HomeMate.com.au

New home sales have slowed again in late December and early January in most States, and the housing market is off to a poor start in 2012 The Housing Industry Association [HIA], reports that house contracts sales have fallen in December 2011 and January 2012, a survey of Australia’s 100 largest builders shows a decline [...]

Australian Bureau of Statistics [ABS] show that the number of new dwelling being constructed fell by 5.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, 4 times worse than economists were expecting. Single dwelling new homes were hit hardest. So it was felt as lower construction loans with mortgage brokers and banks everywhere. But that does not explain the reason for the new home construction slide.
That was after a fall of 13 per cent in home construction of all types in the September quarter. Victoria and South Australia recorded the most significant falls, but Queensland is hurting more right now.

Premier Bligh said that she wanted young Queenslanders to be able to afford a home, and in fact wants all Queenslanders to have the dream [of homeownership] within their grasp.
Property Industry experts say that infrastructure charges levied by the Queensland Government had increased development costs by 35 per cent.
The reforms are expected to be implemented in the first half of 2011.

New First Home Buyers incentive hurts second home buyers. Queensland general manager of Brisbane-based developer Devine Homes, Paul Nash, said second-home buyer demand has been sluggish, but when the $21,000 first-home owner’s grant was introduced in October, there was a pickup in first-home owner inquiry. First Home buyers charge petering out “We had a spike, [...]

The sale of new homes rose strongly in October, the same month as Government assistance to first time owners was tripled and interest rates cut further, a survey shows. Yet despite the first monthly sales increase in four months for new homes, the housing industry says a recovery in the sector is still some way [...]