Search Results for: first-home buyers

  • Thought Leaders Podcast

    Episode 3: Real Estate Awards, Virtual Reality, Storytelling, Knob turning and Anniversaries

    Weekly wrap: Samantha McLean and Mark Edwards recap the week that was. ‘Elevate’ is the new official podcast of Elite Agent Magazine for real estate industry sales professionals, property managers, and leaders. Each episode, we will bring you behind the scenes coaching, news analysis, exclusive interviews, technology, and more to help you list more, sell more, and elevate your results.…

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  • FRANCHISE NEWS

    Barry Plant Croydon under new leadership

    Matthew has been the director Of Barry Plant Lilydale for 11 years and takes over ownership of Barry Plant Croydon in the neighbouring suburb from Geoff Thompson, who has owned and operated the office for almost 30 years. Geoff will still be involved in the business through the rental department. Matthew said he jumped at the opportunity to buy Barry…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Affordable housing south of Perth is key to real estate turnaround: Raine & Horne

    That’s according to Craig Abbott, General Manager WA, Raine & Horne, who says the availability of affordable homes south of Perth with good rental yields will assist in getting the market back on track. “There is plenty of news suggesting that Perth’s real estate market is in a rebalancing phase,” Mr Abbott said. “I think it’s too early to call…

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  • Real Estate News

    RBA leaves rates on hold in August 2017

    In his statement, RBA governor Dr Philip Lowe expressed a degree of concern about the impact a stronger Australian dollar is having on economic activity. The Australian dollar exchange rate remains at above 80 US cents. “The higher exchange rate is expected to contribute to subdued price pressures [inflation] in the economy,” Dr Lowe said. He also commented on the…

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  • Real Estate News

    Ray White reports increase in results for June 2017

    Ray White this week released the White Paper which reflects on annual results and reported a total of $4.3 billion in sales across the Group for the month of June 2017. This result is a 20 per cent increase on last June’s results, which is notable given that June is normally a slower month and there was plenty of distraction last…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Investor housing finance on downward trend

    Finance approvals for investor housing are on a downward trend, according to the latest housing finance figures released by the ABS. The value of investment housing commitments decreased by 1.5 per cent in May in trend terms. This follows a fall from April 2017 and is well down from its 2015 peak. REIA President Malcolm Gunning said the May figures…

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  • Real Estate News

    New home and first home buyer lending bounces up in May

    First-home buyers have come back into the market, according to ABS housing finance data which shows new home lending increased in May this year. The ABS has released the Housing Finance data for May 2017, which shows new home lending increased during that month. Housing Industry Association’s principal economist Tim Reardon said lending to first-home buyers coincided with an increase…

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  • Elite Agent

    How agents can get traction on Facebook: Josh Pyatt

    For a modern real estate agent, Facebook marketing is highly important. It attracts plenty of business if utilised correctly. But are you maximising and using Facebook to the best of its ability? Real estate coach Josh Pyatt has seen many agents’ Facebook pages with an audience and followers who aren’t relevant to them and their market and examines the pro’s and…

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  • Real Estate News

    Fewer new homes and apartments in the pipeline in May: HIA

    Data released by the ABS shows there has been a decline in housing and apartment approvals over May 2017, raising questions on growing demands for housing by first-home buyers. The number of dwellings approved fell 1.9 percent in May 2017. In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for construction of new homes fell by 5.6 percent in May, driven by a fall…

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  • Real Estate News

    Wrap up – What’s new for FY 18: Samantha McLean

    July 1 is a date in everyone’s calendar. Not only is it the start of the new financial year, and the halfway point in the calendar year, but also the date when many of the state and federal budget initiatives come into effect. Here is a roundup of what’s changed around the country and in each state when the clock…

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  • Real Estate News

    First home buyers are big winners of NSW budget at expense of foreign investors

    First-home buyers are the big winners in NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s first state budget, which was delivered on Tuesday. In a budget that the Treasurer labelled the “envy of the Western world”, housing affordability was a key issue along with health and schools. The Treasurer said in his speech that part of the $4.3 billion housing affordability package includes strategies…

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  • Real Estate News

    Stamp duty concessions are reverse engineering supply and demand: Douglas Driscoll

    Starr Partners CEO Douglas Driscoll is calling for more justification around the NSW Government’s solution for housing affordability after it revealed no concessions would be afforded to buyers making property purchases over $800,000. The measures, taken to cabinet last week, proposed stamp duty would be abolished on all homes up to $650,000 and relief to buyers of homes up to…

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  • Starr Partners continues rapid growth with new Miller office

    Australian boutique group, Starr Partners, have further extended their presence in Sydney’s South West with the opening of a new office in Miller. The move comes as recent CoreLogic Property Research revealed median house prices in the Liverpool region have increased by 9.6 per cent per annum in the 20 years to Dec 2016, making it one of the top…

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  • Elite Agent

    2017 Budget preview – What’s in it for housing: Andrew Cocks

    Scott Morrison’s 2017-18 Federal Budget would have to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. Speculation about its content has generated enormous media coverage, as well as a lot of angst in response to the leaks and red herrings on the subject of housing affordability. It’s all the more remarkable given that the Commonwealth Government has limited means…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    Treasurer’s pre-budget comments considered positive by industry experts

    In a key pre-budget address to the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Treasurer Scott Morrison reaffirmed the Coalition’s strident opposition to changing negative gearing tax concessions, plus a drive to increase private investment in the supply of housing. Key points in Morrison’s Address No disruption to current negative gearing policies (as this would come at a cost to renters)…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    RBA leaves cash rate unchanged at 1.5 percent

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.5 percent after its monthly meet on Tuesday. RBA governor Philip Lowe said the Australian economy is continuing its transition following the end of the mining investment boom. “Recent data are consistent with ongoing moderate growth. Most measures of business confidence are at, or above,…

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  • Elite Agent

    Housing affordability – a simple problem with a complex solution: Rob Ward

    The exponential growth of median prices in our capital cities over recent years has seen the issue of housing affordability permanently embed itself in the headlines. It’s a hot topic for consumers, the property industry and governments alike. Di Jones Real Estate CEO Rob Ward asks: how will future generations ever afford their own homes? “Housing out of reach”, “The…

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  • Real Estate News

    REINSW calls on NSW to follow Victoria’s lead on stamp duty

    A decision by the Victorian Government to abolish stamp duty for first homebuyers for purchases below $600,000 should propel the New South Government to also meaningfully tackle housing affordability. REINSW President John Cunningham said premier Gladys Berejiklian must put meaning behind her assertion that housing affordability is the number one priority for her government. “Victoria has acted,” Mr Cunningham said.…

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  • Real Estate News

    Foreign investors leaving investment properties vacant

    The full impact of foreign investment on Australia’s housing crisis is yet to be seen across the Eastern seaboard according to Douglas Driscoll, CEO of Starr Partners. Scores of foreign investors are acquiring property in desirable metropolitan areas only to leave them uninhabited, estimating the number of unoccupied dwellings in Sydney to be more than 200,000.We know that the current affordability…

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  • Real Estate Newselite agent news room

    QLD Treasurer Rejects REIQ Proposal to Broaden the First Home Buyer Scheme

    The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) has publicly recorded its disappointment in the State Government that they would not be broadening their first buyer home grant to established homes. REIQ chief Antonia Mercorella said this was evidence that the State Government was not listening to the needs of regional Queenslanders. “However, our concern is for the long-term impact and…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    REIQ urges Queensland’s state treasurer to expand first-home grants to include established homes

    The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) is lobbying hard to have the state’s first home owners’ grant extended to include built homes in regional areas where growth has been slow since the mining downturn. REIQ chief executive Antonia Mercorella in a strongly worded letter to Queensland State Treasurer Chris Pitt believes that the expansion of the grant to include…

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  • Real Estate News

    First Home Owner’s Grant fails to help regional QLD, says REIQ

    The Queensland Government’s First Home Owner grant, which was recently boosted from $15,000 to $20,000, has provided limited support where it is needed most – regional Queensland’s established housing market. REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella said while the grant was welcome as a tool to help first-home buyers get into the market, it did not deliver help where it was needed…

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  • INDUSTRY NEWS

    REIQ offers expertise on Queensland real estate market

    The REIQ will be opening its doors and welcoming property buyers and investors to its free Experts Guide to Buying Property seminar at REIQ HQ, Coorparoo, October 22, 2016. The seminar, now in its third year, offers detailed, helpful information for anyone looking to buy or invest in the Queensland property market. Presenters will talk on a range of property…

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  • Real Estate News

    State Of Australia’s Property Market

    WEAK CONSUMER SENTIMENT and growing economic uncertainty are weighing on Australia’s property markets, as evidenced by a markedly slower growth and, in many cases, even falling values. However, there’s an upside to the market downturn. Nila Sweeney, Managing Editor of Property Market Insider, explains. NO MATTER HOW SOME people might try to spin it, there’s no denying the fact that,…

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  • EPM

    Top 5 Apps for Australian Real Estate Agents

    Smartphone applications are changing the way real estate professionals operate. With thousands of property applications available, real estate agents and property managers now have a multitude of tools at their disposal to improve their productivity, sales and service. Below are some beneficial tools and technologies for professionals in the real estate industry. CO Everywhere CO Everywhere is an iOS mobile…

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  • Brand Editorial

    Deposit Guaranteed

    AS THE PROPERTY MARKET in Australia continues to make headlines, Deposit Power makes purchasing property more accessible to home-buyers. Deposit Power provides a flexible solution that can help home-buyers secure their dream home. We spoke to General Manager Keith Levy to find out more. Firstly, what is a Deposit Power Guarantee and how does it differ from a deposit bond?…

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  • Elite Agent

    Putting affordability Front and Centre

    NEWLY ELECTED REIA boss Neville Sanders discusses the goals for the national body in 2015. FIRSTLY, I AM VERY humbled to be in this role at what is a very important time for the sector. In 2014, REIA advocated strongly on critical issues nationwide, including housing affordability, the loss of first- home buyers from the market and foreign investment in…

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  • Elite Agent

    Findings On Foreign Investment In Australian Residential Real Estate

    FEDERAL TREASURER The Hon Joe Hockey MP asked the Parliamentary Committee in March last year to inquire into and report on the level of foreign investment as it applies to residential real estate. ACCORDING TO FOREIGN Investment Review Board (FIRB) statistics, in the first nine months of FY 13/14 the FIRB approved foreign investment into residential property in Australia of…

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  • Elite Agent

    Agent Profile: Chris Saleh, Starr Partners St Marys

    Chris Saleh is the Sales Manager of Starr Partners’ St Marys office and has been in real estate for 13 years. He also has a passion for the ultra-competitive sport of thoroughbred horseracing and is part of a syndicate. As far as his vendors are concerned, his ultimate aim is to make sure that ‘they couldn’t have got a dollar…

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