Apartments and multi-storey homes are about to get a little safer for children thanks to a rule change around windows in new buildings.

The Australian Building Codes Board has ruled that all windows in new homes and apartments that are more than two metres off the ground must be either fitted with window locks that stop the window being opened more than 125mm (12.5 cm), or must have reinforced screens to prevent children from falling from a height.

The changes will be included in the National Construction Code from May 2013.

The Australian Building Codes Board estimates that owners and builders will choose to fit 80 per cent of windows with locks, and the remaining 20 with reinforced screens. Its research priced window locks from $20 – $70 each, and strong screens from $130 a square metre, putting the average cost of a suitable screen at $130.

Ron De Vere, a project manager with the Australian Building Codes Board, says the decision was made after wide consultation with industry, and with fire authorities across the nation.

De Vere said an economic analysis that took into account the cost of installing locks and screens versus society’s cost of treating children who had fallen from windows showed that the broader cost-benefit of the changes was around zero.

However, "the board was swayed by the risk to children and the danger of children falling out of buildings", he says. "It’s a bit like the pool safety issue, the child drowning … the value of a child’s life is so crucial."

Danny Cass, a professor of paediatric surgery at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, has welcomed the changes saying the recognition that children could access windows and easily climb or fall out of them was a win for commonsense.

"Before, they thought a kid couldn’t climb that high but … they often pull things up to it, or beds are placed next to it," Cass says.

Just a like a pool safety fence though, children will only be protected when adults remember to lock the windows and check that the reinforced screens are in good order.

The board backed away from an initial proposal to mandate window guards for windows two stories or above in all domestic dwellings.

It also a decided against that a proposal to increase to one metre the minimum floor-to-sill height of openable windows in rooms that are four metres from the ground outside.

The minimum floor-to-sill height will effectively remain at 865mm as the current provisions require a barrier of 865mm be in place to any openable window that is more than four metres from the ground, and it is common practice to place the bottom of the window at that height, using the wall itself to create the barrier.

The floor-to-sill height requirement will remain even where a lockable or removable device or screen is in use – in case the device or screen is inadvertently unlocked or removed. However, the minimum height from ground level at which the window-to-sill or barrier rule comes into play will drop from four metres to two metres after evidence showed serious injury can happen when a child falls from just two metres.

The changes will come into effect from May 2013, a timeframe the board says will allow industry to prepare for the changes.

An average of one child a week is taken to hospital in Australia after falling from a window. According to figures from the Children’s Hospital Westmead, 80 per cent of children who have fallen from a window have significant injuries, and four out of five children who fall from windows are aged under five. For information on keeping your kids safe near windows, click here.

Cass says the next challenge is making windows in existing housing and apartment stock safer for children. Cass is part of a working party on child falls at the Children’s Hospital Westmead. The group will meet again this month to explore further recommendations for existing properties.

Story by Carolyn Boyd, source: www.domain.com.au

The preliminary capital city dwelling value index result for December was -0.2% (s.a.) following an upwardly revised +0.4% rise in dwelling values in November (was +0.1%). Revised regional house values for November increased from +0.3% to +0.5%. Sydney housing has been the nation’s best performer with dwelling values up 0.4% in December and by 0.7% over the quarter (s.a.).

In the generally seasonally weak month of December, the preliminary RP Data-Rismark Home Value Index result for capital city dwelling values was -0.2 per cent (s.a.). Low sales volumes in December mean that this number will likely see a more significant revision than normal.

The November result from the RP Data-Rismark index for dwellings in capital cities has revised up from +0.1 per cent (s.a.) to +0.4 per cent (s.a.) based on additional sales information. This marks the largest month-on-month improvement in Australian home values since May 2010.

The RP Data-Rismark ‘rest-of-state’ index, which covers Australia’s regional markets, has also revised up in November from +0.3 per cent to +0.5 per cent (s.a.). This is the most significant increase in regional house values since November 2010.

Over the December quarter, Australia’s capital city home values declined by -0.5 per cent (s.a.).

RP Data’s director of research Tim Lawless, said, “The December quarter was the year’s smallest quarterly decline. According to our index, capital city home values fell by -1.5 per cent (s.a.) in the March quarter, and by a further -0.8 per cent (s.a.) in each of the June and September quarters. This rate of decline had decelerated to -0.5% by the final quarter of 2011.”

In 2011, Australian capital city dwelling values experienced a capital loss of about three and a half per cent. Regional house values fared a little better, correcting by around three per cent. This compared to the 14-15 per cent decline in Australian shares. Adding in rents, the gross total return to Australian property investors was slightly less than one per cent over 2011.

Rismark’s managing director Ben Skilbeck said, “The month of December is characterised by a significant lull in activity and the preliminary index results have likely been influenced by some more volatile Melbourne and Perth estimates. We expect to get better clarity on the monthly movements as more information is reported.”

“Sydney currently has the largest volume of reported sales in December. In seasonally-adjusted terms, Sydney dwelling values rose by 0.4 per cent in the month of December. In the December quarter, Sydney dwelling values are up a total of 0.7 per cent (s.a.)” Mr Skilbeck said.

RP Data’s Tim Lawless observed that rental markets continued to strengthen in December.

“Weekly rents across the capital cities were up 1.0 per cent over the December quarter and are now 6.3 per cent higher than at the same time last year.”

“These higher rental rates combined with the slide in property values have improved investors’ yields. The average capital city dwelling is now offering a gross rental return of 4.6 per cent after a consistent trend upwards since mid-2010 when the typical capital city dwelling was yielding just 4.1 per cent. Darwin and Canberra are the highest yielding locations for property investors while Hobart, Brisbane, and Sydney provide gross yields that are better than average,” Mr Lawless said.

On the outlook for the year ahead, Rismark’s Ben Skilbeck commented, “We expect that the RBA’s interest rate cuts in the final two months of 2011 will lend further momentum to housing activity as transaction volumes pick up over February and March after the seasonally slow months of December and January. If financial market pricing for substantial additional RBA rate cuts proves accurate, we could see a stronger-than-expected bounce-back in housing conditions.”

“Housing affordability in Australia has experienced a striking improvement in recent times. While disposable household incomes on a per household basis rose by five per cent over the year to September 2011, Australian dwelling values have declined by 3.4 per cent since September 2010. As a result of the RBA’s rate cuts borrowers can now get fixed- and variable-rate home loans as low as 5.9 per cent and 6.14 per cent. Rismark’s research shows that disposable incomes per household have risen about 15 per cent further than Australian dwelling values since the end of 2003. This helps account for the decline in Rismark’s national dwelling price-to-income ratio, which is as low as its been since 2003” Mr Skilbeck said.

RP Data’s Tim Lawless added, “While global uncertainty and a stagnant local labour market could weigh on the consumer’s mindset, we are nevertheless observing improvements in monthly housing finance commitments. RP Data’s leading indicators on average selling times and vendor discounts are also starting to look healthier. There is no doubt that additional interest rate relief in 2012 would afford a very welcome cushion to the housing market.”

Brisbane vet Michael O’Donoghue has seen too many people have to give up, or put down, their pets because they could not find a rental property that welcomed animals.

"It’s very heart-breaking, people euthanising their beloved pet because they can’t find accommodation," he said.

The People and Pets veterinarian is pushing for more pet-friendly rental properties to be made available to encourage more families to adopt animals and stop the displacement of loved family members.

According to the RSPCA, 30 per cent of pets surrendered to the organisation are from owners who cannot find adequate accommodation.

Mr O’Donoghue’s effort to publicise the need for more pet-friendly rentals, and his ideas for homes to be built to be more welcoming to cats and dogs, have been praised by the celebrity vet Katrina Warren as part of a competition calling for ways to create a pet-friendly world.

His perspective is also shared by Tenants Union of Queensland coordinator Penny Carr, who said renters struggled to find properties that allowed pets and often had to settle for homes which were unsuitable in the short term while finding a new home.

"It’s really difficult and I think it is really unfair especially for kids who are denied having a pet as a child because of these unreasonable restrictions," she said.

The Residential Tenancies Authority states a tenant can only keep pets on a premises if their tenancy agreement states pets are allowed.

It does not allow landlords to make pet owners pay a larger bond.

Property Owners Association of Queensland president Bruce McBryde said, apart from body corporates and real estate agents warning against landlords allowing pets, owners were also wary of the cost of damage to their properties and the difficulties in recouping those costs.

He said it was difficult to get tenants to take responsibility for damage caused by pets to rental properties since the RTA allowed for no extra protection for landlords.

"Ideally if you really want to make landlords more pet friendly you need to change the regulations to allow them to take a bigger bond," Mr McBryde said.

"At least then the landlord would have more incentive."

Mr McBryde also suggested routine treatment for carpeted homes.

"Perhaps in the legislation it could be mandated that if you have carpet you would need to have a flea treatment before you leave the property, similar to how tenants have the carpets shampooed," he said.

Mr O’Donoghue was supportive of the idea of mandating flea treatments when a pet owner leaves a carpeted property.

But he did not believe dogs and cats were more destructive than children or teenagers.

"Generally a normal bond should cover any sort of damage a pet could possibly do, it is only going to be a scratch on the wall or replace a bit of carpet," he said.

"But I find in my own personal experience that young children are more destructive to houses than pets are."

Ms Carr agreed.

"Tenants already have an obligation to restore the property to the same condition as it was when they got it except for fair wear and tear," she said.

"If tenants don’t restore their property there can be a claim against their bond and sometimes there are orders over and above the bond for tenants to compensate."

Ms Carr said she would love to run a test case on whether pet owners had a right to house pets on their rental property.

"I think there is an argument in saying that not allowing pets is a breach of the right to ‘quiet enjoyment of the property’," she said.

"You have a contract which says this is your home and you can’t do anything illegal in that home, but other than that you have a right to peace and comfort and privacy in using that property."

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the organisation urged landlords to be a lot more sympathetic to people who want to have pets.

"If you look at it logically someone who is going to take good care of their animal is going to take good care of their property," he said.

Mr Beatty said the Companion Animal Council provided contracts for landlords and tenants to sign when entering an agreement to allow pets on to a property.

Story by Dan Nancarrow, www.domain.com.au

As we head into 2012 pondering where the housing market is headed – will it be down 10 per cent as some commentators are expecting, or will others be on the money with predictions of 5-7 per cent growth – there is some interesting news emerging about home loans.

Out today are figures showing mortgage holders are increasingly being lured by fixed rates.

Despite predictions about one, two or even three rate cuts coming over the next six months, a growing number of homeowners are locking in their rates now. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows fixed loans grew from 10.6 per cent of new housing loans before the most recent rate cut in November to 11.1 per cent.

And mortgage broker AFG reveals that 19.2 per cent of loans arranged through its business in December were issued at fixed rates, a big jump from 8.2 per cent six months earlier.

An odd move you may think given all the predictions are for official rates to fall further this year. But CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian argues people are simply getting in at what they can afford.

“It’s more about ensuring you can purchase a place within your budget and within your limits," he says. "While the risks are to the downside [for rates to fall], I think the fixed rate market has already priced in a couple more rate cuts,” he says.

In addition “even though the Reserve Bank will cut rates, the banks need to pass it on. So the fixed market is looking very attractive, not only do you need a couple more rate cuts [for variable rates to match fixed] but you need it all to be passed on as well to justify where the fixed market is.”

Many homebuyers may also be wary that should there be a swift change in the economy, rates can easily shoot back up. 

“We saw straight after the GFC how rates rose, it certainly would have caught some home buyers that were on the edge in terms of repayments, so at least this way they can sleep easy,” says Sebastian.

Further news on the home loan front could point to a slightly more positive year for property than last, where we saw prices fall across the board. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures have revealed that the number of new owner-occupier housing loans rose by 1.4 per cent in November while the value of loans rose by 2.2 per cent.

However, home loans aren’t being drawn down – rather potential buyers are simply getting their finance sorted and sitting back and waiting until the right time to buy.

So while for the past eight months there’s been consecutive jumps in the number of home loans being approved, in November the value of loans that had actually been drawn down was two per cent lower than a year ago, and commitments not advanced were almost 11 per cent higher than the previous year.

With all the concern about the state of the US and European economies, it’s little wonder buyers have been taking a cautious approach.

So just what will entice all these cashed-up potential home buyers to jump? Could a February rate cut be enough?

CommSec’s Sebastian thinks so. “Even the thought of rate cuts should prompt activity levels to increase over the next few months,” he says.

Story source: www.domain.com.au

New home sales jumped in November in response to the Reserve Bank’s interest rate cut.

The sales of new homes rose 6.8 per cent in November, following a downwardly revised increase of 2.8 per cent in October, according to the Housing Industry Association – Jeld Wen new home sales report.

While detached house sales surged 9.8 per cent, apartment sales slumped 17 per cent, HIA said today.

“Interest rate cuts, both those we’ve had and those that are still warranted, provide a … catalyst for a sustained and strong recovery in new home building conditions,” said HIA chief economist Harley Dale.

The Reserve Bank in November lowered the interest rate to 4.5 per cent from 4.75 per cent, in response to increased concerns about the European sovereign debt crisis slowing the global economy and hurting Australia’s growth.

It was the first reduction since April 2009. In December the RBA cut the key rate by another 25 basis points.

Capital city home values also posted their first monthly rise in 2011 in November, edging up 0.1 per cent seasonally adjusted, according to RPData.com.

For the year to November, however, capital city home prices fell 3.5 per cent.

"This is a healthier but not unexpected result," Dr Dale said.

"With falling interest rates, a competitive building market, and a greater availability of skilled trades amidst still very soft overall demand conditions, now is clearly a good time to build a new home for those who are financially set to take that decision.

“There is, however, a long way to go to restore new home sales volumes to acceptable levels," he said. "At present sales volumes are running at least 20 per cent below what you could conservatively call
healthy."

Sales soar in NSW

The volume of detached house sales soared 22.8 per cent in New South Wales and 11.6 per cent in Victoria. They also rose 5.7 per cent in Western Australia and 4.7 per cent in Queensland. In South Australia they fell 11.3 per cent.

Mr Dale said a full recovery in housing activity wouldn’t emerge unless the government offered well-targeted stimulus and began to reform housing planning policy to cut the barriers to new housing supply.

Measures of growth in the construction sector show that it remains under pressure, as households borrow less and real estate prices keep housing out of reach for would-be buyers.

The Australian performance of construction index for December, released today, remained under the 50 point level separating expansion from contraction for the 19th straight month even as the index rose by 1.4 points to 41 in December, helped by the resources-related construction.

Australian Industry Group director of public policy Peter Burn said the two-speed economy was visible in construction data, with "a clear divide between the expanding engineering construction sub-sector and the still-contracting commercial and residential construction sub-sectors".

House building fell 5.7 points in December to minus-32.9.

"The increased pace of contraction in the house building sub-sector in December remains deeply concerning,"  Mr Burn said.

Story by Chris Zappone www.domain.com.au

We’ve been so worried about plastic shopping bags, but what about the plastic we use to wrap our lunches?

As a Mum there are some things I am not imaginative enough to work out. What do you suggest as substitutes for freezer wrap to put meat or cakes etc in, and for lunch?

Like their shopping bag counterparts, plastic products such as freezer bags and cling film are not environment-friendly.

While technically it’s possible to recycle plastic bags, the reality is not simple.

Linda Edwards from the National Packaging Covenant explains: “No Australian plastic is biodegradable. Traditionally in Australia it’s been very difficult to recycle because of the sorting and collection system needed. Also there is a lack of plants able to reprocess it.”

Fortunately, there are alternative, environment-friendly options.

Substitutes such as 4MyEarth Wraps (www.4myearth.com.au) are a good choice for keeping sandwiches fresh. These reusable wraps are machine washable, and they not only wrap sandwiches but also act as a placemat to eat them off! The wraps come in sandwich and snack sizes.

A sandwich-sized hard plastic container would also do the trick.

When storing food in your fridge or freezer, consider investing in plastic containers rather than plastic bags – containers are endlessly reusable so you don’t need to discard the plastic every time you take something out of the freezer.

Multiple use freezer bags can be found in your local supermarket, although these have to be thrown out eventually.

Look out for biodegradable freezer bags that have recently come onto the market. They’re made of cornstarch, a renewable resource.

But if you can’t give up the cling wrap, remember that you probably don’t need to use very much – it only needs to cover the food, not mummy-wrap it!

Story source: www.yonderr.com.au

AUSTRALIAN housing markets displayed a generally resilient performance in 2011, reflecting the inherent security of residential real estate in this country, particularly when compared with housing markets in similar open-market economies.

The year was always set to be a period of correction for Australia’s housing markets following the unsustainable growth in house prices recorded through 2009 and 2010.

Between January 2009 and June 2010, Melbourne’s quarterly median house price rose by nearly 30 per cent, with Sydney’s up by almost 20 per cent over the same period. All other capitals also recorded big rises in house prices over those 18 months.

Housing affordability crashed by the end of 2010, with surging house prices and rising interest rates combining to send buyers into hibernation.

Australian Property Monitors data has revealed that capital city housing markets have generally performed encouragingly in 2011 despite the pressure on housing affordability generated in 2010 and a mixed economic performance in 2011.

The national median price for houses over the year to October 2011 fell by just 1 per cent compared with the previous year, with median unit prices rising by 1.2 per cent over the year. The 2011 result follows a 17 per cent rise in the national median house price over the year to October 2010 and a 12.2 per cent rise in the median unit price over the same period.

The best capital city performers were Melbourne and Sydney, where annual median house prices rose by 1 per cent. Darwin and Adelaide house prices were flat and Hobart down 1.5 per cent.

The worst performers over the year were Brisbane and Perth, where annual median house prices fell by 3.5 and 4.75 per cent respectively.

The unit market clearly outperformed the housing market over the year to October 2011, with Sydney recording median unit price growth of 2 per cent followed by Melbourne and Darwin up by 1 per cent. Brisbane and Perth were again the underperformers, with annual unit prices falling by 1.3 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively.

Bureau of Statistics data confirms the solid performance by Australian housing markets in 2011, with the number of owner-occupier housing loans rising by 2.4 per cent over the 10 months ending October compared with the same period in 2010.

New South Wales was the best performer with an increase of 8 per cent, with Western Australia surprisingly in second place with growth in home loans of 7 per cent over the year, courtesy of a surge in the past three months – indicating perhaps growing late-year momentum in that market.

By contrast, the number of home loans approved in Queensland in the year to October fell by 8.4 per cent compared with the same period in 2010.

The nature and strength of Australian housing markets in 2011 was always to be determined by the underlying supply and demand characteristics of individual markets and the strength of national and local economies.

In addition to the affordability barriers created by the prices surge and interest rate rises of 2009 and 2010, housing markets have had to encounter unexpected headwinds in 2011. The impact of the central Queensland and Brisbane floods was not restricted to the local housing markets. National economic output was affected through reduced coal exports and the cost of the reconstruction levy. Higher prices for fruit and vegetables also affected household budgets nationally.

The impact of catastrophic natural disasters on the national psyche and confidence cannot be underestimated, particularly given Australia’s recent propensity for financial conservatism, especially when it comes to buying or borrowing.

The Japanese earthquake and associated tsunami in March also contributed to lower economic growth and reduced consumer confidence.

Stalling economic growth in 2011 was also a product of continued mixed performances by various industry sectors, particularly retail, manufacturing, tourism and construction. As a consequence, all capitals recorded rises in unemployment through mid-year. All these factors combined to subdue consumer capacity and confidence and consequently dampen home buying activity through 2011.

Most Australian capital city housing markets are, however, set to record growth in median prices over 2012 as the national economy gathers strength. The Australian economy is primed to expand strongly on the back of a significant resources boom with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development predicting gross domestic product will increase by 4 per cent over the year.

Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart will be the underperformers in 2012, with median house price growth of between zero and 5 per cent.

Melbourne’s balanced housing supply and demand mix offers buyers a wide choice and it remains the most tenant-friendly capital city rental market. Affordability barriers, however, remain for home buyers.

With the Victorian economy showing signs of running out of puff, particularly as the recent construction boom abates, the housing market is set to drift sideways though 2012. The possibility remains of some growth in median house prices by the end of 2012 as the impact of a strong national economy filters through.

Dr Andrew Wilson is senior economist for Australian Property Monitors.

Source: BusinessDay

www.news.domain.com.au

If you’re a parent, you likely have several giant bins filled to the brim with toys for your little ones. And with Christmas (ho ho ho!) over you’re likely to have gotten toys in all shapes and sizes.  And while I’m no bah humbug, the relative size of our children’s toy boxes has become incredibly large given their small stature, and the environmental problems are equally ill-proportioned:

• Mountains of trash: Of the 40 million toys thrown away annually, 13 million are put into the rubbish according to green living website www.ecolife.com.
• Difficult recycling: Because toys are made from many different materials – plastics, metal, glass, computer components, and more – they are incredibly difficult to recycle and in many cases are not accepted by recycling facilities.

Once Christmas is over, we try to keep the toys under control (as well as our carbon footprint) by having a post-Christmas clean-up and getting rid of toys that haven’t been used or the children have simply grown out of.

Donating used toys to a good cause can be one of the most effective ways to recycle toys. Not only does this prevent garbage from being sent to landfills, it provides a second life for your used toys, which means the materials will go on functioning for many months or years to come. The sky’s the limit when it comes to donating used toys – use your imagination to find a person or charity who could use your second hand toys:

• Children’s charities
• Children’s hospitals
• Churches
• Day cares
• Family members
• Friends
• Neighbours
• Playgroups
• Thrift shops like those through St Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army

Not all toys can be donated to charities for various health and ethical reasons. To ensure that your toys have the best chance of being given away rather than trashed, consider these toy donation guidelines:

• Toys should be nontoxic
• Ensure that the toys are clean and are not missing parts
• Broken toys are unlikely to be accepted, especially if they pose a choking hazard
• Avoid toys with a religious theme unless you’re donating to a faith-based charity
• Toys that require batteries are not as suitable for donation as they will require the parents of the child to purchase batteries (which may be out of their budget)
• Toys made from things like fabric, cardboard, paper, and other absorbable materials are often rejected as they are difficult to clean and disinfect

In addition to donating used toys, there are many ways you can recycle toys so that they don’t end up in the landfill:

• Contribute to a toy library: Some communities have toy libraries that are like book libraries – you can check toys in and out so that your child is never bored with their personal stash. Each toy library is unique to the local community, so the best way to find one in your area is to do a search online for your city/town name + “toy library.”
• Sell or trade: Sometimes a toy is too valuable to simply give away, in which case you could try to sell it.
• Recycling centers: Some communities have set up recycling programs for large plastic toys and metals toys as well, though you will need to call ahead to determine your recycling centre’s toy recycling policy.
• Deconstruction: If your recycling centre will not take your toys as is, sometimes you can dismantle them yourself to recycle the various components, such as the paper, cardboard, metal, and plastic which can then be put with other recyclables of the same kind. Cardboard and paper components can also be composted.

If you have any good ideas for what can be done with second hand toys we’d love to hear from you.

Source:  www.ecolife.com

Read more on how to be green at www.yonderr.com.au

Ongoing discount loans lose momentum

Borrowers’ preference for fixed rate home loans is continuing at an unrelenting pace regardless of recent cash rate cuts, national loan approval data from Mortgage Choice has revealed.

Fixed rate loans accounted for 24% of all new home loan approvals during December 2011, up from 21% in November and well above the 12-month average of 15%. Demand for this loan type has risen for seven consecutive months, increasing 13 percentage points since May 2011.

Company spokesperson Belinda Williamson said, “Consecutive cash rate cuts in November and December 2011 have not swayed Australian borrowers’ desire for fixed rate loans.”

“It is possible borrowers’ need for certainty around their home loan repayments, coupled with the affordability of fixed rate loans are the driving forces behind demand for this loan type.

“During December fixed rates were significantly lower than variable rates, in some cases the difference was one percentage point or more.

“Our loan data shows fixed rates are now more in demand than they have been in over three and a half years at the expense of variable rates, which have lost popularity among new borrowers.

“Customer demand for variable rate loans fell from 79% to 76%, well down on the 12-month average of 85%. The most popular variable rate home loan with new borrowers, ongoing discount rate loans, slipped from 44% to 41%, also well below the 12-month average of 35%.”

Basic variable loan demand rose marginally to 15% of all approvals in December, up from 14% in November while standard variable loan demand fell slightly to 16% from 17%. Interest in line of credit loans dropped to 3% from 4% and the uptake of introductory rate loans was steady at 1%.

For more information visit: www.mortgagechoice.com.au

To download your copy of the New Hope Newsletter, please click here!

While swimming is a great form of exercise, the downside is that pools require vast amounts of water. Just to fill the average backyard pool takes 50,000 litres – and that’s roughly one third of the water used by an average person in a year.

Even more water is needed for regular top-ups. All up, a home with a pool uses 10 per cent more water than a home without a pool.

But surprisingly, water isn’t the only conservation concern – swimming pools are energy intensive too. According to the NSW Government, running a pool pump will increase your household energy use (and your carbon footprint) by 17 per cent and that’s not including energy needed for pool heating.

So does this mean we should fill in our swimming pools? Has the backyard pool become an extravagant luxury this planet can no longer afford? While we can argue back and forth on the pros and cons of a swimming pool there are a number of ways to cut down on pool energy and water use.

Slash water wastage

An uncovered pool can lose up to one-and-a-half times its total volume in one year through evaporation. In Sydney and Brisbane, rainfall can come close to replacing half the evaporation, assuming that it falls at the right time and in the right amounts so the pool doesn’t overflow. Yet in a dry city like Perth, rain compensates for only 10 per cent of the water lost.

There is one really simple way to save water – invest in a pool cover and reduce evaporation by up to 97 percent. For an outlay of $500 – $1,500 you can purchase a cover that will also prevent heat loss at night, thereby extending the swimming season and saving on heating costs.

As an added bonus, covers also keep leaves and dirt out of the pool and reduce the evaporation of the chemicals used to keep the pool clean.

The type of filter you use can also make a big difference to water efficiency. Sand filters can waste up to 15,000 litres of water each year because they require backwashing to clean the filter. Cartridge filters, on the other hand, can be cleaned with a quick rinse from the hose, saving water and reducing the amount of pool chemicals dumped into the sewer.

Finally, make sure you have no leaks – one drip per second adds up to 7,000 wasted litres a year.

Top up with rainwater

No matter how vigilant you are at preventing water loss, the pool will need an occasional top-up. A simple idea is to attach an inexpensive rainwater diverter to a downpipe to direct water into your pool. Some models on the market can also prevent the first flush of leaves entering your pool.

Just bear in mind that during a large downpour you may need to divert the flow back to the stormwater to ensure the pool doesn’t overflow. A better but more expensive solution is to install a rainwater tank so you can store water for when you need it.

Create a zero-emission pool

It’s an expensive exercise to operate your pool pump continuously – just running it for eight hours a day will cost about $650 per year and emit four tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The solution is to purchase a solar pump that will cost nothing to run.

Many pool owners like to extend the swimming season by heating their pool – but how do you avoid puffing more greenhouse gases into the air? The answer is to go solar.

If your roof is unsuitable, a heat pump is another greenhouse friendly option. Heat pumps work by absorbing heat from the air and transferring it to stored water – a bit like a reverse refrigerator. While they use electricity, the amount required is tiny. Traditionally used for household hot water they are now available to heat swimming pools. Since warm water evaporates faster than cold water it’s even more important to cover a heated pool – it will also reduce heat loss.

Also crucial for optimum operation is an easy-to-install solar controller that monitors and regulates water temperature.

Cut down on chemicals

Pools use rather a lot of nasty chemicals – of which chlorine is the most significant. The concentrated liquid form of chlorine, sodium hypochlorite (or bleach), is extremely corrosive and regarded as highly toxic by the US EPA. For these reasons it should be securely stored and kept out of reach of children. It is acutely toxic to aquatic organisms, which is another reason to avoid sand filters, which create high volumes of chlorinated backwash.

The need for chlorine can be minimised through your choice of water treatment system. UV and ozone systems cut down the amount of chlorine needed by 70 to 80 per cent, and ionisers also reduce the need for chlorine.

Salt chlorinators have the advantage that you don’t need to handle chlorine although you’ll still end up with sodium hypochlorite in the pool solution.

You can also reduce chlorine use by keeping your pool clean and preventing its evaporation with a pool cover. Avoid locating plants that drop their leaves close to the pool and ensure filters are cleaned regularly. To avoid chemicals altogether consider a natural swimming pool.

The upshot?

Pools may be an unparalleled summer luxury – let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a midnight dip on a hot summer night – but they are certainly not the eco-friendliest addition you can make to your backyard.

If you are going to have a pool, there are ways to make yours the greenest in the neighbourhood. With rainwater and solar power, you can reduce your pool’s impact to near zero.

Of course, for those of us lucky enough to live near the sea, a river, lake or mountain stream, nature provides the greenest swimming pool of all.

Read more here.

Story source: www.yonderr.com.au

At Lois Buckett Real Estate we take pride in taking care of our clients and it is always heart-warming to recieve testimonials confirming that we are doing the right thing. Below are 2 of the more recent ones that were recieved in both our Sales and Rental departments.

For Elise Benson – Sales Consultant:

I have been meaning to put fingers to type and send you this email to express my personal appreciation and satisfaction at having had Lois Buckett Ral Estate manage the sale of our father’s property in Ballina Headlands Leisure Park. Particular mention though must go to the lovely agent Elise Benson who has been with us all the way from sign-up of sale.

I have bought and sold a few homes in my time and I can honestly say it was a real pleasure having Elise as our agent. Elise’s honesty, integrity and determination has made her stand out to me as an agent who is prepared to go that “little bit extra” for her clients than any other agent I have had business associations with.

I believe that word-of-mouth advertising is far more penetrable than any other form of marketing, and having  received the positive and professional service I have had from Elise over these few months, I have had no hesitation in referring her, or your agency to anyone interested in selling or buying properties in your area.

Once again, thank you Elise for your dedication and sensitivity in our sale, and for the little “extras” you deliver – it makes all the difference!

I wish your agency and Elise every success for the future.

For Simon Rawlins – Leasing Manager

Having recently rented at Pacific Parade Lennox Head, I am writing to inform you on our most pleasant experience of dealing with Simon Rawlins.

His service, demeanour and diligence was wholly appreciated and a true credit to your company. Due to work commitments, Simon’s expediencey saved myself and, in particular my pregnant wife, from the stress associated with finding a new home to live in.

We only too gladly recommend your company to all we meet and look forward to having a productive, positive relationship with you in the future.

Congratulations and keep up the great work!!!

Home loans by value fell in October and remained flat over the year, suggesting the housing sector remains stagnant.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said on Monday that total housing finance by value fell 2.5 per cent in October, seasonally adjusted, to $20.458 billion.

The ABS data also showed that the value of home loans was largely unchanged from October 2010, when it was reported at $20.593 billion.

The number of home loans approved in October 2011 rose 0.7 per cent.

National Australia Bank chief economist Robert Henderson said Monday’s data showed the housing market was still deteriorating.

Mr Henderson said it was a fairly dismal report on the housing market, with falling lending in value terms and construction and investment lending both weak.

Recent data, including the national accounts figures released last week, have highlighted the weakness of the housing sector.

"It is clear that over the foreseeable future Australia will fall well short of building the number of new homes required for both owner-occupiers and renters," Housing Industry Association chief economist Harley Dale said.

"Amidst the growing risks to our economy from the situation in Europe, now is the time to be providing stimulus to the new home building sector while at the same time reinvigorating the housing supply reform process, which currently lies dormant."

Commonwealth Bank of Australia senior economist Michael Workman said Monday’s ABS figures were a little softer than he expected.

"If you go back and look at the data over the last 15 years or so, housing credit growth still remains exceptionally weak.

"So, for the housing market, it’s strongly biased towards the buyers rather than sellers and it looks like it’s going to stay that way."

Mr Workman said the Australian dollar and local bond futures were largely unaffected by the data.

RBC Capital Markets fixed income and currency strategist Michael Turner said the October housing figures were a little dated.

"China has already reported trade data for November, and the finance data do not reflect the November and December (monetary) policy easing (in Australia)," he said.

"As such, there are limited implications for markets.

"We expect more timely domestic data to better reflect the softening in global growth in coming months, which should justify further easing (of interest rates) and a move to accommodative territory in 2012."

ICAP senior economist Adam Carr said the housing data showed the Australian lending market was recovering even before the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut interest rates.

The cash rate is now at 4.25 per cent after two consecutive 25-basis point cuts in November and December.

"The 50-basis points worth of cuts we’ve seen will likely see lending growth accelerate over coming months, which will start to add to the strong private demand numbers we’ve seen to date," Mr Carr said.

Story source: www.ninemsn.com.au

The property market will be drawing a collective sigh of relief as the year comes to a close.

As we look back on how the market performed in 2011, we may well see an overall correction of up to 10 per cent – a significant drop for the property market but a fraction of the sharemarket correction of 2008.

As we gaze into the crystal ball and wonder what 2012 has in store for home owners and property investors, there are a few indicators that suggest we are entering calmer waters.

With Europe in crisis, the US economy anaemic and China cooling, interest rates are on the way down. Experts predict the Reserve Bank will cut rates on Tuesday by 25 basis points and there will be a further reduction of up to 100 basis points throughout 2012.

Falling interest rates instantly increase affordability and entice people back to the market. Buyers rushed back in 2001 and 2009 mainly due to falling interest rates. The main difference next year is that it is unlikely to come packaged with increased first home buyer incentives.

Property is a great Australian pastime and this continues to be the case.

Web statistics show that, although competition for property was soft in 2011, web browsing continues to be very high. Nielsen’s online analysis of real estate portals suggests more than 3 million Australians search for property each month. That means about 15 per cent of the population is actively looking at property at any onetime.

This activity flows on to the physical market, with many agents reporting high numbers at inspections for good quality homes. Despite the level of interest, many people believe that 2011 has not been the right time to buy.

This means first home buyers and investors have stayed out of the property market. The effect is increased demand for rental property and a lowering of supply. As a result, we are likely to see rental yields lift next year.

According to the Reserve Bank, household savings rates are at their highest levels since the mid-1980s. They have been moving up since the mid-2000s, reaching 10.5 per cent of disposable income in the June quarter.

Many borrowers have been making substantial excess principal repayments in recent years and this will increase their equity and cash flow positions.

For many people, myself included, money begins to burn a hole in our pockets. The people who have been saving and have job stability – which is 95 per cent of the population – will start to realise the sky is not falling and will begin to make a move.

All markets are cyclical and often the greatest period of growth comes directly after the biggest falls.

I think when we look back on 2012 in years to come these factors will likely result in a bounce in median values, and the market will be back to where it started before 2011 hit.

Mark Armstrong is an independent property analyst and creator of propertytycoon.com.au, Australia’s first online auction tipping competition.

Source: www.domain.com.au

The Reserve Bank of Australia board has cut the official interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.25 per cent, giving mortgage holders and borrowers a pre-Christmas reprieve.

The RBA announced the rate cut at 2.30pm AEDT today following the board’s final meeting for the year.

It’s the second interest rate cut in as many months after the RBA lowered the cash rate on Melbourne Cup day in November.

In a statement issued with the announcement, RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said there had been "considerable turbulence" in financial markets and said financing conditions had become more difficult.

"This, together with precautionary behaviour by firms and households, means that the likelihood of a further material slowing in global growth has increased," Mr Stevens said in a statement accompanying the decision on Tuesday.

Economics analyst Ross Greenwood said Europe’s debt crisis would have been a significant factor in the RBA’s decision.

"The Reserve Bank indicated that it is still concerned about the European economic situation and the prospects of a global slowdown hurting Australia and its export markets," Greenwood told ninemsn.

While it’s good news for mortgage holders and borrowers, Greenwood cautioned consumers not to expect the banks to pass on the full interest rate.

Analysts were divided about whether the RBA would cut the rate today, with a survey of 14 economists conducted by AAP revealing seven tipping a cut, and seven predicting rates would stay on hold for another month.

Story source: www.ninemsn.com.au