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Property Focus
Offices
Charter Hall reaps tax benefit at Moonee Ponds Junction
MARC PALLISCO Charter Hall has sold a suburban office near the Moonee Ponds Junction for a speculated $83 million – $3 million more than the asset's book valuation four months ago.
CBD landlords cash in on unused space with catchy retail ideas
Leif Olson Using empty foyers and sparking interest in their properties with eyecatchers means landlords are making more of their investment.
The latest leasing deals for commercial property in Sydney
CAROLYN CUMMINS Dr Gary Donald McKay has leased a 58-sq m retail site at Shop 1, 38 Pacific Highway from Ambiance Group Pty Ltd.
Investing
Student digs are the new investment trend
CAROLYN CUMMINS As student numbers grow, investor and tenant demand for suitable accommodation is increasingly rapidly.
DEXUS Property Group move poses question: Is the share buyback back in vogue?
CAROLYN CUMMINS Carolyn Cummins.
Cosmetic retailer Sephora set to shake up local stores
CAROLYN CUMMINS It's going to be lipsticks at 10 paces when the giant cosmetics retailer Sephora opens in Australia, with the new entrant tipped to have more impact on local department stores than any of the new fashion labels, experts have warned.
Suburban pubs are in hot demand
CAROLYN CUMMINS Investors and private operators are piling cash into suburban pubs as the sector is seen as providing capital growth in the bricks and mortar, and a resurgence of patrons avoiding the city
Investments
Visa for the wealthy fuels house price fears
Agnes King, Su-Lin Tan and Lisa Murray Advisers have cheered the creation of a $15 million fast track to permanent residency for wealthy foreigners, in a move by the Abbott government to harness Asia's wealth to boost economic growth and job creation. But the push has also sparked concerns much of this investment will flow into Australian property, driving prices up even further.
David Jones opens first new Sydney store in seven years
CAROLYN CUMMINS David Jones has opened its first new Sydney store in seven years and the first since its sale to South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings.
Property
One in six homes bought by foreigners
Foreign buyers are flocking to buy Australian property, snapping up one out of every six new homes.
Property
Frank Lowy and sons inject $177m into Westfield Corporation
CAROLYN CUMMINS Westfield founder Frank Lowy and his sons Peter and Steven have injected $177.3 million of their own money into their newly created overseas empire, taking the family's private holding to just under 10 per cent.
Dymocks hunts for more property
SIMON JOHANSON Dymocks Properties which recently purchased an office tower in St Kilda Road on Melbourne's CBD fringe is on the hunt for more assets with another $150 million in capital and an eye on the Brisbane market.
Deague family's APG plans major new developments in Box Hill and Brisbane
Phillip Hopkins The Deague family's Asian Pacific Group (APG) has embarked on a $260 million project at Box Hill in Melbourne's east and a river hotel on a Brisbane heritage site that will be "a flagship of the group".
Market Wrap
LIAM MANNIX Market wrap
New owners’ corporation rules pave way for less dispute between owners, managers
Long-overdue changes to Owners' Corporation laws will make it easier for bodies corporate to change their managers and free up an industry that has made it a free kick for under-performing managers, says strata consultant David Lin.
TAC sale makes an impact
SIMON JOHANSON Recent start-up Impact Investment Group is proving one of Melbourne's most active property investors, sealing an off-market deal Tuesday to acquire the headquarters of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Geelong.
Melbourne's CBD transactions reach $2.02 billion
Nicole Lindsay Melbourne's CBD transactions have reached the $2.02 billion mark during 2014, with heated competition pushing down yields for both prime and secondary buildings.
Office construction in Melbourne to take a break
Nicole Lindsay Melbourne's city office construction cycle will take a breather in 12 months as nearly 200,000 square metres of space is completed and a year goes by before another building opens its doors and cranks up its lifts.
From B-grade to premium development site
SIMON JOHANSON Two B-grade offices may become Collins Street's next A-list tower as their owners chase a developer's premium.
Property
Dexus kicks off share buy back
CAROLYN CUMMINS DEXUS Property has kicked off a 5 per cent share buy backs scheme.
State strata laws updated
Michael Bleby Long-overdue changes to owners' corporation laws will make it easier for bodies corporate to change their managers and free up an industry that can provide a free kick for underperforming managers, says strata consultant David Lin.
Media
REA in $15 million deal for Hong Kong business Squarefoot
JARED LYNCH REA Group has hived off its Hong Kong business, Squarefoot, in a deal worth $15 million.
Foreign buyers face tougher penalties for breaching real estate laws
SIMON JOHANSON Foreign buyers face tough new penalties for flouting property ownership rules, as well as capital gains losses and cross-matching with immigration records, under likely recommendations by a parliamentary inquiry.
Melton Library and Learning Hub offers exciting benchmark in urban design
Stephen Crafti The five-star green building has proved a community hit.
Freemasons make a lucrative Little deal
MARC PALLISCO Two years since hosting a luncheon event with "special guest speaker" Paul Little, men's guild Freemasons Victoria has formalised a deal with the millionaire to co-develop two historic eastern suburb sites.
Property
Chinese investors are pushing into Melbourne and Sydney
SIMON JOHANSON Investment from China in Australian real estate shows no sign of slowing. Is that a problem or a solution?
NAB rolls out new-look branches
CAROLYN CUMMINS Changes in customer demands have seen the National Australia Bank and others alter their approach, offer a range of high level self-service, provide 24-hour access and new-age banking. Carolyn Cummins reports.
AREIT market positioned to continue returns
Winston Sammut Market drivers suggest the well-performing AREIT sector will settle over time. Winston Sammut explains why.
