NEW DESIGN TRENDS ARE CHANGING THE GAME

Creating sustainable homes is rapidly becoming central to design and architectural considerations as we continue to integrate new and innovative ways to minimise our impact on the environment.

Regardless of whether you are starting a new build or simply renovating, sustainable design can be implemented at any phase of a project. From planning the homes’ orientation or choosing green wall solutions in the early phases to installing new paving or a water tank later on – anyone can create an eco-friendly home or space that best suits them, the key is choosing the right sustainable materials.

up as aesthetic and functional spaces that can be created to complement the look and feel of the entire home.

The ability to achieve a sustainable home that doesn’t compromise on style lies in the materials chosen. A key material in the outdoor and landscaping market is permeable paving. Permeable paving can greatly enhance the curb appeal of a home and create functional and lovely garden paths, walkways and driveways.

“The benefits of using permeable paving such as Adbri Masonry’s Turfgrid are endless and it’s a landscape design solution that should be utilised more,” Hodges said.

“There are numerous reasons why homeowners are looking to create sustainable homes,” said Jason Hodges, Landscape Expert and Adbri Masonry Ambassador.

“The most common reason is for better energy consumption, meaning lower running costs and more money in your back pocket. Other drawcards include a desire to reduce the environmental footprint and increased property values, with sustainable homes often having a higher resale price.”

Often, when thinking of designing an eco-friendly home we tend to focus on the interior elements or structural and architectural concerns. However, landscaping solutions are also a great option when looking to integrate innovative green systems. Eco-friendly landscaping designs also double

Permeable paving is a pavement system comprising purpose-designed paving units and specially graded base materials to allow water to move freely through the base, or be stored within the pavement. As more land is developed and covered with impervious surfaces, our stormwater and river systems are under increasing pressure to manage the high volumes of surface run-off which enters them. This increases the potential for downstream flooding and erosion. As an alternative to conventional paving, permeable paving systems encourage water to infiltrate through the pavement surface and substructure to the ground below, easing the pressure on these already overburdened systems.

To design a stylish and sustainable backyard space, the key is to focus on colour, texture and pattern when selecting materials. For residential use, Hodges suggests using Adbri Masonry’s Turfgrid which is specifically designed for light to medium traffic levels. These easy-to-install permeable pavers also maintain an even ground level.

For more information, visit www.adbrimasonry.com.au.

What is so great about this property? Location, location, location. Located across the road from the Glenmore Park Home Co Shopping Centre. Walking distance to the bus stop, family friendly parks, and local sporting facilities. Close to child care centres and schools. A stunning executive style tri-level townhouse. Ducted air conditioning, freshly painted, new carpet, and much more.

Who does this property suit? First home buyers, investors, and downsizers.

Tell us about the suburb the property is in? Glenmore Park is a family friendly suburb. Approximately five kilometres from the Penrith CBD, Railway Station, Westfield Shopping Centre and Hospital. Approximately 15 kilometres to the new Western Sydney Airport.

For more information visit: www.professionalsouterwesternsydney.com.au/real-estate/property/1220607/ in the lounge room with a bar

• Open plan living/dining situated off the kitchen

• Under cover entertainment area leading to the inground swimming pool

• Double carport with 3 phase power

For more information visit: www.professionalsouterwesternsydney.com.au/real-estate/property/1273326/

• Charming ground floor unit

• Recently renovated kitchen

• Spacious bathroom

• Balcony

• Underground security parking, plus offstreet parking

• Located in a quiet and leafy street

• Two generous-sized bedrooms

• Walk-in robe to the main

• Updated L-shaped kitchen

• Combined living & dining with air conditioning

• Low maintenance coutyard plus a single carport

• Perfect opportunity to break into the Sydney market

$439,999 - $479,999

• Recently renovated bathroom

• Spacious open-plan layout that seamlessly connects the living, dining, and kitchen areas

• Split system air conditioning

• Large backyard with granny flat potential (STCA)

• 2 storage sheds perfect for extra storage

• Situated on a 588m2 block

19 Murdoch Street, Blackett

Just Listed

INSPECT Sat 8 July at 11:45am - 12:15pm

ADDRESS 19 Murdoch Street, Blackett

CONTACT Professionals St Marys 9673 4422 Rob Masters 0414 281 291

For more information visit: www.professionalsouterwesternsydney.com.au/real-estate/property/1278018/

Magnificent Large Family Home

• Large, open, airy, beautifully-tiled living areas

• Spacious brand-new styled bathroom, featuring a frameless shower screen

• Generous-sized kitchen with stone benchtops

• Massive outdoor entertainment

• Ducted air conditioning throughout

• Large backyard that could fit a granny flat

Just Listed

INSPECT By Appointment ADDRESS Minchinbury

CONTACT Professionals Erskine Park 9834 3555

Angelo Mavris 0425 361 696

For more information visit: www.professionalsouterwesternsydney.com.au/real-estate/property/1257901/

•

Member Name Goes Here Penrith Greater Region and Blue Mountains

• Stunning modern 2 bedroom unit

• Spacious open living design

• Gorgeous modern kitchen with S/S appliances

• 2 great-sized bedrooms, stylish ensuite to main

• Large balcony with northern aspect

• Currently returning $380 per week in rent

$529,950

INSPECT Sat 8 July at 10:00am - 10:30am

ADDRESS 56/144 High Street, Penrith

CONTACT Professionals Penrith 4725 3100

$290,000

INSPECT Sat 8 July at 10:45am - 11:15am

ADDRESS 18/9-11 Santley Crescent, Kingswood

CONTACT Professionals Penrith 4725 3100

•

$349,950

• Spacious living design with high ceilings

• 2 good-sized bedrooms

• Galley-style kitchen

• Large under cover balcony area

• Close to Penrith CBD, Kmart shopping complex, schools, bus stops

INSPECT Sat 8 July at 11:30am - 12:00pm

ADDRESS 24/175 Derby Street, Penrith

CONTACT Professionals Penrith 4725 3100

Fixed Price Package $431,722

Potential rental return: $650 per week

2 houses 2 incomes within walking distance

Very Happy Sellers Happy Buyer SOLD SOLD

Gizzelle, you have done it again!

“ Gizzelle was very impressive and we are very happy we had her by our side in our journey to selling our property. She has been very honest, transparent and very supportive of all our needs in every step of the way. Her skilful abilities in marketing and finding the right buyer was exactly what we needed. We will not hesitate to have her again and will recommend her to others needing Agent help. Thank you so much Gizzelle. ” – Verified by RateMyAgent

I highly recommend Litsa . . . She is one of the best Agents!

Litsa is one of the best agents, fair and very responsive to every detailed enquiry. Litsa is very professional and knowledgeable in providing a great outcome. Highly recommended. She makes you feel prioritised. Sincerely, with a smile and with great results. She is completely in touch with the market with professional attention to detail.

– Verified by RateMyAgent kitchen with s/s appliances & dishwasher • Ducted air cond

• Modern bathroom with separate toilet • Securely fenced & large backyard • R2 zoning, possible for granny flat or duplex (STCA) • 500m walk to Werrington Public

Fixed Price : $1,040,530

Ducted air con both houses

Potential uplift on completion: $1,340,000

MELETI

M: 0466 969 164

E: litsameleti@remax.com.au

• 3 generous-sized BRs, 2 fitted with BIRs • Natural light-filled living room with s/s air cond • Contemporary kitchen with breakfast bar plus ample storage space

Main bathroom with separate bath & shower

Fixed price (suitable for SMSF)

19.2% gross rental yield, approx $162,000 approx rent

This is your last opportunity to secure a luxury apartment in the prestigious Metro precinct, centrally positioned in the heart of the Oran Park community.

Generously sized, this 3-bedroom apartment features ample floor space, sophisticated style and the finest finishes.

Built in partnership with the award-winning Allen Jack + Cottier Architects and currently under construction with Richard Crookes Construction, the residence is completed to a high standard with:

• Miele oven, gas cooktop, rangehood, built-in microwave oven and dishwasher plus striking Parisi tapware, tinted mirror splashback and Caesarstone benchtop centrepiece

• Ceramic tile floor throughout with carpet to bedrooms

• Ground floor entry, two levels of secure parking and a communal rooftop with barbeque facilities

Apartment G.03 3 2 2

Interior 111sqm

Exterior 33sqm

Total 144sqm

Price $829,500

9043 7500 metrocentral.oranparktown.com.au

In a “practice what you preach” moment, I’m currently reviewing my finances and part of that process involves addressing my mortgage. I’m happy with my current lender, but I’m left with a decision we all face; should I fix my interest rate?

I’ve never been one to try to crystal ball the future. I won’t pretend to be able to accurately predict the unknown variables of if rates will keep going up, where will they stop, and whether they will come back down and if so when? The thing is, the banks, with much greater resources than I, are forecasting all of the above before setting a fixed rate to ensure they don’t miss out; it isn’t easy to beat the bank!

For me, the benefit of locking in my interest rate is that I know what my payment will be for a fixed period of time. I know that I can afford the payment and I can plan my finances around it. History suggests that, over time, fixing rates is likely to result in a fractionally higher average rate. I’m happy to pay this premium for the certainty of knowing my payments won’t increase to a point that I’m unable to afford them.

There are some other disadvantages of the fixed rate option. There are limitations on the amount of additional repayments you can make and you may incur break costs if you exit the loan early.

The variable option is far more flexible

After presiding over an ultra-aggressive interest rate raising policy to tackle soaring inflation, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor, Philip Lowe, is set to become the scapegoat for the economic and political fallout.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has indicated he will soon announce a decision on what will happen with the RBA Governor’s position when Lowe’s seven-year term expires in September.

While Lowe’s predecessors Ian Macfarlane and Glenn Stevens won three-year extensions to their seven-year terms, there has been a pile on against Lowe over the rate rises which began in May last year, and an appetite to get a new face for the RBA.

Lowe is likely to be punished for his repeated comments during the COVID era of 2020 and 2021 that official interest rates were likely to stay at record lows until at least 2024. He has since apologised to the Australian public and said he would have “chosen different language” in hindsight. Those controversial comments were made prior to unexpected shocks such as the Russian inva- sion of Ukraine and the tensions between China and the United States which have impacted on the global economy and led to soaring inflation levels worldwide.

But critics of Lowe believe the

RBA board should have managed consumer expectations better at the time and also lifted the cash rate earlier from its record low of 0.1 per cent.

By the time the RBA had started its rate-hiking cycle, many countries, including New Zealand, Canada and the US, had already been increasing rates for several months.

If Lowe is replaced, the RBA’s top job seems likely to go to a woman for the first time, with federal Finance Department Secretary Jenny Wilkinson and RBA Deputy Governor Michele Bullock among frontrunners for the role.

Chalmers has boasted that more than half the staff in his own office are women.

If there is a new face for the RBA, they may be better known for rate cuts rather than rises if the inflation dragon can be tamed. We will now very soon how it will unfold.

Alex Mckenzie

Future Financial Services

4704 8585 and currently is lower than the fixed rates. Having a variable interest rate allows you to make additional payments as you see fit, provides the option to shop your loan around as you please and overall is less restrictive. The downside is that your interest rate can change at any time. Many of us have experienced just that over the last two years.

In the end, I opted for a little of both! I already have my loan split in two; one portion (about 20 per cent) with a much shorter repayment period to force me to make additional repayments to reduce my debt quickly, and the remainder in a more traditional mortgage structure.

I decided I would fix the larger loan for three years to provide certainty in repayments for the foreseeable future. The smaller loan I have left on variable, this also provides the opportunity to make additional repayments if we choose. This “best of both worlds” suits my situation but is not the answer for everyone. Like most things in life, the fixed versus variable decision is a trade-off. In this case we trade certainty for flexibility.

When Windows 8 was released in October 2012 to replace Windows 7, it became one of the most popular computer operating systems ever. Sadly, the time of Windows 8 has come to an end. With Microsoft officially discontinuing support for it on January 10, 2023. This means that Microsoft will no longer be releasing security patches and updates for the operating system. Windows 8 still holds a large share of the desktop Windows market share, and many homes and businesses, including yours, may be at risk now that the support is discontinued.

The lack of security updates and support from Microsoft after the end of life will result in your computers being unprotected from the hundreds of thousands of new viruses and malware being developed every day, potentially increasing your vulnerability to hackers or data theft. It could also make computers more susceptible to ransomware, in which a computer is locked, and money is demanded to regain access. But all of these problems can be avoided by migrating to a newer operating system. There is no direct way to upgrade from Windows 8 to the latest edition, Windows 11. Windows 11 also has hardware requirements that older comput- ers do not support, specifically a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and a Secure Boot Option. So it is unlikely that a Windows 8 computer could run Windows 11. Some options, if you are still running Windows 8, are

• Continue using Windows 8 and accept the risk that you will be more vulnerable to security risks. Not really an option given the increase in hacking and fraud activity.

• Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Windows 10 remains under support until October 2025. Initially, this was free for a period of time. The website for the free upgrade is still online, so head here and select Update Now: https://www.microsoft.com/ en-us/software-download/ windows10.

• If you are a business and have Office 365 – upgrade to Microsoft 365 level, which includes Windows 10 or 11 licences.

• Purchase a new PC or laptop. There are devices that meet almost all price points.

• Switch to Linux – an open source operating system which is updated regularly with security patches. At Nortec, we understand the complexities surrounding migration to new operating systems and are here to help! Give us a call if you need any assistance.