Australians have installed more than 100,000 rooftop solar panels this year, more than in the entire previous decade, new data shows. The clean energy sector says it shows Australians are keen to do their bit in the battle against climate change. A report by Clean Energy Australia, released by the peak industry body today, provides [...]

A loophole allowing landlords to list tenants on ”bad tenant databases” for any reason is to be closed in the coming shake-up of home rental reforms which landlords say will do little to improve their position. But the Tenants’ Union said the new laws, which come into effect on January 31, included ”commonsense” reforms which [...]

Planning, research and good management will help you enjoy your investment. The purchase of your first investment property marks an exciting new financial phase in your life. It may also cause some butterflies as you venture into this unfamiliar territory. As with any first-time venture, you may well encounter some problems but here are some [...]

With many off-the-plan developments taking years to complete, buyers might want to reconsider how much deposit they put down on a flat they won’t occupy for a long time. Under the Sale of Land Act, a deposit cannot exceed 10 per cent of the purchase price of an OTP unit but that doesn’t mean the [...]

The Department of Planning has removed the requirement for a development application for more types of building work, including new houses and additions on small lots and on rural properties. It has also removed the blanket ban on quick approvals in some bushfire-prone, flood-prone and foreshore areas and will allow limited external works in heritage [...]

When you can tick all the boxes, you can rest easy that your home is ready for sale. There’s nothing like a list to provide motivation. And when you’re about to sell a home, you need that list more than ever to get things done and give your home that special “Wow!” factor before propective [...]

Disgruntled bank customers will be able to switch home loans with impunity from the middle of next year under an overhaul of the banking sector designed to break the dominance of the big banks. Treasurer Wayne Swan will announce today plans to ban mortgage exit fees – blamed for dampening competition by making it prohibitively [...]

There are actions every homeowner should take to help maximize the chances they have to sell their house. The following are the 6 measures that have been found to be most important when trying to sell your house. These are things that are simple and easy to accomplish with very little or no money at [...]

Unlike clothing, your home is built to last and styles should reflect that reality. A trap for the unwary renovator is being seduced by what Robin Boyd defined as the mesmerism of “fashion” and remaking your home into a showcase of the latest, most up-to-datest in design, detailing and decor. If your house looks like [...]

Moving to a far-flung location can seem like a great idea at the time. Many people consider the impact that such a move will have on jobs, what style / price of house they can get and just how lovely the lifestyle will be. But then there’s the friends and family factor. Just how hard [...]