Australians have an obsession with real estate and there has been plenty of news in the property field this week. Here we have a round up of what is happening across regional Australian and in your patch.
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Australian property values grew at their strongest annual rate since 1989 in the year ending September 30, with buyers' continuing appetite for regional property leading to a surprisingly strong uplift in unit values outside of the capital cities.
Unit value growth has traditionally lagged that of houses in the regions, but regional unit values grew by 1.9 per cent over September, compared to a 1.6 per cent rise for regional houses.
"In fact, the September quarter saw unit values rising faster than house values across regional Australia. This is probably a reflection of stronger demand for downsizing options and holiday homes in popular coastal markets," said CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless.
It helps to have a movie star's wage to buy in the Byron area, and the Hemsworth's claimed an even greater part of the NSW north coast patch this week.
The Hemsworth family has made yet another real estate play in the Byron Bay area, with Liam Hemsworth understood to have paid $6.8 million to secure a Newrybar landholding.
CoreLogic records indicate the 37.51 hectare vacant block, located on the Newrybar ridgeline, changed hands in mid-September with the new owner listed as 'Hemsworth'.
With prices on the rise and limited houses on the market, buyers are snapping up properties. Even the most expensive ones, like this home in the Newcastle top notch suburb of Merewether.
A five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on 531 square metres of land at 51 Scenic Drive captured a "huge amount" of interest in just three days on the market before selling for $3 million.
Robinson Property's Lyndall Allan had been guiding between $2.6 and $2.8 million for the three-level property in walking distance from Burwood and Merewether beaches.
In Wollongong, prices are also going through the roof in its high-end northern beaches suburbs, including Thirroul - where a townhouse sold for $2 million.
Selling agent, Adam McMahon from Dignam Real Estate said the property was situated in one of East Thirroul's most picturesque streets, and a short walk to Thirroul Beach.
Mr McMahon said it sold to a Sydney buyer, following a social media campaign and a database email.
He said East Thirroul was "extremely sought-after".
For those looking at home loans to get themselves in the property market, a clearer picture is emerging that they may soon come with some tougher controls as we discovered in this Explainer on APRA and its latest moves.
As signs emerge that Australia's prudential regulators could be about to make another intervention in lending markets, we take a look at what any changes could mean for homebuyers.
Jen Melocco
Jen Melocco is the National Property News Director at ACM. One of Australian property media's leading names, she leads property coverage and strategy nationally for ACM & View.com.au, bringing a new approach to one of the most topical areas of property in Australia today - regional real estate. Previously she lead the editorial team for two of Australia's most read property magazines for Domain, and published within premier Nine media brands The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Jen Melocco is the National Property News Director at ACM. One of Australian property media's leading names, she leads property coverage and strategy nationally for ACM & View.com.au, bringing a new approach to one of the most topical areas of property in Australia today - regional real estate. Previously she lead the editorial team for two of Australia's most read property magazines for Domain, and published within premier Nine media brands The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
