to $1,200 from midnight (AEDT). Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-02

Buyers not spooked by imminent rate rise. THE threat of an imminent interest rate rise this week has not discouraged buyers from the residential property auction market. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-01

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner Gerard Cole Property Consultants located in Sydney Australia Inner West provides all sales and leasing services for retail, commercial and industrial real estate in the following areas plus many more: Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-11-01

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West. Sentiment toward real estate shows signs of improvement. The latest RICS Global Property Survey published today (29th October 2009) is noticeably more upbeat than the second quarter report both in terms of the lettings environment and investment activity. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-31

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West. RP Data – Rismark Home Value Index Release Australia’s housing recovery moved sideways in the month of September with national home values flat after quarterly capital gains peaked in the March quarter Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-30

Average Sydney house price is $610,000.THE value of an average Sydney house has broken through the $600,000 barrier for the first time. Six years after first reaching the half-a-million-dollar mark, Sydneys median house price hit $610,500 in September. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-29

Stimulus spurs on GPT retail sales. GPT’S $5 billion retail property portfolio has enjoyed solid trading thanks largely to the Federal Government handouts. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-28

Former judge serves on Taskforce bench A FORMER judge of the NSW Land and Environment Court has been appointed the new chairman of the Urban Taskforce. Read More

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-27

GPT sells hotels at a rack rate AUSTRALIA’S third largest listed property trust GPT Group has sold its prized Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Sydney CBD for a discount price of $185 million. Read More

Property News interest rates on the rise.

Posted on 2009-10-26

Fixed rates rise as banks ready for RBA hikes All of the big four banks have raised fixed rate mortgages as they anticipate more interest rate rises from the Reserve Bank in the months ahead. Read More

Property News Money for nothing

Posted on 2009-10-26

Property News Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West. THE well known Dire Straits song Money For Nothing could have been written about Australias compulsory housing warranty insurance regime. Read More

Property News Innerwest

Posted on 2009-10-23

Gerard Cole Property Consultants located in Sydney Australia Inner West provides all sales and leasing services for retail, commercial and industrial real estate in the following areas plus many more: Read More

Property News Where to now for first-time buyers?

Posted on 2009-10-23

Rates going up, grants scaled back Lower-range properties could ease down Rate rises should be in capacity for buyers Read More

Momentum swings for industrial

Posted on 2009-10-22

INVESTORS’ optimism is returning in the industrial property sector and as prices begin to stabilise. Read More

Inner West Sydney

Posted on 2009-10-21

Inner West Sydney Gerard Cole Property Consultants located in Sydney Australia Inner West provides all sales and leasing services for retail, commercial and industrial real estate in the following areas plus many more: Read More

More transparency for wholesale property funds

Posted on 2009-10-21

NVESTORS will be able to make more informed decisions from now on, thanks to an increase in transparency Read More

Gerard Cole Property Consultants Inner West

Posted on 2009-10-20

Gerard Cole Property Consultants located in Sydney\'s Inner West Australia provides all sales and leasing services for retail, commercial and industrial real estate in the following areas plus many more: Read More

What goes down must come up

Posted on 2009-10-20

PRIME office rents in Sydney and Melbourne will bottom by the end of the year and growth will return during 2010, as vacancy rates are no longer expected to hit double digits, according to agents. Read More

Morgan Stanley Said to Mull Australian Property IPO

Posted on 2009-10-19

Oct. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Investa Property Group, an Australian real estate firm owned by Morgan Stanley funds, plans to raise as much as A$750 million ($680 million) in an initial public offering, two people familiar with the matter said Read More

US budget deficit hits record $1.4 trillion

Posted on 2009-10-18

THE US Government closed its 2009 fiscal year with a record $US1.417 trillion ($1.54 trillion) budget deficit as it poured resources to contain a serious financial crisis that plunged the nation into recession. Read More

Zoom in on a property boom

Posted on 2009-10-17

CITY loft-style apartments, beachfront huts, sprawling ranches and even run-down fibro cottages are in vogue. Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2009-10-16

The rpdata.com weekly Market Activity Index has now passed its peak indicating that pre-listings activity from real estate professionals is starting to slow. Despite the modest fall in the Index, activity from real estate professionals on rpdata.com remain much higher than earlier in the year Read More

House prices could jump by 20% - mortgage insurer

Posted on 2009-10-15

THE strong housing market activity in late 2009 is set to continue into 2010 with ongoing positive incentives for property investors and home owners entering the market, according to a report by leading mortgage insurer QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance Read More

No growth for rental properties

Posted on 2009-10-14

THE median asking rents for houses and units have remained unchanged, for the second consecutive quarter -- recording zero percent growth, according to Australian Property Monitors. Read More

Direct property remains most reliable

Posted on 2009-10-13

DIRECT property investments continue to deliver the most stable returns to investors despite the volatility in the marketplace over the past two years, according to a report. Read More

How to beat any rate rises

Posted on 2009-10-12

Whether the Reserve Bank raises rates this week or makes do with another warning, giving the mortgage a makeover is a good idea. Read More

Strong economy prompts Australian base rate rise

Posted on 2009-10-09

Australia\'s central bank has raised its main interest rate in recognition of the country\'s economic recovery, of which the housing market revival has been one element. Read More

Construction activity regains strength

Posted on 2009-10-08

THE construction sector has finally risen above the critical level for the first time in seven months. However, the Australian PCI Index said the worst is not over. Read More

Second rate hike on the horizon

Posted on 2009-10-07

THE honeymoon for low interest rates is over, economists said the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates again in December after lifting it by 0.25% to 3.25% yesterday. Read More

Property market set for upswing

Posted on 2009-10-06

Property market set for upswing Higher prices and interest rates look set to whack affordability in the housing market hard. Read More

Wall St rises after positive economic data

Posted on 2009-10-06

Reuters NEW YORK - US stocks have added to gains, pushing the Nasdaq and Standard & Poor\'s 500 indexes up more than 1 percent on positive economic data, as financials rose following positive broker comments on banks. Read More

AMP teams up with Brookfield

Posted on 2009-10-05

AMP Capital Investors has partnered Brookfield Investment Management to create a $6 billion global listed real estate and infrastructure group, AMP Capital Brookfield. Read More

Property investments yield high returns

Posted on 2009-10-04

As economic conditions improve globally, the cheer is coming back into the property market. Analysts believe it is a good time for those looking Read More

A building surge around the corner

Posted on 2009-10-03

With all the discussion this week surrounding some larger than anticipated population counts and the debate on housing shortages, it is worth taking a look at how the state\'s developers have been responding Read More

Gandel throws money at Charter Hall

Posted on 2009-10-02

MELBOURNE property group Gandel has increased its control in Charter Hall and its managed funds Read More

Billions pour back into property

Posted on 2009-10-01

COMMERCIAL property investment activity has improved markedly in the third quarter, posting the highest sales in 12 months. Read More

Finance still a problem but sentiment improving

Posted on 2009-09-30

LACK of finance remains the biggest obstacle for the construction industry, but sentiment is recovering and employment prospects are also improving, according to Davis Langdon Read More

No slowdown for Hansen Yuncken

Posted on 2009-09-29

COMMERCIAL construction company Hansen Yuncken has defied the slowdown in the construction sector and scored a record turnover of $943 million for 2009 financial year Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2009-09-28

RP Data’s market activity index has flattened over the last week, after recording consistent improvements since the start of June. Read More

We need a house price crash

Posted on 2009-09-28

AUSTRALIANS continue to live under the illusion that the housing market has avoided a global correction and needs a “United States style” house price crash to restore balance to the market, according to a university study Read More

Homeowners opt for variable home loans

Posted on 2009-09-27

Variable home loans are taking over as the home loan type of choice, as more Australians choose variable rate mortgages over fixed rate mortgages, according to new data from RateCity Read More

Five days till grant gets cut

Posted on 2009-09-25

THE first stage of the phasing out of the First Home Owners Grant Boost will happen in a little over a week, on September 30. Read More

Lack of funding slows retirement sector

Posted on 2009-09-24

THE retirement sector has not been immune to the credit crunch, according to a joint study by Ernst & Young and the Australian Property Institute. Read More

Retail properties fly off the shelf

Posted on 2009-09-23

RETAIL properties are selling like hot cakes. In the latest deal a Chinese based investor has paid $50.90 million for a sub regional centre in Queensland Read More

Economy ready to fire, experts say

Posted on 2009-09-22

The first anniversary of the onslaught of the global financial and economic crisis has been marked by a run of positive economic leads suggesting Australia will be the first developed country to emerge from the downturn. Read More

Weekly Property Pulse Professional Edition

Posted on 2009-09-21

The Market Activity Index has improved over the last week, showing a 17 percent increase in the level of real estate agent activity on rpdata.com since the start of June. Read More

Bottoms up... investors ready to buy

Posted on 2009-09-21

INVESTORS believe the Australia’s property market has past the bottom of the cycle and is now heading towards a recovery and now is the best to start buying. Read More

Sub $5m industrial remains buoyant

Posted on 2009-09-18

An investment property recently sold in Silverwater, in Western Sydney. The two level building was sold for $2.7 million. The price equated to $1,323.52 per sqm Read More

Taking on the banks

Posted on 2009-09-17

Today I am going to take on Steve Bartholomeusz, Andrew Cornell (The Australian Financial Review), Alan Wood (The Australian), and the RBA. Oh, and I forgot to add the four major banks And let me be clear about one thing: I aint taking no prisoners (cue Rambo pose). Read More

RP Data’s Market Activity

Posted on 2009-09-15

RP Data’s Market Activity index again rose to new heights last week as real estate agents scramble to prepare properties for the spring market place. The Index, which measures the level of real estate agent activity in the market place, Read More

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY SECTOR ON THE REBOUND

Posted on 2009-09-15

Industrial property demand has found a base and is holding up reasonably well while the supply cycle is swiftly drawing to an end. Read More

Listed property trusts turn around

Posted on 2009-09-14

LISTED property trusts have risen by 64 per cent since the market\'s March trough, well ahead of the 46 per cent boost for the general equities market. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index, which is made up of listed property stocks, bottomed at 554.9 points on March 9, but closed at almost 900 on Friday. Read More

Private investors return to commercial property By Lucy Warwick-Ching

Posted on 2009-09-12

An increase in appetite from private investors for commercial property has triggered the launch of a number of new funds from investment houses keen to benefit from the change in sentiment. Read More

Industry Market Wrap

Posted on 2009-09-11

Industry Market Wrap In data released this week, housing finance commitments fell over July as first home buyer showed the first evidence of pulling back. Non-first home buyer loan commitments increased over the month as upgraders stepped up their activity. Read More

House sales up by one-third in June quarter

Posted on 2009-09-11

THE residential property market rebounded in the past year with house sales up by almost a third across the nation, a leading analyst says. The number of houses sold across Australia was 130,000 in the June quarter, up 32 per cent from the corresponding period in 2008, RP Data said. Read More

Mortgage News

Posted on 2009-09-10

After rapid rate reductions since September last year the (RBA) has decided to leave interest rates on hold - for the sixth consecutive month. Read More

Goodman closes $1.3bn capital raising

Posted on 2009-09-10

By a staff reporter Industrial property trust Goodman Group Ltd has closed the retail component of its $1.3 billion capital raising. Read More

Save Money Now With Your Tax Depreciation Schedule

Posted on 2009-09-09

You are paying too much tax if you are not capitalising on the Tax Depreciation advantages available to you. Did you know that 1 in 3 investors don\'t even have a Tax Depreciation Schedule? Read More

Posted on 2009-09-09

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