Buyers are always looking for a bargain. There’s something psychologically satisfying purchasing an item for a price that would, could, or should have been higher. Whether it’s an antique you happen across in an op shop, or something you pick up in a department store end of year sale, the feeling is the same. However […]
Whatever the fallout from the recent floods that primarily hit Queensland, but also affected other states, and the initial impact on the Australian economy, there’s unlikely to be a long-term detrimental effect on real estate prices – even for those homes sitting in some of the worst flood hit areas. The recovery after the Brisbane […]
The new year has arrived and most property analysts see rises ahead – albeit more moderate than experienced in early 2010. However speculation of a property crash has not diminished and the dominating headline throughout 2010 was affordability and the prospect Australia was building its own housing bubble. The housing crash in the United States […]
Considering the current flat market and negative press surrounding sales figures, only those vendors who need to sell in 2011 are likely to do so. However buyer demand looks set to increase now we have some clarity over increased banking competition, and the Reserve Bank of Australia indicating interest rates ‘may’ be on hold for […]
A sudden increase in the planned stock supply of inner-city apartments should have us singing if we’re to believe spruiked reports of a huge housing shortage. However while the need for affordable rental accommodation is growing, with recorded low vacancy rates in many inner city suburbs, high-rise apartments are unlikely to satisfy the large number […]
We’re in the downward phase of a typical market cycle that won’t last perpetually. The rate rise has been blamed for the lower clearance figures; however the drop in market activity has much more to do with buyer sentiment than affordability. Rate rises only have a major influence on first homebuyers who find it difficult […]
Tony Robinson’s nicely timed election proposal to ban ‘price-plus’ advertising cajoles purchasers into believing real steps are being made in their favour. However, no matter what Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) proposes, they cannot manipulate a selling agent to assist a prospective purchaser. Selling agents are contractually obliged to work in the best interests of the […]
Unless help is granted to our younger generations, the property market will split down the middle and turn the wheel on the long-term trend of home ownership. Despite lacklustre moves in recent median figures, RP Data recorded a bountiful 17.2 per cent rise in Australia’s residential median since the final quarter of 2008 and the […]
Another week passes by with yet more arguments on the wisdom of property investment, one of them being about whether or not this country really is facing a housing shortage. New reports of an extreme national house shortage recently hit the media, this time from Goldman Sachs which foresees a 250,000 housing shortfall by 2013. […]
We all know the old real estate adage ‘location, location, location’ and the careful consideration needed to ensure capital growth. However equally important is the position of a property within that location – an unwise choice can have significant consequences if you need to sell in a soft market. Homebuyers are often tempted to inspect […]
