Units – homes of the future

A combination of population growth, a lack of housing stock, and higher borrowing costs means that the Australian dream of home ownership is becoming harder than ever before.
While many of us would define ‘home ownership’ as owning a house, this is a definition that’s likely to change as affordability worsens and we move towards higher [...]

How to get the most out of property renovations

Australians love a renovation. We spend billions every year on extensions and refits big and small. According to recent reports we’ve even overtaken America when it comes to the world’s biggest homes.
We renovate for two reasons – for the pleasure of reshaping and living in the home we want, and for financial gain.
This week, I [...]

Average houses will be worth $1,000,000 by 2019

Back in October 2009 I wrote a Yahoo7 column called Buying an Australian home – still worth it? I asked whether Aussie homes were still worth the sacrifice. One thing I examined was the financial pressure to buy – that is, people’s worry that if they didn’t buy soon they’d be forever priced out of [...]

Sydney’s median house price is inching towards $600,000

Sydney’s median house price is inching towards $600,000

How to survive an increase in mortgage rates

 
Today the RBA lifted official interest rates by 0.25% taking them to 4.0%. Last month the RBA governor Glenn Stevens indicated rates were around 1% below average and with economic activity and confidence up it is matter of when, not if rates will rise to 5%. Most pundits believe official rates will be at 5% [...]

Go to the top of the class

HOMES close to top-ranking schools are in demand following the Government’s controversial release of national academic results on its My School website.

Solar power and the glory

WE live in the sunniest continent on earth yet fossil fuels, not the sun, remain the major energy source for our homes.

How to make an old house new

RENOVATING an old semi for 21st century living can be a tricky task when preserving its original character. Try a Japanese flavour for some modern flair.

Postcards from the exotic

WE’VE all done it – ogled the real thing or pored over photographs of exotic holiday resort stylings and thought “I wish my home could look like this”.

Sydney houses to hit $1m median

THE median value of Sydney houses will be $1 million by the end of the decade, latest figures show, killing the Australian dream of home ownership for many.

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