Is the drop in interest rates more about providing excitement in the property market or taking away present pain? We all get excited by the prospect of a drop in interest rates, those of us that have mortgages that is. For the people living on savings, a drop in interest rates can mean a drop [...]

James Glynn From: Dow Jones Newswires May 15, 2012 12:10PM THE Reserve Bank of Australia has offered few hints about its next rate cut move saying the reduction in rates had returned the cash rate target to “appropriate” levels. “Inflation was likely to remain in the lower half of the (2  to 3 per cent)  [...]

The rental crisis in Perth is so severe that workers and families are pitching a tent because they cannot find a home or apartment. And according to Perth Now, they’re being stung up to $280 a week just for a square of grass to set up camp. Metropolitan caravan parks say they are at or [...]

AAP The number of home loans approved in March rose 0.3 per cent, which is a sign the housing sector is stabilising, economists say. Economists’ forecasts had centred on housing finance commitments to fall 2.0 per cent for March. RBC fixed income and currency strategist Michael Turner said the rise comes after a couple of [...]

By Larry Schlesinger Monday, 14 May 2012 Some signs of life returned to the mortgage market in March, with owner-occupier mortgage commitments rising 0.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis over the month, according to the latest ABS estimates. The value of investment housing commitments seasonally adjusted fell 1.0% in March 2012 while the total value [...]

“The reality is that house price decline does have an impact on consumer confidence” … NAB’s Cameron Clyne. Photo: Arsineh Houspian John Kehoe NAB chief executive Cameron Clyne has indicated that the big four banks may not pass on any future rate cut by the Reserve Bank in full. Michele Mossop National Australia Bank chief [...]