According to the recent Property Council (PCA) report in the Financial Review (AFR) … the 6 months to June saw overall demand for offices fall around Australia — as business confidence has gradually waned throughout the world.
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Will there be an Office Market Collapse?
12 August, 2008 by Leave a Comment
Household Debt Addiction
11 March, 2008 by Leave a Comment
In several previous postings, you’ll recall that I have raised the issue of Australia’s current blowout in household debt.
A recent article in the weekend Financial Review (pages 26-27) highlighted the current state of affairs.
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Retail — Where to from Here?
15 February, 2008 by Leave a Comment
The Prime Minister’s “freezing” of parliamentary salaries is a clear endorsement of RBA Governor Stevens’ warning to curb our spending.
Last week, I mentioned the impact this could have on retail turnover — with a flow-on effect for growth in rental and sale prices for the Retail sector.
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Trying to Make Sense of Things?
23 January, 2008 by Leave a Comment
There has been much made of the poor US Retail Sales Data for December.
However, the figures were only down 0.4% on November. The most likely explanation being that some early Christmas shopping occurred November; and the increase in gift-card sales will not come through until early in 2008.
Clearly, the Sub-prime issues are having some effect. But, if you follow HS Dent at all — their view is that … “a short, mild recession is indeed likely, and we are arguably already in the middle of it.” (Update: Wednesday 16 January 2008).
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How to Live with a Labor Government!
26 November, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Will things really change all that much, now that Australia has wall-to-wall Labor governments across the country?
You’d better believe it!
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Keeping your Eye on Building Costs
4 September, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Every six months, you’ll find Rider Levett Bucknall publish their “Oceania Construction Cost Commentary”. In this posting, you’ll find an extract from their July 2007 publication — which covers both the Australian and New Zealand markets.
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Retail Property Activity Continues
24 August, 2007 by Leave a Comment
As the government spending and tax cuts add to consumer demand, you’ll see the Australian economy continue to grow strongly.
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The Rough and Tumble Marketplace
21 August, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The recent stock market instability has been more related to investor panic, than to any logic or reason. And you’re not about to see a stock market collapse — which has now been confirmed by Monday’s rebound, following 0.5% rate reduction by the US Federal Reserve.
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What further action by the RBA?
18 August, 2007 by Leave a Comment
The chances of any further rate rises (by the Reserve Bank of Australia) before the federal election have now diminished, following the recent evidence of wage growth having been contained.
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Family Finances are being Stretched
26 June, 2007 by Leave a Comment
With house prices solid or rising everywhere except in Sydney, household debt is now almost out of control.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, you saw the highly-geared Business sector collapse as interest rates rose. But now, you’re finding it is households with the high levels of debt.
In 1990, households had (on average) borrowed only 65% of their disposable income. By 2005, that figure had rocketed to 155% of their annual disposable income. And today, it stands at nearly 170%.
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Rush to Sell Up or Transfer Your Commercial Property Investments into Your Super Fund!
15 March, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Should you hold, sell, refinance or simply transfer your Commercial property investments into your Super Fund?
You have until 30 June to put up to $1million into your Super Fund tax free. And then, that figure drops to $150,000 from the start of next financial year.
This simple logic is very persuasive — some people would even say a “no-brainer”. But, according to ING, that logic could be misguided and leave you worse off for up to 20 years.
Read the full “G+L eBulletin — Autumn 2007”:https://gal.com.au/x.php?adminid=2&tid=8
