National
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The RBA Leaves the Cash Rate on Hold at 0.25 per cent
At its monthly meeting today, the RBA has decided to leave the cash rate on hold at 0.25 per cent. The move that was widely tipped by analysts will see the cash rate remain at historic lows for the foreseeable future. In mid-March, the RBA held its first emergency meeting since 1997 to slash the …
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ATO introduces claim shortcut for working from home
The ATO has announced people working from home as a result of COVID-19 can claim a rate of 80 cents per hour for all their running expenses, rather than calculating specific costs.
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REA’s new COVID-19 features and support recapped
REA Group has announced a raft of new features to assist agents as they navigate the COVID-19 landscape and this week they moved to clarify what is currently available along with ongoing support measures. Noting the situation continues to evolve, REA CEO Owen Wilson last week said the focus is clear: to provide customers with …
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Why property price growth always leads a crisis recovery
Just as it did with past crises, the adverse economic impact from this coronavirus health crisis will begin its rebound with a real estate surge before anything else. Safe as houses! Residential real estate is the one thing which is common to 25.5 million Australians. After all, shelter is an essential commodity. While we all …
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Call for essential services clarity in strata management
Australia’s peak body for strata title properties has called on the Federal Health Department to clearly define the role of essential services in strata as its close-knit communities deal with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Strata Community Association (SCA) is the industry body for Body Corporate and Community Title Management (also referred to as Strata Management, Strata …
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Clearance rate weighed down by withdrawn auctions
Over 3000 properties were slated to go under the hammer this weekend. But according to CoreLogic 45 per cent were withdrawn from sale and a further 84 per cent of auctions sold prior to the event, resulting in a preliminary clearance rate of 48 per cent.
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How to manage your finances through the pandemic
Concerning new research reveals 4.2 million working Australians were living hand to mouth well before the coronavirus crisis. Now, with potentially millions of people without savings facing unemployment in the wake of the shutdowns, experts are asking if the Government’s cash handouts can get struggling Aussies through the crisis? The findings come from an independent …
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The real cost of a repayment pause – and how you can minimise the fallout
CBA's announcement today that customers who take a six-month repayment pause will be refunded interest-on-interest charges during this time will help families struggling to make ends meet. This measure, and the major banks' offer of a repayment pause for people in severe financial hardship will help thousands of Australians at a time when they need…
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House price growth begins to slow
Despite the unprecedented social distancing measures put in place to stop the spread of the coronavirus, home values across the country pushed higher in March. According to the latest data from CoreLogic, prices rose by 1.1 per cent in Sydney, 0.4 per cent in Melbourne, 0.6 per cent in Brisbane and Canberra, 0.5 per cent …
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RE/MAX unifies its national presence
RE/MAX Australia has consolidated its Australian reach with the West Australian RE/MAX network now aligned with the Australian master franchise. Leading RE/MAX Australia are managing director Michael Davoren and directors Chris Chapman, Joel Davoren and Josh Davoren. "Acquiring the West Australian network is an exciting step forward for the RE/MAX brand in Australia," said Michael…
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Safety, certainty and empathy: How real estate agents can help buyers and sellers during COVID-19
As part of our suite of tools for managing the business of real estate during COVID-19, Claudio Encina and Matt Lahood joined Sam McLean to share their insight into how agents can help buyers, sellers and their communities during COVID-19
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REIA president Adrian Kelly calls on stakeholders to step up over rent relief
As the real estate sector awaits a government announcement on rent relief, REIA president Adrian Kelly has issued an open letter to all stakeholders, urging them to step up and consider all sides of the equation. Addressing tenants, property owners, landlords, lobby groups, the industry and State Governments, Mr Kelly minced few words as he …
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JobKeeper payment announced to help business retain employees
The Federal Government has injected a further $130 billion into the economy through the establishment of a JobKeeper payment in a bid to keep businesses operating and their employees in work. Announced on Monday, the latest tranche of support funding is specifically targeted at keeping people employed and is designed to support an estimated 6 …
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The real estate industry turns to virtual tours to keep it moving forward
COVID-19 is seeing the real estate industry rapidly ramp up its use of technology, with virtual tours among the tools which are being embraced to keep transactions flowing.
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New remote property inspection app protects tenants and property managers
Leading property industry technology solutions firm - Realm Australia, is encouraging property managers to make use of its new Rental Property Self-Inspection app to help protect staff and tenants from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The Rental Property Self-Inspection app uses innovative AI technology to facilitate tenants performing remote inspections, with a full report…
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A six-month moratorium on rental evictions, but still no support for agents
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has formally announced a six-month moratorium on evictions for commercial and residential tenants. The announcement came late Sunday as cabinet continues to work on the release of a full rent relief package. Mr Morrison said the issue of commercial and residential tenants in distress had been further discussed at today’s national …
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High volumes, lower clearance as auctions go online
Auction volumes were high, but as expected, the preliminary clearance rate took a hit across the capitals this week, falling to 61.3 per cent amid continued uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. It wasn’t for lack of innovation, however as agents worked hard to adapt to a fast-changing environment. This week was the first to see all auctions…
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The Eview Group – Setting up for the comeback
It’s far from business as usual but Manos and Maria Findikakis note it is business non-the-less at their offices all over Australia. This weekend their agents managed to secure a number of contracts despite the challenge of no open homes and a government rent relief package that remains up in the air. In the interim,…
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Rent relief remains a work in progress: Scott Morrison
Formal action on rent relief remains a work in progress, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison today explaining it will form part of Australia’s “innovative” tranche three stimulus package which is designed to support business and individuals. Earlier today the PM met with premiers and chief ministers via a virtual national cabinet meeting, discussing the “contentious” …
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Real Estate Industry waits for a COVID-19 rent relief decision
The real estate industry is just hours away from learning how the nation will handle rent distress for residential and commercial tenants. Due to be discussed in a national cabinet meeting this morning, the focus is expected to centre around rent relief including a possible national stimulus package to underwrite commercial rents, rates, and taxes, …
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Kylie Walsh of DiJONES – A stronger industry, embracing change
DiJONES’ general manager Kylie Walsh is no stranger to innovation, but in recent weeks she reflects the whole industry has been forced to innovate at speed. “As an industry, real estate has been very slow to change,” she notes. “But this event will force us to…
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How a pandemic will shape communities
COVID-19 is challenging many conventions within urban development across the globe. While the pandemic is seeing Australians adopt unprecedented social distancing measures, potential lockdowns require residents to live, work, learn, and shop for daily needs and undertake passive recreational activities within their own neighbourhoods. One of Australia’s leading urban planners and designers believes that the…
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Property valuers call for equity release during COVID-19 crisis
Australia’s largest independent property valuation and advisory firm has called for easier access to existing equity in homes and investment properties would to ease financial pressure for Aussies during the COVID-19 crisis. Herron Todd White CEO Gary Brinkworth said both the government and regulators must urgently work with financiers to unlock this source of stored …
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REIA announces 2020 REIA National Awards for Excellence winners
The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) announce the winners of the 15th National Awards for Excellence. Due to the measures currently in place surrounding COVID-19, the event planned to be held in Darwin on 2 April 2020 was cancelled. REIA President Adrian Kelly said whilst this was disappointing it was inevitable for the safety and wellbeing of all concerned. …
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realestate.com.au launches digital inspections
realestate.com.au has announced the launch of a new digital feature to support real estate agents. The move is in response to the government's stricter social distancing measures and allows agents to connect with more consumers in a way that reflects today’s environment with limited social interactions. In light of new government restrictions on group open-for-inspections,…
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How to make your business more financially resilient
John Knight is a qualified accountant and business strategist who shared his tips on business resilience in the face of Coronavirus with Sam McLean
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Open homes and auctions halted
Real estate auctions and open homes are the latest casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison tonight announcing these were among the events that “cannot continue” in a bid to combat Coronavirus. In an address to the nation, the PM labelled 2020 the toughest year for Australians “Our goal is to combat …
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Ray White lobbies for ‘essential’ real estate services
The Ray White Group, along with all major real estate brands, is set to lobby the Federal Government in order for its national members to be deemed an “essential service”, the same as the financial services industry, in a bid to prevent a catastrophic fallout in the property sector. Ray White Group Managing Director Dan…
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Conduct of open homes and public auctions by real estate agents
On Sunday night, the Prime Minister made it very clear that all Australians should immediately cease unnecessary travel and cease all unnecessary social interaction in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. With this in mind, the Real Estate Institute of Australia is now calling on all real estate agents across Australia to make …
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REIA Awards for Excellence cancelled
The recently postponed REIA National Awards for Excellence have now been cancelled completely for 2020. President Adrian Kelly said, considering all the unknown factors of the coronavirus pandemic, it was the wisest course of action to take. “Postponing the awards until October is still too risky when we don’t know what the future holds, particularly …
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Auctions busy, but clearance rate slows
This week proved the second busiest for auction activity in 2020, however the preliminary clearance rate took a hit as a result of continued uncertainty around COVID-19. According to the latest figures from CoreLogic, this weekend saw 2,539 homes taken to auction across the combined capital cities, returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 61.3…
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‘New normal’ continues to create competition at auction
The agility of Ray White members to adapt to the new rules surrounding large gatherings passed its first hurdle this week with many successful auction events safely held across the country. Ray White‘s members had 101 auctions scheduled on Wednesday night and the early indications are that 69 per cent have sold, with more 3.8 …
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Vendor Paid Advertising works – don’t kill it
The emerging trend of ‘off-market’ sales is putting some vendors at risk of underselling their properties, one real estate CEO has warned the industry. Starr Partners CEO Douglas Driscoll said it’s not inconceivable that some people could be underselling their homes by as much as five per cent, which, on a $1 million property – …
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How real estate agents can market property in the age of COVID-19
With an estimated 115,000 listings on the market (according to CoreLogic), agencies are looking for solutions that allow them to continue to transact property – particularly if consumers are subject to further isolation and quarantine measures which can make the familiar arrangements a challenge. Strategies to contain the spread of the virus, such as enforced …
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Coronavirus fallout prompts RBA to slash rates
The RBA has officially cut interest rates to their lowest level on record in the fight against the economic fallout from the coronavirus. In an emergency meeting yesterday, the RBA reduced the official cash rate to 0.25 per cent down from 0.5 per cent. The RBA has only recently cut the cash rate from 0.75 …
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