'Freebie' business strong May 19, 2009
"This is called 'desk real estate.' ". Take an inexpensive ballpoint pen with a company logo, for example. (Florida Today)
House prices to fall further: report May 18, 2009
Drawing on official figures since the 1980s and real estate and academic estimates from before then, the report finds price falls of the current level are "extremely unusual". Moreover, the drop has occurred despite much less sub-prime lending and over-building than overseas and a relatively modest unemployment rate of 5. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Saviour or sellout? The verdict on Nick Bolton May 18, 2009
The world according to Nick Bolton. Picture: Julian Kingma. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
sydneyapartments');" title="Property SearchSydney apartments">Property SearchSydney apartments May 14, 2009
Bayside, North East, East, North West, Inner City, South East, West, North, VIC Real Estate For Sale @ Domain ... Allens Real Estate - Blackburn ... Brad Teal Real Estate Pascoe Vale. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
REACTION: small retailer May 13, 2009
Marion Adler-Bishop, 62, retail proprietor, East Melbourne. Things have changed dramatically for small family businesses, and hardly six months go by where we don't hear of another family name closing up shop. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Insurers have their own test for stress May 10, 2009
Florida's fragile real estate market has hung in the balance. Demotech Inc., the only company that issues financial-stability ratings for Florida's new breed of small insurers, threatened earlier this year to withhold ratings if companies couldn't show how they would pay claims after a monster hurricane. (Florida Today)
Tax break backfires May 6, 2009
A tax break in the form of an investment allowance designed to encourage spending on new assets may be having the reverse effect, say some small businesses. In December the Federal Government announced the original investment allowance of 10 per cent would be raised to 30 per cent in February. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Profile: Morry Schwartz May 3, 2009
A few weeks ago, with the global financial crisis ripping its claws into luxury property sales, Morry Schwartz launched a real estate website listing only homes with a price tag of more than $1 million. It's typical of the chutzpah this prominent Melbourne businessman has shown throughout his 30-plus years as a property developer and publisher. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Liens become thorn in the side May 3, 2009
"I just think they are using this as a fundraiser," said Harry Williams, a Melbourne real estate investor ... "If a bank puts $15,000 into a property that they were going to sell for $65,000, they may say, "We need to get some of that money back and list it for $70,000 or $75,000," Collins said.(4 of 4)Not fruitless laborThat doesn't mean that code enforcement isn't tackling an important task, said Brenda Warner, government affairs director for the Space Coast Association of Realtors. At a... (Florida Today)
Cheaper homes, but going up May 2, 2009
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria's quarterly house price figures show that 15 of Melbourne's "top 20" growth suburbs for the first three months of the year had a median price below $500,000. Real estate industry executives say this is because of falling interest rates and first home buyers' grants ... The number of transactions in the first three months of this year was about the same as in the December quarter, at just over 12,000 even though January is traditionally very quite in real... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
WannaDevelop.com Partners Up with Develop.com.au for Multi-Year Development Apr 30, 2009
com has built some of the most highly trafficked and recognizable informational networks and resources on the internet within the Travel and Real Estate niches over the past few years. WannaDevelop. (Yahoo News -- Press Releases)
Your views: Talk of the town Apr 29, 2009
In FLORIDA TODAYs April 18 Real Estate section, there was a picture of a smiling Carter Allen with the headline, Carolina developer sets sights on North Brevard. . (Florida Today)
Google's good, but there's no place like home Apr 29, 2009
Corporate success is clearly linked to staff satisfaction - and internet search company Google is the proof. After its outstandingly successful parent company topped a 100 Best Places To Work survey conducted by the US magazine Fortune, Google Australia has claimed the No.1 spot in a similar Australian poll. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Online auctions really click with bidders Apr 13, 2009
au differs from most online auction sites because of its webcasting, which is used by several of Sydney's big real estate agencies, including Century 21 and PRDnationwide. It has a database of 100,000 expatriate potential buyers. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Glass half-empty in pub sector as banks call time Apr 11, 2009
ING Real Estate Entertainment Fund revised its earnings and distribution guidance because of poor operating conditions and costs associated with two of its pubs caught up in the $20 million collapse of the Pubboy Group hotel chain. Hedley Leisure and Gaming Property Fund, floated by pub king Tom Hedley in 2007, recorded an interim headline loss of $174 million after its portfolio of 103 properties was written down by $80 million. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Name remains the same for West Melbourne Apr 8, 2009
When Palm Bay incorporated the first time in 1924, real estate agent Lock Davidson suggested the new community be named Palm Bay, which he said would lure more tourists. Eau Gallie. (Florida Today)
Naylor case shines light on family fortunes Apr 7, 2009
WHAT a surprise to see that the late Brian Naylor, the former Nine Network newsreader, left an estimated $20 million in his will. And how very predictable to see that substantial fortune heading for the courts as his estranged son claims a share. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Hold on to your home Apr 6, 2009
Leigh Hallamore of Buxton Real Estate in Brighton says he hasn't seen a spike in mortgagee sales but is "aware of properties where they have gone up for sale with the bank standing behind". Recently he saw owners who could no longer keep up with repayments sell a house for $640,000. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
McLaren suspends sporting director for misleading Apr 3, 2009
By CHRIS LINES, AP Auto Racing Writer. Friday, April 3, 2009. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Australian plane hit by lightning after takeoff Apr 3, 2009
Despite a tattered economy and grim real estate market, every month more than 5,000 people buy a house in the Bay Area. When I was a lad, the second bike I owned was a 1953 Royal Enfield 350 Bullet. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Science)
How to prosper through a downturn Apr 1, 2009
A second is to hunt for real estate bargains and that effort is bearing fruit, with Mr. Chadwick expecting to be able to open a fifth store shortly ... Some will modify or even abandon their growth plans despite more favourable market conditions for labour and real estate. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Belly-up for upmarket bars? Mar 28, 2009
Entertainment venues generally have suffered from the combined effects of a downturn in discretionary spending and new gaming and smoking regulations, with listed companies such as ING Real Estate Entertainment Fund and Hedley Leisure and Gaming Property Fund slashing earnings and putting scores of pubs on the market. Cornerstone managing director Ben Niall said it had been a tough few years, with the financial crisis compounding existing cash-flow issues. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
American Airlines hires wine expert Mar 26, 2009
Stay up to date on the latest news from within the commercial real estate industry. News, analysis and ideas that defy the odds and the times. (Dayton Business Journal, OH)
Private buyers lead market Mar 25, 2009
WEALTHY families, individuals and private syndicates are the "only buyers left" for commercial properties and could start swooping on bargains in the next six months, according to agents. Private investors have accounted for almost all major commercial sales since July, and agents expect them to buy more as prices fall. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Entrepreneur goes mainstream Mar 25, 2009
The passion that Aboriginal chef and tv presenter Mark Olive brings to indigenous cuisine has paid off with a unique deal with corporate caterers Peter Rowland Catering. FOR the past 30 or so years, TV chef and Bundjalong tribesman Mark Olive has been a man on a mission: to have native herbs, spices and meats adopted by mainstream Australia. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Eddie running out of lifelines before phoning friend Mar 25, 2009
"Let there be no mistaking whatsoever, that the juggernaut that is Collingwood would have started to grind to a halt unless John Symond and Aussie Home Loans decided to get on board."The Collingwood Football Club guernsey has a proud boast over recent times it is the most expensive and valuable sporting real estate in the country. In these tough economic times it would have been very easy for John and his organisation to try and give us a haircut, to talk the deal down, but instead we've gone... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Middle class bankruptcy rises Mar 24, 2009
Personal insolvencies have jumped 12% in the past year, running at more than triple the pace of the last recession, exposing the financial frailty of more middle-income earners, a broad survey of bankruptcy trend over the past two decades. In what could foreshadow the crush of record high home prices on cash-strapped households, the report showed a 700% jump in the amount of mortgage providers listed by bankrupts as creditors over the two years to 2007. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Horse industry hopes for gee-up Mar 20, 2009
The equestrian industry hopes to see an influx of business resulting from the government's $900 bonuses. Picture: Dallas Kilponen. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
43rd richest man behind Tasmanian A-League bid Mar 17, 2009
Al Amoudi made his fortune in construction and real estate before branching out to buy oil refineries in Sweden and Morocco. Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is the 51st richest man in the world with a net worth of $US8. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Macquarie's `Satellite' Fund Model Questioned as Analysts Predict Losses Mar 11, 2009
09 billion in the six months to Dec. 31 as it wrote down the value of real estate in Australia, the U.S., Europe and Asia. No Exit. (Bloomberg -- Australia & New Zealand)
Adding fuel to the fires Mar 6, 2009
many small businesses believe councils impede business, rather than help it. The recent bushfires disaster in Victoria has raised many questions as to the causes. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
For sale: The house that Michael Vick built Mar 6, 2009
A glistening chandelier which, real estate agent Lance Hempen points out, can be lowered on a winch for cleaning hangs from beneath a domed ceiling. It looks like something out of "Gone With The Wind," with a dash of Versailles thrown in for good measure. (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Optus brushes off fears of legal tussle Mar 4, 2009
Optus, the leading contender in the tender for $4. 7 billion in taxpayer funding for a national broadband network, has disputed claims the project will become mired in a protracted legal battle with Telstra. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Design fault to keep ailing wheel shut Mar 2, 2009
A final report will be presented to the owners and managers of the wheel, global financial house ING Real Estate, over the next month. Melbourne's wheel has been compared to the London Eye, but the two are quite different. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Australia Companies Lose A$10 Billion Capping Loss-Marred Earnings Season Feb 27, 2009
GPT, an Australian real estate investment trust, posted a full-year loss of A$3. 25 billion after writing down property values. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
Home sales keep rising Feb 26, 2009
Sales of existing homes and condominiums in Brevard County shot up in January as buyers and investors continued snatching up real estate at bargain prices ... But states such as Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada, where dismal real estate markets have been Ground Zero for the nation's housing woes, are showing sales increases. (Florida Today)
Our venture capital industry must be saved Feb 25, 2009
The Australian venture capital industry currently manages over $2 billion in capital. In 2007, the industry raised $398 million - the largest amount since 1999 - and followed up last year with $175 million. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Our views: Saving our schools Feb 25, 2009
A top-to-bottom review of Floridas myriad exemptions and exclusions on sales and real estate taxes, along with other loopholes, and closing of those that no longer serve the public good, such as for bottled water. Expanded gaming, including a new pact with the Seminole Indian Tribe. (Florida Today)
Asian Stocks, U.S. Futures Gain on Citigroup Report; KB Financial Advances Feb 23, 2009
7 percent and Chinas Poly Real Estate Group Co. jumped 6 percent as the two countries moved to widen stimulus measures ... Poly Real Estate jumped 6 percent to 20 ... which provides corporate loans and develops real estate, plummeted 13 percent to 2,060 yen as SFCG, a Tokyo- based lender to small companies, filed today for protection from creditors with 338 billion yen in liabilities. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
Is this the Big One? Feb 18, 2009
There, asking rents at traditional shopping centres barely declined in 2008 according to the real estate research firm CoStar, suggesting that some retailers are still in expansion mode and landlords still have options for filling vacant space. Only in power centres (roughly equivalent to Australia's bulky goods centres) have asking rents tumbled, by approximately 10. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
A mouthful of ashes Feb 18, 2009
John and Lynne Derwin lost the Roundstone Winery and their house in Steels Creek bush fires. Picture: Craig Sillitoe. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Offshore players could change retail game Feb 16, 2009
For a new entrant, fast access to multiple sites in prime locations is almost impossible, meaning that many will instead need to take over existing chains, and more particularly the real estate they lease. Big box retailer Walmart now generates 25 per cent of its revenue outside the US, and has long been the subject of rumours as a potential entrant to the Australian market. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Economy makes gold the star of parties Feb 15, 2009
While the value of stocks and real estate has plummeted, gold prices have been on the incline ... Like dot-com businesses and the real estate industry, Snaith said he senses that the gold bubble eventually will burst. (Florida Today)
Restaurants raise bushfire funds Feb 13, 2009
Celebrity chefs are gearing up to help raise funds for Victoria's bushfire victims. Guillaume Brahimi, the creative force behind Sydney's Guillaume Bennelong and The Age Good Food Guide award-winning Guillaume Bistro at Crown Casino, is planning a $500 per head dinner designed to raise $50,000. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Morrissey shuts up shops Feb 13, 2009
Iconic Australian fashion brand Morrissey has fallen victim to the global economic downturn with the announcement today of the closure of its stores. Webster Holdings, which purchased Morrissey in 2006, will close its four stand-alone stores located in Sydney and Melbourne. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Kylie plans benefit concert Feb 11, 2009
The Age: national, world, business, entertainment, sport and technology news from Melbourne's leading newspaper. February 11, 2009 - 10:28AM. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Small business walks a mile in their shoes Feb 11, 2009
Gifts of toys, baby needs and clothes for victims of the fires at The Whittlsea fire relief area. "THEY came in with just socks on," the shop owner said. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
AT&T to add nearly 100 sites in Florida Feb 10, 2009
Jacksonville Real Estate ... Stay up to date on the latest news from within the commercial real estate industry. (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)
A retreat that's no holiday Feb 8, 2009
Lorraine Cook, from L.J. Hooker Jervis Bay real estate, says she makes about a third of her property sales after the peak holiday period in February and March ... that you don't want to do it from a financial point of view," Lewis says. "If you want to buy real estate, then rental property that can be rented out 52 weeks a year might be better financially. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Swimming with sharks Feb 8, 2009
Bart Jellema survived a shark bite but says he's also met a few sharks in business: "As you get more successful there will always be people who want to ride that success.". SYDNEY-based entrepreneur Bart Jellema runs turbocharged start-up camps. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Bracks set to aid car industry Mar 31, 2008
A push by the car industry for more government assistance is expected to be boosted this morning by the release of new work that underscores the difficulties faced by Australian manufacturers. Two new papers to be released in Melbourne by the former premier, Steve Bracks, are believed to argue that Australia's car manufacturers get fewer subsidies and less protection than some overseas ones, and also face difficulties exporting to Asian markets. (The Age)
Allco faces monster Realty check Mar 29, 2008
Allco's move casts more than $800 million (at Record's December valuations) worth of Australian real estate on to an increasingly shell-shocked domestic property market already awash with offerings. Earlier this month, The Australian reported that more than $5 billion of commercial property was on the sales block. (The Australian)
Pubs with no smoke survive Mar 27, 2008
Butting out hasn't put Victoria's watering holes in the red. Nine months on, most of the state's pubs and hotels have adjusted to the smoking ban, with some reportedly even prospering. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
All work and no play? Mar 25, 2008
All work and no play. All work and no play. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Sticky trail stings beekeepers Mar 25, 2008
Chinese honey contaminated with a potentially deadly substance is being sold overseas as "Australian-made," putting our $80 million-a-year industry - and the health of unsuspecting consumers - at risk. The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council has called on the Federal Government to act immediately to safeguard the reputation of the nation's honey producers. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Runway success leaves city's poor on outer Mar 22, 2008
In some of the better slum areas around the Mumbai airport plots about three metres wide and seven metres deep can sell on unofficial real estate markets for more than $27,000. Mr Sureshan says dwellings in a far-flung resettlement suburb could be worth just a fifth of that. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Rental vacancy rate below 1% Mar 20, 2008
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria says that, within four kilometres of the CBD, the vacancy rate dived to 0 ... Real estate agents are reporting being swamped at open-for-inspections in the inner city and surrounding inner suburbs such as South Yarra and Fitzroy. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Ritchie Bros. attracts international buyers and sellers to unreserved truck and equipment auction in Brisbane Mar 20, 2008
The Company sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used and unused industrial assets, including equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum, marine, real estate, and agricultural industries. The Company maintains a web site at www. (Canada Newswire)
Lihir Gold Ltd (LGL) and Equigold to Merge Mar 20, 2008
Source: Lihir Gold Limited, Equigold NL. BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - March 19, 2008) - Lihir Gold Ltd (TSX: - ; NASDAQ: - ; ASX: - ; "LGL") and Equigold NL ("Equigold") (ASX: - ) are pleased to report that the companies are to merge their businesses, creating a global pure gold company with a diversified portfolio of high quality operations, a strong financial base and an exceptional growth profile. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Rubicon Europe Trust gets margin call waived Mar 17, 2008
Last week the European commercial real estate investor advised that it couldn't meet a repayment and had received a notice from Credit Suisse, which marked down the value of the trust's commercial property portfolio by about 19. 8 million euros to 244. (egoli.com.au)
Going, going... gone? Mar 10, 2008
More than ever, real estate agents are telling their clients to lower their price expectations and that with the heat coming out of the property market the massive profits reaped last year are unattainable today ... And they also have caught on to some of the tricks of the real estate game ... "People are standing back and waiting for a property to be passed in," says Peter Simmons, director of Peter Simmons Real Estate. (Sydney Morning Herald)
We're feeling it as US economy worsens Mar 9, 2008
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria blamed the 67% clearance rate on surging interest rates and the fact that the number of properties for sale was double that for the Labour Day weekend last year. The clearance rate is the lowest recorded for Saturday auctions since September 2006, and 16% below last year. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Scope celebrates decade long link Mar 8, 2008
Advertising agency Leo Burnett is celebrating a decade long pro-bono partnership with Scope, a Victorian disability services group. Scope is a not-for-profit organisation providing disability services throughout Victoria to thousands of children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Kylie Minogue Selling Family Property Down Under Mar 4, 2008
Property agent Hendrik Boer, from real estate agent Hocking Stuart, said he sold the Minogue s the 50-acre property three years ago for around $400,000, he said, and they purchased a further 171 acres one year later. He said the family had decided to sell the property because they were travelling overseas more frequently and using it less frequently. (The Celebrity Truth)
No Mercy for buyers as East Melbourne lands $18.2m apartment Mar 1, 2008
Australian Property Monitors managing director Michael McNamara said demand for trophy homes was insatiable as the wealthy switched from the volatile stock market to real estate. In contrast, "would-be home buyers are simply priced out of most markets and many are giving up hope", he said. (Sydney Morning Herald)
