REAL ESTATE

Shortages in affordable properties and regions are likely to drive capital gains over the deacde ahead, according to the federal government's housing czar.

Shortages in affordable properties and regions are likely to drive capital gains over the deacde ahead, according to the federal government's housing czar.

Despite cost of living and interest rate concerns, almost half of NSW home buyers think it’s a good time to invest in property.

Victorians are divided about whether now is a good time to be buying property, according to the latest poll from mortgage provider Homeloans Ltd. Compared with other states, they’re also finding high prices to be a greater barrier to home ownership.

Australia's housing market has slowed in recent months, as auction clearance results, new home loans and home prices slump, national official figures show.

The NSW Government made the right decision in scrapping the ad valorem tax on property, according to the Property Council of Australia.

While the recently announced 20 per cent discount on stamp duty for first home buyers does not come into effect until 1 July this year, it may apply to homes purchased now according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.

Americans expressed more cautious optimism during the first quarter of 2011 than in the fourth quarter of 2010, but they continue to lack confidence in the overall strength of the housing market and economic recovery, according to Fannie Mae's latest national housing survey.

Amidst a recession, housing starts in Japan dipped below 1 million units in 2009 and 2010, the first time in four decades. Following an earthquake in March that killed thousands and destroyed more homes, Sekisui House Ltd. (1928), Japan's second-largest home builder, expects the biggest housing boom in 15 years, according to Bloomberg News.

Malaysian property development firm Paramount Corp. Bhd. has reported its acquisition of nine parcels of land in Klang, Selangor state, for RM110 million (US$37 million).

Retail prices of building materials in the Philippines’ Metro Manila area surged by a two-year high of 4.9 percent in March compared to year-before levels, newly released government statistics show.

Australian house prices fell 1.7 per cent in the March quarter, national official data showed.

More Australian women are buying property alone, according to new research.

Sean Thomson, senior residential adviser at www.wbpproperty.com, says it’s possible to boost your home’s value with just a few strategic, low cost renovations.

Urban taskforce CEO Aaron Gadiel is arguing that the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms that Sydney's housing shortfall is "running well short of government projections".

A major Australian building and construction industry association in Victoria is calling on the State Government to honour its election promises in Tuesday’s State Budget by cutting Stamp Duty and reforming the planning system.

Australian capital city dwelling values fell by a seasonally adjusted 2.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest RP Data-Rismark Home Value Index.

The March 2011 quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the housing group, increased 1.3 per cent, compared to the all groups increase of 1.6 per cent.

Proposed new laws on credit cards will help limit the dangers of plastic, but for those already suffering from that dirty four-letter word known as 'debt', here are some tips to clear your balance quickly.

An interest only loan can seem like a great idea at the time – but there are plenty of risks involved in buying a property with a loan that fails to pay off any principal.

The Australian property market slowdown is resulting in a Mexican standoff between buyers and sellers.

The best place to focus your search is in areas where the local property market has all but bottomed out.

The housing shortfall in Sydney is likely to nudge 9,000 properties by the end of the year, according to new figures.

Setting pressure on new home buyers, residential land sales in Melbourne plummeted to their lowest while the price of blocks increased by 13 plus percent in 10 years.

Grammy award-winning country singer, Taylor Swift has recently been reported purchasing a $1.4-million worth of luxurious pad for her parents.

A snapshot of rental properties advertised over the weekend shows only 42 properties out of a total of 14,211 across greater Melbourne were affordable for low income singles and families.

Asian regional markets are mixed in the last hours of trading in Australia, Singapore, and Japan as investors kept a "wait and see" attitude and bearish sentiments spilled from European and U.S. markets.

Almost 70 per cent of residential builders expect housing affordability to deteriorate over the next three years, according to new data.

Concern is growing among Australian builders on whether private sector demand will pick up in time to compensate for reduced public demand as government stimulus programs come to an end.