Latest news



	Latest news

	New home lending figures boosted by NSW (15 May 2012)
	The March 2012 ABS Housing Finance figures show a modest improvement in new home lending with New South Wales leading the way, according to the Housing Industry Association.

	Disputes between neighbours dominate strata consultation (14 May 2012)
	Noise, parking and anti-social behaviour that drive neighbours nuts were among the most prominent complaints addressed in a community consultation by public policy think tank Global Access Partners (GAP).

	Survey: lack of savings stops buyers (14 May 2012)
	Interest rate movements are the least influential factor affecting whether potential first homebuyers enter the property market, according to a survey of mortgage brokers.

	ANZ passes on 37 basis point cut (11 May 2012)
	ANZ Bank will decrease interest rates for variable rate mortgages and small business lending by 0.37 per cent from 18 May 2012.

	Federal Budget fails to address housing needs (09 May 2012)
	The Housing Industry Association believes last night’s (8 May 2012) Federal Budget represents a missed opportunity to reinvigorate new home building activity and alleviate the nation’s housing affordability pressures.

	Banks fail to pass on full rate cut (04 May 2012)
	Westpac has dropped its home loan rate by 37 basis points following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to reduce the official interest rates by 50 basis points on Tuesday (1 May 2012).

	RBA cuts interest rates to 3.75% (01 May 2012)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has slashed official interest rates by 50 basis points to 3.75 per cent.

	Westpac cuts rates ahead of RBA meeting (30 Apr 2012)
	Westpac has announced it will offer its standard variable discount of 0.70 percentage points to home loans from $150,000 effective from tomorrow (1 May 2012), the same day the Reserve Bank meets to decide on changing the official cash rate.

	Housing market shows signs of recovery (27 Apr 2012)
	National house prices increased by 0.9 per cent over the March quarter, and units also rose by 0.1 per cent, according to Australian Property Monitors’ Quarterly Housing Report.

	Contractor or employee? OSR explains payroll tax implications (26 Apr 2012)
	The Office Of State Revenue (OSR) is investigating industry concerns that some real estate businesses may be engaging key personnel as ‘contractors’ rather than employees and not paying payroll tax on payments made to these contractors.

	Buyers' agent or helping a buyer? (26 Apr 2012)
	Don’t misrepresent the services you and your agency offer to buyers.

	HIA calls for 50 basis point interest rate cut (24 Apr 2012)
	The consumer price index for the March 2012 quarter came in well below market expectations and a 50 basis point interest rate cut next week is justified, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	LJ Hooker appoints new CEO (23 Apr 2012)
	LJ Hooker has appointed former chief operating officer Georg Chmiel as the company's new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

	Laing+Simmons acquired by Canberra's Independent Property Group (20 Apr 2012)
	Real estate franchise group Laing+Simmons has been acquired by Canberra’s Independent Property Group, the most awarded real estate agency in Australia.

	Action needed now on new housing (19 Apr 2012)
	Population growth has long been an important issue for NSW, and in particular Sydney, with industry and all levels of government weighing in on the debate about how best to respond to the increasing demand on housing, infrastructure and services.

	Housing weakness to persist in 2012 (19 Apr 2012)
	New residential building work done fell by 1.7 per cent in the December 2011 quarter to be down by 7.7 per cent when compared to the December 2010 quarter, according to final figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday (18 April 2012).

	No national licensing until 2013 (17 Apr 2012)
	National licensing for real estate agents has been delayed until 2013.

	Housing weakness continues in February (16 Apr 2012)
	A decline in ABS Housing Finance figures for February 2012 continues a string of weakening housing updates, according to the Housing Industry Association.

	Black Friday for ANZ customers (16 Apr 2012)
	ANZ Bank announced a six basis point interest rate rise to its variable rate mortgages and small business lending just after 5.00pm on Friday (13 April 2012).

	RBA keeps rates steady (03 Apr 2012)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to keep the official cash rate on hold at 4.25 per cent at today’s Board meeting.

	Building approvals fall to three year low (03 Apr 2012)
	Building approvals fell to their lowest level in nearly three years in February 2012, highlighting the urgent need for lower interest rates and government action, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	New home owners most likely to refinance in 2012 (02 Apr 2012)
	Research from LJ Hooker has shown that 46 per cent of first home owners who entered the market less than two years ago are looking to refinance.

	New Holiday Rental Code of Conduct (30 Mar 2012)
	In a move that has been welcomed by the NSW Government, REINSW has partnered with key holiday letting groups to develop a self-regulation Code.

	New homes to drive property market (30 Mar 2012)
	A solution to Australia’s sluggish start to the property market for 2012 may rest with the new Hhmes building sector, especially if associated regulatory and government taxes were reduced, according to First National Real Estate.

	HIA calls for interest rate cuts (26 Mar 2012)
	Interest rate cuts and renewed action on supply side reforms are required now to arrest the on-going decline in residential construction activity, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Industry support for development of government land (21 Mar 2012)
	The announcement by the Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce, about the potential for urban renewal of government land in Macquarie Park is good news, according to development lobby group, Urban Taskforce.

	Food trumps fashion on prime shopping strips (20 Mar 2012)
	Weak retail sales have made for difficult leasing conditions on Sydney’s prime shopping strips, but food remains popular.

	Dwelling starts head south (16 Mar 2012)
	National dwelling commencements fell again in the December quarter, reinforcing the urgent need for policy action, according to Master Builders Australia.

	Buyers still cautious in 2012: realestateVIEW.com.au survey (13 Mar 2012)
	Despite assurances it's a buyer's market, consumers are still showing strong signs of buyer caution, according to the third annual Appetite to Buy survey from industry-owned real estate portal, realestateVIEW.com.au

	Interest rate update (13 Mar 2012)
	ANZ Bank kept its variable home loan and small business loan rates unchanged last week following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision on hold on Tuesday (6 March).

	Urban Taskforce offers 10 ideas to improve planning (09 Mar 2012)
	Development lobby group, Urban Taskforce has highlighted 10 key ideas to improve the planning system in NSW.

	RBA keeps interest rates steady (06 Mar 2012)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to keep the official cash rate on hold at 4.25 per cent and eyes are again on lenders to see if they will keep rates steady.

	NSW building approvals jump in January (05 Mar 2012)
	Building approvals in New South Wales rose 37.5 per cent for the month of January, driven by a massive 90 per cent spike in the dwellings excluding houses component.

	Opportunity knocks for home ownership (01 Mar 2012)
	More doors could be open for potential home owners this year but borrowers are being urged to be cautious of taking on bigger mortgages, following a new study into lending criteria by financial comparison website RateCity.com.au

	CBA named mortgage lender of the year (27 Feb 2012)
	The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been recognised as Australia's preeminent home loan provider at the Australian Lending Awards in Sydney last week.

	Housing affordability rises again (27 Feb 2012)
	A lift in housing affordability in the December 2011 quarter marks four straight quarters of improvement and a boost for those looking to purchase a property, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Residents think planning system is too complicated (24 Feb 2012)
	The State Government has released an Issues Paper as part of NSW's most comprehensive review of the planning system.

	Office vacancy rate drops (24 Feb 2012)
	The national office vacancy rate has dropped to its lowest rate in three years, but Sydney showed little growth.

	Urban Taskforce give council planning report cards thumbs up (22 Feb 2012)
	The recent release of the extensive database in the 2010-11 Local Development Performance Monitoring Report for NSW councils’ provides some directions for an improved planning system in the state, according to property developer lobby group Urban Taskforce Australia.

	Call for independent decisions on developments (17 Feb 2012)
	New research reveals the community wants independent experts – not local councillors – making decisions on significant development projects.

	Growth to boost housing supply (16 Feb 2012)
	Homebuyers will be the big winners under a new growth plan, which is set to deliver homes in western Sydney to market faster, the development industry says.

	realestateVIEW.com.au launches campaign to promote new apps (16 Feb 2012)
	realestateVIEW.com.au is excited to announce the launch of its new major marketing campaign promoting its recently released iPhone, Android and iPad apps.

	NAB joins rate jump bandwagon (14 Feb 2012)
	National Australia Bank (NAB) has joined the other major banks in lifting its standard variable rate following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave rates the same last week (7 February 2012).

	Westpac follows ANZ's interest rate lead (13 Feb 2012)
	Westpac announced a 0.10 per cent increase to its standard variable home loan rate to 7.46 per cent, late Friday (10 February 2012).

	CBA joins the rate rise party (13 Feb 2012)
	The Commonwealth Bank has announced it will raise its interest rate by 0.10 per cent following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave the official cash rate unchanged last week.

	ANZ lifts variable rate to 7.36 per cent (10 Feb 2012)
	ANZ bank has made the surprise move of increasing its variable mortgages and small business loans by 0.06 per cent to 7.36 per cent.

	Sydney a top investment market (09 Feb 2012)
	Sydney was named the third most favorable market in the Asia Pacific region for commercial real estate investment this year, thanks mostly to the resilience of the Australian economy, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2012.

	HIA reveals concerns over RBA decision (08 Feb 2012)
	The Reserve Bank Board's decision to keep interest rates on hold at 4.25 per cent in February, is a missed opportunity to bolster business and household confidence, according to the Housing Industry Association.

	RBA leaves rates steady (07 Feb 2012)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia has left interest rates steady at 4.25 per cent at its first meeting of the year.

	Fall in approvals justifies RBA decision (03 Feb 2012)
	Residential building approvals fell back again in December justifying an early RBA rate cut, according to Master Builders Australia.

	Promising home value figures mark end to 2011 (01 Feb 2012)
	Australia’s capital city home values in December declined by the smallest amount for 2011, according to preliminary RP Data-Rismark Home Value Index.

	Calls for rate cut intensify (30 Jan 2012)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will need to reduce the official interest rate by at least another half a percentage point next month to pressure major banks into passing on reductions to customers, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Tentative signs of market recovery (25 Jan 2012)
	Median house prices have risen nationally for the first time since September 2010, indicating early tentative signs of recovery in the housing market.

	Fair Work Ombudsman to focus on real estate agents (24 Jan 2012)
	The Fair Work Ombudsman has announced that inspectors will be checking the books of up to 350 real estate agents over the next two months as part of its latest education and compliance campaign in NSW.

	Strata reform to recognise lifestyle changes (23 Jan 2012)
	Strata living is growing in popularity and with this trend expected to continue Tim McKibbin, Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales believes now is an appropriate time to revisit the existing legislative framework.

	New pool laws proposed for NSW (20 Jan 2012)
	Mandatory inspections of pool fences before homes are sold or leased could become law in NSW.

	Property industry confidence fall in NSW (19 Jan 2012)
	The NSW and Victorian property markets have been stranded by declining confidence, while resource-driven states are increasingly positive, according to new research from the Property Council of Australia and ANZ.

	Home loan approvals see rate cut boost (17 Jan 2012)
	Official home loan approval figures for November 2011 have displayed an eighth consecutive month of growth.

	First rate cut impacts new home sales (11 Jan 2012)
	New home sales have rebounded significantly following the first interest rate cut in two and half years, according to the latest HIA – JELD-WEN New Home Sales Report.

	Building approvals rebound (11 Jan 2012)
	After recording their lowest level in 29 months in October 2011, building approvals have rebounded in November.

	Regional Relocation grants extended to new builds (10 Jan 2012)
	Major changes have been made to the NSW Government’s Regional Relocation Grant program.

	Housing finance outlook positive for 2012 (06 Jan 2012)
	Lower interest rates and growing consumer confidence will help stimulate the home finance market in 2012, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Factsheets for borrowers (05 Jan 2012)
	Lenders must now provide a home loan factsheet on request under the Federal Government's new banking reform legislation introduced on 1 January 2012.

	NSW needs 'can do' planners (05 Jan 2012)
	Property development industry group Urban Taskforce has welcomed the Planning Institute of Australia’s submission to the review of the NSW planning system.

	Inquiry to investigate strata insurance (05 Jan 2012)
	The surging cost of strata insurance — particularly in northern Australia — has prompted the Federal Government to launch an investigation into the issue.

	HIA releases housing report card (20 Dec 2011)
	The Housing Industry Association has released the summer edition of its National Outlook confirming deteriorating conditions for the housing industry in the final quarter of 2011.

	Government calls for input on strata laws reform (16 Dec 2011)
	The Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts has announced a three month online consultation on strata and community scheme issues to be hosted by public policy think tank Global Access Partners (GAP).

	Housing finance figures released (13 Dec 2011)
	The number of loans for construction fell by 1.8 per cent in October 2011 while loans for the purchase of a new dwelling were flat, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics yesterday.

	Housing affordability continues to improve (08 Dec 2011)
	The HIA-Commonwealth Bank Housing Affordability Index improved by 1.2 per cent in the September 2011 quarter and lies 5.2 per cent above the level registered a year ago.

	Early Christmas present for mortgage holders (06 Dec 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates 25 basis points for the second month in a row with the cash rate now at 4.25 per cent.

	Building approvals continue to fall (02 Dec 2011)
	A drop in building approvals in October 2011 to their lowest level since March 2009 has resulted in calls for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut interest rates when it meets next week on 6 December 2011.

	International economic uncertainty slows Australian REIT recovery (01 Dec 2011)
	The Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (AREIT) sector’s recovery from the global financial crisis continues to be hampered by international economic uncertainty, short-term debt maturity and unsustainable gearing levels.

	Master Builders supports recommendation on sham contracting (30 Nov 2011)
	The approach taken in the Sham Contracting Inquiry Report issued today (29 November) by the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC), Leigh Johns has been praised by Master Builders Australia.

	Property Council welcomes MIT debate (30 Nov 2011)
	A decision to postpone the proposed Managed Investment Trust (MIT) reforms has been welcomed by the Property Council of Australia.

	Property investors have plenty to be cheerful about (30 Nov 2011)
	A growing number of investors are pessimistic about the fate of the Australian property market in 2012. And it's no wonder with plenty of negative sentiment clouding the media. But according to property industry experts, there is no reason to panic.

	Moderate rise for October new home sales (30 Nov 2011)
	A survey of Australia’s major residential builders showed the number of new homes sold in the month of October 2011 increased by 5.5 per cent.

	GST property tool launched (28 Nov 2011)
	The Australian Taxation Office has launched an internet-based GST property tool to help consumers understand the GST impact of property-related transactions.

	Sydney rents rise on housing supply problems: Urban Taskforce (23 Nov 2011)
	Housing NSW figures for the September Quarter indicate Sydney rents are continuing to increase well beyond inflation, according to developer lobby group Urban Taskforce.

	Renovations see fourth quarter of growth (23 Nov 2011)
	Preliminary Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) building figures released today (23 November) highlight major renovations as a strong point for the building sector.

	Business sector calls for Wollongong economic study (18 Nov 2011)
	Business groups representative of a broad cross section of interests are calling for Wollongong City Council to undertake an economic analysis to determine the best outcome for the Crown St Mall as part of a wider investigation on revitalising Wollongong’s city heart.

	Mortgage costs increase 43% over past decade (18 Nov 2011)
	The average housing costs for households with a mortgage increased by $120 per week or 42% over the past decade, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

	realestateVIEW.com.au unveils fresh new look (18 Nov 2011)
	realestateVIEW.com.au has launched a refresh of its residential portal, with a view to creating a user friendly site that contains less “clutter”.

	Mortgage holders save rather than spend (16 Nov 2011)
	In the wake of the RBA's decision to cut the official interest rate, more than seven out of ten mortgage holders are choosing to continue to pay their mortgage at the same levels they had before the rate drop.

	No PI is an anomaly for our profession (14 Nov 2011)
	In NSW, professional indemnity insurance is mandatory for a variety of professionals who practice in and around the property market. Solicitors, conveyancers, valuers, architects and tax agents – they all require professional indemnity insurance in order to practice their profession of choice. It is anomalous that there is no requirement for real estate professionals to maintain professional indemnity insurance.

	Further rate cut needed says Master Builders (10 Nov 2011)
	The headline rise in housing finance in September masks weak loans for new dwellings and the Reserve Bank needs to cut rates further, according to Master Builders Australia.

	Carbon tax to hurt construction: HIA (09 Nov 2011)
	The decision to proceed with the Government’s carbon tax arrangements ignores its impact on the cost of new housing, according to the Housing Industry Association, (HIA).

	HIA slams bill to abolish ABCC (04 Nov 2011)
	The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called on Federal Parliament to reject the Government’s new legislation that will abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

	Nation celebrates interest rate victory (01 Nov 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates 25 basis points to 4.50 per cent, the first rate move this year.

	Stores still vital for online shopping: CBRE (31 Oct 2011)
	While fashion savvy consumers have embraced online shopping, stores remain vital part of retail sales with 90 per cent of shoppers visiting stores to view a product before buying online, a CBRE study has revealed.

	First home buyers still looking for 100% home loans (31 Oct 2011)
	Potential first time buyers continue to seek 100 per cent home loans even though banks no longer offer them, says leading mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Cup Day rate cut calls following CPI figures (27 Oct 2011)
	Inflation figures released yesterday for the September 2011 quarter have left the path clear for an immediate rate cut, according to the says the Housing Industry Association.

	Effects of work pressures on housing under review (24 Oct 2011)
	Workers will have the opportunity to share their stories about the impact of casual and contract employment alongside community groups, unions and employers in a new national independent inquiry to investigate the extent of insecure work in Australia.

	LJ Hooker appoints Head of Commercial Network (21 Oct 2011)
	LJ Hooker has appointed commercial real estate veteran Patrick Brush as the Head of Commercial Network for the group, effective 1 December 2011.

	Builder survey points to downturn, job losses (13 Oct 2011)
	Builders expect industry activity and profits to fall and jobs may go, according to Master Builders Australia’s September quarter 2011 national survey.

	Affordable housing grants welcomed (10 Oct 2011)
	The Residential Development Council has welcomed the announcement of successful applicants for round four funding under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

	August new home sales creep higher (04 Oct 2011)
	New home sales posted only a slight rise in August following two hefty falls, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	New Green Star ratings (04 Oct 2011)
	Supermarkets, restaurants, retirement and mixed-use developments will soon be able to gain Green Star certification, says the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

	RBA keeps rates on hold (04 Oct 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept interest rates steady at 4.76 per cent.

	Property industry praises GST decision (27 Sep 2011)
	The Property Council of Australia has welcomed Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten’s announcement of new rules that declare sales of homes built under development lease arrangements, commenced before 27 January 2011, will not pay GST.

	New spring campaign for realestateVIEW.com.au (27 Sep 2011)
	On 26 September 2011, realestateVIEW.com.au officially launched its latest brand campaign, which encourages consumers to get the inside view on property.

	REI Super and MetLife launch eApply for members (27 Sep 2011)
	REI Super, in industry super fund for real estate professionals, and group life insurer MetLife Insurance Limited in Australia have announced the launch of eApply for REI Super members.

	Master Builders calls for carbon tax consultation (23 Sep 2011)
	Building and construction industry body, The Master Builders Australia, has called on the Federal Government to establish a special government-industry panel to examine the impact of the proposed carbon tax on the industry.

	Budget will create new problems (23 Sep 2011)
	Penalising first homebuyers through changes to the stamp duty exemption from 1 January 2012, as announced in the NSW Budget last month, will have an adverse effect on affordability and supply.

	Mark Sumich wins NAB Australasian Auctioneering Championship for third time (22 Sep 2011)
	Mark Sumich from New Zealand has won the 2011 NAB Australasian Real Estate Institutes’ Auctioneering Championship. The runner up was Andrew North, also from New Zealand.

	First home buyers to put their stamp on property market (20 Sep 2011)
	First home buyer enquiries are increasing as they are poised to make a strong return to the real estate market, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Guide to green star communities takes shape (16 Sep 2011)
	The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has commenced development of a Government Guide to Green Star Communities, to support local governments achieve their sustainability goals at the community level.

	Property developers applaud ban on political donations (13 Sep 2011)
	Property developers have applauded the announcement of a blanket ban on political donations from all corporations in NSW and local government elections.

	Nigerian scammers target real estate industry (13 Sep 2011)
	REINSW members are warned that Nigerian scammers are actively - and successfully - operating in the real estate industry in Australia.

	RBA leaves interest rates on hold (06 Sep 2011)
	Home owners were again given an interest rate reprieve with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) deciding to leave interest rates steady at 4.75 per cent.

	Have your say on NABERS tools (02 Sep 2011)
	Following changes to the NABERS rating scale last month, the Property Council is calling for feedback in regard to the real world operation of the tool.

	New home sales fall in July (31 Aug 2011)
	New home sales suffered a sharp decline for a second consecutive month in July 2011 according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Private sector house approvals fall in July (31 Aug 2011)
	ABS Building Approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved rose 1.0% in July 2011, in seasonally adjusted terms, after falling 3.6% in June.

	Housing affordability improves in Sydney (26 Aug 2011)
	Housing in Sydney in now 2.0% more affordable, according to a report from the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	When a valuation is not a valuation (26 Aug 2011)
	Recent media attention has put the spotlight on the rise of online property ‘valuation’ products. The potential risks to consumers using these ‘easy’ and sometimes free ‘valuations’ have been less widely publicised and are not well understood by the public or consumer protection authorities.

	Commercial Building Disclosure seminars (24 Aug 2011)
	The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency will hold free information sessions in Sydney on Thursday, 22 September 2011.

	Housing more affordable now than 5 years ago (23 Aug 2011)
	Average Australians face a better prospect of saving for a first home in 2011 compared to five years and especially two years ago, according to research by financial comparison site RateCity.

	Addiction to property (23 Aug 2011)
	There is a chronic housing shortage in Australia, particularly in Sydney. If we are to address this, governments at all levels need to move away from their dependency on property taxes.

	Gen Y first home buyers eye investment market (22 Aug 2011)
	Generation Y first home buyers are increasingly targeting investment properties as their entry point into the real estate market, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	NABERS environmental ratings extended to six stars (22 Aug 2011)
	Australian buildings are becoming so much more efficient that the NABERS rating scale is being extended from 5 to 6 stars.

	Headworks cutting property off at the knees (09 Aug 2011)
	First National Real Estate Chief Executive Ray Ellis is calling on governments and local councils to reduce exorbitant headworks costs in an effort to address housing affordability and kick start sorely-needed development across Australia.

	Centro Albion Park on the market (09 Aug 2011)
	Centro Albion Park shopping centre has been divested on the market with Colliers International, as retail investment activity continues to gain momentum around Australia.

	HIA welcomes RBA decision (03 Aug 2011)
	The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the decision by the RBA to keep interest rates on hold at 4.75%.

	RBA leaves rates unchanged (02 Aug 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept interest rates at 4.75% despite concerns over inflation.

	Tax forum should fix housing shortage: HIA (01 Aug 2011)
	A Tax Forum discussion paper by the Deputy Prime Minister represents an opportunity for Australia to take steps towards reducing the large tax burden levied on new housing and to remedy the nation’s chronic housing shortage, according to the Housing Industry Association.

	Sydney escapes falling house prices (29 Jul 2011)
	Sydney has escaped a downturn in median house prices, with most markets feeling the negative impact of diverse local conditions on prices, according to Australian Property Monitors’ Quarterly Housing Report.

	Springing into action (27 Jul 2011)
	What are the top five factors that will influence the minds of buyers and sellers when the weather warms up for the spring property market?

	One Shelley Street certified with top sustainability rating (26 Jul 2011)
	Brookfield’s One Shelley Street, King Street Whalf, Sydney has received a 6 Star Green Star – Office As Built V2 certified rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

	Most don't expect rate hike (21 Jul 2011)
	An interest rate rise in during 2011 is unlikely, according to a national survey mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Sydney office sector set to rise: CBRE (21 Jul 2011)
	Owners of prime office property in the Sydney CBD can expect a “super boost” to returns over the next 12 to 18 months, with CB Richard Ellis forecasting total returns to top 20% in 2012 as both incentives offered by landlords decline and rents start to rise.

	First National add iPad apps (18 Jul 2011)
	First National Real Estate has launched an additional three iPad apps after releasing its first, My Condition Reporter, in May.

	Rental conditions slowdown (12 Jul 2011)
	The RP Data June quarter Rent Report has confirmed that while rental rates increased by 2.9 per cent for the past 12 months, the combined capital city results showed a slowdown in market conditions.

	No licence for commercial agents? (12 Jul 2011)
	Just when we thought the discussions around the proposed national licensing of real estate agents couldn’t get any sillier, they have.

	realestateVIEW.com.au partners with BigPond on new money and investment site (11 Jul 2011)
	RealestateVIEW.com.au is excited to announce its latest partnership with BigPond. On the 28th of June 2011, BigPond launched its new personal finance and investment site – BigPond Money.

	Sydney tops for industrial rent (11 Jul 2011)
	Sydney is the leading Australian city when it comes to attracting high industrial rental returns, according to a survey by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE).

	Top auctioneers selected to represent NSW (07 Jul 2011)
	Two of the state’s most highly-recognised auctioneers have been selected to compete at the upcoming national championships.

	Steady rates only sensible decision (06 Jul 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia’s made the only sensible decision on offer in keeping the official cash rate on hold for another month, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Building shortfall to continue (05 Jul 2011)
	A big fall in building approvals in May highlights the tenuous outlook for many parts of the industry, according to Master Builders Australia (MBA).

	Changes to NSW Fair Trading fees (30 Jun 2011)
	From 1 July 2011, the fees for many of the services provided by NSW Fair Trading will be changing in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

	'2-day' real estate training set to sweep Australia (29 Jun 2011)
	REINSW says the regulated low entry-level training requirement already in place in NSW will be applied to other states, if proposed changes to national licensing standards are approved.

	BIS Shrapnel forecasts residential recovery (28 Jun 2011)
	Despite many capital cities recording a decline in median house prices in the year to March 2011, industry analyst and economic forecaster, BIS Shrapnel, is not expecting a property price crash.

	RateCity praises exit fee ban (27 Jun 2011)
	Financial comparison website RateCity has welcomed the decision by the Senate last week to keep the banning of early exit variable mortgage fees in place from July 1, 2011.

	Colliers International wins website award (24 Jun 2011)
	Colliers International has been recognised as a leader in digital innovation winning the Sitecore Site of the Year.

	Families given $7000 to leave Sydney (24 Jun 2011)
	Sydneysiders who sell up and move to regional NSW will be given a $7000 grant by the state government.

	Property Council says independent umpire undermined (22 Jun 2011)
	The determination of major projects that create housing and jobs is being exposed to local politics and made more inefficient, according to the Property Council of Australia.

	Rail Link to boost Castle Hill (17 Jun 2011)
	Castle Hill, in Sydney’s growing north-west corridor, is set to be a property hotspot following the NSW government’s green-light for the North West Rail Link, connecting Rouse Hill to Epping via Castle Hill.

	Industry leaders ask the hard questions (15 Jun 2011)
	NSW Treasurer Mike Baird and NSW Valuer General Philip Western joined REINSW to shine the spotlight on the big issues.

	Concern over mortgage exit fees false: MFAA (15 Jun 2011)
	The Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) has questioned the basis of the government’s ban on mortgage exit fees.

	Call for no rate rise (06 Jun 2011)
	The Reserve Bank should now rule out any increase in interest rates in the near future, following the 1.2% seasonally adjusted drop in the March quarter gross domestic product, according to the property development industry group Urban Taskforce.

	Minister commits to pro-property stance (03 Jun 2011)
	Energetic and enthusiastic about his role, the new Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts is looking forward to a strong and ongoing engagement with REINSW.

	Housing prices slip (02 Jun 2011)
	Capital city property prices were dragged down by luxury suburbs in the three months to April according to a survey.

	Carbon tax rejected by residential building industry (24 May 2011)
	The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has declared its opposition to the Federal Government’s carbon tax.

	Urban policy lays foundation (24 May 2011)
	The Residential Development Council (RDC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s release of Our Cities, Our Future – A National Urban Policy.

	NSW Government encourages 'empty nesters' to downsize - another lobbying win for REINSW! (18 May 2011)
	In another lobbying win for REINSW, the NSW Government will extend the principal place of residence stamp duty exemption to ‘seniors’ between 55 and 65 years of age. Currently, the exemption is only available to persons who are 65 years of age or older.

	First National says budget fails property issues (17 May 2011)
	The Federal Budget fails to tackle government obstacles faced by developers, the shortage of land releases, excessive taxation on new housing or the fears surrounding a climate of rising interest rates according to First National.

	Green Building Council welcomes budget (12 May 2011)
	Funding of $160 million for projects that support sustainable urban development, announced in Federal Budget, has been welcomed by Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

	Watpac wins Australia Hearing Hub (12 May 2011)
	Watpac’s Construction division has been awarded the $75 million construction contract for the new Australian Hearing Hub to be built at Sydney’s Macquarie University.

	NSW Government to repeal ad valorem tax - lobbying win for REINSW (10 May 2011)
	REINSW members will recall that on 1 July 2010 the former NSW Labor Government introduced the Torrens Assurance Levy which is an ad valorem tax payable on the registration of a transfer of NSW property where the purchase price is more than $500,000.

	Budget should focus on productive investment: HIA (09 May 2011)
	It is essential that the upcoming federal budget focuses on more than an attempt at returning to surplus in record time, according to the HIA.

	Another blow for Sydney housing (06 May 2011)
	Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures have painted a grim picture for housing supply in Sydney, with an 8800 home shortfall likely in 2011.

	Rent crisis worsens for those on benefits (06 May 2011)
	A survey by Anglicare Sydney has revealed the troubling depth of Sydney’s rental crisis for prospective tenants on government benefits.

	Sydney CBD set to boom (06 May 2011)
	Sydney’s famous George Street retail and office precinct is to benefit from nearly $1 billion in redevelopment as renewed tenant demand for CBD space takes hold.

	Easing for ABS house prices (03 May 2011)
	The latest update for the Australian Bureau of Statistics index of established house prices shows a modest easing in early 2011, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Office market recovery accelerates (29 Apr 2011)
	March quarter statistics released by Jones Lang LaSalle Research have revealed office market conditions strengthened in the first quarter of 2011.

	NSW Government urged to go green (29 Apr 2011)
	The NSW State Government has been encouraged to undertake an environmental audit of every building it owns and occupies in order to demonstrate some environmental leadership.

	Laing+Simmons launches iPhone app (28 Apr 2011)
	Searching for that dream home or rental property used to mean hours spent poring over newspaper real estate lift outs or the internet. But now a new app has taken the search into the iPhone age.

	Cloud computing the way forward according to Colliers (27 Apr 2011)
	Research from Colliers International shows the rise of cloud computing is also shaping up to change the face of commercial property transactions.

	Exit fee ban confusing (15 Apr 2011)
	The federal government’s announcement on 25 March that home loan exit fees are banned from 1 July is causing confusion with a number of borrowers who are trying to decide whether to switch now or later.

	Ray White sees $2.3 billion sales in March (12 Apr 2011)
	The month of March traditionally is a key barometer for an analysis of real estate activity, according to Ray White chairman Brian White.

	Housing recovery in trouble: MBA (12 Apr 2011)
	Recent rate rises and weak consumer confidence are threatening to derail Australia’s much needed housing recovery, according to building and construction organisation Master Builders Australia.

	Installing solar panels (12 Apr 2011)
	The use of renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular amongst residents of NSW, and many home owners are deciding to have solar panels installed on their properties. NSW Fair Trading is responsible for making sure that these installations are carried out according to the required safety standards.

	Urban Taskforce praise Planning Minister (06 Apr 2011)
	Developer lobby group, Urban Taskforce, has welcomed the appointment of Brad Hazzard as NSW Planning Minister.

	RBA leaves rates on hold (05 Apr 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left interest rates unchanged at 4.75% for the fifth month in a row as expected by economists.

	Dwelling approvals continue to weaken (04 Apr 2011)
	ABS building approvals show that the total number of dwellings approved fell 7.4% in February 2011 after falling 11.6% in January.

	Sydney industrial market in growth phase (04 Apr 2011)
	Increasing demand in the logistics sector is helping a recovery in the Sydney industrial market, with solid rent increases expected over the next two years, according to CB Richard Ellis.

	ASIC updates guidance on responsible lending obligations (01 Apr 2011)
	The Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC has updated its regulatory guidance in regard to older and retired home owners who may not be able to replay borrowed money.

	NSW worst for planning (01 Apr 2011)
	Calls for a reform of NSW’s planning system have been strengthened by the release of a daft research report by the Productivity Commission, according to the Urban Taskforce.

	Fixed rates lose their appeal (31 Mar 2011)
	Homebuyers are starting to shun fixed interest rate loans as interest rate stability and heated competition in the home loan market makes the variable rate option more attractive.

	Bulky goods sector on the rise (31 Mar 2011)
	The bulky goods sector is enjoying the flow on effect of interest rate stability as consumers are starting to once again feel more comfortable spending money on home improvements.

	Population freeze to cause property price fall (29 Mar 2011)
	Real estate prices will fall if the Federal Government uses its forthcoming “sustainable population strategy” to freeze Australia’s capital cities at their current size, according to report to be released today (29 March 2011).

	Coalition chance to build investment (28 Mar 2011)
	The Coalition’s resounding election victory offers NSW the opportunity to capture the new wave of investment needed to underpin strong economic growth, according to the Property Council of Australia.

	Calls for urgent housing action (21 Mar 2011)
	Mortgage Choice CEO Michael Russell has welcomed the findings of the Productivity Commission report which identify the clause of deteriorating housing affordability.

	Housing sales weak (18 Mar 2011)
	The new home building sector is running considerably slower than that required to meet the nation‟s housing needs, according to the HIA.

	Stockland acquires Hunter site (18 Mar 2011)
	Stockland has acquired a 40 Hectare residential development site in Maitland, NSW from the Terrace Tower Group for a total of $22 million.

	Help shed some light on Census night (16 Mar 2011)
	It’s Census time again and the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales is urging all members to offer their assistance to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and help ensure that their residents are fully counted.

	Applications for termination for non-payment of rent (15 Mar 2011)
	Geo-Tagging can establish your real estate agency’s website as an interesting local map resource and allow you to market the properties you’ve listed or sold.

	PCA supports NSW Coalition vow to cut property tax (15 Mar 2011)
	A pledge by the NSW Coalition to axe the new ad valorem tax on property has been welcomed by the Property Council of Australia

	CBRE top global commercial brand (07 Mar 2011)
	CB Richard Ellis has been named the premier global brand in commercial real estate for the tenth year in a row.

	Melbourne tops Sydney in global liveability survey (07 Mar 2011)
	Housing affordability, low-density sprawl and public transport issues are some of the factors holding Sydney back from the top of a list of the world’s most liveable cities.

	Create an interactive map of your listings using Google Geo-Tags (07 Mar 2011)
	Geo-Tagging can establish your real estate agency’s website as an interesting local map resource and allow you to market the properties you’ve listed or sold.

	High rents cause granny flat boom (04 Mar 2011)
	An increase in the number of development applications for granny flats across Sydney councils has been credited to a growing trend for older children to stay in the family home longer to avoid the high-cost rental market.

	Building approvals set to rise (04 Mar 2011)
	New South Wales is set to record its highest level of new housing activity in eight years during 2011 as first home buyers and upgraders return to the market, economic growth picks up and interest rates stabilise.

	Council delays drive away investment (04 Mar 2011)
	Increasing delays in council development application processes are driving multi-million dollar investments away from NSW, according to Urban Taskforce Australia.

	Bankstown best for affordable housing (03 Mar 2011)
	Potential home buyers looking to avoid Sydney’s crippling property prices should start looking in the Bankstown Local Government Area, according to new research by PRDnationwide.

	Space at the Grace (03 Mar 2011)
	One of Sydney’s most historic buildings has opened up a number of high profile retail tenancies, which may be potential locations for new city bars and restaurants.

	New laws hurt self-employed borrowers (02 Mar 2011)
	Self-employed borrowers are being forced out of the housing market due to the introduction of new consumer credit protection laws, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	Shopping centre feeds a Hungry Pig (02 Mar 2011)
	A shopping centre on the NSW Central Coast has the proud distinction of being one of the greenest in the world thanks to the implementation of an on-site organic waste management system that will recycle the equivalent of 20 garbage trucks worth of waste food every year.

	HIA calls for skilled migrants policy (02 Mar 2011)
	The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called for the Federal Government to introduce a targeted migration policy for skilled workers in the residential sector.

	Market conditions remain soft (01 Mar 2011)
	Disruptions caused by natural disasters and low sales volumes have resulted in soft market conditions across the Australian capital cities, according to RP Data-Rismark figures.

	Interest rates remain on hold (01 Mar 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has given home owners a reprieve, leaving interest rates steady.

	New home building declines: ABS (28 Feb 2011)
	New residential building work done fell by 1.7% in the December 2010 quarter, following the 5.2% decline in the September 2010 quarter, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

	First homebuyers have no idea on rates (23 Feb 2011)
	Over one quarter of recent homebuyers surveyed by Mortgage Choice do not know their home loan’s interest rate and almost one in every five have taken on significant extra debt within the first two years.

	Amendment to Agency Agreements - more protection for agents' commission (22 Feb 2011)
	As part of the continual review of REINSW’s agency agreements, we are pleased to announce a significant amendment to the following REINSW Agency Agreements: SA00100, SA00200, SA00300 and SA00600.

	Safety switches now mandatory in most businesses (22 Feb 2011)
	New regulations mandating safety switches in most workplaces are now in force. From 18 February 2011, all workplaces will be required to install a safety switch (also called a residual current device), for powerpoints to protect workers against the risk of serious injury or fatality from an electric shock.

	Agencies asked to "substantiate" quoted selling prices (21 Feb 2011)
	Seven real estate agencies in NSW are being investigated for suspected underquoting at auctions.

	Forecast rent rises spur commercial market (21 Feb 2011)
	The smaller end of the Sydney commercial market is attracting increased buyer interest ahead of forecast increases in city office rents, according to CB Richard Ellis.

	Tax breaks for green buildings (18 Feb 2011)
	A public consultation paper on a new program to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings has been released.

	REINSW lobbies on behalf of the holiday and short-term rentals sector (17 Feb 2011)
	REINSW was recently invited by the Department of Planning to take part in an meeting of industry stakeholders concerning the future direction of the NSW planning policy concerning the holiday and short-term rentals sector.

	Rate rises impact new home loans (16 Feb 2011)
	The number of owner occupier loans for new housing fell in December 2010, driven by a marked fall in lending for the purchase of new dwellings, according to the Housing Industry Association.

	The Residence secures $19.9m in sales (14 Feb 2011)
	The top end of the Sydney apartment market is continuing to fire, with contracts exchanged on three apartments in The Residence overlooking Hyde Park in deals totaling $19.9 million.

	Duddy calls for land-use strategy (14 Feb 2011)
	Independent candidate for the Upper Hunter and Liverpool Plains Tim Duddy has called on the Coalition to commit to developing a land-use strategy for NSW should they become the next government.

	Fixed rate home loan demand steadies (11 Feb 2011)
	New data from independently-owned mortgage broker Mortgage Choice, shows 15.3% of the home loans approved for its customers in January had a fixed interest rate.

	Bridge Street stakes sells for $24m (09 Feb 2011)
	Diversified property group FKP has sold its 48% stake in 17-19 Bridge Street Sydney for $24 million.

	Alpin to collect evidence on Residential Tenancies Act (07 Feb 2011)
	New South Wales Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Greg Aplin plans to collect evidence on the way the new Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations work in the real world of people’s homes and investments.

	Builders "cautiously optimistic" for 2011 (07 Feb 2011)
	The latest survey from Master Builders Australia reports that despite business conditions remaining essentially unchanged during the December quarter, its members were “cautiously optimistic” about the near-term future of the building and construction industry.

	Bonuses for Hunter homebuyers (07 Feb 2011)
	A campaign to kick start the housing market in the Hunter region will offer bonuses and free offers of up to $42,990 to homebuyers.

	Sydney Water hikes charges for Waterfix program for landlords! (03 Feb 2011)
	Sydney Water has increases the charge for its Waterfix program designed to assist owners to install water efficiency measures in residential properties.

	Last drinks for pubs facing financial pressures (02 Feb 2011)
	It is estimated that up to 90 per cent of pubs currently on the market are facing financial pressure, according to a report published in The Australian on 27 January 2011.

	Back to the beach (02 Feb 2011)
	Almost 60 per cent of 2000 people polled by PRDnationwide in January said they would choose to have a second home at the beach.

	RBA keeps rates steady (01 Feb 2011)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has given home owners a reprieve leaving interest rates steady at 4.75%.

	The CTTT and the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (01 Feb 2011)
	The Residential Tenancies Act 1987 (the old Act) continues to apply in relation to any termination notice given before 31 January 2011 or CTTT proceedings commenced before 31 January 2011, relating to the termination of an existing residential tenancy agreement or abandoned goods.

	Sydney property values rise 6.6% (01 Feb 2011)
	Property prices rose 6.6% in Sydney during 2010, above the combined capital city national average of 4.7%, according to the RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Home Value Index.

	Moves to flood proof NSW (01 Feb 2011)
	The flood crisis in Queensland has prompted local councils in NSW to invest in flood prevention.

	Wollongong land value $20 billion (01 Feb 2011)
	NSW Valuer General, Philip Western, has revealed that the total land value of the Wollongong local government area (LGA) is now more than $20 billion.

	Residential Tenancies Act 2010 commences today! (31 Jan 2011)
	With the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 commencing today, property management practice in NSW will change significantly. REINSW is here to help members make the transition and provide support to property managers at this critical time.

	Flood funds redirected from affordable housing fund (31 Jan 2011)
	Funding for Queensland’s flood recovery will impact on two Government schemes designed to increase the levels of affordable housing for low and moderate income earners.

	Capital ideas (31 Jan 2011)
	Residents of Australia’s capital cities are dissatisfied with their quality of life, according to a national survey by the Property Council of Australia.

	Google abandons property search (28 Jan 2011)
	Google has abandoned its foray into property searches due to low take-up rates, back-end infrastructure challenges and the vast array of competition in the online real estate sector.

	'New Tenant Checklist' supersedes 'The Renting Guide' (25 Jan 2011)
	The Residential Tenancies Act 2010 will commence on Monday, 31 January 2011. NSW Fair Trading has advised REINSW that The Renting Guide, which is currently required to be provided to new tenants, is being replaced by the New Tenant Checklist.

	Asset-rich retirees may miss out on pension (20 Jan 2011)
	Seniors groups warn the elderly may be forced to sell their homes if the government implements a plan to include the family home in the age-pension means test.

	Sydney worst, Adelaide most liveable (20 Jan 2011)
	Sydney has been ranked by its own residents as Australia’s worst city, while Adelaide was rated as the most livable, according to a recent survey.

	St George lends a hand to first-time buyers (19 Jan 2011)
	St George Bank will recognise rental payments as evidence of genuine savings, assisting first home buyers to acquire finance.

	Property weakness short-lived: ANZ (18 Jan 2011)
	Property prices will weaken in 2011 but the decline will be short-lived, according to a report by ANZ senior economist Ange Montalt.

	20-year leases divide government (17 Jan 2011)
	Granting wealthy owners of waterfront properties 20-year leases over jetties is not protecting the Sydney Harbour for the public good, says Minister for Planning Tony Kelly.

	ICAC calls for review of planning laws (14 Jan 2011)
	The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has called for reform of Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Part 3A planning laws allow the State Government to override local council decisions on major projects.

	Home loans see solid November growth (13 Jan 2011)
	The number of new home loans rose 9.7% in November 2010, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

	New Sydney landmark (13 Jan 2011)
	Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP officially opened Stockland’s new inner-city apartment development, The Hyde, in December 2010.

	The cost of saving water (13 Jan 2011)
	A government plan to limit the amount of water that can be taken from the Murray-Darling Basin has been met with strong opposition by local communities.

	Urban Taskforce recommends retail bill (12 Jan 2011)
	The NSW Government proposal for tougher laws to protect small businesses from retail landlords is well-intentioned, but overlooks the source of the problem, according to the Urban Taskforce.

	Commercial Building Disclosure - what your clients need to know (12 Jan 2011)
	Do you have commercial clients responsible for office space of 2000 sqm or more? If so, you need to inform them about the new national Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program.

	Agent appeals against licence suspension (12 Jan 2011)
	A real estate agent in Gosford will appeal against a decision by NSW Fair Trading to suspend his licence for 10 years.

	Buyers market for 2011: Ray White (11 Jan 2011)
	December property sales for Ray White, were unable to match the strong preceding turnover seen in December 2009.

	'Real estate' is popular Google search (11 Jan 2011)
	As part of its annual Zeitgeist festival (German for ‘the spirit of the times’), Google has revealed the top Australian web searches for 2010. The term 'real estate' ranked seventh behind well-established websites including Facebook, YouTube, Google itself, eBay, Hotmail and Yahoo.

	NSW leads building approvals decline (10 Jan 2011)
	Building approvals continued their downhill run in November 2010 after a temporary reprieve in October, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Sustainable homes of the future (10 Jan 2011)
	In a joint venture with Landcom and Blacktown City Council, Clarendon Homes will construct three sustainable homes at The Ponds, Sydney. Each will demonstrate sustainable technologies and features that can be incorporated into residential building.

	Transfer tax puts brake on investment: PCA (07 Jan 2011)
	The ad valorem tax on property transfers may deter future investments in NSW, states a report by the Property Council of Australia (PCA).

	SCMC reduces mortgage fees (05 Jan 2011)
	Non-bank lender, State Custodians Mortgage Company, has announced a reduction to its early exit fees on its Standard Variable, Line of Credit, Breathe Easy and all Fixed rate home loans settling after 4 January 2011.

	Population growth lowest since March 2007 (23 Dec 2010)
	Australia's annual population growth rate slowed to 1.7% in the year ending June 2010, according to preliminary figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

	Keneally outlines 2036 Sydney metro plan (20 Dec 2010)
	NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has released the Metropolitan Plan for Sydney 2036, which will shape the future growth of the city.

	Solid Western Sydney sales: CBRE (16 Dec 2010)
	Increasing liquidity and buyer confidence resulted in over $120 million worth of property being transacted in western Sydney during 2010 by CB Richard Ellis’ Parramatta Metro team.

	Exit fee ban fails to tackle competition: MFAA (15 Dec 2010)
	The Federal Government's Banking Reform package fails to deal with the root cause of lack of competition in the banking sector, according to the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).

	Best year ever in NSW property: Ray White (15 Dec 2010)
	NSW real estate is the best it’s ever been for Ray White, according to Chief Executive of Ray White NSW, Stephen Nell.

	RBA gets it right with no hike: HIA (08 Dec 2010)
	The Reserve Bank Board’s decision to keep interest rates on hold was the only sensible course of action given current economic and housing conditions, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	First Home Owner Grant changes (07 Dec 2010)
	In what is great news for first home buyers, the NSW Government has announced that the First Home Owner Grant cap will be increased to $835,000 from 1 January 2011.

	RBA leaves rates unchanged (07 Dec 2010)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has given home owners an early Christmas present leaving rates on hold at 4.75%.

	New residential tenancies regime to commence on 31 January 2011 (06 Dec 2010)
	The NSW Government has announced that the Residential Tenancies Act 2010 and the Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 will both commence operation on 31 January 2011.

	Mortgage Choice survey sees interest rate fear decline (06 Dec 2010)
	Australians are no longer as concerned about interest rates, according to mortgage broker Mortgage Choice.

	Government reins in rogue department (02 Dec 2010)
	The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s efforts to re-assert control over the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE).

	Market valuations leave buyer hanging (30 Nov 2010)
	Further interest rate rises will create increasing discrepancies between agreed sale prices and valuations, having a detrimental effect on the number of property transactions and house prices, according to the Real Estate Buyer’s Agents Association of Australia (REBAA).

	REINSW present policy platform to NSW Opposition Leader (25 Nov 2010)
	Yesterday, REINSW CEO Tim McKibbin met with the Leader of the NSW Liberals & Nationals, Mr Barry O’Farrell, to present REINSW’s policy platform ahead of the NSW election in March 2011.

	Building, construction decline: MBA (25 Nov 2010)
	Building and construction work done fell back in the September quarter, and the outlook is concerning as government stimulus spending winds down, according to Master Builders Australia.

	Knight Frank hires Horne (24 Nov 2010)
	Knight Frank has appointed Richard Horne as National Director, Investment Sales. Horne is the former Senior Managing Director of CBRE's New Zealand operation and a 20 year veteran of the property industry in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

	Houses overvalued by 15%: IMF (24 Nov 2010)
	Australian house prices could be overvalued by up to 15 per cent, which would leave indebted households vulnerable in the event of a property market slump, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

	Australia a great place to set up shop (24 Nov 2010)
	Australia has ranked second behind New Zealand as the easiest place to start a business in the eighth annual World Bank and International Finance Corporation survey.

	Concerns over private certifications (22 Nov 2010)
	The investigation of a private certifier, who allegedly signed off on a house that needed at least $118,000 worth of work to bring it up to the legal standard, has called into question the effectiveness of the system for private certification of new homes.

	Poor result at luxury-home auction (19 Nov 2010)
	The interest rate rise and strong Aussie dollar were cited as reasons for a disappointing outcome at a recent auction of luxury homes held at the Sydney Opera House.

	Shepherd review outcome disappointing: developers (15 Nov 2010)
	The NSW Government’s decision to stop fast-track projects is disappointing, according to the Urban Taskforce.

	CBRE agent for Clarence Street (11 Nov 2010)
	CB Richard Ellis has been appointed as the exclusive selling agent for the 55 Clarence Street office tower in the western corridor of the Sydney CBD.

	Retail leases - new form of disclosure statement (09 Nov 2010)
	On 1 January 2011, the eastern seaboard States of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland will jointly adopt a new disclosure statement for retail leasing to replace the lessor's disclosure statement that currently forms Schedule 2 to the Retail Leases Act 1994.

	ABS seeks weaker than expected CPI (29 Oct 2010)
	The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index rose 0.7% in the September quarter 2010, compared with a rise of 0.6% in the June quarter 2010.

	Cloud computing: the impact on commercial buildings (29 Oct 2010)
	A report released by Jones Lang LaSalle reveals that organisations are turning to cloud computing as a means to reduce IT costs, space requirements and energy consumption.

	Tree change, not sea change (29 Oct 2010)
	The lure of the coastal lifestyle is slowly shifting as Sydneysiders are advised to think about a move to regional centres in NSW.

	September quarter drop for new home sales (29 Oct 2010)
	Private sector home building is set to decline following a large reduction in new home sales over recent months.

	Commercial Building Disclosure program now in force (29 Oct 2010)
	For a while it is was called Mandatory Disclosure. Now the Commonwealth Government refers to its energy efficiency mandatory disclosure system as Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD), which came into force on 1 November 2010.

	Sydney house prices trump London and New York (26 Oct 2010)
	Sydney continues to outpace global capitals such as London and New York when it comes to median house prices.

	'Boomburbs' exhibition provides a bird's eye view (26 Oct 2010)
	Taking to the air has given photographer Andrew Merry a new perspective on Sydney’s suburban sprawl.

	Worst skilled trade shortages since 2008 (26 Oct 2010)
	The latest Housing Industry Association-Austral Bricks Trades Report highlights a further deterioration in the availability of skilled tradespeople in the residential sector. The HIA said in the September 2010 quarter the HIA-Austral Bricks Trade Availability Index showed a shortage of skilled tradespeople in nine of thirteen trades. The Index was at its lowest level since the September 2008 quarter.

	Bunnings overlooks Goulburn (26 Oct 2010)
	The home improvement chain, Bunnings, has overlooked Goulburn in its $600 million investment in metropolitan and regional stores.

	Property Industry Foundation to raise funds (22 Oct 2010)
	The Property Industry Foundation (PIF) aims to raise $200,000 at its Annual Charity Ball sponsored by Ganellan, specialists in design and construction.

	Real Tenancy that's good for the economy (22 Oct 2010)
	The Australian economy recovered relatively well by world standards following the global financial crisis, largely due to a strong property market.

	HIA-Boral recognise green buildings (21 Oct 2010)
	NSW’s Blue Eco Homes has been recognised with the GreenSmart Water Efficiency Award for its Eco Home Winmalee project, as part of the HIA-Boral GreenSmart Awards.

	LJ Hooker predicts strong spring (21 Oct 2010)
	Property group LJ Hooker is predicting a strong level of activity during the Spring Auction period driven by stable interest rates, rising clearance levels and a shortage of supply in the Sydney metropolitan area.

	Housing finance reflects a flat market (13 Oct 2010)
	The popularity of fixed rate home loans is on the rise, reaching 3.7% of all new loan approvals in September for Mortgage Choice, Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker.

	Eight hotels secures Sydney property (13 Oct 2010)
	Eight Hotels is preparing to open its ninth boutique Australian property after secured a long term lease over the former Central Park Hotel in the heart of the Sydney CBD.

	Fixed rate home loan demand rises (07 Oct 2010)
	The popularity of fixed rate home loans is on the rise, reaching 3.7% of all new loan approvals in September for Mortgage Choice, Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker.

	RBA shocks with rates on hold (05 Oct 2010)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept experts guessing by keeping interest rates on hold for the fifth consecutive month.

	Capital city house prices decline (01 Oct 2010)
	House prices in capital cities fell 0.2% in August compared to July, but rose 8% from a year earlier, according to RP Data-Rismark data.

	Building approvals slip (01 Oct 2010)
	The total number of dwellings approved fell 4.7% in August 2010, following a rise in the previous month, according to Australian Bureau of Statics data.

	Capital markets start to come back to life (30 Sep 2010)
	Commercial property transactions in Australia showed an encouraging rise in the third quarter 2010, according to CB Richard Ellis.

	Bunnings to open 18 stores in NSW (29 Sep 2010)
	Home improvement and outdoor living retailer Bunnings increase its investment in New South Wales by more than $600 million in 18 metro and regional sites over the next three years.

	Illawarra residents pay highest rates in NSW (24 Sep 2010)
	A report released by Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, found that the Illawarra region’s three councils ranked among the 25 most expensive in the state for 2008-09.

	Point Piper property sells for record $52m (24 Sep 2010)
	Villa Veneto, a six-bedroom, nine-bathroom harbourside property in Sydney’s exclusive Point Piper has been sold to David Penn, a dentist and medical innovator, for $52 million.

	Property focus for tax office (23 Sep 2010)
	State and territory authorities will be asked to provide updated identity and transaction details relating to property title transfers between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2010.

	Borrowers can't be bothered changing loans (22 Sep 2010)
	Many Australian home owners can’t be bothered switching lenders even if they could save over a thousand dollars on their home loan, according to mortgage broker Loan Market.

	House price growth in June quarter 2010 (21 Sep 2010)
	The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has released the Mortgage Choice Real Estate Market Facts report for the June quarter 2010, with figures recording a better performance from the Australian residential property market than the previous quarter.

	PCA submission in for Barangaroo's concept plan (21 Sep 2010)
	The Property Council of Australia has responded to the NSW Department of Planning’s request for submissions on Barangaroo’s amended concept plan, commending the approval of Sydney's most significant urban renewal project.

	Move to require vendors to provide pest and building reports (21 Sep 2010)
	A new law under consideration by the New South Wales Government requiring vendors to provide pest and building reports could backfire on property buyers, according to the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA).

	HIA says increase in housing starts (20 Sep 2010)
	The 2009/10 HIA-COLORBOND steel Housing 100 report shows that housing starts have increased 32 per cent to 31,120 over the past financial year.

	Reminder: your trust account audit is due! (20 Sep 2010)
	Your audit and statutory declaration forms are due to be lodged by 30 September 2010.

	Ray White launches iPhone, iPad property app (17 Sep 2010)
	The Ray White Group has launched what it is describing as the world’s first iPad/iPhone application aimed at real estate agents as part of its Young Professionals in Real Estate (YPIRE) program.

	Homebuyers suffer as NSW walks away from levies reform (16 Sep 2010)
	The NSW Governments decision to abandon the bulk of its reforms to local infrastructure levies will ultimately cost homebuyers, according to the Property Council of Australia.

	Sydney retail rents climb (16 Sep 2010)
	Retail rents in the Sydney CBD continued to spike in the first half of 2010, despite a slowdown in retail trade, according to CB Richard Ellis research.

	Commercial sale at online auction (16 Sep 2010)
	In a first for Australia, a commercial property was sold in September via live online bidding.

	Decline in housing affordability relentless (15 Sep 2010)
	New South Wales remains the least affordable state or territory in which to own a home with the proportion of income required to meet loan repayments increasing to 38.0% or 3.4 percentage points above the national average.

	Draft Residential Tenancies Regulation now available (15 Sep 2010)
	The draft Residential Tenancies Regulation 2010 has been released today for public consultation.

	Mortgage market strengthens (13 Sep 2010)
	Despite the Federal Election, mortgage sales in August were 10.9% higher than in July according to mortgage broker AFG.

	New Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2010 has commenced (02 Sep 2010)
	The Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2005 is currently undergoing a five-yearly review prior to its automatic repeal on 1 September 2010. A draft Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2010 (the Regulation) was released for public comment in early July. The final version of the regulation was published on 27 August 2010 and comes into effect on 1 September 2010.

	Weak sales figures nationally for July (31 Aug 2010)
	A sharp decline in new home sales has prompted the Housing Industry Association (HIA) to call on the new government to adopt a three point action plan to reduce the impact of regulation on the cost of new housing supply.

	New home building surges (26 Aug 2010)
	The Housing Industry Association said ABS figures released on 25 August confirm the first stage recovery in new home building is starting to flow through to real building activity.

	Prestige purchases on the rise (25 Aug 2010)
	Sales of prestige homes were up 3.35 per cent on the previous quarter, reveals a report for REINSW by valuer Dyson Austen.

	Tax cheats caught (25 Aug 2010)
	More than 3000 NSW residents have been caught rorting first-homebuyer concessions, accounting for $7.5 million in lost stamp duty alone.

	Housing affordability falls in June quarter (23 Aug 2010)
	Interest rate hikes and rising home values sent housing affordability close to a record low in the June 2010 quarter.

	Spending big on a new home (19 Aug 2010)
	Research by mortgage provider Homeloans Ltd reveals that buying a new home is set to be the biggest spend for NSW consumers this financial year.

	Industry moves to the fringe (19 Aug 2010)
	Companies are relocating to Sydney’s outer suburbs to take advantage of improved transport infrastructure and property prices, according to Andrew Maher, head of Jones Lang LaSalle’s industrial division in NSW.

	New prescribed document for annexure to Contract for Sale of Land (18 Aug 2010)
	The Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2005 will be automatically repealed on 1 September 2010 and replaced with the Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2010.

	Housing price growth to slow (18 Aug 2010)
	With interest rates expected to rise, ANZ expects house price growth will temporarily slow to low single digits in 2011.

	Industrial tenants sign shorter leases (17 Aug 2010)
	Business confidence is on the rise, but many industrial tenants are still reluctant to commit to long-term leases according to market analysis from CB Richard Ellis.

	Fixed rates unattractive (12 Aug 2010)
	The popularity of fixed rate home loans has dropped to 2% of all new approvals nationally in July, according to Mortgage Choice.

	Taxes killing Great Australia Dream (12 Aug 2010)
	The NSW IPART, in its Report on State Taxation of October 2008, ranked transfer stamp duty among the least efficient taxes. The Report scored transfer stamp duty poorly for efficiency, robustness and equity and found it adds to the cost of real estate transactions and distorts investment decisions.

	Funding residential infrastructure a major policy challenge (10 Aug 2010)
	Ensuring an adequate supply of affordable homes is one of the foremost challenges facing Australia today and there are a range of barriers standing in the way, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Office space demand rebounds (10 Aug 2010)
	Demand for office space has rebounded after the global financial crisis with demand over the last six months at double the 20 year average, according to the Property Council of Australia.

	Great Australian Dream trashed by Commonwealth and State tax regimes (06 Aug 2010)
	Gillard and Abbott must act to curb cost of taxation which is killing home ownership dream

	Pack the pets and take a break (04 Aug 2010)
	The number of Aussies holidaying with their pets is increasing, with more people choosing to bring along the family doggy or moggy – or even the horse – on their travels. Recent search data from leading accommodation booking website TakeABreak.com.au illustrates the rising trend, especially through the evolution of search terms over the past year.

	New home sales decline (03 Aug 2010)
	New home sales weakened further in June, reinforcing the case for a period of sustained interest rate stability, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

	Property values fall 0.7% (03 Aug 2010)
	Australia’s capital cities have recorded their first monthly decline in dwelling values after 17 consecutive months of growth, according to RP Data-Rismark.

	RBA keeps rates steady (03 Aug 2010)
	The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has kept interest rates on hold for the third month in a row. Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens left rates on hold at 4.50% as expected by the majority finance experts.

	REINSW and Westpac working together for the industry (02 Aug 2010)
	REINSW has partnered with Westpac Banking Corporation to offer members financial services tailored to real estate professionals.

	Access all areas - new voluntary building standards (30 Jul 2010)
	In an effort to improve housing accessability and living standards for young families, the aged and the disabled, the Federal Government has launched voluntary building standards.

	Commercial property snapped up by small investors (29 Jul 2010)
	Small property investors are reentering the commercial market, accounting for $23 million worth of sales at one auction in Sydney in June.

	Mandatory disclosure requirements under the Commercial Building Disclosure program (27 Jul 2010)
	The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has advised that disclosure requirements under the Commercial Building Disclosure program (CBD) will commence on 1 November 2010.

	Aussie holiday rental accommodation market optimistic about growth (26 Jul 2010)
	The Occupancy Accommodation Index (OAI) is a new, quarterly survey of more than 1,500 holiday rental property managers across Australia, by leading, independent specialist in online accommodation services, Occupancy.com.

	Review of vendor disclosure may prove costly (23 Jul 2010)
	Should sellers have to provide mandatory building inspection reports to prospective purchasers?

	Homebuyers facing longer trips to work (21 Jul 2010)
	Properties located in the outer suburbs of the city are likely to enjoy an upswing in demand, a new PRDnationwide poll has found.

	Land sales signal faltering recovery (20 Jul 2010)
	The volume of residential land sales fell for a second consecutive quarter in March 2010, while median land values flattened out.

	It's trust account audit time! (15 Jul 2010)
	Under the Property Stock and Business Agents Act 2002, licensees’ records in relation to the handling of trust money must be audited.

	Sydney good value for expats (14 Jul 2010)
	Australian cities offer value for money for expatriates in the Asia-Pacific, according to investment firm Mercer Worldwide.

	Landowners' right to protect property (12 Jul 2010)
	The NSW Government has released draft legislation that gives beachfront landowners the right to shield their property against coastal erosion.

	Australia makes the top four (07 Jul 2010)
	A survey by Knight Frank has revealed that Australia is the fourth-fastest-growing property market in the world. This is largely due to a 20 per cent price jump in the past year, according to the international real estate agency.