Rapidly rising prices have led to a downturn in housing affordability around Australia, a new report reveals. What’s more, a mass exodus away from the cities has meant that housing is becoming less affordable more quickly in regional areas. Nevertheless,…
Read moreAuthor: Adam Nobel
Approvals ease back
Building approvals remain high, despite easing back in July, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest figures show that the number of dwellings approved fell 8.6% in July (seasonally adjusted). This figure…
Read moreAdd value to your home
Does the advent of Spring have you feeling like making some changes around the home? For some, it could be just cleaning out cupboards and packing away the winter woollies, but others will look around and decide it’s time to…
Read moreAustralians lose $70m to bogus investments
Most mobile phone users around the country have probably received an unwanted spam message from a particular politician this week, which, while annoying, could just be ignored or deleted. Of greater concern, however, are the increasing numbers of bogus investment…
Read moreGrow your own avocado plant
Want to give the kids a fun science project and gain a new, free indoor plant? Next time you serve up avocado at a meal, keep the seed (organic is best, as it won’t have been treated with chemicals or…
Read moreWhat is ‘yield’?
In relation to property, ‘yield’ can be divided into two categories, gross yield and net yield. Gross yield is the percentage returned from an investment in property, derived by dividing the rent per annum by the value of the property…
Read moreInquiry into affordability welcomed
The long-awaited federal inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia has been welcomed this week by industry bodies. Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) President, Adrian Kelly said the inquiry will address property taxation in the form of stamp…
Read moreGreenery improves solar output
Could a green roof make solar panels work more efficiently? Scientists are now saying that surrounding the panels with green plants can increase their output by up to one-fifth. In a recent project commissioned by Sydney Council, researchers from the…
Read moreJust add butterflies
It’s the last weekend of winter (can you believe it!), so from now we can expect the days to get longer and warmer, and the growth in our gardens to start flourishing again. With a little planning now, we can…
Read moreLights up for Wattle Day
If you notice some local landmarks turning yellow next week, it’s probably because of National Wattle Day, when we traditionally recognise, appreciate and maybe plant new Acacias, or Wattle trees. This year, due to the ongoing need to maintain safe…
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