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Australia’s presiding government has now been in caretaker mode for  almost two months and in all probability, will move to a makeshift government, better known as a ‘political pantomime’. The political care factor is all about me, myself and I, but hopefully by this time next week, we will finally know the outcome of the 2010 federal election.

Already many cracks are appearing given we failed, Julia almost admits as three amigos turned into Mexican bandits which was best summed up with funny farm on the hill loses a few inmates, gains some more. Although at the end of the day, there is no escaping the fact that once decided, this will be the government we’ll have to have. It would be catastrophic for Julia Gillard’s CV to read Australia’s shortest serving (union elected) prime minister – no wonder she has turned green.

Unlike this week’s political speak – it was the Australian economy that “walked the walk and talked the talk”. This  highlighted the fact that Australians (not politicians) know their business. Australia’s economic growth accelerates as it remains one of the world’s best performing economies, with the latest data showing growth is back to pre – financial crisis levels. GDP growth was 3.3 per cent at an annual rate, faster than the 2.7 per cent pace in the March quarter, and surpassing the 2.9 per cent tipped by analysts. Just wish one particular bloke would mind his own business as Wayne Swan claims Labor responsible for GDP growth. Somebody should tell him that if that was the case, his government would have been re-elected with a majority.

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This is a sensational photo identifying our urban sprawl – at first I thought it had been photo shopped however I can assure you that it has not. Another brilliant Tim Mooney capture.

BUY PRINT

GDP speeds ahead of economists’ forecast as China fuels mining sector. This  needs to be put into perspective given “the resilience of the economy is thanks to demand for the nation’s iron – ore, coal and other minerals, particularly from China, which has helped boost company profits. This has helped support business and consumer confidence and kept household consumption buoyant, a big contributor to economic growth in the June quarter.” Is this green Gillard’s political blunder? Given federal Labor and the Greens support future Mining Super Profits Taxation revenues which could deliver diabolical consequences as Australian miners flock to Africa. The moral to this story…?

So will all this positive data reporting be the catalyst for the long awaited return of the top–end real estate recovery? They say it comes in threes so first, we had anecdotal evidence that the Australian economy had returned to pre – global financial crisis levels. Secondly, we are now in September (which historically coincides with our peak selling period) although this market has been in  prolonged hibernation. Last but not least, property shakes off winter blues with $52 million sale. Historically, property markets follow GDP growth. Our property markets peaked in 2003 and 2007 which is clearly indicated in the following graph. If trends continue, 2010 will see a period of consolidation and growth and 2011 will return to 2007 prices and probably beyond.

The Mosman house market sales in 2010 (thus far) are far from impressive and turnover is well down on previous years.

MOSMAN HOUSES

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• 2007 – 414 transactions to a total value of $1,169,107,720
• 2008 – 445 transactions to a total value of $736,789,726
• 2009 – 474 transactions to a total value of $730,889,500
• 2010 – 172 transactions to a total value of $402,766,550

Source: Domain Property Data

Interesting to note that in 2010 there have been 141 recorded sales up to $5,000,000 (79 recorded sales up to $1,500,000 and 62 recorded sales above $2,500,000.) Just 19 sales have been recorded in excess of $5,000,000 (12 above $5,000,000, 2 above $6,000,000, 2 above $7,000,000, 1 above $9,000,000 and 2 above $10,000,000.)

When the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meets next week, the cash rate will remain on hold despite some predicting a reduction. The reality is that the RBA will only cut rates when our economy starts heading pear – shaped. Risk of double – dip recession: Debelle which this week was dispelled when rate rise on the radar as profits surge.

Onwards, however not necessarily upwards the great housing dilemma continues as does Sydney rental vacancies rise, data shows. NSW is heading backwards as is our presiding government, Fort Crumble, which continues to stuff – up growth as developers furious at reversal of home levy savings. Australia’s worst ever government is dysfunctional, corrupt and rotten, the end is finally nigh for Labor as corruption fighters take on Keneally. Ferry services are being cut to Mosman, Cremorne and Neutral Bay as Fort Crumble tries to appease voters in Labor heartland seats despite – No minister, don’t cut ferry services – let us run them, say private firms as NSW minister quits for using adult and gambling websites. The stethoscope was then applied as $131 million ‘missing from NSW health budget’ which would explain why NSW is terminally ill in the political sense.

Whatever happens next week when our federal government is announced we can expect plenty of pollies to be singing from different hymn books and not in chorus? Some suggest a parliament of enlightenment although I see a parliament of disenchantment.

Off to the polls we go – yet again.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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3.09.10Robert Simeon17 Comments »

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Try telling that to Fort Crumble who are in a desperate wait for all the cows to come home where the fields are alive with the sound of Independents. The rural revolution is coming thanks to Election 2010 which now resembles a classic case of “foot and mouth” disease, prompting post – election behaviour that could even suggest the arrival of “mad cow” disease on Australian shores. The classic symptoms were noticeable well before Australia was herded to the polls last Saturday – erratic behaviour, aggressive demeanour, disorientated memory and agitated herd mentality. The paddocks now require new fences and boundaries – hay hay, Australia has been hung out to dry.

The post electoral shin dig over at the back paddock had to be cancelled, due to a lack of support which sparked headline act Midnight Soil to go batty as they were coming out of retirement after agreeing to make a one–off election appearance.

Like a bull at a gate, the Mad Monk waved his red robe Abbott attacks Labor’s ‘civil war’ and the mantra could he heard all over the paddock reject Labor: voters’ message to independent MP’s as the hollow men led Labor to disaster. Then the head heifer corralled one of her baby bulls when PM bans powerbroker Arbib from appearing on Q&A. Such was the Labor of Love given the odds shorten on next Labor leader where it keeps getting worse as Gillard in big trouble no what happens given we have a tortuous road to government.

BUY PRINT

Back at the barn, even the cats showed their respective claws as the meows fast turned into a hissy fit McKew a ‘Labor hero’: Keneally then axing Rudd a strategic blunder:McKew. Then Rudd’s fault for dismal result, says Keneally although the alley cats were purring at a sneak preview of a Keneally bloodbath when the cool cats over in NSW go to the polls next March. NSW Labor headed for wipe out which brought about a familiar change after Julia … it’s the real Kristina.

Over in the northern paddock, more cats were hysterically meowing (as against dogs barking) where there was plenty of crying over spilt milk. I won’t suffer Rudd’s fate, says Bligh then Keneally lashed out at Bligh’s ‘NSW disease’ jibe. The 2010 Federal Election today resembles Old MacDonald’s farm although at this point we don’t envisage that the war will be enough to see our soldiers brought back home to restore order given disparities in voters’ priorities are even more stark now. Plenty of cries to cut the crap as electorates keep asking where is the vision? Now we have fighting on two fronts Labor war hurting bid for power and now Coalition begins its own civil war.

What spring promises for the market as sales sizzle, auctions cool although for the time being our property markets wrestles with election uncertainty. Australia this time around won’t be paying that much attention to what is happening in America given Obama running out of time to fix economy. This was not helped when this week it was revealed that US existing home sales dive to 15 – year low which is otherwise known as tumbling houses. Quite the opposite here in Australia given the latest HIA – CBA Housing Affordability Report identifies that more than ever before our property markets are out of reach. We are seeing some areas where prices are dropping then on the other side of the coin the prices are now increasing. Household debt in Australia has risen dramatically over the past three decades, but the number of home repossessions in Victoria and NSW is on the decline because we are keeping up the payments.

Last week we brought you the Dyson Austen Top 10 Prestige Residential Survey for January – March 2010 so this week we continue with the April – June 2010 results.

Interesting to note that the Eastern Suburbs recorded eight of the sales and Mosman posted two sales with RWM recording one of these two transactions. There are two interesting conclusions that can be observed from this data. Firstly, the top–end sales appear to be rebounding with suggestions that the upcoming Spring/Summer markets may see increased competition for these trophy homes. This was always going to happen – just that nobody really knew when.

Secondly, we have a new record since the global financial crisis (GFC).

The Dyson Austen Report, Simon Feilich acknowledged “if we look at this result (above) and the highest transaction ever achieved in the survey history ($45 million – Q3 2008) both sales occurred at a time when the $AU/US has just been devalued by 12% and almost 10% respectively.”

“NOTE: The jumbo prestige residential market is directly linked to the performance of the equity market, with the only other main external factor being the $AU/US rate as seen in Q3 2008 and the latest released Q2 2010.”

Since the election debacle the $A has started to fall again, due largely to the uncertainties ahead. It appears the nobody can form a government and even if they do, it will be a s#*& fight with all the internal bickering.

So I predict we will all be headed back to the polls in October.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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27.08.10Robert Simeon2 Comments »

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ABC Online’s chief political writer Annabel Crabb described it as the greatest oral challenge of our generation given The Emperor’s “greatest moral challenge” no longer exists, or does it? On the menu we were forced to consume Gillard’s pork pies hard to resist then we had the hidden truth behind the PM’s ‘impromptu’ speech. The 2010 federal election spending spree based on a rigour in funding promises doesn’t count for much given we have all heard the term ‘the cheque’s in the mail’ although this Sunday, the elected party will have to face the morning after … where Treasury will start costing those policies on the run, Sydney’s Parramatta to Epping rail line will come under much greater scrutiny and the inevitable financial quarantine until the next federal election.

The most frightening policy is, without a doubt, the $43 billion (43 thousand million dollars) national broadband network which stands to become the greatest white elephant in Australian political history and the biggest financial commitment for an Australian government. Interest payments for this scheme presently stand at $4.500 million per week which prompted Malcolm Turnbull to write on Business Spectator Why the NBN will fail which prompted one comment on the blog: Thank you Malcolm. I think blind Freddy could see that can you publish it in Braille as well? The leading question: is Stephen Conroy conning us on the NBN?

Classic Tim Mooney this shot was captured last Friday when the big Southerly bringing about the cancellation of the Manly Ferries

BUY PRINT

Someone should tell Julia Gillard that the fastest growing network in Australia is wireless – tailor made for Blackberry, iPhone, iPad and laptops, none of which require cable. Latest data reveals Internet searches are the most popular online activity on mobile phones. Some 73 per cent of users conduct online searches by mobile phone now, compared with 30 per cent a year ago. This explains why we launched our mobile property website last week, a first in Mosman. (This is designed to be viewed through your mobile phone)

Gillard & Co have used the white technical elephant as the NBN ‘sandbags’ for marginal seats – we should all be very concerned about this roll- out, especially as the private sector wanted no financial involvement. In economic jargon, this equates to ‘no return on investment’.

The 2010 federal election has completely ignored housing policy initiatives, because they are too hard to fathom and here is why. Rents leap as race to find home intensifies “Forget population growth, we’re not even seeing the housing needed for existing people. There’s an extremely severe housing shortage unique to Sydney.”

Housing affordability nears record low the HIA – CBA Housing Affordability Index fell 9.1 per cent in the June quarter to be 32 per cent compared to the same period last year. HIA chief economist, Harley Dale, said ‘there has been a lack of commitment during the recent federal election campaign to address the substantial hurdles aspiring home owners face.” Then “key federal policy priorities need to include a program to reduce new housing costs such as inequitable taxes and charges, better planning approvals systems, and a dedicated federal housing and development ministry to coordinate policy across all sectors and levels of government,” Mr Dale said.

I don’t share the belief by some that housing bear warns again of bubble waiting to burst as investors who are claiming losses may leave the rental markets. According to Tax Office figures, the proportion of taxpayers who own rental property has risen from 6.5 per cent in 1989 to 13.5 per cent in 2009, two thirds of whom claim a loss on investments. The rental markets are problematic, which is why we sold our property management portfolio earlier this year, to focus on our core business which is, of course, selling properties.

Always a brilliant barometer for the Sydney top end property market is the prestige property market report by Dyson Austen Top 10 for the 2010 January – March quarter.  Our very own Steve Patrick posted the fourth biggest sale with 19 Morella Road Clifton Gardens. Seven sales were recorded in the Eastern Suburbs, two to Mosman and one to Manly – overall a positive result for the prestige property markets.

The comparative analysis from 2004 to 2010 is always fascinating where you will see that the top end is holding its own and we predict a conservative improvement in the quarters ahead. One should remember that when this end of the market starts registering anecdotal sales results, the rest of the market follows suit. We don’t foresee a boom market in the immediate future, but we do see renewed market confidence and sentiment.

Next week, we will publish the Dyson Austen Top 10 sales for the 2010 April – June quarter.

So off to the polls we go tomorrow to elect a federal government for the next three years and by all accounts, it will be close. My prediction is a narrow Tony Abbott victory simply because NSW is vehemently opposed to anything Labor – Why Labor is losing the west. NSW will only start to see rapid improvement with infrastructure when they have a Liberal prime minister and a Liberal premier which will happen in March 2011. The day Gillard stopped spinning: NSW indefensible where I’m sure she regrets her policy on the run announcement about the Parramatta to Epping rail spin which will never happen under the current regime.

Who would have thought that not since 1931, we could witness just the second incumbent government removed after just the one elected term?  Who would have thought we may witness history where two prime ministers were removed in the one term?

Maybe Australia is moving forward!  Voters in Queensland and NSW will determine the outcome.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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20.08.10Robert Simeon8 Comments »

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The 2010 federal election is all about the polls (cometh the spin) then three years on, we have more broken promises than promises that actually came to fruition. Neither party has a single blueprint for the Australian economy, nor the nation as a whole and this was classically highlighted during the global financial crisis spend– a– thon which we are told constantly, saved the Australian economy from recession. Australia’s need to invest in infrastructure, is urgent – roads, rail and ports and this is why Fort Crumble faces election annihilation when NSW goes to the polls in March 2011.

Infrastructure in NSW ‘average to poor’ a scathing new report card from Engineers Australia where more than three quarters of the sectors require major or critical changes. This report highlights the point that industry can identify the problems, yet elected governments are incapable of preparing a work – in – progress strategy for Australia. Fix these problems because today our population is well ahead of infrastructure which was brilliantly explained in gotchanomics doesn’t bring home the real bacon.

Labor struggling in key states which led to rolling out the barrel – Labor denies pork – barrel suggestion. Andrew West from the Sydney Morning Herald wrote Back on track – and just the ticket for commuters “It is politically brave for a prime minister to appear publicly with a NSW premier these days. It is crazy brave to make a joint announcement about public transport. The NSW public is so cynical about public transport promises – after 15 years of projects being announced, postponed, shelved and re – announced – that voters no longer believe state Labor can deliver a crucial service.” The $2.100 billion rail link announcement for Parramatta and Epping will no doubt be shelved once Fort Crumble is removed permanently at the next state election – all aboard the PM’s Parramatta express. Who could forget reading How lazy Nathan Rees sold NSW short which explains why Gillard and Keneally fail on Sydney’s transport infrastructure funding. More than half the pledged monies promised in the current election will not be spent until after the next election in 2013 – pork rolled out on the never-never.

BUY PRINT

Surveys reveal that Australia is home to the world’s least – affordable property. Pundits are at odds over whether it might end in a bang or a whimper – a great read Forever blowing bubbles. The Real Estate Institute of Australia recently announced that a contributing factor to the increase in house prices and the decline in housing affordability, is the under-supply of housing. According to the National Housing Supply Council, the gap between the supply and demand for housing will increase in the next eight years and this will put further pressure on house prices.

Nothing new on offer since the houses that Kevin built – “It might be important to voters – but not the parties”, wrote Kevin Saulwick. “There may have been more pressing issues than housing affordability at the 2007 election, but not many. Which makes it all the more remarkable that three years later – and with the same level of community concern about the cost of living – there has been little focus on housing by Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott. When Kevin Rudd sailed into office, it was due to Labor’s success in putting itself on the side of the angels when it came to housing costs. Rudd’s message was simple: he sympathised with families bleeding ever – larger payments on mortgages and rent. And he came to office offering policies aimed at increasing the supply of affordable properties to help reduce the pressures.” The Emperor was de-throned by the Orange Roughie because he had lost his way, then poor polling saw a phoenix – like resurrection to lead Labor to better polling – hence the soap opera.

Housing affordability can come down only with much improved infrastructure policies – Capital city house prices up 18 per cent from last year – ABS even though home loans sink to nine – year low. When infrastructure is non–existent, this leads to construction slumps in July because there is no point building, where there is no demand (especially when NSW has no South West rail link, North West rail link, Parramatta to Epping rail, M4 East and M5 East duplication). If these facilities were in place as promised, NSW construction would be booming and housing affordability and rentals much more affordable. How can Australia “move forward” when infrastructure is moving backwards, compared to our population growth? Policy on the run again as NSW Labor in the dark over Gillard’s Parramatta – Epping rail link promise which has been revealed as the rail pledge a carrot in push for McKew win for the seat of Bennelong – Maxine who?

The last remaining economic data statistic before next Saturday’s election was released this week – shock jobless rise where the three states of major concern for federal Labor – NSW, Queensland and Western Australia all experienced unemployment increases.

Whilst home loans fall as interest rates bite the good news is that the Reserve Bank of Australia RBA statement suggests longer pause given RBA forecasts plenty of blue sky ahead. With the election ‘soap opera’ out of the way next Saturday, we can expect some normality back in our property markets. Electoral promises rarely come to fruition as The Emperor “Kevin 07” found, even though he has been brought back to life – with a faint pulse.

Richardson & Wrench Mosman & Neutral Bay (RWM) has been busy working on our infrastructure and this week, we released our RWM mobile website. Previously with your mobile phone you could view our website with your phone which was a navigation nightmare because it is impossible to view a macro site on a micro application and do justice to our properties. Agentpoint our developers this week launched our mobile micro site for mobile phones users.

Open a browser on your mobile phone and type in www.m.rwm.com.au. Our research and development team are currently testing new technologies, all to improve your RWM real estate experience..
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Online is our real estate industry point of difference, because we are the only agency that gets it – so now you get it. Our clients can now sit outside one of our properties and view it on their mobile phone (outside set inspection times) from our mobile RWM website.

Thanks to Steve and Richard for filling in whilst I was relaxing in our Thailand branch office which is better known (by me) as the Tipsy Prawn.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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13.08.10Robert Simeon5 Comments »

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Plenty of negative sentiment about the property markets at the minute – so try telling somebody who cares, given purchasers and vendors appear a thousand miles apart (for the moment anyway).

Last week, I wrote that July can be a lost property month as so many are away on holidays. This is echoed with website traffic where Unique Visitors are busily visiting other sites such as beach resorts and or snowfields. Sour outlook for house prices as investors are the only source of growth in market which is interesting given investors tend to only play when they identify a buyer’s market. Clearance rate slumps as supply surges where it was reported “Sydney’s auction clearance rate plummeted at the weekend with just 49 per cent of properties selling – the poorest result for 18 months.”

To confuse the issue further home loans up for first time in eight months which is a clear sign of market recovery. “The number of new owner – occupied home loans rose 1.9 per cent in May, the first increase in eight months. Lending to housing investors continued its recent surge, rising 2.6 per cent in value, and has now swelled by 35 per cent since early last year. No doubt investors are circling First Home Buyers who are feeling the strain of increased funding costs.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its lending finance approval data this week – lending remains subdued, easing bubble fears. The average in 2009 was $53.14 billion per month, compared to $65.67 billion per month in the pre – crisis year of 2007, meaning $12.53 billion less coming into the economy per month via lending institutions. At the current growth rate, total lending, at $51.58 billion in May, would take another six years to regain the high point of $70.63 billion reached at the end of 2007. I am not sure that we need to reach the high point anytime soon as borrowers told to pay down debt given the cash rate overtime will go up not down. In 2007 we saw borrowers lock and load debt where today, it is the complete opposite of lock and unload debt.

BUY PRINT

Business conditions hold steady given interest rates remain attractive as well as strong job growth, this identifies that Australia has solid business fundamentals. It should be noted that I am referring to businesses not governments. One of the biggest global bond managers Pimco rated Australia as a top investment destination so the outlook from a business perspective looks sound. Although that scenario could quickly change as banks face pressure over cost of lending and look likely to raise rates. Contrary to what the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) suggests, the banks are becoming increasingly triggered happy to reprice their mortgages – banks to cool on rate rises until after poll.

As a business we rely strongly on the Macquarie Economics Research data as an economic compass for our advice to purchasers, vendors and subscribers to Virtual Realty News. So let’s look at its economic forecasts, where the key issue is how long will rates remain on hold? Throw in a likelihood that banks could increase rates independently and the heat comes back into the market again.

The Macquarie Economics Research – Outlook for the September quarter 2010 identifies both calm and choppy waters ahead. The common denominator is quite simple (for me anyway) based on the above forecast, simply put: excessive debt is dangerous. This would explain why in our real estate market demographic we see bonuses being paid directly back into reducing debt levels. Leveraged lending on speculative investments is today a thing of the past, as households have all but ruled out those global financial crises – margin calls. A clear message: to borrow within not without.

Sydneysiders have always been proud that collectively our property markets are the benchmark for the Australian property industry, however for the very first time this is about to change. Our state Government – Fort Crumble (the most incompetent in Australia’s history) will show you why with the following graph.

Source: Australian Property Monitors

Senior Labor figures face annihilation – “Secret polling shows state Labor is facing a near wipe – out at the next election, with seven ministers and former Premier Nathan Rees among 28 MPs likely to lose seats. Polls by Labor and unions showed a 15 per cent swing against the Keneally Government statewide.” Fort Fumble due to their inability to provide infrastructure have driven residents to other States and Territories – Melbourne close to overtaking Sydney in price stakes. With annual population growth in Victoria running at 2.2 per cent, compared to NSW at 1.7 per cent, driving demand, it’s not hard to imagine Melbourne seriously challenging for the crown of Australia’s most expensive median priced city in the near future.

It will be a fascinating run into Christmas for both political and property voyeurs. The Colmar Brunton survey is always an interesting read Bubble – burst fears rise where investors are expecting house prices to remain flat or possibly fall. A very interesting read as well is show us your ticker, Gillard, before you force us to vote. Then our non – elect Prime Minister has to hose down the stoush where Paul Keating unleashes on Bob Hawke: I carried you through years of ‘Malaise’.

Julia Gillard announced that if elected the failed Emperor Kevin Rudd will sit on the front bench – I doubt she will hand him the Insulation Portfolio.

Steve and Richard have returned back from holidays so over to them.

I’m looking forward to road testing my iPad under my umbrella on the beach in Thailand as well as reading RISE OF THE RUDDBOT. Given what transpired at the Press Club yesterday PM Julia Gillard accused of double deal where it very much looks like the Labor Party is witnessing the Revenge of The Emperor – and it’s looking ugly.

Back in three weeks to cover the federal election which is taking more turns than a Winter Olympics.

Why is Mosman the strongest real estate market in Australia? Mosman is way out in front which, explains ladies and gentlemen, why, Mosman is Australia’s ‘numero uno’ municipality.

Just announced Federal Election – August 21.

Got a plane to catch,

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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16.07.10Robert Simeon7 Comments »

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With the benefit of hindsight, we ask, did the powers that be in Canberra get the stimulus spending right whilst addressing the global financial crisis? If not, what have they learned from it (if anything)? The answer would be absolutely nothing, given nothing has, or is, being done about housing. Construction activity falls in June which is a clue dropping 6.8 points in June to a 10 – month low. More construction equates to more homes which in turn, reduces house prices. The construction industry ‘is’ the third biggest employer in Australia (or  should that be ‘was’?)

The major problems attributed to Forts Fumble and Crumble is that economically, they confuse usage with wastage (otherwise known as “reckless and wasteful spending”). After all, Fort Fumble is still borrowing almost $100 million a day which is in direct competition with home borrowers and small business as Joe Hockey tells govt to cool spending.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) met this week and decided to keep rates on hold despite solid numbers. Of course the announcement was met with the usual rhetoric Wayne Swan welcomes interest rate decision citing “while we’ve fought off the recession and kept unemployment low, we know that a lot of people are still doing it tough and recent rate rises have stretched family budgets.” More Treasurer speak “we’re focussed on reforming and strengthening our economy with investments to harness mining boom mark 11 where the Liberals failed in mining boom mark 1.” Wayne is almost Shakespearean with his economic recitals and enactments although the RBA keeps saying Government must rein in demand growth: McKibbin.

Thought we would head south this week for a change of Sydney scenery

BUY PRINT

Let’s take a closer look at Fort Fumble’s mark 11 harnessing – mining tax changes had one purpose which was taking pressure off key marginal seats. Since the new deal was announced last Friday, it has been described as a compromise, a back flip and a monumental cave–in MRRT revenue loss to be double government estimate: Goldman.

The tax was reduced from 40 to 22.5 per cent a hard tax to swallow as Alan Kohler wrote on Business Spectator.”More than double the profit threshold above which it cuts in and reduce the number of companies being taxed from 2,500 to 320, and lose only one – eighth of the money. Julia Gillard is a prime minister who Gets Things Done – the Mary Poppins of tax policy.”

No regrets over mining tax – Treasury Secretary Ken Henry whilst Martin Ferguson concedes: ‘We got super – profits tax wrong’ I can’t wait to see what happens with mark 111 as government ‘dishonest’ on revised super profits tax revenue as government sacrificed $35 bn in tax deal with big miners.

Time to move above ground where caution is being thrown to the wind (again) – which I might add is not a bad thing. Of course it would have been much better had Fort Fumble got their stimulus issues right which unfortunately was not the case as I have long argued – roads, infrastructure, housing subdivisions, hospitals – a long term future model. Fort Crumble was at it again also with another painful snub of Sydney transport, M5 set to be delayed and doodling as Metro plan burns $500m. Then on Thursday we had 50,000 Sydney homes without power again broken infrastructure in NSW.

Not one Sydney transport project has been listed as a priority for the federal Government’s (Fort Fumble) latest infrastructure funding targets. “Blasting the NSW Government’s failure to properly plan billion – dollar road and transport projects, Infrastructure Australia has instead selected a $4.9 billion Melbourne metro train project, an Adelaide freight rail line and a Federal Highway road upgrade in the ACT as priorities.” Work this out – the Pacific Highway gets an upgrade and Sydney gets absolutely nothing – Sydney has been placed in the too hard basket along with our politicians. No strings attached with Sydney anymore.

Great news for property owners who sit within a 5 – 10 – 15 kilometre radius of our CBD as evidenced when Jonathan Chancellor published this week in the Sydney Morning Herald – Top 20 Sydney house sales just the one recorded sale outside the radius – clue!

Mosman posted five of the top 20 sales.  Our very own Stephen Patrick had the highest sale and Richard Simeon had another in Warringah Road. This saw  Richardson & Wrench Mosman & Neutral Bay (RWM) record two of the five, which this week, took our Internet subscriber sales to $956,784,220.

So how is our Spring/Summer property market looking? Year ahead good, not great where Australia’s market economists declare there will be no double– dip recession here. Buyers expected to favour private sales over auctions as growth slows. We predict the Mosman market to shift (initially) in the upcoming market to online advertising – stage one as property markets stabilise. Why? It’s all about our real estate ring of confidence.

As Macquarie Economics Research explained:

• With more volatility in global financial markets, an increasing number of analysts are betting that this will force the RBA to leave rates unchanged over the next year. Certainly, if the credit markets dry up the RBA will not hesitate to cut interest rates. But with the Government’s deal with major mining companies over taxation, removing one of the clouds over investment, the RBA might actually have become more confident in the growth outlook.

Don’t forget rise in inflation to irk RBA where the annual reading of 3.6 per cent rate of inflation rose for the eighth straight month. This is well outside the RBA’s target of between 2 and 3 per cent. Rents will continue to drive inflation up given a six year wait to save deposit for first home in Sydney which is quite ironic given Infrastructure Australia is not investing in Sydney. IMF sees strong growth in Australia, but risks grow although I would add that government economic policy is an even greater risk on our shores.

Sydney needs a plan and it is obvious that  Forts Fumble and Crumble have absolutely no idea on how to address such complex issues. Sydney commuters can expect to see new signs on all transport systems – Turn around You Are Going the Wrong Way – no infrastructure ahead. When Fort Crumble has difficulty filling out Infrastructure Australia forms it’s no wonder NSW is a basket case. More back flips from Fort Fumble where Gillard eats her words over refugees as her options dwindle to six countries for east Timor alternative.

The Emperor may have gone however the art of the back flip remains the preferred exercise for a government that just two weeks ago, had lost its way. So what would one call the MRRT and East Timor? Must be a phase they are going through although we need more than promises to judge Julia. Maybe she has short term memory loss?

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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9.07.10Robert Simeon5 Comments »

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Australians love acronyms although one that never applies to the real estate industry is POETS day – Pi$$ Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday! However, for the month of July, it applies simply because (traditionally) it is seen as the month for ‘resting’ properties. Then when August arrives and the weather starts to warm, it is Game On again, for the final run through to Christmas. In July, Aussies chase the ‘S’ word – Sun, Snow and school holidays. Of course, property deals are still transacted thanks to the availability of excellent technologies.

We are at the start of a new financial year and by all accounts it will be another interesting one the fizz has gone, but it will be a wild year. ‘The past financial year has been one of contrasts. It began with such vigour and such optimism. By Christmas almost every major commentator was predicting that not only were we out of the mire, but that we were witnessing the dawn of the greatest bull run of all time. That rocky period between late 2007 and early 2009.Hah! That was merely a hiccup.”

BUY PRINT

Clear waters ahead; keep swimming between the flags or stay in the pool?

Greece and Europe face another 48 hours while the world worries about recovery as fears grow over health of the global economy. Quite fascinating given that house prices up but buyers wary of interest rates going the same way although many believe that the economy faces long grind out of crisis.

At this juncture, property markets can easily be confused with what is occurring in the share market, as was the case with red lights are flashing in fragile economy where “the end – of – quarter window dressing held the Australian stock market together yesterday but there are red lights all over the place. The market recorded its worst result for the financial year, an 11.8 per cent fall for the three months. The problems in short, are no signs of a domestic– led bounce with an election due to be called any day, weak US economic numbers, European sovereign debt and a slowing China.” So why then do property buyers wait for a booming market to pay over and above in what is otherwise known as a vendors’ market? When they find themselves in what is considered a buyers’ market, they freeze, which is probably more a casualty of economic data overload. Unless you are a property developer, the purchase of a home is considered an emotional acquisition and we all know that sometimes, our emotions can get in the way with our feelings.

Given IMF chief rules out double – dip recession one of the greatest concerns facing the Australian economy is that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is at odds with Treasury and Fort Fumble which keeps spending. Some believe that the RBA raised rates too far while others believe (with a federal election pending) the Gillard Gauntlet is borrowing and spending too much in an attempt to buy the upcoming election. Retail sales rose by a modest 0.2 per cent in May while residential building approvals fell 6.6 per cent.

Housing starts set to stall: HIA which is a leading indicator that construction is expected to jump in 2010 but drop to just 3 per cent growth in 2011. Currently Australia has a 200,000 house shortage despite an underlying growth in our population. This, of course, places enormous pressure on rental markets and yet the federal government has no strategy in place to address these concerns. Makes one question just what exactly the Housing Minister does, aside from a failing to understand basic construction economics. The combined real estate industry is the largest employer in Australia and yet, we are being told that Australia is adopting a ‘tool down’ policy. So what we are witnessing is a government attempting to stimulate votes and ignoring basic economics.

Julia Gillard insists on building classrooms (with plaques) and nobody is building Australia. The BER (Building Education Revolution) with the benefit of hindsight, should have been BAR – Building Australia Revolution. After all, who lives in a classroom?

Someone should have told them you can’t sell a classroom but you can sell a house – even in July!

Her first back-flip with the RSPT announcement today, is somewhat confusing given the tax rate dropped from forty to thirty per cent. A lot of argy bargy for just a ten per cent compromise. Either the miners are poor negotiators or Fort Fumble’s revenue estimates are incorrect – no surprise for guessing the answer.

Miners: 1 Fort Fumble: 0

Fort Fumble will call it an own goal thinking they scored too!

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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2.07.10Robert Simeon3 Comments »

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It started as a two horse race then a last minute scratching but were they polls apart? A ruthless party room coup that saw The Emperor now destined for the Ministry of Where Are They Now – this was described by some as a professional hit by a broken party feeding on its own the execution of Kevin Rudd. On a sadder note we lost an interesting character here at Virtual Realty News – bugger! Gillard becomes Australia’s first female prime minister as a tearful Rudd stands aside – Operation Ranga which left The Emperor’s curriculum vitae resembling a post – it note.

Giddy Up Gillard announced the cull – a good government was losing its way and straight into a gallop, cancelled  the tax – payer funded mining advertising campaign. Ironic  that this was strongly supported by the newly anointed deputy prime minister Wayne “Left – Right” Swan. During Question Time they kept exiting Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner won’t contest seat so the “Big Four” – Rudd, Swan, Gillard and Tanner  has been reduced to the “odd couple”. The Emperor has become the first Labor prime minister to be removed from office in his first term. Giddy Up Gillard will be hoping in a short space of time, that  they become polls apart. Fort Fumble is today looking more like Fort Chaos  - all over the place with no compass in sight.  Will it sink as it takes  in water?

BUY PRINT

Another major stoush earlier in the week caught my attention and what a beauty this one is shaping up to be , with only Wayne “Left – Right” Swan left in the ring.   Watch this space.

It has been suggested over time in the media that Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) don’t always see eye to eye insofar as economic policy is concerned and  here is the proof. Stephen Bartholomeusz from Business Spectator filed Warwick the wise “Reserve Bank board member and leading economist Warwick McKibbin has shown some courage in making an explosive contribution to the debate about the Rudd government’s management of the economy and the quality of the design of its proposed resource super profits tax.” He “accused the government of panicking in response to the crisis and ramming through decisions “fraught with risk”. It had over spent in its stimulus package (and, indeed, is still stimulating even as the RBA raises official interest rates to control growth) and then they come up with the RSPT to try to compensate.“

“So, the government panicked in response to the GFC, committed too much spending that couldn’t be reversed and, for   political reasons – the perceived need to claim a  fiscal surplus – for which he said there was no economic basis – it had came up with the idea of raising the profits of the resource sector. McKibbin also accused Federal Treasury of becoming an arm of political policy and Treasury officials of producing “what I consider to be fairly politically – based evidence in support of a political policy, not economic policy” and criticised Treasury secretary Ken Henry for not only failing to consult experts on economic issues but also trying to silence them.”

In only what can be described as an extraordinary outburst Henry tells economists “to put down their weapons” and get behind proposals such as the resources super profits tax. What we are seeing is simply unprecedented within Australia’s political history – guns at twenty paces. Just like the execution of The Emperor a public stoush between the RBA and Treasury will add more pressure  at Fort Chaos.

But wait,  there’s more!   Former federal Liberal treasurer Peter Costello jumped into the ring declaring If its tax reform you want, try GST as next week marks the tenth anniversary of the GST. So it was only to be expected when we  read Ken Henry should get a new career – as a pollie and  it is hard to remember a time when such differences of opinion dominated Australia’s political landscape. Rudd under fire from Labor MPs over mining tax ads the rest is history when Rudd’s golden honeymoon ends in a bitter divorce.

We will be reading about this coup for weeks as there are some who believe Labor wastes a perfectly good PM although it has been conceded that Gillard’s Labor must now change policy tack which I assume means more back – flips.

Most embarrassing for the government is that Australia’s housing stock is currently short 178,400 dwellings and this number is growing not reducing. This is certainly not helped with now the sad news: higher rates a certainty as the gap closes on fixed, variable rates which further explains why the RBA is at odds with Treasury. Perish the thought that Giddy Up and Left – Right may be forced to curb their ongoing stimulus spending.

A newly elected prime minister and deputy, the RBA and Treasury bluing over economic policy and  the inflation genie now up and away. Throw in a federal election then a back – flip with the RSPT and the budget will have an almighty big hole in it. Alan Kohler wrote today on Business Spectator Gillard must mop up Swan’s mess “Julia Gillard’s biggest and most immediate problem is her deputy, Wayne Swan, and specifically the budget he brought down six week’s ago.

“Wayne Swan must bring down a mini budget that fixes his and Ken Henry’s catastrophic mess of May 11, so the RSPT can be removed as an election issue before the Prime Minister asks “the Governor – General to call an election so that Australian people can exercise their birthright and choose their prime minister”, as she put it yesterday.”

Gillard admits that her government was losing its way, but who was the navigator ? The Governor – General should cancel any plans for a holiday in the near future.

Taking a bullet for the party just took a whole new meaning.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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25.06.10Robert Simeon6 Comments »

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The circuses at Forts Fumble and Crumble are folding their tents because, with below par performances, the crowds are disgruntled.  Angry voters ready to give Rudd the red card an amazing turnaround where this fairy–floss policy is being eaten away and RSPT now means ‘Return Sender Priority Termination’.  Having said that, under the big tent in Canberra, The Emperor (Kevin Rudd) is the  star performer of his pet event – the back flip, which he performs with ease.  It would be much easier to call an election and put the RSPT to a referendum.

Can the tax be fixed when Rudd says it’s not broken? The Emperor appears to be a broken man bearing no resemblance to Broken Hill. Kevin Rudd fights dissent in ALP ranks yet the Ring Master PM Kevin Rudd holds line on mining tax reform. The trampoline at Fort Fumble is losing its bounce, as Peter van Onselen declared this week in The Australian novices at the wheel of state. It was revealed that two thirty year olds and a thirty one year old, with no experience in the labour movement and next to none in industry or business, are coaching The Emperor with his back – flips. “However, now that Rudd appears out of his depth, caught up in poorly constructed defences of policy positions and back downs over challenges he had previously described as too important to walk away from (think emissions trading), the trio is being blamed for bad advice that could culminate in Rudd becoming the first Prime Minister in nearly 80 years to lose office after one term.”

The show must go on…..

Bugger – I thought I had Tim with this week’s request. Thinking North Pole next week!

BUY PRINT

Having read the Minutes of the Monetary Policy Meeting of the Reserve Bank Board and feeling somewhat comfortable that one institution has its act together, out came Australian housing market ‘a time bomb’.

Humming “send in the clowns” and in they came. “The Australian and British housing markets are the last two bubbles left in the wake of the financial crisis, and it is only a matter of time before they crash, warns legendary US investor and co – founder of global investment firm GMO, Jeremy Grantham. Mr Grantham famously reported a year before the global financial crisis: “In five years, I expect that at least one major bank (broadly defined will have failed and that up to half the hedge funds and a substantial percentage of the private equity firms in existence today will have simply ceased to exist”. The Australian reported yesterday that he said “ Australia had an unmistakable housing bubble and that prices would need to come down by 42 per cent to return to the long – term trend”.  “You cannot possibly miss it,” he said.

Reserve Bank waters down fears of real estate housing bubble and consumer sentiment is holding up. The Real Estate Institute of Australia weighed in No housing bubble in Australia citing over the period December 1996 – December 2009, median house prices increased from around $160k to around $500k; a trebling in thirteen years. Within this period there were four phases:

• From December 1996 to September 2000, median house prices in Australia showed a moderate average growth of 2.1 per cent per quarter.
• From December 2000 to December 2003, house prices appreciated at a greater rate of 3.9 per cent per quarter on average.
• From March 2004 to December 2008, house price growth moderated to an average growth of 0.8 per cent per quarter.
• During 2009, growth of median house prices again accelerated to 2.9 per cent per quarter.

Time to take a Mosman tent snapshot to see where we are today, compared to this time last year. The messages are mixed as the results show. We collated the data from Domainpropertydata and it should be noted, that a significant number of sales in 2010 are yet to record a sale price because of confidentiality agreements. It will take a few more months before we have an exact position, so these figures will be higher, rather than lower.

Mosman house and semi sales 1 January 2009 – 15 June 2009

• Total number offered – 148 @ $329,394,627
• Total number sold – 132 @ $305,159,627
• Private Treaty – 120 @ $280,714,627
• Auction – 12 @ $24,445,000
• Total Combined Median – $1,815,500
• Total Combined Average – $2,347,381
• Highest Price – $13,200,000
• Lowest Price – $975,000

Mosman house and semi sales 1 January 2010 – 15 June 2010

• Total number offered – 171 @ $276,487,629 (2009 – $329,394,627)
• Total number sold – 147 @ $276,487,629 (2009 – $305,159,627)
• Private Treaty – 91 @ $206,089,629 (2009 – $280,714,627)
• Auction – 56 @ $70,398,000 (2009 – $24,445,000)
• Total Combined Median $2,105,000 (2009 – $1,815,500)
• Total Combined Average $2,425,330 (2009 – $2,347,381)
• Highest Price – $11,000,000 (2009 – $13,200,000)

The Auction Comparisons

• 2009 Number Auctioned – 34 (2010 – 87)
• 2009 Number Withdrawn – 27 (2010 – 10)
• 2009 Number Sold – 12 (2010 – 56)
• 2009 Clearance Rate – 35 % (2010 – 64 %)
• 2009 Adjusted Clearance Rate – 20 % (2010 – 58 %)

The challenge ahead for real estate in 2010

This is not confined to the Mosman market. All real estate markets will face the challenge of matching and/or bettering the sales results recorded in the 1 July 2009 – 31 December 2009 market where results were significantly higher, compared to the previous six months.

Mosman house and semi sales 1 July 2009 – 31 December 2009

• Total number offered – 192 @ $418,706,750
• Total number sold – 174 @ $408,296,750
• Private Treaty – 127 @ $340,354,750
• Auction – 47 @ $67,942,000
• Total Combined Median – $2,250,000
• Total Combined Average – $2,617,286
• Highest Price – $12,000,000
• Lowest Price – $836,000

There is no way to avoid  the fact that our property markets have slowed since April economic recovery seen losing steam.  Events in Europe and of course the ongoing hangover of the RSPT debacle have  also been major contributors. So back to those green shoots we go – home building the biggest in nearly six years and investors ignore signs and pile into property.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while home loans to owner/occupiers fell a seasonally adjusted ten per cent in the first four months of the year, lending to property investors rose eleven per cent. In the past year, lending to investors rose thirty per cent nationwide, and twenty per cent in NSW.

Our property markets (historically) tend to hibernate over winter so I wouldn’t read too much into present activity. It’s actually a good time to buy!  It does appear however, that the “fat lady” won’t be singing for some time to come, which shows just how hard it is to read property markets. Unlike the share markets, we don’t have buy and sell recommendations.  Investors are selling out of the stock market and moving their funds into the property markets – another clue?

Word from Sideshow Alley this week is that The Emperor is considering performing until April 2011 where he will call an election. Looks like his advisers consider it would be smart to go to the polls immediately following the Fort Crumble election in March 2011. I wonder if this weekends by – election in Penrith may change that decision?

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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18.06.10Robert Simeon2 Comments »

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It’s the state Fudge–it week and Fort Crumble was on a roll. We’re not talking about polls either, thanks to asset sales and a property recovery leads surge into surplus. Our economy expanded by 4.4 per cent which is the fastest growth since 2007 – 08. So why was the Fudge–it not constructive, given housing all over Australia is showing alarming structural problems? Whilst construction has expanded in March, April and May it has been modest according to a recent survey conducted by the Australian Industry Group and the Housing Industry Association. Then the Real Estate Institute of Australia – dropped the bomb lowest level of housing commitments since 2001.

Construction activity expands at slower pace where the overall construction index fell 2.6 points in May to 53.2, but remained above the 50.0 threshold between growth and contraction  a strong probability that it will fall below the 50.0 threshold in June. Fort Crumble treasurer announced “the Keneally government is taking NSW forward into an era of economic growth, building a better future for families and businesses of NSW.” Australia is marinated in (hurtful hikes) where on an annual basis the number of new loans is actually down 25 per cent. The Australian Bureau of Statistics released this week that Australia will be home to 11.8m households by 2031 which is up from 7.8 million in 2006 – so why have the ladders disappeared?

Whilst new home buyers big winners on the Fudge–it, I’m not sure that the NSW Home Builders Bonus is the answer. Morphing First Home Buyers into ‘Residents Over 65 Buyers’ (as long as the acquisition is off the plan) is intriguing as seniors’ duty cut lacks stamp of approval. The former proposal was to entice people into the market and the latter, directed to people already in the market. These new subdivisions are well west of Sydney and plagued with massive transport infrastructure neglect. In May, apartment construction fell 16.8 to see the index now at 42.0 and house construction at 57.7 which is a direct result of a lack of available credit within the Australian economy. This statistic won’t be changing anytime soon.

BUY PRINT

Each week, I challenge Tim Mooney with a photo request and it is plain to see that he has on file, Australia’s largest aerial photographic library.

What Keneally and co achieved … and what they didn’t where simply put: “Kristina Keneally and her Treasurer did little or nothing to bring this revival about. It came thanks to national and international forces beyond their control.” I would call that constructive criticism because one major element that NSW keeps missing are those builders’ ladders. It is all very well to roll – out Stamp Duty relief announced for some buyers however let’s not forget that in May 2010 Fort Crumble introduced its Ad Valorem tax increase of 0.2 per cent for properties between $500,000 and $1,000,000, and 0.25 per cent for properties above $1 million – on top of the usual Stamp Duty fines that were not reduced in the Fudge–it.

Here we have construction being dominated by the public sector over the private sector – so on with my missing ladder concerns. Alan Kohler on his Inside Business programme spoke with Nicholas Collishaw, Mirvac managing director. A great interview Nicholas Collishaw on encouraging development. Alan Kohler, “Australia is experiencing a dire shortage of houses – 40 – , 50,000 completions short of what the actually needs.” Nick Collishaw “Well, I certainly agree with that statistic. We expect a shortfall of 45,000 dwellings for the 2009 year and, as we see 2010 unfold and ’11 ahead of us, that gag increasing.” A must read, as too on Inside Business Christopher Joye discusses lower house prices given the headline mortgage rate has moved from 5.75 per cent to 7.4 per cent. Ironic, that property developers are finding it increasingly difficult to draw credit given no access to the housing emergency chest of funds. Conflicting in that The Emperor PM to pour $5.6 bn into poll fight a decision that shattered faith in PM.

Melbourne close to overtaking Sydney so up the ladder Melbourne goes and down the ladder Sydney goes because of its property structural problems. “With annual population in Victoria running at 2.2 per cent and driving demand in Melbourne, when compared with New South Wales 1.7 per cent growth, it is not hard to imagine Melbourne soon seriously challenging for the crown of Australia’s most expensive median priced city.” Whilst Sydney has a greater proportion of apartments (26.5 per cent compared to 16.7 per cent for Melbourne), Melbourne actually has more houses than any other city in Australia. Although it should be noted that infrastructure determines property values – position, position, position. So why do respective governments find themselves in opposition as against market directing? That would be political bias coupled with ignorance and an extension ladder aimed at re-election. Propping up marginal seats is not the answer given the vast majority of those constituents have re-located elsewhere across Australia.

A reason why the electorates are at loggerheads with The Emperor and his ailing Fort Fumble is exemplified, as he presides over a government that knows best. Trust the government? Not now whilst the result is clear: voters are fed up. Rudd set to lose election on mining tax Australia needs to get back to basics – why is our building demographic market contracting? It certainly does not help when lenders say no to loans as buyers knocked back as consumer sentiment drops in June. There is no doubt that Aussies are cautious after rate rises: RBA which was reinforced this week when RBA governor announced cut debt, save more: Stevens.

It is possible that never before, has Australia vented such anger at Fort Fumble and Fort Crumble – watch the Penrith by-election next week which will identify a record swing against the Premier Pristine government. Sovereign debt capitulations resonate through markets evidenced home loans drop to 9 – year low which represents the fewest number of new loans for owner–occupiers since 2001 and the seventh straight fall in housing finance commitments.

I’m sure that everyone was amazed to read this week lawyers consulted on sacking NSW government, says Governor whilst (not surprisingly) it does identify just how bad our governments are at present. I leave you with this comment from Alan Kohler on Inside Business Talking Point which says all about the RSPT. As Clint Eastwood once said “Do you feel lucky punk?”

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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11.06.10Robert Simeon10 Comments »

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With my iPad still on order – my attention this week was on the release of ‘Betrayal’ – The Underbelly of Australian Labor by Simon Benson, senior political journalist at The Daily Telegraph. Like many Aussies who are in absolute dismay at what is currently unravelling within the seams of our ailing economy, here is a book with more twists than a Rubik’s cube. Rudd broke secret pact with Iemma so as quick as a flash The Emperor denied such a thing.

More importantly, past Prime Minister Paul Keating commented in Betrayal – “When the motivation of the machinery of the Party is unfurnished as to policy purpose, it has nothing to offer than to focus on marketing and polls. After a while the public becomes aware of this and they realise that marketing and spin have no basis … That is more the rule these days than the exception.” Again another week of prolific marketing spin from both Fort Fumble and Fort Crumble – our esteemed federal and state Governments collaboratively spinning this most uncomfortable electoral seat of bad poll therapy. So here I go again, to ‘spin’ this week’s edition of Virtual Realty News.

Heaven forbid – How Sydney’s iconic Opera House is at risk of ‘financial tragedy’ a damning internal report has revealed , that unless urgent action is taken, the Opera House will have to close. “In April last year Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hit the roof after The Daily Telegraph revealed former Premier Nathan Rees planned a $900 million rebuild.” Sydney Opera House has been lobbying Fort Crumble for ten years so in next week’s State Budget $130m to save Sydney Opera House from closure. Maybe our mining companies can save our Opera House. After all, they are expected to save everything else in Australia. As for the State, it is stone motherless broke – absolutely devoid of imagination and concept. Marketing and polls won’t save it.

BUY PRINT

Frustrating when you see that Fort Crumble wasted $500 million when it axed the failed CBD Metro proposal and it’s all about to get worse. Second harbour crossing – or chaos where a team headed by the state’s former rail and roads chief, Ron Christie, identified that without a second rail link across the harbour, the CityRail system will face paralysis by 2022. I thought we were already there which may explain why Fort Crumble is using marketing and polls in an effort to change its identity.

Fort Crumble is fast becoming Fort Chaos – mates race: $45 m deal snares MP as the V8 Supercars race will now cost taxpayers at least $10 million more over the next five years – the budget was $35 million. So when all else fails what does the government do? Labor shuts off access to secrets the Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, is seeking to change a nine-word loophole where access to documents has previously, been refused. The cost of hosting World Youth Day came in $64 million over budget yet, $50 million was pledged this week, to keep the rugby league grand final in Sydney. This was $20 million more than Queensland was prepared to pay. Little wonder senior Fort Crumble ministers joke that Labor should re-name itself “the Keneally Party”, as it is now politics without a whiff of Labor just another example of marketing and polls.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) met this week to spin the cash rate where house prices ‘out of whack, set for slump’. A comment from abroad where the International Monetary Fund voiced its concerns on house price values compared to average incomes. Possibly too much time was spent reading two American dreams shatter although Australian property markets are witnessing households pull back spending as rates rise. Yes – a chill wind through house prices which prompted the RBA to place rates on hold.

Interesting to note that when property markets are booming, buyers adopt an aggressive pattern of behaviour and yet when property markets cool, become passive. I’ve been doing this gig for twenty five years now – currently I am selling the first home I ever sold in 1986 for $285,000. 43 Rangers Road Cremorne can now be purchased for around $2,250,000. So are you better off buying in an aggressive or a passive market? I suggest the latter. Here is an interesting graph courtesy of RP Data that I found this week. It amazed me, considering we are more a private treaty real estate model compared to public auction. In 2010 – 80.4 per cent of public auctions were conducted in Victoria and NSW. This will become an interesting topic in weeks to come.

For the month of June, the RBA left rates on hold prompting Treasurer Wayne Swan to make this comment: “This news will be a welcome relief for many Australian families and businesses around the country, who are of course doing it tough.” Again, this would be marketing and polls.

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Wayne Swan again “Tomorrow we have the national accounts, and I have every confidence that with the right policies in place, our economy can continue to be one of the best in the world over coming years… From our perspective on this side of the house, we will do everything to reform our economy, to build economic capacity, to keep pressure off inflation so we can grow sustainably.” Wayne, please allow me to explain a few basic economic fundamentals that escape you.

When Swan released his Budget 2010/11 – he announced that it was hedged on a consumer price inflation of 2.5 per cent, even though the RBA recorded a March 2009/10 rate of 2.9 per cent. In Virtual Realty News I suggested that inflation would be at 4.5 per cent by June 2010 and your 25 per cent increase for cigarettes tax slug would further ignite inflation. So what happened? Cigarette tax sparks inflation jump where prices increased by 3.7 per cent in the year to May, up from the 2.9 per cent annual pace in April according to the TD Securities – Melbourne Institute Monthly Inflation gauge. Given the RBA has an inflation comfort zone between 2.00 – 3.00 per cent, let me adjust my inflation prediction to 5.00 per cent by June (this month). Petrol prices up, rents up, vegetables and electricity always increase over winter – spin, marketing and polls.

Taxpayers fund Swan’s ad blitz where the mining tax sets nerves on edge as the big miners gave Rudd the fight he was looking for just that taxpayers never expected another back flip where they foot the bill on a tax that is yet to be passed,despite a $40 million advertising campaign approval. Although Rudd treats us like mugs with latest backslide on government ads. On The 7.30 Report Swan defends mining tax ads and the smaller miners reject Kev’s idea of help. Head of Infrastructure Australia offered this advice restart tax plan: Kevin Rudd’s man Rod Eddington as too did Alan Kohler The government’s RSPT spin is a disgrace. Then the first of many announcements as the tools go down Xstrata suspends development spending two projects over super tax and that, as The Emperor described earlier , is neither “bunkum” nor “balderdash”.

My iPad is yet to arrive so I keep reading Betrayal, so can marketing save PM? Absolutely no chance as the Mad Monk enunciates from his soap – box keep fighting Rudd and super – profits tax. Don’t pay too much attention to the March GPD figures. The June GDP will paint an entirely different position. Europe debt situation serious – Treasury which is a burning issue as too – home insulation inspections yet to begin. Kurraba Point declared a new suburb and ASIC give up on the Offset Alpine mystery.

The stand–off between The Emperor and Australia’s mining companies is a compelling visual. My tip: the mining companies will smash Fort Fumble. Why? Simply because nobody at Fort Fumble has ever run a business before. So how does one turn a big business into a small business? That would come down to marketing and polls. Australia would be better off if it had invested our $38.500 million in BHP and Rio Tinto shares.

Cheers ^__^

This week’s sales Mosman real estate, Beauty Point real estate, Clifton Gardens real estate, Balmoral real estate, Cremorne real estate, Cremorne Point real estate, Neutral Bay real estate, Cammeray real estate Click Here

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4.06.10Robert Simeon11 Comments »