National
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Australian expats looking to buy ‘back home’ in the luxury market
Australian expats are increasingly looking to purchase property ‘back home’ as the impact of Covid-19 unfolds, and many of those are looking to buy at the higher end of the residential market, according to a Knight Frank survey. The survey, carried out amongst Knight Frank’s global network of prime agents, found 64 per cent said the lockdown had influenced expats’…
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Homely hits 400 partners across the country
A milestone 400 launch partners – including many industry heavyweights – have signed on to Homely’s Agent Participation Program nationally, helping the company on its way to its goal of providing an affordable digital real estate marketplace in Australia. The program, which provides agents with a financial interest in a major national real estate portal, aims to create a new…
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Clearance rate continues to climb on the back of higher volumes
Both auction volumes and the clearance rate lifted this week, with 1262 homes scheduled for auction in the capitals, returning a preliminary clearance rate of 66.1 per cent. CoreLogic reported this was up from the 63.3 per cent preliminary clearance rate returned last week across 1181 auctions, which later revised down to 59.3 per cent…
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Pandemic doesn’t stop real estate professionals changing lives across the water
When the not-for-profit program Digital Live was conceived in 2017, Steve Carroll was determined to make a difference to the lives of children in need across the water. And he knew exactly who to call on to help make this vision a reality: the passionate Australian real estate industry. Fast forward to 2020 and the achievements are astounding. In just…
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Laura Shooter of SJ Shooter Real Estate named Transform 2020 winner
SJ Real Estate Managing Director Laura Shooter has been named the winner of Elite Agent’s Transform challenge for 2020. Receiving the welcome news on Friday, Ms Shooter said was “very excited,” and “quite surprised” to take out the title over a field of 306 participants who completed this year’s 30-day virtual course. “I didn’t go…
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Rex reveals brand refresh and updated vision
The Rex team has announced a refresh of its core brand elements. Reflecting the growth and evolution of Rex as a leading Customer Relationship Management system which provides workflow and marketing solutions for real estate agencies, the rebrand elevates the focus on the company’s strength, stability and transformation, and includes a new logo, positioning and future vision. “It’s a major…
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Call for ‘mega’ project fast-track to be applied to across the board
Australia’s leading property advocate has called for the fast-tracking of approvals for nation-building infrastructure projects to be adopted across the board by all levels of government involved in planning and construction approvals. The Property Council of Australia welcomed the Prime Minister’s commitment of additional funding to get new local infrastructure projects out of the ground and accelerate approvals for ‘mega’…
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Real estate agents identify key areas of support
The extension of stimulus packages and scrapping stamp duty were among nine key areas of support identified by real estate agents across the country as the industry grapples with the challenges that have arisen during the pandemic. The suggestions were the result of a survey of Real Estate Institute of Australia members about measures that will assist the sector to…
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Variable home loan rates tumble to record low
The home loan rate war continued to heat up this week as the lowest variable rate in Australia dropped to 2.19 per cent – and experts predict the competition will only intensify. The special from Reduce Home Loans is for owner-occupier variable customers with loans up to $850,000. Analysis from RateCity.com.au shows that at the end of March just 19…
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Preliminary auction clearance rate rises as volumes increase
The preliminary clearance rate lifted to 63.3 per cent this week as volumes also showed further signs of increasing. Across the capitals, CoreLogic reported 1164 properties were scheduled for auction; the busiest week for auctions since the week ending 19 April. Last week, there were 711 scheduled auctions with a preliminary clearance rate of 59.8 per cent, which later revised…
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Where are the latest home renovation hotspots?
On the back of the new Federal Government HomeBuilder package, property valuation group Herron Todd White has taken a look at the areas in each Australian capital city that are leading the way with renovations. The new HomeBuilder package gives $25,000 to renovators who are looking at spending over $150,000 to improve their home. However, to qualify you need to…
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New home lending takes a dive in pandemic
Home lending has plunged in the wake of COVID-19, with the value of home loans falling dramatically in April – and the worst could be yet to come. The Australian Bureau of Statistics lending indicator data released this week shows new lending dropped by $935.5 million (or 4.80 per cent) compared to March 2020, according to the seasonally adjusted data.…
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Westpac Group cuts new customer rates in a bid to boost its home loan book
Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, has cut its basic variable rate to 2.69 per cent, but the offer is solely reserved for new customers with a deposit of more than 30 per cent. Westpac’s new rate is now the lowest variable home loan offered by a big four bank. Westpac Flexi First Option Home Loan changes: Note: above rates are…
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Auctions soften over long weekend
The long weekend delivered both a lower volume of auctions and a softer clearance rate as most states and territories kicked back to enjoy the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. This week, CoreLogic reported 694 capital city homes were scheduled for auction, with preliminary results returning a 59.8 per cent clearance rate. The previous week saw 856 homes scheduled for auction…
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Real Estate sector honoured in Queen’s Birthday list
The Queen’s Birthday honour roll has seen some of the property sector’s most notable names honoured, along with a host of other famous Australians and New Zealanders. In total, 993 Aussie’s were congratulated by the Queen in her annual Queen’s Birthday Honours. A number of real estate agents and business were among them, acknowledged for their history of services to…
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@realty to offer agents full commission
@realty has this week unveiled a new earning scheme for agents, who will have the ability to move from @realty’s standard 93 per cent commission to 100 per cent. Under the new scheme, once agents have paid $20,000 in service fees through their standard commission, they will be eligible to retain 100 per cent of commission earned on any further…
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REIA welcomes Federal Government Housing Stimulus package
The Real Estate Institute of Australia has welcomed the Government’s announcement of the ‘HomeBuilder’ package to support the residential building sector by providing assistance to owner occupiers to build new homes and renovate existing ones. “The REIA believes that the Federal Government’s announcement of the HomeBuilder scheme today will be a massive boost to the employment of home builders and their tradesmen…
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realestate.com.au introduces buyer demand index
REA Group has launched a new residential buyer demand index, to help consumers understand the ebbs and flows of the market, including when to buy and sell. REA Insights Weekly Demand Index is part of the group’s dedicated data and insights function, and showcases the deep and unique insights potential buyers can expect on the property market. The launch comes as…
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New home builds to hit GDP in coming months
New home building activity is expected to weigh further on Australia’s GDP growth in the second half of 2020 after already detracting from GDP for the last 18 months prior to COVID-19. Housing Industry Association Chief Economist Tim Reardon said following this week’s negative GDP result for the March quarter – and the expected negative result for the June quarter…
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How working from home has impacted property professionals
Working from home during the pandemic was an easy adjustment for most property professionals, with many saying they were more productive away from the office and felt empowered by the opportunity, a new survey revealed. Real estate software solutions company MRI Software conducted a survey of 721 residential, commercial and strata industry professionals in April to understand how working from…
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realestate.com.au sets new audience record
11.2 million people visited realestate.com.au in April setting a new audience record for REA Group, underpinned by a strong increase in buyer activity across the site. The result was up 55 per cent year-on-year, and backed up a total of 109 million visits (up 37 per cent), an increase of 37 per cent in traffic to the site’s buy section,…
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NZ property market losing steam, but full picture still unclear
Property values in New Zealand are losing momentum on the back of the pandemic, but according to the just-released May 2020 QV House Price Index it’s still too early to get a full picture of housing market performance. The HPI showed the number of residential property sales across New Zealand was extremely low through April and May, and the monthly…
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The RBA leaves rates on hold in June
The RBA has elected to keep the cash rate on hold at the record low level of 0.25 per cent. At its June meeting on Tuesday, the board decided to continue with a wait and see approach which was in line with what most analysts had been expecting. The RBA had slashed the official cash rate from 0.75 per cent…
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Michael Davoren steps aside
In a strategic move announced publicly today, RE/MAX Australia Managing Director Michael Davoren will take up the role of Chairman on the RE/MAX Australia Board, while Joel Davoren will assume the position of Managing Director. Under the changed leadership structure, which comes into effect from 1 July, Chris Chapman will retain the Finance Directorship and Josh Davoren will become Director of…
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Property prices remain ‘resilient’ in May despite lockdown
Property prices across Australia’s capital cities have fallen for the first time since June last year. Against the backdrop of wide-ranging shutdowns, the latest data from CoreLogic has shown the combined capital cities have fallen by 0.5 per cent in May. The results around the country were mixed, with Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra all recording price increases, while it was…
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Two-thirds of experts predict end of stamp duty by 2021
The majority of experts agree that stamp duty could soon be on its way out as the government grapples with the post-COVID economy, according to comparison site Finder. In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey, 43 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues related to the state of the Australian economy. While all 43 experts…
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@Realty launches OASIS platform for boutique agencies and sole operators
Coronavirus has accelerated the release of @realty’s new OASIS structure – an agency platform which could be a financial lifeline for smaller agencies and independents struggling in the current environment. OASIS – which stands for Online Agency Support and Integrated Systems -allows boutique real estate agencies and sole operators to access @realty’s national database and administrative services, while still operating…
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Clearance rate and auction volumes continue to strengthen
Auction volumes have continued to strengthen this week as the capital city clearance rate remains a heartening 65.9 per cent. Although the volume is still tracking at just over half that recorded during the same time in 2019, this week 867 capital city homes were scheduled for auction. The previous week saw 612 homes scheduled for auction and a final…
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Caution for building stimulus package
The Real Estate Institute of Australia has expressed caution over the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Treasurer and the Minister for Housing are working on a plan to support the residential building sector. “New home building at record levels has been a crucial support to economic growth over the previous three years,” REIA President Adrian Kelly said. “It stands to…
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Rent.com.au reports renters returning to market
There is increasing optimism in the rental market as the threat of coronavirus eases and restrictions are lifted, with early indications many renters are considering new moves in the coming months. In its trading update this week, Rent.com.au said its Renter Resume – which allows renters to upload a profile online – was starting to pick up after a slump…
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First Home Loan Deposit Scheme fully booked – but beware the hidden cost
The Australian Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme has been fully reserved, but experts warn that borrowing on a five per cent deposit is now riskier than ever. New figures on the scheme show 5,500 guarantees have already been used to purchase properties, with a further 4,500 still in the process of finding their first home. For those who missed…
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Real estate professionals urged to join online sleepout
Real estate executives are invited to register for the first-ever online Vinnies CEO Sleepout, joining hundreds of high-profile Australians to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In response to COVID-19, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be live-streamed online at ceosleepout.org.au/live2020 in an interactive broadcast hosted by television personality Dr Andrew Rochford. Instead of sleeping out in major cities…
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Clearance rate hits pre-Covid high as volumes continue to lift
The combined capital city clearance rate has rebounded to its highest level since early March, surpassing the 70 per cent mark as volumes also show signs of improving. This week, 613 auctions were scheduled across the capitals, marking an increase on previous weeks and returning a promising clearance rate of 70.9 per cent. CoreLogic notes this was the highest preliminary…
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What lies ahead for the 2020 property market
Despite the massive impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the economy worldwide, Australian property analysts say there are still reasons to be optimistic about the industry in 2020. According to CoreLogic‘s March Quarter Property Market & Economic Review, released this week, historically property values have remained relatively insulated in times of negative economic shock, but transaction numbers will likely…
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Doomsday housing price forecasts highly questionable
Forecasts of housing price drops of as much as 30 per cent are highly questionable and cannot be relied upon with any degree of confidence, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia. REIA President Adrian Kelly said anyone who suggests they can forecast the future of the property industry “with any acceptable degree of probability” during this unprecedented time…
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