Hillsdale continues to attract developers

Hillsdale continues to attract developers

In Sydney property terms, Hillsdale could be considered an affordable suburb with a median unit price of $653,500. It’s also a lesser-known suburb in heart of south-eastern Sydney, predominantly made up of apartments. RealEstate.com.au has recently reported that a four-level development has been approved for a site at 41-45 Rhodes Street where “there is DA […]

The hot topic of housing affordability

The hot topic of housing affordability

Housing affordability is the hot topic of discussion at BBQs and offices around the country. As the Federal Budget draws near, it’s interesting to look at how housing affordability is being addressed to date and also see the speculation about how the government might address the issue. What’s happened to date: Victorian Government:  Cuts to […]

Auction clearance rates remain strong in Sydney and Melbourne

Auction clearance rates remain strong in Sydney and Melbourne

Business Insider reports that auction clearance rates in Sydney and Melbourne continue to exceed 80%.   Many sellers are continuing to choose to sell their properties via auction regardless of new APRA rules that limit interest only lending coupled with renewed warnings from the RBA.  The strength of the market may also be fuelled by […]

Housing completions have reached a record high in Sydney metro

Housing completions have reached a record high in Sydney metro

The Property Observer reports that Anthony Roberts, Minister for Housing and Planning, has announced housing completions have reached a record high, with 34,121 houses completed in metropolitan Sydney. This indicates a continuous swing to urban living locations close to jobs and transport nodes. The high completion numbers come from planning approvals that were defined two […]

Victorian Government to introduce 10 year standard leases via regulatory reform

Victorian Government to introduce 10 year standard leases via regulatory reform

The Victorian state Government has proposed the introduction of new legislation in a bid to provide greater security for tenants and landlords via decade long leases. The Age reports that Premier Daniel Andrews has said that changes to standard leases will see current 5 year restrictions lifted so there is no ‘artificial cap’ on the […]

Risks for property investors as yields plummet

Risks for property investors as yields plummet

Property investors speculating on capital gains need to be careful as rental yields in Sydney and Melbourne hit record lows. Low rental yields make property investment less affordable and investors more exposed to increases in interest rates, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. CoreLogic figures show the “gross” yield – before costs – on both houses and units reached record lows […]

Shrinking backyards are changing the face of Australia

Shrinking backyards are changing the face of Australia

Smaller housing blocks may be keeping prices affordable but at what cost to the traditional “Aussie” way of life. Australians love of the single detached house with a “quarter acre” block is strongly embedded in our culture and often referred to as the “Australian Dream”. However, as we approach another Australia Day, the tradition of […]

Penrith street holds high development potential

Penrith street holds high development potential

Three groups of homes on the same street and zoned R4 for high density residential development are on the market in Penrith. Located on Hope St, the listings are hot property for developers hunting for apartment sites. On top of this, demand for housing close to Nepean Hospital, which is within walking distance from Hope St, is on […]

Homeowners face lower property values due to climate change

Homeowners face lower property values due to climate change

Sydney’s coastal homeowners face their property values being reduced, as the future risk of increasingly extreme weather events grows, a climate risk consultant says.  Dr Karl Mallon, director of science and systems for Sydney-based consultants Climate Risk told The Sydney Morning Herald that there are “potentially millions and millions of dollars of revaluation that has to happen in […]

Gentrification:  how it can impact property prices and some current Sydney hotspots   

Gentrification:  how it can impact property prices and some current Sydney hotspots   

ORIGINAL BLOG:  Investors are always looking for the next ‘hot spot’ and while many people may have missed the boat on Sydney’s inner city areas, there are still affordable suburbs further out that are showing the early signs of gentrification. Gentrification refers to the migration of higher income households to lower income neighbourhoods where the […]