National

  • Common questions answered about Victoria’s new roadmap

    The Victorian government’s roadmap out of pandemic lockdowns includes new provisions for single people living alone and single parents: the “single social bubble” system, which comes into effect on September 14. Under the new system, if you’re a single person living alone or a single parent with children under 18, you can nominate one other person to be part of your bubble. The…

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  • Stimulus must be brought forward immediately: PCA

    The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the Victorian Government’s roadmap for the safe reopening of the property industry, while acknowledging lifting restrictions is “a balancing act and all stakeholders must remain vigilant”. The PCA continues to urge the Government to bring forward its “desperately needed industry stimulus package”, noting it takes months for construction and real estate businesses to…

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  • LJ Hooker Avnu launches real-time real estate report

    LJ Hooker Avnu has released Australia’s first real-time real estate report, providing both property price and rental price estimates to assist homeowners in making an informed decision about when it could be the best time for them to sell what is often their greatest asset – their home. The report updates with the latest data compared to many reports that…

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  • Amazon launch new Alexa tool for property managers

    Amazon has launched Alexa for Residential in response to a survey that found the majority of renters want smart home amenities. According to US National Apartment Association, 84 per cent of renters want an apartment with smart home amenities; 61 per cent said they would pay a monthly fee for a voice assistant. The new tool allows property managers and…

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  • REIA applauds Tasmania’s new Landlord Support Fund

    The Tasmanian Government is being lauded as leading the charge when it comes to implementing sensible measures regarding the current rental situation. They announced the extension of the emergency period to December 1, 2020, meaning all current residential tenant protections will hold. In addition, they have extended the Rent Relief Fund with a second round of payments, introduced a new…

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  • Lower auction volume, but clearance rate stable

    This week, the combined capital city preliminary auction clearance rate was down only slightly to 67.5 per cent across a lower volume of auctions. CoreLogic figures indicate there were 882 homes taken to auction over the week, down from 1128 the previous week and 1533 this time last year. Of the 696 results collected so far, 67.5 per cent were…

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  • Homely supports Harcourts Property Centre’s Hairgust fundraiser

    Homely.com.au has sponsored Harcourts Property Centre’s Hairgust fundraiser, by donating $3000 towards pancreatic and bowel cancer research.Harcourts Property Centre Co-Directors Aaron Brooks and Sam Devlin ‘dared to hair’ by donning wigs during August to raise awareness and funds for Bowel Cancer Australia and the Pancare Foundation.“Both Sam and I have had personal experiences with cancer, and we’re so thankful for…

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  • Only 30 auctions expected this week for Melbourne

    Auction activity has taken a hit across the combined capital cities this week, as Melbourne enters its fifth week of Stage 4 lockdowns. The city will hold only 30 auctions, down from 765 auctions this time last week. CoreLogic are tracking 937 auctions in total across the capital cities this week, down from both last week’s 1128 and the 1533…

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  • 1.2m Aussie building jobs now in jeopardy

    Over 1.2 million jobs and 400,000 businesses are in danger after the 7 per cent fall in the June quarter GDP. Master Builders Australia are calling for the National Cabinet to reach a consensus “to deal cohesively and practically with the tension between the health and economic impact of the virus” or the entire building industry, and therefore the national…

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  • Gavin Rubinstein: from #1 agent to #1 owner in a year

    Ray White TRG founder Gavin Rubinstein is on top of his game and yet he feels like he is just getting started. In his first year of business ownership, Mr Rubinstein cemented his place as the number one Selling Principal in NSW & ACT based on commission for the Ray White Group. He was also awarded the Number One Principal…

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  • Raine & Horne appoints CEO with a view to expansion

    Raine & Horne has announced the retirement of current CEO Brian Reid, which has included 40 years in the industry and a seven-year stint with the group. Current Head of Network, Andrew Brien will take up the CEO Role. Angus Raine, Executive Chairman, Raine & Horne welcomed Mr Brien’s appointment, noting the new CEO brings extensive experience in business management…

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  • House hunters are rarely told the home energy rating

    Most Australian homes have been built to notoriously poor standards. The energy performance of existing homes in Victoria, for instance, averages 1.8 stars – 6 stars is mandatory for newly built homes under the 10-star Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NaTHERS). Decision-makers typically fail to appreciate the importance of a low star rating, even though it have profound impacts on households’ health and…

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  • Wind up commercial rent relief this month, says PCA

    A ‘red tape burden’ has been placed on the commercial property sector, according to a new survey by the Property Council of Australia, with only 25 per cent of provision relief having currently been finalised. The results highlight the inherent complexities of the codes, coupled with state and territory delays, the Property Council notes. Now they are calling on state…

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  • Property Council of Australia nominations now open

    Nominations for the Property Council’s industry committees are now open. “Effective advocacy for our industry and its contribution to Australia has never been more important,” said Property Council of Australia Chief Executive Ken Morrison. “Our members are critical in this important work, including through participation in our various industry committees. Our committee members help to shape the future for our…

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  • Rental affordability best since 2007: REIA

    The REIA Housing Affordability Report shows rent affordability has improved across the country in the June quarter, with figures not seen since late 2007. “The proportion of income required to meet rent payments decreased to 23.3 per cent in the quarter, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points over the quarter and down 0.5 percentage points compared to the same time…

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  • Experts positive about housing affordability

    Experts have never felt better about housing affordability around the country, according to a survey conducted by comparison site Finder.In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey, 40 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues related to the state of the Australian economy.While all experts and economists surveyed correctly predicted the cash rate to…

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  • RBA takes hold and hope approach

    The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left the official cash rate on hold at 0.25 per cent as the nation’s economy continues to feel the fallout of COVID-19. Noting the economy is grappling with the “biggest contraction since the 1930s” RBA Governor Philip Lowe said his board was committed to doing what it could to support jobs, incomes and…

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  • Rate of home value decline eases

    Australian home values have recorded their fourth month of COVID-induced decline, with the CoreLogic home value index dropping a further 0.4 per cent in August. Although the overall figure highlights a downward trend, CoreLogic notes the fall is not consistent across the board with some areas faring far better than others. “…at least from a macro perspective, the rate of…

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  • The Agency reports 48 per cent increase in revenue

    The Agency is celebrating success, with their financial results for 2019/20 indicating a turnaround in cashflow and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), along with a 48 per cent increase in revenue. Released on August 31, The Agency’s ASX announcement highlights 12 months of operational growth and improvement, resulting in revenue of $41.86 million, compared to $28.34 million…

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  • Coronis BDM Cadetship attracts over 200 applications

    Coronis has been inundated with 207 applications in just three days for their new Business Development Manager (BDM) Cadet Program which launches on 1 September 2020. Coronis Property Management Director Jodi Ford, who oversaw the growth of the Coronis portfolio from 200 properties to 8000, said they received so much interest in the new program they had to take the Seek…

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  • @realty’s virtual tools to accelerate business

    National real estate group @realty has seen its sales volumes increase by 20 per cent in the first half of the year, with its virtual network and online sales tools helping agents to navigate border closures. @realty significantly invested in its bespoke software last year, including virtual sales tools that have helped to close deals on multi-million dollar properties with…

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  • Openn Negotiation to auction signed footy boots for charity

    Richmond AFL stars Dustin Martin and Jack Riewoldt have kindly donated the boots they wore at the historic ‘2020 Darwin Dreamtime’ match to raise money for St Mary’s Football Club NT. The boots will be auctioned off through Openn Negotiation – a platform that ordinarily facilitates the transparent sale of properties online. One of St Mary’s long-term sponsors is Real…

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  • Ouwens Casserly appoint new COO

    Ouwens Casserly Real Estate has expanded its senior leadership team with the appointment of John Thompson.  Mr Thompson joins OC in the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), offering strategic support and leadership across all divisions of the business.  “John has been managing a hugely successful recruitment business that has more than tripled in revenue over his seven-year…

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  • Australian housing at its most affordable since 1999

    HIA’s Housing Affordability Index for the June Quarter 2020 indicates national property prices are at their most affordable since 1999. HIA’s Affordability Index is calculated for each of the eight capital cities and regional areas on a quarterly basis and takes into account the latest dwelling prices, mortgage interest rates, and wage developments. Housing affordability improved in the June quarter…

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  • Harvard economist: Australia has most overvalued property prices in world

    Leading Harvard economist Harry Dent has warned he believes Australian property prices are set for a huge fall. Dent is a Harvard MBA graduate, a Fortune 100 consultant, a New York Times bestseller, and claims to have correctly predicted “nearly every major economic event in the past three decades including the 90s recession, the decade-long bull market which followed it,…

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  • New online tool helps estimate reno costs

    If you’ve been watching The Block recently, you may have noticed that Suncorp and CoreLogic are both among the sponsors.  The pair have teamed up to launch a new renovation calculator, aimed at helping those inspired by The Block work out the cost of home renovations, according to the room, renovation type, and particular suburb you are renovating in. The…

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  • Domain launches new spring campaign

    Domain have launched their latest lighthearted campaign, ‘see the possibilities’, which plays on those ‘it’s time’ moments, when people know they need to make a property change that’s a better fit for their current lifestyle. The campaign is “centered on the human truths underpinned by changing search behaviour” from needing a proper home office to wanting more natural light. The…

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  • Consumer connection the focus as Real Estate Industry Partners announce new CEO

    First established about three years ago, REIP includes some of the sector’s biggest brands and independent agencies. Now they’re looking to improve the profile of the industry by working alongside the national and state real estate industry (REI) bodies to offer a unified national voice at a consumer, industry, and government level. Set to commence the role on September 22,…

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  • Trouble at the mall as landlords and tenants ponder mutually assured destruction

    “This is not a bluff,” Scott Evans, the chief executive of Mosaic Brands, has said of his threat to permanently close 300 to 500 stores in Australia unless landlords reduce rents. Mosiac’s network of about 1300 apparel stores includes Katies, Noni B, Rivers, Rockmans, Millers and Crossroads. With stores shuttered temporarily due to COVID-19 restrictions, it posted a A$170.5 million loss in the…

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  • realestate.com.au springs into fresh campaign

    realestate.com.au has surged to an all-time audience high, reaching 12 million Australians in July, as the brand announced the launch of its new campaign. The campaign extends upon the successful ‘Millions More Buyers’ messages and continues to leverage the platform’s market leadership position of having the largest and most engaged audience of property seekers. REA Group Executive Manager, Consumer Marketing,…

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  • HIA: Home building slump will weigh down GDP

    The decline in residential building work will “compound the contraction in Australia’s Gross Domestic Product in the June quarter,” according to HIA Senior Economist Geordan Murray. The total value of residential building work done declined by 5.5 per cent in the June quarter, and is down by 12.1 per cent compared with a year ago. Mr Murray notes that the total value…

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  • RE/MAX appoints Business Growth Manager

    After the successful transition of WA offices into its national network, RE/MAX Australia this month announced the appointment of experienced real estate professional Donna Goddard to the corporate team. Ms Goddard is Perth-based in the role of Business Growth Manager, WA. She has longevity in the Australian real estate landscape with around 12 years as an advertising director with News…

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  • ANZ: Melbourne house prices to fall by 15%, Sydney not much better

    Melbourne house prices will fall by 15 per cent, according to new predictions by ANZ’s economists. The bank also forecasts tough times for Sydney owners, with housing set to drop by an estimated 13 per cent. It predicts the bottoming out of prices will likely occur in the second half of 2021. The bank predicts a national price drop of…

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  • Crown Group CEO calls for ‘wellness’ to be integrated into building standards

    Crown Group Chairman and CEO Iwan Sunito is calling for tenants’ physical and mental wellbeing to be considered and incorporated into building design standards in the post-COVID world. “Many people are spending more time working from home, studying from home, home-schooling their children and exercising and recreating,” Mr Sunito said. “People who live in well-designed homes that offer plenty of…

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  • REA launches new tools for self-managed landlords

    REA Group has announced a new experience for self-managed landlords to either connect with an agency on realestate.com.au, or list their rental property directly on the site. Set to go live later this month, the move comes in response to research highlighting that over one third of investors now self-manage their rental properties, presenting an untapped segment for realestate.com.au consumers and customers to…

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