Housing prices to increase by about 20% in Perth and Sydney by 2014: QBE LMI report
Jonathan Chancellor has posted an interesting article re the furture price growth of australian property:
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Price growth of 20% is forecast for Perth and price growth of 19% is forecast for Sydney by 2014, according to the QBE Lenders’ Mortgage Insurance housing outlook report researched and prepared by BIS Shrapnel.
In Perth the forecast reflects the stronger economic conditions driven by accelerated investment in the mining and resource sector, and in Sydney the forecast is a result of the growing deficiency in household dwelling supply.
Overall house prices in Perth are estimated to rise by a cumulative total of 20% over the forecast period – the highest among all capital cities – to $565,000 as at June ...
World’s Best at Crave Sydney Food Festival
Living in Sydney means partaking in some of the best cuisine in the known universe. Is it any wonder then that the world’s top chefs will gather for the Real Masterchef program – the Crave Sydney International Food Festival’s World Chef Showcase 2011.
Festival director Joanna Savill has scoured kitchens all over the world for the past three years to invite Michelin stars and innovative chefs to Sydney to come and share passion with food lovers downunder.
“It’s interesting to see an individual chef and what he or she does,” says Ms Savill. ‘‘But there’s ...
Australia is Out of the Woods
We’re a long way from the woes of the world here in Sydney’s Upper North Shore. In particular, the national debt crises dawning elsewhere.
These are serious problems and developed-world growth will be a long uphill struggle. For many governments, deficits will consume spending and it will take the best part of a decade to bring unemployment back down.
But the problems are not quite at the scale of the Global Financial Crisis. That crash followed a debt-driven investment boom, as happened in the 1980s.
Here in Australia, we were not party to over-investing in the boom that preceded the GFC. Our banks remain strong and have minimal exposure to countries now under threat of sovereign debt.
Three-quarters ...
Weekend Garage Sale Will Be Big
Garage sale shoppers on Sydney’s Upper North Shore may wish to widen their horizons this coming weekend… as far afield as Cherrybrook.
On Saturday 24 September, the Giant Charity Garage Sale and Fair will be held there by the Rotary Club of West Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook.
You’ll find loads of bric-a-brac, a stack of books and assorted appliances, as well as toys for the little ones. There’ll be bikes, furniture, and plants for your garden. You’ll be able to rummage through clothes, crockery, tools, and other items.
Proceeds from sales will go to the Black Dog Institute, Operation Hope, Lifeline and other community and Rotary projects.
Early starters will not ...
Trading Up in the Current Property Market
Residential property in Sydney's Upper North Shore is always appealing… even more so when the market slows.
Now could be an opportune time to trade up to a more expensive home.
A smart strategy would be to sell now and arrange alternate housing before buying your new home. This will give you time to get used to sitting in the driver's seat. The market will favour buyers for a while yet.
If you sell then buy straight away, you'll probably still be ahead of the game because your purchase should be discounted more than the loss on your sale.
For example, say your present house is valued at $860,000. To snag a sale in this slow market, you drop your price ...
Sunday Festival at Galston
This Sunday, 18 September 2011 a trip to the Bushland Shire Festival promises a fun-filled day for the whole family.
The festival is part of Galston Spring Fest 2011 – download map and program PDF – and will have events and activities for all ages.
For the kids at the Bushland Shire Festival, there will be live stage show performances by SpongeBob SquarePants (at 11am and 1pm), as well as other performances including the Extreme Karate Kids Show, Crocodile Encounters, and musical acts. The Kid’s Fun Zone and a variety of rides will also keep the young ...
How Will Energy Star Ratings Affect You?
Older homes, many of which can be found in Sydney’s Upper North Shore, are less likely to fair well under proposed energy star ratings for homes being sold or rented.
The Federal Government’s plan to introduce mandatory energy star ratings as early as next year will cost vendors and landlords about $200 for a property assessment.
Energy inefficient homes can also expect their values depreciate as a result.
These energy ratings assessments are expected to reap about $1.1 billion in government revenue over 10 years.
Australian housing industry commentators expect older homes and over-sized mansions to score poorly in terms of energy efficiency. Renovated workers’ cottages and bungalows ...
Sydney Your Fringe is Showing
Culture vultures here in Sydney’s Upper North Shore are always ready for entertainment that rises above the ordinary.
There’s every chance you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Sydney Fringe Festival, a multi-disciplinary showcase of new ‘alternative’ performance works.
The Fringe prides itself on inclusiveness and is constantly pushing the envelope with its spirit of adventure, finding both new artists and new audiences.
This year’s festival, which describes itself as “Your City Unleashed”, promises something for everyone but the middle-of-the-road – to name but a few: alternative theatre, cabaret, dance, comedy, visual arts, even ...
The Mother of Re-Invention
Sydney’s North Shore residents are no strangers to recycling. The aspect of it that excites most of us, though, is ‘upcycling’.
Upcycling is rewarding. It’s green. It makes practical sense. And it’s creative.
Improving your skills and exploring the creativity and environmental friendliness of upcycling is what you will gain by booking your place in an upcoming workshop.
The workshop will present easy upcycling techniques to select old clothes and fabrics and transform them into wonderful new items such as bags, wall hangings, table settings, cushion covers and curtains.
An expert on giving pre-loved item a new lease of life is Julie Patterson, owner of Cloth ...
Free Workshop for Water Wisdom
Sydney’s Upper North Shore owes much of its picturesque ambience to good rainfall and proximity to large picturesque bodies of water.
So, like many other Sydney-siders, we appreciate that water is not just essential but a profound aspect of our everyday lives.
The growing adherence to sustainable lifestyles, however, is not something that comes without the sharing of knowledge.
On Monday 19 September 2011, a Green Village workshop entitled Thrive: Tanks & Waterwise Gardens offers you a free opportunity to learn about saving water, energy and money all at the same time by becoming more water efficient in the home.
The workshop promises to divulge clever ways of capturing and retaining rainwater ...
Sydney Dance Company Behind the Scenes for Free
The trip from the North Shore to the Sydney Opera House promises a treat for lovers of dance and photography.
Free to view on the Opera House’s Western Broadwalk is Pushing for Perfection, a behind-the-scenes “photographic revelation” of the Sydney Dance Company.
The images, taken by acclaimed photographer Jez Smith, document the company’s development and rehearsals of artistic director Rafael Bonachela’s Continue Reading »
How Green is Your Fluoro?
Fluorescent lighting uses phosphor-coated glass tubes filled with an inert gas and a small amount of mercury.
Different gas mixes produce colour variations such that the warm glow of an incandescent bulb can be matched.
Compact fluorescents (CFLs) work the same way as standard fluorescents except they are designed to fit in place of incandescent bulbs.
A fluorescent tube uses only a quarter to a third as much energy to create the same amount of light as an incandescent bulb, and it will last 10 to 15 times longer.
But because they contain mercury, CFL and fluorescent bulbs need to be disposed of properly and handled ...
The Perfect Lawn Mower
There are many more enjoyable pursuits than pushing a lawnmower around your North Shore yard on a hot day. So why not do your lawnmowing at night?
You're probably thinking: "The neighbours are going to love that!"
A former gun manufacturer, no less, has just the answer.
Swedish company Husqvarna has designed its new Auto-Mower to keep lawns trimmed constantly and quietly. It's available in either a battery or solar powered version and will even park itself on the charging unit when its power is low for a recharge.
The Auto-Mower, being electric, is an unassuming, quiet robotic mower ...
Is Your Home Pet-Friendly?
Even in the urbane surrounds of Sydney’s Upper North Shore, neighbourly relations can be tested by the presence of pets.
If it’s your pet that is the trigger for neighbourly irritation, consider the following…
Dogs need regular exercise. Without that, they will be less healthy and more likely to behave more erratically and cause problems. Take pooch for walks as regularly as possible and preferably allow your dog to run free and exercise in an off-leash park.
Most objections to pets are about green space cleanliness or garden digging issues. The best solution is reward-based pet training. Bitter sprays are also available to discourage pets from going where they’re not wanted. You might also install clear balustrades ...
Artists Are Invited
Artists in Sydney’s North Shore and beyond are encouraged to enter the 2011 Hornsby Art Prize. If your artwork wins, it will be acquired into the Hornsby Shire Council art collection and you’ll collect $5000 cash.
Painters and illustrators, sculptors and printmakers are invited to enter. In a prize pool totalling more than $15,000 worth of cash, scholarships and art materials, awards for youth and emerging artists are also up for grabs.
Winner of the 2011 Hornsby Shire Emerging Artist Award will be invited to hold a solo exhibition at the new Continue Reading »
Interior Design Online
If you’re after renovation, design and decoration ideas for your North Shore property, you might want to bookmark the following:
3Dream – create floor plans and interiors using video-game technology. The results can be saved, printed or emailed. Choose from more than 7500 models for flooring, lights, art and furniture. You can even upload your own fabric swatches.
Floor Planner – create a floor plan using drag-and-drop tools that allow you to add furniture, stairs, and even the kitchen sink. If you wish, you can move trees or shift the entire house a few metres.
Google Sketchup – use this free ...
Homeowners’ Tips to Cure Dampness
Condensation dampness can lead to mould and is due to excessive moist air inside a house. Here are some tips for curing your home of condensation dampness:
Treat any existing mould first, otherwise it could get worse.
Installing ceiling insulation stops the ceiling and the tops of walls from getting too cold, as well as insulating against heat and cold.
Prior to re-painting or wall-papering, use a salt neutraliser on the wall plaster, then brush on an anti-mould paint. Anti-mould wallpaper paste is also recommended.
Heavy drapes with pelmets over windows help prevent condensation forming on the glass surfaces. Trickle vents in windows are another option.
Thermostatically controlled heating is best wherever ...
Celebrate People Power on the North Shore
Northern Sydney is celebrating a big win for people power. The NSW government is pledging to restore $1 million in funding after the community stood up en masse to make its point to parliament.
Wahroonga resident Dr Yvonne McMaster, who spearheaded the campaign for community palliative care services, was among the supporters in the galleries during the parliamentary debate on 17 August.
“I am very very pleased,” Dr McMaster says. “The 23,000 signatures really blew them away.”
Also very pleased that the funding was restored “for this critical service for our most vulnerable patients” is Health Minister Jillian Skinner, ...
Property Market Optimism is Rising
Good news for buyers and sellers in Sydney’s Upper North Shore – the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates stability and growing confidence in the Sydney residential property market.
This stability and optimism is fuelling expectations of rising activity from buyers over the coming months.
Sharemarket investment has been increasing in confidence recently and property investors are expected to follow.
Compared to May 2011 figures, the number of owner-occupier home loans taken out in NSW in June may have decreased by 4.6 per cent but May’s performance was considerable at 19 per cent. The uptake is still notably high.
In the June quarter, ...