Record-setting fires have burned more than 1.2 million acres in California, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
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Despite the positive trend, the Mortgage Bankers Association estimates 3.6 million homeowners are in forbearance plans.
Seattle startup WattBuy uses multiple energy and carbon tracking sources, and Zillow’s API, to power comprehensive home energy reports
The revelation of a record-breaking prize package has raised the contestants’ stakes, the tempers and the ceilings… almost.
The renovators of the winning guest bedroom will pocket not only the $10,000 weekly prize but up to $120,000 in Gaggenau kitchen appliances. Yep, that’s the biggest prize in Block history.
Building foremen Keith and Dan wasted no time in trying to play on the contestants’ insecurities, telling Luke that his room lacked a “wow” factor and was therefore unlikely to win.
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Scott Cam on how The Block coped with COVID
To rub it in further, they took the father of two for a site visit to Harry and Tash’s to point out how impressive their high ceilings and skylights were compared to their low flat ones.
Shelley Craft and Scott Cam throw cold water on Luke’s plans.
Soon Luke is plotting to lift his ceiling height too until Jasmin returns and urges him to stick to their guns (and traditional ceiling rose) and instead put in a polished plaster feature wall.
Hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft, who is also newly qualified as a real estate agent as well as a TV star, pour more cold water on the West Australians’ plans describing them as underwhelming and “so two years ago”.
While their dreams of an impressively appointed kitchen may have been crushed under the weight of their low ceilings and boring styling, the couple said they were no longer looking to win but were pinning their hopes on not coming last.
Another team hoping to avoid last place having already lost the very first challenge were Harry and Tash.
The pair learned that communication is key — especially when it comes to buying door locks. Bizarrely for a bloke who works in IT, Harry proved less than masterful at working the camera on his smart phone, which made a punishing task of Tash’s job as his go between at the door shop.
When Keith pulls that face it never means anything good.
Making matters worse, Tash started to doubt her dad’s work with a tape measure.
With good reason because she discovered there was insufficient space in the room to stand beside the bed and open the wardrobe doors. The only thing they could do to rectify the mistake was to downsize their bed from a queen size to a double.
Keith was the bearer of more bad tidings for George and Sarah, informing the couple that yet again they had made poor judgments about their use of space.
The couple took a huge gamble in dividing their generous-sized bedroom in two so that they could create a small office.
But they were floored when Keith showed them how their cramped floor plan made it virtually impossible to navigate the room comfortably while the cupboard doors were open.
Keith suggested the couple downgrade the bed size from queen to double but Sarah wasn’t having a bar of it.
Harry is allegedly in IT, so why can’t he work out how Facetime operates?
Making matters worse for the couple, a blue broke out over missing screws. Daniel claimed George’s plasterers had pilfered some from his work site.
George wasted no time in laying down the law with his tradies, smilingly threatening to spank anyone who failed to adhere to the rules. He also returned fire on Daniel accusing his people of taking some of his supplies as well.
Daniel, though happy to help George replace some of his missing gear, wasn’t willing to accept he was in any way at fault because he prides himself on running a super tight and orderly ship. Whereas George? Let’s just say he doesn’t show his materials the same reverence he would his beloved Pokemon card collection.
Daniel and Jade are hopeful that an old pendant light they found lying around the dilapidated building will — with a bit of spit and polish — give their room the wow factor needed to secure the kitchen appliances. But will their repurposed trash lead to treasure come judgment day?
MISSED AN EPISODE?
Episode 2 recap: Which Block team got the best house?
Episode 1 recap: The tears start early on The Block 2020
The post The Block 2020 episode 3 recap: Scott and Shelley pour cold water on plaster plans appeared first on realestate.com.au.
Land at 35 Hams Rd, Waurn Ponds, is rezoned and has a planning permit for a residential development.
Waurn Ponds farmland rezoned for a residential development following a protracted planning battle with objectors has been listed for sale.
The 9.4ha property at 35 Hams Road forms part of a larger tract of land bound by existing housing, the Geelong to Warrnambool train line, Baanip Boulevard and the Geelong Road Road and Anglesea Road interchange.
Geelong’s council agreed to rezone the land from farming to residential and approved planning permits to build 214 new house lots over the combined properties.
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Maxwell Collins, Geelong agent Nick Lord said price expectations for the property was around $4.4 million to $4.8 million.
“A developer will look at their costs and see what they can realise from the site and therefore be happy to pay,” he said.
“But we expect there to be some healthy competition.”
Land at 35 Hams Rd, Waurn Ponds, is rezoned and has a planning permit for a residential development.
Mr Lord said the land makes up the eastern component of the development site and holds a planning permit for about 80 house lots.
“There is other ownership next door and they’re still holding their land but they went through the rezone together,” he said.
“The site is well positioned, close to the Waurn Ponds shopping centre and a really good in-fill site for residential development and is now only walking distance to Waurn Ponds train station.”
Waurn Ponds Train Station is a draw for many buyers to the southern suburbs.
Mr Lord said interest for the property has already emerged locally, from Melbourne and interstate.
Offers close September 24.
“A site like this is well positioned for that middle-sized developer with the size of the lots,” he said.
“It’s fairly unique. A lot of land that sells in Geelong is land banking that might be three to 10 years away from development, whereas this site is ready to go.”
Deakin University’s main Waurn Ponds Campus is off Pigdons Road.
The State Government signed off on the rezoning in July.
Geelong’s council agreed to changes to the proposal, including 850sq m minimum lot sizes facing Hams Rd, with no block smaller than 400sq m throughout the development.
Councillors approved the development in March, following support from a planning panel, appointed by state’s planning minister to consider submissions, including 159 objections.
Council officers rejected objector claims the initial development, which had a larger mix of medium-density lots, had the potential to create an enclosed “ghetto”.
The post Waurn Ponds farmland rezoned for houses after planning fight for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.
Looking for a little clarity on this week’s news? Windermere Chief Economist Matthew Gardner takes a deep dive into the latest data on household debt and credit and what it might mean for post-COVID economic recovery.
Last week, we asked you to share some of the tough calls you had to make this year in light of the challenges brought on by COVID-19. Here’s what you had to say.
If you’re having to compete in a multiple-offer situation on every offer, you have to find a way to give your buyers as much of an edge as possible. Here are a few ideas to help you craft a competitive offer.
Back to school this year is no joke. Keeping your business in motion while juggling childcare and distance learning is going to be a challenge, but with a few tweaks and a positive attitude, agents can find ways to blend more family time into the workday.
If you’re looking to invest in property, there are several things you’ll need to take into account: the cost, the rental yield, and the likelihood that your property continues to increase in value over time.
Melbourne property is highly sought after – but what kind of return on your investment can you expect from purchasing there? And what were the best suburbs to invest in Melbourne in 2019?
Using the latest data from realestate.com.au, we’ve compiled a list of this year’s 10 best suburbs to invest in Melbourne, based on the yearly median sale price, the year-on-year change in the median sale price, and the average rental yield for properties in these suburbs.
1: Flemington, Average Rental Yield of 3.09%
Getting the top spot for Melbourne’s best suburb to invest in is Flemington, located 4 kilometres north-west of Melbourne city centre. The median sale price for the past 12 months is $990.000, and the year-on-year change in the median sale price is a notable 6.14%.
On top of that, the average rental yield is 3.09%. While not the highest rental yield in the top ten, Flemington tops the list in terms of change in median sale price.
Flemington, located 4 kilometres north-west of Melbourne city centre, is Melbourne’s top investment suburb. Picture: realestate.com.au
2: Cairnlea, Average Rental Yield of 3.56%
Cairnlea is Melbourne’s next best suburb to invest, with a median sale price of $740,000.00. 17 kilometres north-west of the CBD, Cairnlea’s year-on-year change in the median sale price is 1.54%, slightly lower than that of Flemington.
That being said, the yearly rental yield is a little higher: 3.56%.
Leafy Cairnlea is located north-west of Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: realestate.com.au
3: North Melbourne, Average Rental Yield of 3.05%
Following Cairnlea is the inner-city suburb of North Melbourne.
North Melbourne costs a pretty penny to invest in, with a median sale price of $1,166,000. The year-on-year change in sale price sits at 1.39%, while the rental yield is 3.05%.
North Melbourne isn’t the cheapest market to enter, in Melbourne. Picture: realestate.com.au
4: Derrimut, Average Rental Yield of 3.78%
17 kilometres west of the CBD is Derrimut, the fourth-best suburb to invest in Melbourne. With a median sale price of $615,000, Derrimut is the least expensive suburb to invest in our list.
Derrimut has a year-on-year change in the median sale price of 0.00%, and a relatively high rental yield for Melbourne suburbs, of 3.78%.
Derrimut is a fantastic place to invest. Picture: realestate.com.au
5: Hadfield, Average Rental Yield of 3.19%
Hadfield comes in next, 10.5 kilometres north of the CBD. Hadfield has a median yearly sale price of $717,250, with a negative year-on-year change of -0.21%. The rental yield is a positive 3.19%.
Hadfield is number 5 on the list of top investment suburbs. Picture: realestate.com.au
6: Balaclava, Average Rental Yield of 3.23%
Situated much closer to the city is Balaclava, just 7 kilometres south of the city and a short 9-minute drive to the beach.
Balaclava has a median sale price of $1,186,000 and a change in the median sale price of -0.34%. The rental yield sits at 3.23%.
Balaclava is close to Melbourne’s CBD and beach. Picture: realestate.com.au
7: Ascot Vale, Average Rental Yield of 2.94%
Next is Ascot Vale, a short 6 kilometres north-west of the city. Ascot Vale has a median sale price of $1,140,000 and a yearly change in the sale price of -1.30%.
The rental yield is the second-lowest of our list, at 2.94%.
Ascot Vale is just 6km from Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: realestate.com.au
8: Newport, Average Rental Yield of 3.09%
Newport comes in eighth, situated on the mouth of the Yarra River and just 7 kilometres south-west of the city.
It has a costly median sale price of $1,036,000 and a year-on-year change in the sale price of -1.78%. The rental yield here is slightly higher than Ascot Vale, at 3.09%.
Newport is close to Melbourne’s Yarra River. Picture: realestate.com.au
9: Malvern East, Average Rental Yield of 2.50%
Coming in ninth is the south-eastern suburb of Malvern East – with the lowest rental yield of 2.50%.
The median sale price here is $1,754,999, while the year-on-year change in the median sale price is -1.80%.
Malvern East is located in Melbourne’s southeastern region. Picture: realestate.com.au
10: Altona Meadows, Average Rental Yield of 3.30%
And lastly, Altona Meadows is the tenth best suburb to invest in Melbourne. The yearly median sale price here is $625,000, with a year-on-year change of -2.34%. The rental yield comes in at a promising 3.30%.
Altona Meadows rounds out the list of top ten investment suburbs in Melbourne for 2019. Picture: realestate.com.au
The post Best suburbs to invest in Melbourne 2019 appeared first on realestate.com.au.