The real estate market can be tough for young adults, but as a parent you may be able to lend a helping hand. We tell you how. 1. Parent-to-child loan A parent-to-child loan is when a parent lends their child money. This is a formal, legally binding arrangement, administered by an independent third party. At the start of the loan period, both parties agree to terms including repayment amounts, a schedule and a process to manage defaults. Benefits: You can set generous terms f

When your investment property lies vacant for even a short time, your earnings can take a big hit. So how do you get the best out of your property in a competitive market? Here are some tips to make your property stand out from the pack. What tenants want Property managers and agents know that many tenants judge properties based on the property size, the state of the kitchen, air conditioning, and storage options. It’s possible to add or fix some of these things by renovating

Last year was eventful, but our economy and property markets are yet to fully deal with the fallout. Some are predicting upward pressure on interest rates and the ability of owners (particularly those who are overextended) to deal with this. Affordability in our big capitals was also a robust discussion among commentators, as was the potential oversupply of investor stock. The impacts of last year will flow into 2017, but given the varied nature of property markets across A

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent. Conditions in the global economy have improved over recent months. Business and consumer confidence have both picked up. Above-trend growth is expected in a number of advanced economies, although uncertainties remain. In China, growth was stronger over the second half of 2016, supported by higher spending on infrastructure and property construction. This composition of growth and the ra