Residential



	Residential

	5% or 10% deposit (Journal November 2007)
	A prospective purchaser can’t afford to pay the full 10% deposit? What flows from an arrangement where the purchaser pays 5% deposit on exchange?

	Who gets paid? (Journal March 2007)
	REINSW constantly receives phone calls from distressed agents who had introduced a purchaser to a vendor and then another agency ended up getting the sale – and the commission.

	Signing agency agreements (Journal December 2006)
	Who should sign an agency agreement? In part three of a series of 'hypotheticals', Jodie Masson and Elizabeth Hurn from law firm DLA Phillips Fox discuss some of the tricky situations that can arise when trying to get an agency agreement signed.

	Agency agreements (Journal November 2006)
	Jodie Masson and Elizabeth Hurn from law firm Phillips Fox discuss the prescribed terms for agency agreements. If you miss just one of these legally required terms, you could miss out on your fee!

	On the buyers' side (Journal October 2006)
	Home buyers are increasingly recognising the advantages of engaging a professional consultant to help them find the perfect property. Journal editor Roslyn Alderton spoke to a number of buyers’ agents about the benefits their expert knowledge can provide potential purchasers.

	Agency agreements (Journal October 2006)
	One of the most common mistakes that real estate agents make is incorrectly filling out their agency agreements, following the wrong procedures to have them signed or not having an agency agreement at all. Unfortunately these mistakes can mean losing your commission, facing fines or even losing your licence.

	Sold! The auctioneers' verdict on the PSBA Act (Journal September 2006)
	Sold! It’s now been three years since bidders’ registration radically changed the way auctions are conducted in NSW. Journal editor Roslyn Alderton talks to prominent auctioneers about their views on the blessings and burdens of the legislation, as well as other challenges and rewards of auctioneering.

	Auctioneering School of Excellence (Journal September 2006)
	Ladies and gentlemen, REINSW presents the Auctioneering School of Excellence – a three-day workshop to hone the skills needed to conduct an effective auction. What am I bid for these two talented presenters – Bob Jury and Kate Lumby – and the chance to tap into their knowledge and experience? Just a few minutes of your time to read these practical tips …

	Auctioneers' call (Journal September 2006)
	Does an auctioneer have the power to reject a bid if they believe the bid would contravene the law? Torquil Murray from TressCox Lawyers examines a legal case where the answer was ‘yes’ and an auctioneers’ decision to reject a bid was vindicated by the Supreme Court of NSW.

	Amending a contract (Journal September 2006)
	A recent NSW Supreme Court decision has highlighted the importance of obtaining written instruction if you want to amend a contract after it has been signed. REINSW Legal Counsel Tim McKibbin examines the case and the implications it may have for real estate agents.

	Receipts (Journal June 2006)
	The question of whether agents have to print out original trust receipts has now been clarified. Agents no longer have to keep hard copies of original trust receipts, as long as you can reprint the receipt from an electronic copy. Tim McKibbin, REINSW Legal Counsel, explains.

	Land tax in Australia (Journal June 2006)
	Anyone who has ever struggled to understand their land tax bill knows just how complicated the land valuation system can be.

	Avoid a cat fight - know the strata rules on pets (Journal May 2006)
	Being aware of the by-laws governing pets in a strata scheme could stop the fur from flying in disputes between purchasers, vendors, tenants, landords, agents and owners' corporations, say Torquil Murray and Melissa Younan of TressCox Lawyers.

	Smoke alarms (Journal April 2006)
	REINSW Legal Counsel Tim McKibbin and Communications Manager Nicholas Campbell make some sense of the new smoke alarm regime that is making agents hot under the collar.

	The deposit (Journal April 2006)
	Tim McKibbin, REINSW Legal Counsel, examines a recent decision from the Court of Appeal regarding a crucial part of your business, the deposit in the completion of a contract.

	Employing salespersons under contract (Journal March 2006)
	Bruce Williams explores whether it can be easily done, and if it is worthwhile.

	Duty to disclose the right way (Journal March 2006)
	Torquil Murray and Melissa Younan look at the duty of disclosure that applies to real estate agents.

	Housing faults – their favourite locations revealed (Journal September 2005)
	It seems like the perfect house: central location, easy walking distance to the local school, nice quiet street, four bedrooms, two living areas, north facing back yard, new kitchen. It has everything going for it, or so it seems until the building inspector arrives, writes David Lawrence.

	Back to Basix (Journal July 2005)
	The introduction of the NSW planning tool called Basix has further brought to light the real environmental and financial benefits of living in an energy efficient home, writes David Lawrence.

	Pests, leaks and cracks: insight to building inspection (Journal August 2004)
	With 2004 proclaimed the Year of the Built Environment it is an excellent opportunity to highlight the significance building inspections play in the buying and selling process, writes David Lawrence.

	Asbestos: the silent killer (Journal July 2004)
	Real estate agents are being encouraged to inform homeowners and tenants about the risks of exposure to asbestos. It might just save somebody’s life.

	BASIX – what is it & how does it affect you? (Journal June 2004)
	In this Year of the Built Environment a new planning tool – BASIX – is being introduced to help promote sustainable residential development. David Lawrence discusses the effect BASIX will have on new residential developments.

	My Word is My Bond (Journal November 2003)
	Deposit Bonds have been attracting newspaper headlines over recent months, but for all the wrong reasons, writes Bob Ward.

	The Brave New Home Loan World (Journal November 2003)
	Who would have thought, in the recent past, that owner occupiers or investors with only a short period of self-employment or with an impaired credit rating, would have been able to obtain a home loan? Bill Avery investigates.

	Neither 007 nor Licensed to Kill (Journal August 2001)
	Bob Ward looks at another Bond: deposit bonds, which are licensed to purchase real estate.

	‘Capital idea my dear Keating’ (Journal April 2001)
	Bob Ward examines the impact of capital gains tax on the property investor.

	Negative Gearing for Residential Property: Still a Desirable Investment Strategy (Journal December 2000)
	Despite the recent introduction of the new tax regime and the resultant reduction in income tax rates, residential property negative gearing is still a viable strategy according to Bob Ward.

	Renovator's Delight (Journal December 2000)
	When an agent sells residential property, it’s not just the existing property that they are selling: it is the property and its future potential writes David Lawrence.