Oh to live in Darwin at this time of the year! Temperatures in that city this week are expected to average 32 degrees, with overnight lows of 21.

For the rest of us, the pre-winter chill is certainly starting to bite. As we move into the colder months, here are 10 ways to warm up your home.

1. Prune those sun-suckers

Shady plants are great in summer, especially on the north and western sides of your property. But at this time of the year you want to get as much sun into your house as you can. Now is the time to prune plants blocking out your sunlight, if possible.

2. Let the sun in

When the sun is shining, remember to open curtains and blinds during the day, especially on the northern side of your home, but also the east (in the morning) and the west (in the afternoon).

However, you might consider leaving south-facing blinds and curtains closed on days when it is colder outside than in as the sun won’t hit those windows.

It’s very common to see homes shut up all day long with the curtains drawn. But before you head off to work or out for the day, opening the blinds and curtains on windows that get the sun can mean coming home to a much warmer property.

3. Block the cold out

Overnight you want to stop the warm air from inside your home being lost through the glass of your windows. It’s important to cover the windows to do this.

Either use thick curtains and a pelmet overhead to stop the air from getting to the window, or consider good-quality honeycomb (also known as cellular) blinds, which pull up almost out of sight during the day to let maximum sunlight in, but do a fantastic job of blocking the windows overnight, or on colder days when there is a lot of cloud cover.

The great thing about honeycomb blinds is you don’t end up with the heavy look of thick curtains but still get the insulating effect. They do look a bit like they belong in an office and not a home though, and if that bothers you, you can layer them behind a very light sheer curtain to soften their impact. Or of course, for even more insulation, a heavier curtain.

4. Fan-tastic

If you have ceiling fans, now is the time to switch them over to winter mode so that they run backwards. Put them on their lowest speed and they will direct the warm air from across the ceilings where it sits high up, and down the walls.

If you get condensation on your windows overnight, you’ll probably notice that leaving a fan on in winter mode during the day can help to dry the windows out faster.

5. Draughts be gone

Gaps around doors and windows can let in a lot of draughts. Block them up with an appropriate draught-sealer. Your local hardware store will have plenty of options.

Consider also a good old-fashioned door snake if you find it hard to seal the bottom of doors, which is often the case in older houses where steps may have worn, or doors are not quite square.

If you have particularly cold rooms in the home – the spare bedroom or laundry, for example, consider draught-sealing the door that separate that room or rooms from the rest of the home.

However, it is important to note that if you use unflued gas heating or an open fire, you will need to ensure you have adequate ventilation at home.

6. Monitor it

If you happen to be someone who is at home during the day, you’ll have the opportunity to throw open the windows and let the warmth in on the days when it becomes hotter inside than out, which can often happen at this time of year.

It can be helpful to have a thermometer with an outdoor sensor set up in a prominent spot in the home to let you know when it is warmer outside than in. Hardware stores often stock them – I have one a bit like this.

It will also come in handy in summer when you’ve got the opposite problem and you want to know when it has cooled enough to open the windows in the evening.

7. Go passive

A few months ago we installed a solar heater, which draws the warm air from the roof cavity into the home. You can read about it here.

I’m pleased to say it seems to working well at this time of year (when we hoped it would) helping to raise the home’s temperature by a critical three-four degrees, meaning the heater has pretty much stayed off so far, even on cooler nights.

Because our home is well-insulated, draught-sealed and has honeycomb blinds on almost all windows, when it warms up during the day it manages to hold the temperature overnight.

8. They mightn’t be pretty but…

Okay, I’ll admit that old-style aluminium roller shutters are butt-ugly.

When we inherited two shutters on the ’50s brick box we bought a year or so back, I was tempted to rip them off. But instead we gave them a paint job (a marginal improvement) and now find in winter, we wouldn’t be without them.

When the shutter goes down about the same time as the sun it’s like instant double-glazing, you can feel the difference because the shutter helps to provide an air pocket between our old single-pane glass windows and the cold night air.

They work so well I’m even tempted to put them on a few more windows.

9. Cook up a storm

It really is a time of year for baking and slow cooking. The house will definitely warm up, but will you be able to resist all that yummy food?

10. Control the thermostat

Running your heater at 18-21 degrees will keep you comfortable without toasting, and will also keep your winter heating bills down. Just one degree more in temperature can increase your heating costs by 15 per cent.

Story by Carolyn Boyd is a property journalist and keen follower of Australia’s housing market.

Source: www.domain.com.au

The Reserve Bank’s decision this week to reduce official interest rates by 50 basis points is good news.

Falling rates and solid signs of an improving local economy provide the Sydney housing market with the prospect for increased buyer activity and further increases in median house prices this year.

Australian Property Monitors has recently reported that the Sydney median house price rose strongly by 1.4 per cent in the March quarter.

The city’s suburban regions also recorded encouraging increases in median house prices during the quarter.

The only exception was the northern beaches, where prices were down marginally, by 0.5 per cent.

The top performer was the central coast, where median house prices rose by 5.7 per cent. The next best were Sydney’s south, up 5 per cent, Canterbury-Bankstown, up 4.8 per cent, and the western suburbs, where median house prices increased by 4.3 per cent.

Despite the increases, price levels in some areas are still below those recorded a year ago.

The worst performer over the past year was the lower north shore, where median house prices were down by 6.6 per cent.

The city and east region fell by 5.3 per cent and the northern beaches was down 4.9 per cent compared with March 2011.

Several regions, however, have recorded increases in the median house price in the past year. The best was the upper north shore, which was up 1.9 per cent.

Sydney’s west was up 1.8 per cent, while house prices in the south-west rose by 1.5 per cent over the year to March.

Dr Andrew Wilson is the senior economist for Fairfax-owned Australian Property Monitors.

Story source: www.domain.com.au

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut interest rates by 50 basis points in an unexpected move that should provide welcome relief to many homeowners.

The reduction takes the official cash rate to 3.75 percent.

Damian Smith CEO of financial comparison site RateCity called the RBA’s decision "a very big move".

"They haven’t moved rates this far since the depths of the Global Financial Crisis," Mr Smith told ninemsn.

"This cut will help thousands of households, with people on a $300,000 mortgage potentially saving around $1000 per year."

But he warns that some banks may be unwilling to pass on the rate cut in full.

"It’s unlikely that all lenders will pass on the full rate cut," Mr Smith said.

"The signals from the big four banks suggest that they will try to hold on to part of this rate cut."

Mr Smith points out that while the central bank has lowered the cash rate by 50 basis points since November, "the big four banks have only passed on around 40 basis points to variable rate home loan customers".

It is the largest cut to the cash rate since a 100 basis point reduction in February 2009, and the first time the RBA has lowered the cash rate since it cut it by 25 basis points at its December board meeting.

Business lobby groups, trade unionists and some economists had called for the board of the RBA to cut rates by 50 basis points to help ailing retailers, manufacturers and the stubborn housing market.

Story source: www.ninemsn.com.au

Knowing your limits and the market will help to expand your property portfolio.

Why do some people struggle to buy one investment property and yet others manage to own five or six? The answer isn’t simply that they have more money.

Investors who are creative in their approach to financing and who thoroughly research the important real estate indicators routinely achieve their goals faster and with less hassle.

There are several well-known ways to increase a property portfolio. You can take out an interest-only loan, buy with partners as ”tenants in common” or tap into your home equity.

Owning an investment property is not out of reach, it simply requires an astute approach. Photo: AFR

All of which help free up cash flow, enabling you to make more substantial contributions to a principal place of residence or to access cash flow for other investments. Coupled with buying investment properties in the right place at the right time, these tactics have reaped financial rewards for many people.

But savvy investors take their strategies to the next level. Let’s look at some of the less-traditional approaches to more profitable property investing.

Varying your income tax

If you’re negatively geared, a good way to improve immediate cash flow is to ask your accountant to submit an income tax variation form to your payroll office.

This reduces the tax rate charged on your wages by estimating your total end-of-financial-year tax position in advance. Rather than receiving a lump sum tax refund, you receive money evenly throughout the year.

Line of credit with a global limit

This is a line of credit home loan with a ”global” or ”umbrella” limit and several sub-accounts. It gives you maximum access to your equity to optimise your investment opportunities. The loan can be operated with multiple accounts under one global limit.

Mortgage Choice spokeswoman Belinda Williamson says line of credit accounts can be attached to a credit card. ”If you earn a decent income, using a credit card for expenses should mean that most of your income stays in the loan until the credit card payment is due, which helps to reduce the loan balance.”

Targeting distressed vendors

Successful investors don’t appraise the properties on the market in an area, they try to work out why they are for sale. Paul Osborne, of the buyer’s advocate firm Secret Agent, says it’s a smart move to understand household indebtedness in specific areas to snare a bargain.

He says many households are managing to service only the interest repayments, not the principal amount, of their home loans. As a consequence, the best buying opportunities tend to be in suburbs that have high proportions of household debt.

A secondary dwelling as an investment

Building second dwellings, such as granny flats, on the land held by either an owner-occupied or an investment property has become a growing trend. These dwellings can generate extra rental income and increase the property’s future value.

They also provide depreciation benefits and must be council-approved. Lending criteria for secondary dwellings varies from lender to lender and it’s smart to monitor how such additions in an area have shifted property values.

Choose a loan tailored to your needs

Depending on your finances, lifestyle and investment portfolio, there are a range of property loans to consider. Ms Williamson recommends checking the health of your home loan at least once a year.

”You should make sure that your loans not only meet your current needs but also take your future needs into consideration,” she says. ”Make sure that you are managing your loan, rather than letting it manage you.” Always be aware that new products are entering the competitive housing finance market constantly.

Story source: www.domain.com.au Story by Chris Tolhurst

In a world first, property-obsessed investors will be able to check house prices daily and trade on an index that tracks the ebbs and flows of dwelling prices across Australia.

The Australian Stock Exchange and property data providers today launched a capital city home value index tracking home prices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth that is designed to be tradeable on the stock market.

The index, backed by property group RP Data-Rismark, will ”impute” the value of all dwellings in Australia’s capital cities and include daily price updates from homes sales across the country.

The index was developed to cater to the demand of investors – many of them overseas hedge funds – anxious to bet Australian house prices would eventually fall as they have elsewhere during the global financial crisis.

Although the indices are not tradeable yet, the Australian Securities Exchange is looking into products based on them, which would potentially allow local and overseas investors to profit – and lose – from bets on the where Australian home prices are going.

"ASX continues to investigate the creation of exchange-traded products with the objective of allowing investors to replicate the return and performance characteristics of the Australian residential property market," said ASX’s product development manager Brian Goodman.

"The ability to obtain and optimise residential property exposure with an exchange-traded product will enable investors to efficiently manage exposure to this asset class."

Developers could also potentially use investments in the index as a hedge, to protect themselves against fluctuating market price movements that affect building projects.

Previously data tracking the movement of house price has only been available on a monthly or quarterly basis from a range of providers such as RP Data, Australian Property Monitors and the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.

Advances in computing technology now allowed daily ”real time” updates, RP Data research director Tim Lawless said. The new index shows capital city dwelling values in February rose by 0.8 per cent, after a 1 per cent fall in January.

Home values jumped by 5 per cent in Darwin, 2.2 per cent in Hobart, 1.8 per cent in Melbourne, 1.9 per cent in Canberra, 1 per cent in Adelaide and 0.8 per cent in Sydney to the end of February.

They fell 0.1 per cent in Brisbane and 1.8 per cent in Perth. The daily capital city house price index will also account for the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, land area and location of a property to allow for ”accurate analysis of true value movements across specific housing markets,” RP Data said.

Only 6 per cent of Australian homes are sold each year. Of those, about 1390 are traded across the country each day with most transactions weighted towards weekends.

Australia’s residential housing market is worth an estimated $4 trillion, about three times the value of the $1.2 trillion equities market and the $1.3 trillion held in superannuation funds, Mr Lawless said.

"As Australia’s most valuable asset class, accounting for around 60 per cent of Australia’s major banks’ balance sheets, it is important to have the best possible measurement of housing returns and rental yields,” he said.

Only one other property index in the world in the United States was tradeable and it used historical data that was 63 days old, Mr Lawless said. The ASX will need approval from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission before the investors are allowed to trade on the new index.

Investors are likely to include super funds and big institutions such as banks wanting to hedge their property exposure risks.

sjohanson@theage.com.au 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.”

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

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

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

Economists are divided on whether borrowers will get a second interest rate cut in as many months on Tuesday.

Seven of the 14 economists surveyed by AAP say the RBA will cut the cash rate to 4.25 per cent from 4.5 per cent on December 6.

On Melbourne Cup day, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut the cash rate from 4.75 per cent, saying that recent information suggested inflation had been contained.

With inflation no longer a problem, the bias for the RBA is now firmly leaning towards rate cuts, with 10 of the 14 economists forecasting rate cuts by the middle of 2012.

Citigroup head of economics Paul Brennan is expecting the RBA to cut rates on Tuesday, despite expectations of strong economic growth in the September quarter.

"We see this as a policy of least regret given that the outlook for global growth has continued to weaken in the past month to well below trend," Mr Brennan said.

"We see scope to lower the cash rate to the bottom of the neutral range over the next few months, which would imply a cash rate of four per cent over the next three months."

The biggest risk to economic growth comes from Europe, which may well go into recession, or start another financial crisis, as several members of the euro struggle to meet debt repayments.

There are also local risks to economic growth.

In the past month the RBA, Treasury and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have cut economic growth forecasts for 2012.

In addition to that, official figures for October showed a 10.7 per cent fall in building approvals and retail spending only rising 0.2 per cent.

On the other hand Australia’s mining boom is still going strong, with the sector making its biggest ever contribution to economic growth.

Nomura Australia chief economist Stephen Roberts said he doesn’t expect the cash rate to move for the foreseeable future unless something bad happens overseas.

"My forecast is that they are going to leave it at 4.5 per cent," he said.

"I’m assuming they will hold it neutral all the way through to the end of 2012 but my proviso is if Europe generally does go to hell in a handbasket, then they can drop interest rates a long way."

NAB senior economist Spiros Papadopoulos said the RBA won’t cut on Tuesday but by early next year the pressure will build for another rate cut.

"Obviously there’s a risk that they might cut interest rates next week, given everything that’s been happening offshore in the last couple of weeks," he said.

"On balance, given the fact that the domestic economy has been holding up okay we don’t think they need to rush in to cutting rates."

Story source: www.ninemsn.com.au

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - Santa has gone for a swim!

With the festive season fast approaching and the Christmas decorations popping up everywhere I would like to wish you all a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous 2012.

Our offices in Lennox Head and Bangalow will be open until Friday 23 December 2011.  After the Christmas break we will reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2012 to plough, head first, into the new year.

Keep safe, keep happy and keep in touch with those you love.   Lois

It was very exciting for Lois Buckett Real Estate to recieve the Lennox Head Chamber of Conmmerce  Business Award for Professional Services 2011.

Here are Yonika Mantel and Karen Stone accepting the award on behalf of Lois who has been away in Cambodia supporting the orphanage at the New Hope Community in Siem Reap.

 HERE IS WHAT YONIKA HAD TO SAY ABOUT  THE NIGHT:

 Well Karen and I went to the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards last night at Opes Restaurant and it was a great night!

 We won the “Professional Services Award” which is fantastic – when I sent a text to Lois last night she was thrilled and sent a message back “thanks to all of us”.

 We sponsored the Trade Services Award and the winner of that was Frigid Air, so we got the chance to present that award as a sponsor. I also had the chance to talk a little about Lois Buckett Real Estate, and what a great team we were, and how lucky we were to work with Lois – the theme of the night was “Love Lennox” which is the new initiative from the Chamber as our “catch phrase”. This gave me the opportunity to talk about how much Lois did for the community through sponsorship, supporting local charities, and gave me the opportunity to let everyone know that Lois was in Cambodia volunteering.

 Other winners included Craig Parry Photography (Arts), Retail (Trash Clothing), Hospitality (Seven Mile Restaurant), Trade Services (Frigid Air), Home Based Business (Chem Dry), Customer Service (Fitness Matters Lennox Head) – there were also plenty of other awards but I can’t recall them all.

There was also a President’s award which went to Mavis’s Cafe (after 27 years of being a business owner – Mavis retired at 73 last weekend after selling the shop) and the Business of the Year for 2011 went to the Lennox Head Pharmacy.

 What a team we are Jonika.

Homeowners have been granted a long awaited reprieve, with the Reserve Bank opting to drop interest rates by 25 basis points.

The cut continues what is becoming a tradition, with the Reserve Bank changing the cash rate on Melbourne Cup Day for the sixth year in a row.

It is also the first time in a year that rates have shifted in either direction, with last year’s race tarnished by a surprise 25 basis point bump.

The Reserve Bank’s decision comes after the TD Securities-Melbourne Institute data revealed inflationary pressure was at a 19-month low.

The Institute’s inflation gauge showed a 0.1 percent rise in headline and trimmed mean measures, prompted largely by a massive drop in fruit and vegetable prices.

The rise keeps inflation at a 19-month low of 2.6 percent, well within the Reserve Bank’s target band.

The Reserve Bank last cut interest rates in April 2009. Following a steady climb in 2010, interest rates have stayed on hold since last November.

The last time the Reserve Bank stayed put on Melbourne Cup day was in 2005, midway through the cash rate’s year-long stint at 5.5 percent.

Story source: www.ninemsn.com.au

Bangalow Show Fireworks

As we all know Lois Buckett is an avid supporter of many local entities from Lennox Head Surf Club to the Primary School – with everything inbetween.

Part of her constant “giving back” to the community includes many years of sponsoring the “Buckett of Books” Awards for both Lennox Head and Bangalow primary schools.
Lois would like to congratulate once again the students at Lennox Head for their recent awards.

Annie – August 2011 for being a polite well mananered classroom citizen, producing quality work to a high academic standard, playing in the school band, following the school’s 3 key values, entering university competitions and representing the school in the choir, swimming, athletics and cross country.
Shane – September 2011 for showing respect to others at all times, being a caring, supportive and courteous class member, producing quality work, displaying the 3 key values and trying his best at all times.
Joey – October 2011 for being a quiet and respectful student, treating fellow students fairly, being a supportive Peer Support leader and Kindergarten buddy, consistently demonstrating the 3 key values, being an excellent role model, displaying a quite confidence and mature approach and alwyas pursuing academic excellence.

Lois with her beloved Dotty at Lennox Head

It was a very sad day for Lois and the family on Sunday 23 October 2011 when Dotty, their much loved spaniel, passed away.
The locals in Lennox Head are used to seeing Lois and Dotty on the beach and over the past 13 years she has been a constant companion.
Dotty reached the ripe old age of 91 (in human years) and certainly had a long and happy life filled with love and care.  She is sure to be up in “doggie heaven” by now and will be missed by Lois, Dylan, Eleanor and Mark – as well as the rest of us!