The Blog

Australia is known for its vast land and open spaces, but in recent years, the size of blocks of land available for residential development has been shrinking. This trend is particularly evident in urban areas, where the demand for housing is high and the land is scarce. The shrinking size of blocks has significant implications […]

According to CoreLogic’s Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI), the quarterly growth rate of 2.4% is more than double the rate seen in the last quarter of 2021 (1.1%). The Cordell costings team found the cost of metal, structural steel, reinforcing, fixings, and fencings are all under pressure. Additionally, prices for timber products continue to soar […]

It was a long, cold winter the year Davina Rooney moved into the old house she’d bought. Cracked floorboards and ill-fitting windows let in blasts of freezing air and the outdoor laundry was riddled with asbestos. Friends suggested she’d best knock it down and start again; she didn’t want to listen. As the chief executive […]

Collecting building and pest reports for homes you may never buy might feel like a waste of money – especially at a time when expenses are already adding up – but just like home or car insurance, it’s a small price to pay to avoid buying a money pit. Property markets have been moving fast, […]

Australians building a new home or renovating could face long delays as busy builders deal with soaring demand and shortages of building supplies and skilled trades. The problem is set to get worse before it gets better, with 130,000 new builds expected to start this year alone, the Housing Industry Association predicts. Residential building has […]

A man — desperately begging for help from emergency services — dies in his car as it is swallowed by floodwaters on a road in north-west Sydney in March 2021. In Hinchinbrook, Queensland, a 23-year-old man perishes while trying to shelter from the massive cyclone Yasi that batters northern Australia in February 2011. In Kinglake, […]

Yet this goal has been elusive. For most of us, our daily activities are segregated into one-dimensional precincts. Every morning we emerge from our “cave” and travel to a fixed place of employment. Thus, we are beholden to transport planners to manage our daily commute. Then came COVID-19. Restrictions changed our behaviour – we adapted. […]

Australian builders and tradies are expected to pick up the tools for an extra 12,000 new home builds in 2021 after the federal government extended their HomeBuilder grants scheme. But it will be NSW and Victoria in the box seat, with measures specifically targeting them unveiled as part of the bonus round. The construction industry […]

A clear lesson from the many conversations across fencelines, waves from porches, teddy bears in windows and chalk art on footpaths is the need for our cities to better embrace edge spaces between private property and the public realm. These edge spaces, such as porches, balconies, front boundaries and footpaths, have been key to maintaining […]

That’s until the COVID-19 pandemic rendered rough sleepers visible, because we’ve all been told to stay home and anyone without a home presents a risk of passing on the virus. State governments have suddenly found tens of millions of dollars to create pop-up accommodation or book rough sleepers into hotel rooms. But such short-term fixes […]

The health crisis and lockdowns have led to a spike in search activity in regional Australia that has now translated into increased house prices, according to realestate.com.au’s inaugural REA Insights Regional Australia Report. Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said changes in the way people work and a resurgence in the mining sector are driving a big […]

We found safety and security was the main aspiration of householders across age groups. Given the turbulent year for many households, we wished to explore how the pandemic might change what people want from their homes.   What do people want from a home? We surveyed more than 7,400 Australians in young, mid-life and older […]

Electronic signatures (eSignatures) are an alternative method to ink signing a legal document. There are no legal distinctions in place to differentiate between wet ink signatures and electronic signatures. But for an electronic signature to be legally enforceable, it must meet certain requirements. What is an eSignature? An eSignature (short for electronic signature) refers to […]

In today’s society, legal documents and contracts are becoming increasingly created and exchanged online. Therefore, electronic signatures are extremely valuable in the quick and efficient adoption of documents. So what are the benefits of signing your documents online? Read our guide to find out. What Are eSignatures? You may have heard the term eSignature thrown […]

An electronic signature, or an eSignature, is any electronic means indicating a person’s authorisation or consent to a document. Also known as digital signatures, these can involve you simply typing your name, inserting a photo of your signature or drawing it on your screen. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of what electronic signatures […]

Fast-tracked tax cuts for 11 million Australians, wage subsidies for young workers and business incentives underpin a big-spending federal budget aimed at creating jobs to drive Australia out of the coronavirus recession. The building and housing industries expect the most important budget since World War II will boost confidence, construction and jobs. Realestate.com.au’s executive manager […]

The property market is likely to see a timely boost of direct and indirect stimulus policies announced during the Tuesday, 6 October’s budget, a researcher has revealed. The Treasury’s budget had three main components for investors, with the extension of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, additional low-cost financing for affordable housing and funding for […]

This is also true of successful real estate investors. So, what are the common traits of successful investors and how can you learn from them? 1. They aim for the top There is a great quote from Swami Vivekananda, which is an example of a positive life tip that successful investors use often. It goes like this, “Take up one idea […]

Some home buyers are set to get more information about how much energy their potential new home uses before they purchase, under an expanded national rating scheme. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, or NatHERS, focuses on new homes but will be expanded next year to include rating existing buildings, a spokesman for the Department […]

Home has never been more important than it is right now. The Coronavirus has suddenly transitioned us into a world where everyday activities, such as work and physical activity, are all happening at home. As we are confined now more than ever, our reliance on home has grown and the future of home design could […]