January 2009
7 posts
Adelaide vacancies still tight
The vacancy rate across Adelaide eased in December - but remained well below 2%.
With more investors supplying properties to the market, there was increased supply of rental properties - but there was also increased demand in the leadup to the festive season. The Real Estate Institute of South Australia said the overall vacancy rate was 1.56%.
All sectors of the market had vacancy rates below...
Archicentre suggests zone-home concept
Two homes under one roof has been suggested as the answer to the problem of housing affordability. Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Institute of Australian Architects, has recommended “zone homes” with two separate entries as well as separate kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and outdoor spaces.
Archicentre managing director Robert Caulfield says a new home owner could...
Home buyers respond to stimulus measures
The number of home loans taken out by owner-occupiers rose 1.3% (seasonally-adjusted) in November, continuing a gradual revival since September.
There were 49,192 loans for owner-occupied dwellings in November, including 43,367 for the purchase of established homes (up 1.1%) and 1,971 for the purchase of new dwellings (up 9.8%).
The value of loans for owner-occupied homes in November was $12.46...
Agents top complaints list in Qld
Complaints against real estate agencies were the No.1 consumer grievance in Queensland in 2008. Over 800 Queenslanders made complaints to the Office of Fair Trading about agencies selling properties or managing rental properties.
There were also large numbers of complaints about faulty motor vehicles, gift and discount vouchers, deposit and investment services, unlicensed lotteries and rainwater...
We're more confident in property than shares
Australians are more confident about investing in property than in shares in 2009, according to an online survey by mortgage broker Loan Market Group.
The survey found 40% of respondents say their main priority this year is to buy property. A third of respondents say clearing credit card debt is the No.1 goal. Around 9% plan to refinance their mortgages while 8% want to simply weather the...
SA property prices stay firm
Property prices remained stable in South Australia in the December Quarter, according to data from the Real Estate Institute of SA.
The median house price for the state was $332,800 - a small increase (0.9%) on the September Quarter and 4% higher than a year earlier. Adelaide’s median house price was $360,000, marginally lower (0.7%) than the previous quarter but 1.4% above the level of a...
Retail sales defy negative forecasts
Retail sales around Australia rose 0.4% in November, following a 1% increase in October, surprising many economists who predicted turnover would fall.
This means retail spending has risen in four out of the past five months, showing surprising resilience during a time of economic downturn and negative media sentiment.
Total retail sales were $18.38 billion in October and $18.46 billion in...