With eye-watering prices becoming a feature of everyday life in Sydney’s real estate market, those buying houses will no doubt be looking for some kind of relief. New research from BIS Shrapnel could come as a breath of fresh air given the red hot real estate conditions, with the firm predicting that markets across Australia will slow over the … Read more »

If there was one sector of the economy that has enjoyed impressive growth in the last year, it’s residential construction. The building industry has been continuing on its upward streak for many months now, helping to supply homes to match the frantic rate of residential sales, particular in New South Wales.

New lending figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics … Read more »

When you’re considering buying a house or apartment, there are many things that can enter into your mind. Pricing is probably at the forefront, alongside the lifestyle and location you’d like to lead in your new home.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has some encouraging news for buyers, revealing that the number of building approvals hit a year-to-year high in … Read more »

If there has been one constant in the real estate market over the past few years, it’s been ongoing debate over interest rates. Each month the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) keeps home buyers, sellers and investors alike on the edge of their seat, and its July official cash rate decision has been no different.

Cash rate goes unchanged

Unfortunately, the latest decision … Read more »

Australia is fast becoming a nation of renters. With property prices rising, a lot of households are either choosing to remain on the renter treadmill, or finding it is the most appropriate choice in the current climate. In fact, the proportion of households who live in rental accommodation has grown considerably. The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Year Book found that … Read more »

When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to cut the cash rate in May, there was a collective sigh of relief – from those buying a house or apartment, at least. Housing finance has become incredibly cheap, allowing households to pay off their loans more quickly and encouraging others to make their first, crucial steps into the property … Read more »

If you’re on the cusp of selling your house but aren’t quite sure if it’s the right time to make the leap, then new figures from CoreLogic RP Data could give you all the incentive you need. While it’s hardly a secret that the price of a home in the New South Wales capital has continued to soar high … Read more »

Demand for property comes down to a number of factors, not least of which is population growth. Record low interest rates have their part to play, but a growing population also contributes to rapidly rising demand for property. An ever-expanding population can sometimes create as many issues as it solves – while it stimulates job creation, economic activity and construction … Read more »

One of the common threads in all the talk about real estate affordability has been tax – particularly stamp duty. The release of the federal government’s tax discussion paper earlier in the year raised the possibility of big changes to Australia’s tax framework and, since then, members of the housing industry have been quick to have their voices heard … Read more »

Property buyers throughout the country are keen to buy new homes, the latest figures suggest, which has been spurred on by reductions to the official cash rate (OCR).

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) first lowered the OCR to 2.25 per cent in February, which was followed by another 25 basis point cut this month. As a result, homebuyers have been … Read more »