Do Unto Others............... To have a friend, you must be a friend, starting with yourself.
The greatest hunger a person has is to be needed. Help create that feeling in others.
The greatest virtue is kindness. You can't love everyone, but you can be kind to everyone.
Don't try to impress others. Let them have the fun of impressing you.
Be enthusiastic. Nothing of consequence was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
Be positive. Positive people attract others, while negative people repel.
You have greater impact on others by the way you listen than by the way you talk.
Gossip cheapens the one who gossips more than the one gossiped about.
Call a person by his or her name and use it often in conversation.
Communicate cheerfulness.
Differences are bound to occur and can be resolved if conflict is managed in a polite manner.
If you are given to making fun of someone, be sure it is of yourself.
Be genuinely interested in others. Get them to talk about themselves.
A smile doesn't cost anything and pays big dividends. It makes you and everyone else feel better.
Be the first to say: "Hello! Good to see you."
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The golden rule is where it all begins and ends.
By James Fisher Jr
1. Housing finance dips in July Housing finance dipped in July this year, but is still higher than it was twelve months ago, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of first home buyer dwellings financed dropped by 6.7 per cent to a still-high 17,170 (compared to 9,879 in July 2008). Housing finance dipped in July this year, but is still higher than it was twelve months ago, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of first home buyer dwellings financed dropped by 6.7 per cent to a still-high 17,170 (compared to 9,879 in July 2008). As a percentage of total owner-occupied loans, the number of first homebuyer commitments fell to 25.7 per cent in July from 27.1 per cent in June. In trend terms, all categories increased. The number of loans for the construction of dwellings was a clear leader, growing 2.6 per cent in July. The total value of dwelling commitments rose 0.9 per cent. However, in seasonally adjusted terms, all major categories fell slightly. Investment housing fixed loans experienced the biggest fall in value, at -4.0 per cent, while owner-occupied housing fell by 1.7 per cent. In the number of dwelling commitments, the biggest drop was felt in `purchase of established dwellings' (-2.3 per cent), then `owner occupied housing' (-2.0 per cent), `construction of dwellings' (-0.7 per cent) and `purchase of new dwellings' (-0.5 per cent). The total value of commitments fell by 2.3 per cent. Mortgage Choice senior corporate affairs manager, Kristy Sheppard said that the drop in housing finance demand is probably just a blip. "Winter is usually a slower season while Spring usually sees a large increase in market activity", she said. "When compared to this time last year's figures this result is still a positive one." According to Ms Sheppard, Mortgage Choice loan approvals continue to rise and July 2009 was no exception. "After year-on-year increases in the number of our loan approvals of 18 per cent in May and 30 per cent in June, July experienced an increase of 19 per cent", she said. "And over the past few weeks our franchisees have experienced a noticeable spike in enquiries from potential first home buyers who are very keen to enter the market before the full First Home Owner Boost expires at the end of this month", she added. 2. Consumer sentiment continues to boom Consumer sentiment in Australia has risen by over a third since May this year, according to the latest measurements released this week by the Westpac Bank. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index surged by 5.2 per cent in September 2009, from 113.4 in August to 119.3 in September. Consumer sentiment in Australia has risen by over a third since May this year, according to the latest measurements released this week by the Westpac Bank. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index surged by 5.2 per cent in September 2009, from 113.4 in August to 119.3 in September. This is the highest level of the Index since July 2007. The Index has increased by 34.4 per cent over the last 4 months - the largest 4-month increase in the 35-year history of the Index. Westpac's Chief Economist, Bill Evans, said that the survey shows clearly that the standout story for consumers is relief that the economy has avoided recession and that expected job losses have not materialised. "For consumers, the good news on the economy is `drowning out' any warnings on rate rises", Mr Evans said. The dominant news topic that respondents recalled in the month was domestic "economic conditions". This topic was recalled by 69.2 per cent of respondents compared with only 32.6 per cent of respondents who recalled "interest rates". Assessments were overwhelmingly positive, with approximately 70 per cent of respondents assessing current economic conditions as favourable compared with approximately 35 per cent in June. "Given the extensive media coverage of likely rate hikes it is surprising that respondents are relatively evenly divided on their assessments of interest rate news", Mr Evans said. "That resilience to the rate outlook is exemplified by the attitude of those folks holding a mortgage - their Confidence actually rose by 4.4 per cent. "This result highlights an important point that will be significant when assessing the impact of initial rate hikes on sentiment." Mr Evans noted that in the last long drawn out rate hike cycle confidence was steady until variable mortgage rates hit 7 per cent, from which point it fell by an average of around 9 per cent whenever rates were increased. "With variable mortgage rates currently 5.8 per cent their extremely low level is providing a basic support to sentiment", he said. "That is unlikely to change until mortgage rates get up to around 6-6.5 per cent at which point rate changes will start to deter households." 3. Rubbish-free for a year, for life Could you get through a day without throwing something in the rubbish bin? What about a week? Is it possible to live for one year without producing garbage that winds up in a landfill? A young American couple has taken on the challenge to reduce their rubbish output to almost zero for a whole year. With two cats, a dog and full-time jobs to manage, they say they are "not going to pretend it's going to be easy"! Could you get through a day without throwing something in the rubbish bin? What about a week? Is it possible to live for one year without producing garbage that winds up in a landfill? A young American couple has taken on the challenge to reduce their rubbish output to almost zero for a whole year. With two cats, a dog and full-time jobs to manage, they say they are "not going to pretend it's going to be easy"! One of the problems they foresee is disposing of cat faeces, which is unsafe to do naturally. This and other hazardous or otherwise undisposable rubbish will be left out for the kerbside pickup after being measured for the end-of-year tally. They have set up a website for the so-called Green Garbage Project, complete with blog to record their successes and difficulties and to encourage others to offer suggestions and alternative means of disposal. Specific steps that they are taking include: - Not buying stuff that isn't recyclable
- Starting a compost bin
- Growing their own vegetables
- Making products like soap, cheese, butter, granola, and bread
- Taking their business to butchers, dairies, farmer's markets and natural food stores
- Saving any recyclable materials that the curbside collection won't take and taking them to a recycling depot
- Using reusable bags when shopping and bringing reusable containers to restaurants for leftovers
- Replacing light bulbs with energy-efficient versions and replacing all disposable batteries with recyclable ones
- Donating to and buying from secondhand stores
- Researching how things are made and what is/isn't recyclable
- Legally burning clean, dry, untreated organic material.
4. Australians choose property Property is In and Shares are Out, according to a snap consumer poll conducted by the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects. With the Federal Government capping the concessional threshold for superannuation contributions at $50,000 for people aged 50+, respondents were asked where they would put their extra funds - into improving their own home, investing in a negatively geared property or into the share market. Property is In and Shares are Out, according to a snap consumer poll conducted by the building advisory service of the Australian Institute of Architects. With the Federal Government capping the concessional threshold for superannuation contributions at $50,000 for people aged 50+, respondents were asked where they would put their extra funds - into improving their own home, investing in a negatively geared property or into the share market. Robert Caulfield, Managing Director of Archicentre said an overwhelming 71 per cent of the 450 respondents chose property, with 40 per cent investing in their own home and 31 per cent investing in a negatively geared property. Only 29 per cent chose to invest in shares. Mr Caulfield said with low interest rates an increasing number of people are turning to invest in their home for an improved lifestyle and capital gain, and this is driving the market interest in property. "They are rejecting moving home which can be an expensive exercise with moving costs up to between $50,000 to $75,000 involving loan fees, agent fees, removalist fees, and excessive non productive government stamp duty costs. "Many people are seeing their homes as the superannuation fund they can enjoy the benefits of and sell when ready, attracting no capital gains tax if the home is the principal place of residence," Mr Caulfield said. 5. Real Estate terms explained - Party wall A party wall is a wall built on a common boundary, where the adjoining owners have common rights. The rights of the owners can vary but could include: - A tenancy-in-common ownership between the two owners. This means that in effect each owner would have a 50 per cent share in the wall
- The separate ownership of half of the wall, where the wall is effectively divided longitudinally into two strips
- The ownership of the entire wall by one owner, but subject to an easement with the other adjoining owner to have it maintained as a dividing wall
6. The tenant who wasn't A property manager in Auckland was surprised this week when she found evidence of an unexpected tenant in a photograph. Local news website stuff.co reports that when Brigid Curran looked at some pictures she had taken of the property she manages, she saw what appeared to be the figure of a woman standing in the background by the fence. "I thought, hang on. There was no one standing there when I took the photo," she says. Apparently the human tenant living in the house knows about the ghostly figure, which has been around for at least a year. | |
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