With all the hype around the mining industry, anyone would be forgiven for wondering where the benefits are being seen – housing markets are generally slow, consumer confidence is low and everyone is saving rather than spending.
However, the good news on the resources front is that the mining boom is real and many housing markets around the resource and agricultural regions of the country are benefiting from strong demand, which is driving up transaction numbers and home prices. Continue reading Go west to invest for best property growth prospects→
If you are a tenant feeling under pressure from high rental costs, it will be no surprise to learn that the asking price of rents have soared in many areas in the past year.
In a bit of good news, however, there was a slight slowdown in some areas of NSW in the three months to the end of June, according to data from Australian Property Monitors, a Fairfax Media-owned company.
In Sydney, where the rental market remains very tight rents are up 8.8 per cent to $650 for houses in the Botany Bay area, 8.4 per cent to $1000 a week in the Waverley area in the eastern suburbs, and 8.3 per cent to $650 in the Canada Bay area. However, by far the greatest increases occurred in country areas. Continue reading Country towns lead the way on rent increases→
Householders are being warned to watch out for scammers cold calling purporting to sell green products, or even offering them for free thanks to “rebates” in an effort to elicit funds or individuals’ bank account details.
The warning comes after earlier this month residents in northern Victoria received phone calls offering free solar panels thanks to their homes supposedly being rezoned by the council. Continue reading Scam alert for householders→
Startling figures out of NSW last week have confirmed what the public has suspected for months – that there are widespread faults in solar panel installations. And while many of these faults are minor, some are serious.
The issue extends nationwide, with no clear picture of the extent of installation problems across the states, and authorities are afraid that the public could panic and try to interfere with their own systems. Continue reading Faults found in NSW home solar systems→
Increased competition among Australian renters has led to extreme tactics being used to secure accommodation.
A new Consumer Insights Report by realestate.com.au has unearthed some alarming findings among renters, who are going to extreme lengths to secure a home due to a lack of quality rental accommodation on the market. Continue reading Desperate tactics used to secure rentals→
Now we know the starting price on carbon – $23 – a clearer picture is starting to form as to its impact on the property industry. Will it have a negative impact? That all depends on who you talk to.
The Housing Industry Association – a body that represents builders and the makers and suppliers of building products – remains opposed to a carbon pricing plan, arguing it will add $5000 to $6000 to the cost of a new house and land package – taking into account everything from the price of developing the land to fitting a kitchen cupboard handle. Continue reading Carbon tax on housing→
With all the hype around the mining industry, anyone would be forgiven for wondering where the benefits are being seen – housing markets are generally slow, consumer confidence is low and everyone is saving rather than spending.
