Guest Contributors
-
Elite Agent
Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire return to lockdown: why we need to be vigilant
Philip Russo, Monash University and Brett Mitchell, University of Newcastle Metropolitan Melbourne and the shire of Mitchell will returned to Stage 3 stay-at-home restrictions as of midnight Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced, after 191 new cases were recorded in the state overnight - its highest ever daily case total. The lockdown means for the…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
HomeBuilder a potential win-win across six key areas
The federal government’s new HomeBuilder scheme offers eligible Australians money to renovate or build a home. While it’s attracted controversy, HomeBuilder does offer a much-needed opportunity to make old homes more energy-efficient. Research released in March showed the energy performance of housing must improve by an average 44-48% in the next decade for Australia to reach net…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
How a pandemic could improve the traditional workplace
Having had to rapidly adjust to working from home due to COVID-19, many people are now having to readjust to life back in the office. Many will have enjoyed aspects of what is sometimes called “distributed work”, but some may be dreading the return. So is there a middle ground? Could hybrid work arrangements, known…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Australia is under sustained cyber attack, warns the government. What’s going on, and what should businesses do?
By Mahmoud Elkhodr Lecturer in Information and Communication Technologies, CQUniversity Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison had some alarming news for Australians this morning: we are under cyber attack. He informed the nation the attacks “hadn’t just started”, and that Australian businesses and governments are being widely targeted. It is unclear why the government chose today…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
HomeBuilder misses a chance to make our homes perform better for us and the planet
The Federal Government’s new A$688 million HomeBuilder package might protect residential construction jobs but according to academics, it’s a missed opportunity to deliver sustainability benefits that would save owners money in the long run. In an article in The Conversation, senior lecturers Trivess Moore of RMIT and Tony Matthews of Griffith University argue the A$25,000 grant for new…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Housing policies need change as COVID-19 widens renter-owner divide
The renter-owner gap will widen Despite concerns about house prices plummeting, the spread of COVID-19 is exposing a widening gap in housing markets between those who own zero housing wealth (renters) and those with substantial housing wealth (owners). Australians with little to no housing wealth were already experiencing at least three key types of vulnerabilities…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
A two-step strategy for sheltering everyone
This article was co-authored by Bevan Warner, CEO of Launch Housing and Ron Wakefield, Professor of Construction, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, International, and Dean, School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, and was originally contributed to The Conversation. The original title was The need to house everyone has never been clearer. Here's a 2-step…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
The options so far for rent relief in Australia
What if I can't pay my rent? These are the options for rent relief in Australia Mark Giancaspro, University of Adelaide and David Brown, University of Adelaide You’ve lost income because of the coronavirus crisis and finding it hard to pay the bills. What if you can’t pay your rent? The short answer, if you…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Federal Government comes out swinging in round 2 of COVID-19 stimulus plan
Following on from last week's initial stimulus package, the Federal Government yesterday came out swinging with a second round of initiatives designed to support business through the challenge of COVID-19. Last week the Government announced support for business which included 50 per cent cashback on Pay As You Go Withholding (PAYGW), along with incentives to…
Read More » -
Opinion
How will coronavirus affect property prices?
Guest contributor: Nigel Stapledon, is a Research Fellow in Real Estate, Centre for Applied Economic Research, at UNSW The bottom line is it will be negative - prices will go down. People, up until now, have been talking about the property market developing a bit of momentum, with the interest cuts we had last year…
Read More » -
Opinion
The Australian Government is writing cheques to small business owners… this is how much you’ll get
Governments around the world are quickly responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. Italy has basically shut down it’s entire country. India has closed the borders and suspended all tourist visas. Both demand and supply chains are being disrupted, with many economists fearing the virus could trigger the next economic recession. In order to stave off a…
Read More » -
Sponsored Content
2020 – New decade, new challenges: How to stay relevant in the digital age
If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that the real estate industry is changing – and it’s happening fast. The rate of change is only accelerating and without a doubt will continue to do so in the decade ahead. Driven by new expectations of competitive pricing yet 24/7 personalised service, the sector sits…
Read More » -
Franchise News
R&W legend scoops the Directors’ Trophy at annual awards
Keiran Speed is what you’d call old school. Would never swear in front of a lady. He’ll tell you to your face what a place is worth, and he’d be right. Never raises his voice or talks himself up. Others will happily do that for him. Legend, or even icon, is how R&W chief auctioneer…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Financial wellness for agents: Mikaela Patterson
What’s the difference between success and financial wellness? In real estate, success is different from one individual to the next. It could mean pulling up at a listing presentation in the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster or opening an office in the adjoining postcode. For others, it’s taking every second Friday off to play golf. So what’s…
Read More » -
Brand Editorial
Photoelectric smoke alarms: A clearer picture
How can you tell the difference between smoke alarms? They don’t seem different when they are on the ceiling. Recent changes in the Queensland legislation state that all rental properties in Queensland are required to have smoke alarms that meet the new standard upgraded before 1 January 2022. In Queensland, photoelectric alarms must be used…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
No limits to real estate success in bush country: Troy Kearney
One of Century 21’s leading regional agents, Troy Kearney, believes that geography is no limitation for success in real estate. He shares his top tips for operating in the bush. Mr Kearney opened his office, Century 21 Bathurst Region, two years ago and during that short period achieved prestigious Double Centurion status, placing him amongst…
Read More » -
Case Studies
How to Succeed as a Real Estate Rookie: Jamie Smith
Coming from a small village in the south of England to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland with little more than a surfboard bag and some board shorts, it hasn’t taken Century 21 agent, Jamie Smith, very long to establish himself as a real estate identity in the Sunshine Coast region. Taking out the Rookie of the…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Negative Gearing: A Balancing Act
Bruce Oliver from Xynergy Realty in Melbourne says that while negative gearing doesn't necessarily help the affordability for first home-owners, it cannot be scrapped completely. The contentious topic of negative gearing is one that doesn’t seem to disappear, with the biggest question being what to do with negative gearing where housing affordability is an issue…
Read More » -
Brand Editorial
Cyber Liability Insurance: the Safety Net Real Estate Agents Need
At long last, the wider public is starting to realise that hackers aren’t hooded movie villains – they’re real people doing real damage across the globe, especially in Australia and especially to small businesses. Real estate agents, in particular, are prime targets for cyber-criminals due to a combination of factors, including the amount of valuable…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Landscaping Trends for 2018: Matt Leacy
What’s in? Texture, fire-pits, outdoor rooms, strip lighting, succulents, cactuses, cloud and sphere pruned plants. What’s out? Metal imitating timber. The return of texture “Texture in flooring is definitely coming back into vogue – and I see this becoming more popular in 2018,” says Matt. “For a while now, we’ve been in a bit of…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Is selling houses online the way of the future?
You’ve heard of selling your pre-loved furniture or clothes on eBay, but would you sell a house through an online bidding process? Recently, our Stockdale & Leggo Ringwood office utilised online offer management system Click & Bid, to sell a home located at 3/7 Fortuna Avenue, Croydon, by private treaty, achieving a result well in…
Read More » -
National
First time buyers entering the market but face long battle to save deposit
These are the findings of a national report released today by Bankwest, who note 94,135 properties were bought by first home buyers in the year to August 2017. The figure reflects an increase of 5.6% year-on-year since 2015, and accounts for 14.3% of all purchases recorded from January to August. Noting these were encouraging signs…
Read More » -
Brand Editorial
From Property Manager to Entrepreneur– what does it take?
Is being a great property manager sufficient grounding to go into business for yourself? Or, does it take more than experience, talent and industry knowledge? What makes one business succeed and another fail? We have all seen evidence of sports stars failing at coaching, or your star residential salesperson not cutting it as a Sales…
Read More » -
Opinion
The Sydneysider’s guide to renting; based on RAI findings
Property commentator and valuer Anna Porter looks at the Rental Affordability Index (RAI), released on November 29, and what it really means for Sydney’s renters and prospective house buyers. BAD NEWS, LET’S GET IT OUT OF THE WAY “Firstly, the most curious part of this data is that the only ‘affordable’ location within Sydney catchment…
Read More » -
Opinion
The Truth about Clearance Rates: David Holmes
With price growth slowing in Australia’s biggest housing markets, many sellers have been pondering what is the best strategy for a strong sales result. Prospective sellers keenly eye the auction clearance rate as a leading market barometer, and with a bumper volume of properties to go under the hammer this weekend, property pundits will have…
Read More » -
Real Estate Industry News
Rising buyer activity points to a stronger Darwin property market.
“Compared to 12 months ago we have double and even triple the number of groups at each open home on a Saturday,” said Glenn Grantham, General Manager, Raine & Horne Darwin. “Around 75% of buyers are savvy locals, who have been at our open homes regularly over the last six months. “They recognise that a…
Read More » -
Supplier News
Rentvestment hotspots in Australia for under $600,000
Rentvesting now accounts for one third of all Australian property investments, accounting for $202 billion on loan. With Australian property prices rising by 618% over the past 30 years and national incomes failing to keep up, the rentvestment trend is gaining traction according to Mozo property expert Steve Jovcevski. “The Australian housing market has undergone…
Read More » -
Brand Editorial
How to protect your reputation when things go wrong
Every real estate agent understands that the process of buying and selling property is complex, and the stakes are high. Agents are entrusted with the effective transfer of substantial assets, and clients expect flawless service at every point. When things go wrong, tensions can run high. Professional Indemnity insurance could be the key to protecting…
Read More » -
Industry News
From restaurant failure to real estate success story: Ivan Tandyo
The last thing you’d associate with the co-founder of a thriving real estate agency would be the story of a failing restaurateur. However, for Ivan Tandyo this was just the start of his journey towards successfully starting and managing Xynergy Realty. Now managing nearly 2,000 properties, and holding its own as a competitive player in…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Fair Work Commission Hands Down Award Review Decision
The Fair Work Act 2009 requires the Fair Work Commission to undertake a review of all modern pay awards as soon as possible after the four-year anniversary of commencing operation (which was 1 January 2010). The purpose of the review is to make sure the award continues to be a fair and relevant set of terms…
Read More » -
Opinion
Common misconceptions debunked about the overseas investor: Ivan Tandyo
It’s hard to deny that house prices in Melbourne and Sydney are through the roof. And it’s not uncommon to hear people blame the government’s ‘relaxed’ rules for foreign investment in Australia. And more often than not, overseas investors are misunderstood and seen as purely negative. People are quick to make assumptions and get angry…
Read More » -
Selling and Marketing Property
The Magnificent Seven tips for tip-top window displays
Standing out from the crowd and drawing people in has been part of the marketing and sales mantra of all organisations down the ages – and with increased competition, new technologies and a discerning and time-poor consumer the realities of the modern-day landscape, it has never been more important. And as Mark Carrick, VitrineMedia Australia’s…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
Off-Market is the New ‘On’ Market: Liane Fletcher
Australia has long had a love affair with property and the predominant East Coast method of sale has been by public auction, a quick and clean process that has brought excellent results over recent years in a rising market. While there is little doubt auctions will remain popular, the recent cooling of the property market…
Read More » -
Selling and Marketing Property
Best Practice: Some Advice for Creating Better Digital Ads
We’ve had the privilege of serving over a billion ad impressions on behalf of over 40,000 real estate agents. And in that time, we’ve been asked over and over again: what are the best practices for these ads? Here are our top tips: DO INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION. Your prospects need to be told…
Read More » -
Elite Agent
13 signs your brand needs a full make-over
Just as we humans sometimes need a makeover, so do brands. Makeovers of brands can vary on a scale from a minor refresh to a full rebrand or new brand name. Recently we have seen refreshes of known industry brands such as Barry Plant and hockingstuart, and Ray White. A refresh or rebrand is a powerful…
Read More »
