Building work on new houses leapt by 40% over the year to end March, according to new data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The seasonally adjusted figures show that the total number of homes commenced rose…
Read moreAuthor: Adam Nobel
Grants speed early entry
Australia’s homebuyers are entering the property market up to five years sooner due to homebuyer grants, research shows. New data from the Commonwealth Bank has revealed customers have bought property, on average, 4.78 years faster using the First Home Loan…
Read moreFurnishing for a Healthy Home
With ailments such as asthma, allergies, hypersensitivity, and hyperactivity in children being linked to exposure to chemicals, families are increasingly looking for ways to maintain a healthy, chemical-free home. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are substances found in many common household…
Read moreGoldfish: monsters unleashed
Have you ever considered disposing of unwanted goldfish by releasing them into the nearest waterway? It might seem the kindest thing to do, but scientists have found they turn into monsters that choke the waterways and threaten the well-being of…
Read moreApartments built in a day
Builders in China have erected a modular 10-storey apartment block in just over a day, according to a time-lapse video released by the company. The building was assembled from standard container-sized modular units made in a factory by Changsha-based Broad…
Read moreRates lowest ever
In a move that surprised nobody, the Reserve Bank of Australia this week again opted to leave the official cash rate at its record low 0.1%. Most lenders are now offering between 1.8% and 2.5% on both fixed and variable…
Read moreHousing boom rolls on
Housing markets around Australia continued to surge in May, with CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index up 2.2% over the month. The rise in May was strong compared with April (1.8%), but weaker than the 32-year high recorded in March, when…
Read moreSeal up against winter chills
With winter upon us now, most outside activity over the next few months will be almost synonymous with cold and blustery conditions. Home usually offers a warm sanctuary, but if it is allowing the chill winds to enter, then heating…
Read moreHouse approvals reach new high
Approvals to build new houses reached yet another new high in April, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Overall, however, the figures show that the total number of dwellings approved fell 8.6% in…
Read moreHome, pegged
Australia has its Big Banana, Merino, and Prawn, but would you live in such an icon? Dubai – never one to shirk at outrageous architecture – has announced plans for a skyscraper in the shape of a clothes peg. Designed…
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