NEWS. COMMUNITY. HOMES. 2009
the
J U LY
Property Book
Sellers & Buyers; Confident Consumers PAGE TWO Funny Real Estate Photos
YOUR LOCAL NEWSLETTER & BUYERS PROPERTY GUIDE
PAGE THREE
ECONOMY ‘ESCAPES’ RECESSION
Why Invest In Property?
Welcome news of a lift in consumer sentiment was delivered last week through the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment (WMIICS). It’s a reflection of what many First National members have been saying for some time. The index showed an increase of 12.7% in June, the second largest recorded increase since the survey began in 1974 and the largest in the last 22 years. It’s encouraging news for agents as customers, those that hold mortgages, have already benefited from a 385 basis points cut in variable mortgage rates, $14 billion of direct government transfers (with another $5 billion to come) and the surprise news that unemployment actually fell in April to 5.4%. After an extended drought of positive property market reporting, agents could be forgiven for pinching themselves to check they’re awake after so much positive news in such a short period! Though several
economic commentators, undeterred, have launched to the defence of their dismal predictions of housing price falls up to 40% and other negative housing industry impacts. The facts remain simply that house prices across Australia continue to rise, defying such predictions. Official rates have fallen to their lowest levels in 49 years and real home loan rates are at their lowest since 1968. Home sales rose in March by 4.2% and there’s increasing evidence that buyers are flooding the market. Immigration remains at record post World War Two levels and the supply of available property falls approximately 20% short of that required – with little prospect of a solution in the near future. continued on page 3
PAGE FOUR
Local Property For Sale PAGES SIX TO ELEVEN
Budget Tips • When shopping for standard items (clothes, sports equipment, older games, etc.), start by shopping used. • Shop every two weeks instead of every week to avoid wasting food. • Try car sharing, carpooling, and public transport • Have some of your pay automatically transferred to a separate savings account.
.DQ@MF Phone: 07 55960055 nfn@nfn.com.au www.nfn.com.au