Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 27 November 2009 Quote of the Week "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins- not through strength but by perseverance." ~H. Jackson Brown~ 1. Still 50,000 homes short The recovery in new home building will fall short of what is required to meet increases in Australia's population, according to the latest National Outlook released this week by the Housing Industry Association (HIA). HIA Chief Economist Dr Harley Dale said that more than six million dwellings will be needed over the next forty years to match Australia's projected population growth. HIA is forecasting the number of housing starts to increase by 9 per cent over 2009/10 following a drop of 18 per cent last financial year. Starts are forecast to grow by a further 16 per cent over the period 2010/11 to 2011/12 to reach 166,000 dwellings. After suffering a 4 per cent decline in 2008/09, total investment in renovations is forecast to increase by 10 per cent over the three-year period to 2011/12, reaching a record worth of $32.8 billion. Top 2. The state of the land The gap between supply and demand for housing land has widened even further, according to a new report released this week by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA). The 2009 State of the Land Report has found that there is a substantial undersupply of land for new housing across Australia's major capital cities and that the situation has been ongoing since 2005. The Report highlights that Melbourne is currently managing its land supply the best of any capital city. On the other hand, Sydney, while delivering higher levels of infill development, is significantly underperforming in greenfield land production and housing supply generally. According to UDIA National President Stephen Holmes, the Report shows that the gap between land supply and demand has widened and there is a growing undersupply of housing right across Australia. "Housing demand in Australia is increasing due to changes in household formation, natural population growth, and most significantly, historically high levels of immigration", Holmes says. "The adequate supply of land to support new housing is the principal driver for ensuring the maintenance of housing affordability in Australia, so unless the supply-side issues are rectified, housing will increasingly become less affordable for Australians." UDIA has made the following recommendations to start addressing the gravity of the issue and implementing actions to improve land supply production and delivery: 1. That the Productivity Commission be charged with undertaking an inquiry into financing local infrastructure and specifically examine the proliferation and impact of development levies. 2. That the Major Cities Unit of Infrastructure Australia assume responsibility of the inter-Governmental co-ordination of residential land supply to ensure that there is sufficient supply available in all capital cities across Australia. Top 3. Tough guys cry, too We're used to seeing stars like Nicholas Cage and Eddy Murphy winning, losing and toughing it out as celluloid heroes, but even they are vulnerable to the perils of the real estate bust in the United States over the past twelve months, according to Forbes Magazine. Forbes recently reported that Cage lost two New Orleans properties at auction (a bank was the buyer) for just two-thirds their appraisal value of US$3.4 million. It is a problem facing many owners of high-end homes across the States, where the asking price of luxury homes has reduced by an average 14% compared with the national average of 10 percent. Actor-comedian Edie Murphy reportedly slashed the price of his 32-room home by 50 per cent from its original listing price of $30 million, while hip-hop label Def Jam creator Russell Simmons dropped the price on his home by a third to 16.5 million. Top 4. Fire-resistant? Irresistible The growing urban sprawl surrounding Australia's capital cities, combined with the baby boomer tree-change and sea-change phenomena, has increased the need and demand for fire-resistant homes, building advisory service Archicentre warned this week. Victorian State Manager David Hallett said that stark memories of the major fires that have swept through most states in Australia over the past decade, together with current fires in South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales, continue to place a focus on the importance of building fire-resistant homes. "Traditionally people have seen fire resistant homes as a regional or rural issue", Hallett said. He pointed out that the urban sprawl is placing tens of thousands of new homes on the fringe of major cities every year, often interfacing with state forests. This situation is being compounded as baby boomers move away from the cities into coastal and rural areas. "Anyone building a new home or renovating on the urban fringe should ensure fire prevention standards are included in their design and permit applications." Mr Hallett advised homebuyers to be aware of local, state or national building standards, to complete a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment of their property before they move in and to consider upgrading the building to reflect current requirements. The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment is part of the residential building Australian Standard, (AS 3959-2009), to improve the ability of buildings to withstand attack from bushfires. The BAL takes into consideration a number of factors including the Fire Danger Index, the slope of land, types of surrounding vegetation and its proximity to any building. "Information on fire resistant home design should also become part of apprenticeship training programs for builders and associated trades such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and landscapers in relation to fire resistant plants as a whole-of-industry approach", Mr Hallett suggested. "A well-designed and sited home including fire prevention measures stands a significantly better chance of survival especially after the fire has passed." Archicentre's Bushfire Design Guide, which is available for download, contains advice for homeowners and builders and covers topics including. Design Principles in Bushfire Prone Areas : Keep the exterior design of the house simple and avoid crevices or cracks where burning material can lodge. Avoid decorative timberwork such as trellis and lattice-work on exposed areas of the building. Remember timber balconies and decks are also high danger areas for trapping burning debris and should be kept to a minimum. Make sure you have any chimneys screened off to stop embers blowing down the chimney during the fire and entering the home. In designing the home ensure the use of leafless guttering or if allowed by council install ground level rubble drain collectors. Management Issues: Do not store firewood against or under the home Make sure all doors have close fitting screens Clear all debris from guttering and decks Have a fire emergency plan - check with local fire brigade Top 5. A natural selection from the shelf It seems an exceptionally rare and valuable first edition of Charles Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" may not have survived by being the fittest, but by hiding in a toilet bookcase. A family bought the copy for "a few shillings" in the late 1960s or early 1970s, Reuters reported recently, saying they only recognized it as valuable when they saw another first edition at a Darwin exhibition. Christie's auction house will offer the book this week on the 150th anniversary of its original publication, and expects it to fetch AU$70,000-110,000. Top 6. Walls come down in cookie town The hunt is on in Norway for the vandals who destroyed an entire city. An entire city made of gingerbread, that is. Residents of Bergen, home to the traditional pre-Christmas display "Gingerbread City", were in pieces recently when they found all the 1200-1300 "buildings" had been smashed only hours after the project was completed, the Norway Post reports. Each year up to 10,000 people from the larger Bergen region participate in the event, 2,000 of whom had helped to set up and decorate the miniature cookie-structures earlier that day. While police are investigating the matter, many residents have already begun making new gingerbread houses, including professional bakers intent on seeing the sweetest city around. Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 20 November 2009 Quote of the week "They may forget what you said, they may forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." ~Carl W. Buecher~ 1. Construction activity building The national construction industry continued to grow modestly in October reflecting a rise in building activity, improved employment levels and supplier deliveries, according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®). The seasonally adjusted Australian PCI® remained relatively steady, up 0.1 points to 50.9, slightly above September's level and still above the 50 point mark separating expansion and contraction. The continued growth in house building, although at a much slower rate, combined with a boost in apartment building, kept construction in positive territory in October. Australian Industry Group, Associate Director Public Policy, Dr Peter Burn said that while the growth in the sector is welcome, it clearly remains tentative and uneven. "While there was a pick-up in the apartment sector, house building grew at a slower pace in October on the back of the winding down of the First Home Owners subsidy and rising interest rates", Dr Burn said. "This suggests that a durable upturn in housing activity remains some way off." The continued growth was found to have contributed to a further rise in employment, registering 52.5 on the sub-index. Top 2. Investigation urged on blackout threat Environment groups have this week asked the national energy watchdog to investigate claims by TRUenergy that suggest the company may be about to default on electricity supply contracts. Over the past year TRUenergy has repeatedly claimed there was a risk of blackouts if it did not receive more compensation under a national emissions trading scheme. Environment Victoria and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) have this week written to the Australian Energy Regulator, asking the regulator to examine the accuracy of TRUenergy's claims that the company may be about to default on contracts. Environment Victoria Campaigns Director Mark Wakeham said that TRUenergy's 1.3 million customers deserve to know whether they can rely on TRUenergy to deliver on its contracts and whether the company is crying wolf in an attempt to line its own pockets. "Claims that the electricity supply is at risk and that the company has reduced maintenance spending at Yallourn power station should be thoroughly investigated", Mr Wakeham said. TRUenergy is 100 per cent foreign owned by CLP Power International (formerly China Light and Power). ACF climate campaigner Phil Freeman said he was concerned about windfall profits going offshore with no benefit to Australian households or taxpayers. "TRUenergy is already set to receive $738 million worth of free permits in the first five years of the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - there is no case for the company to get more handouts from the public purse", Mr Freeman said. Top 3. Not so happy now... The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell by 2.5 per cent this month, from 121.4 in October to 118.3 in November. Westpac's Chief Economist, Bill Evans, commented that considering this drop comes after a second consecutive increase in the Reserve Bank's overnight cash rate and associated increases in variable mortgage rates, it has to be classified as a modest response. The level of the Index is still 38.3 per cent above its level from a year ago. The average read for the Index over the last three months (119.7) has, in fact, only been exceeded in four previous periods of strong optimism since the survey began in 1975. Those were December 1983-May 1984 (120.2); March 1994-July 1994 (121.4); July 2004-February 2005 (119.8) and May 2007-July 2007 (122.1). "There was a fall of 4 per cent in sentiment towards housing in November", Mr Evans said. "'Whether now is a good time to purchase a dwelling' is now down by 15 per cent over the last three months. "However that is a more resilient result than we saw in those periods of consecutive rate hikes in 2002 and 2003 when sentiment towards housing fell by over 30 per cent on both occasions." Mr Evans said it is likely that the Reserve Bank Board will raise rates when it next meets on December 1, in order to gradually remove more of the stimulus. "Today's results do, however, signal that the extent of rate hikes in 2010 envisaged by current market pricing is unlikely to transpire", he suggested. Top 4. Time to go, e-waste In case you missed National Recycling Week this month, there's good news across the country for our tech-age waste. Environment Minister Peter Garrett this week opened a new e-waste recycling facility, which is expected to divert as much as 20,000 tonnes of electronic waste from landfills when it operates at full capacity. Mr Garrett commended the development of recycling plants capable of processing electronic waste such as computers and televisions, which have been recognised as a priority waste by all levels of government in Australia. "Recycling delivers important environmental benefits, including energy and water savings, and a reduced demand for landfill space", he said. The SIMS e-waste recycling plant in Sydney is expected to divert up to 20,000 tonnes of material from landfill per year and recycle up to 98 per cent of the material that passes through its front gate. A recent snapshot of waste and recycling trends in Australia showed the amount of waste Australia generates has increased by 28 per cent between 2003 and 2007. "A national waste policy will provide much-needed clarity on what is appropriately dealt with at which level of government, and will improve economic efficiencies by better harmonizing waste policies between jurisdictions", Mr Garrett said. "It also affords a timely opportunity to revisit waste policy in the context of broader Government policies on climate change and sustainability." Top 5. Valued by association While a good education can be invaluable for a student, new research has found that a good school can also have a marked impact on local property values. Research done by UK property consultants Savills found properties located within the vicinity of "good" schools are attracting asking prices up to three times higher than their neighbouring counterparts. Due to the demand for good schools, homes that fall into the right catchment areas come with significantly higher than average asking prices. According to the research, homes within the vicinity of the top 25 per cent of secondary schools can fetch up to 16 per cent more than properties outside the schools catchment area - up from 13 per cent in 2007. Furthermore, homes in areas with an amalgamation of good state and independent schools can be worth up to three times the county average. Top 6. Power now, brown cow We often see people kicking up a stink over energy conservation, so it's refreshing to see some are using stink to fix the problem. A plant that converts cow dung into energy for homes began operating in the Netherlands last Friday, Reuters reported this week. Manure from cows at a nearby dairy farm will be fermented along with grass and food industry residues and the biogas released during the process will be used as fuel for the thermal plant's gas turbines. According to the plant's operator Essent, the heat generated will be distributed to around 1,100 homes in the area around Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands. Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

• Friday 13 November 2009 Quote of the week "Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." ~Lewis L. Dunnington~ ... 1. New homes going up A recovery in new home building is underway, according to building approval figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The number of total dwellings approved rose 2.7 per cent in September 2009 following a fall last month. Detached house approvals hardly changed (up 0.3 per cent) in the month of September, but have increased by 18.6 per cent over the year since September 2008. The number of `other dwelling' approvals increased by 14.6 per cent in the month of September to be up by 17.5 per cent over the quarter but are still down on last year's figures. The number of seasonally adjusted residential dwelling approvals increased in September by 5.1 per cent in Victoria, 5.9 per cent in Western Australia, and 3.4 per cent in Tasmania. Approvals fell by 1.9 per cent in New South Wales, 1.4 per cent in Queensland, and 3.9 per cent in South Australia. The trend number of approvals fell by 2.1 per cent in the Northern Territory but rose 1.2 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory. Top 2. A holiday home shaped like an origami Klein Bottle and situated in Australia's Mornington Peninsula, has this week won the World's Best Home award at the World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF Awards) 2009. Winning prestigious awards is not new to the unique house, which features a living room perched on a canopy of trees. Last year it was declared the winner of one of Australia's top architecture awards - the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture - Houses. The so-called Klein Bottle House was designed by the Melbourne practice McBride Charles Ryan. Top 3. 'Green loans' for homeowners One of the `Big 4' banks announced this week it will introduce interest-free "green loans" worth up to $10,000 to homeowners wanting to make their homes more sustainable. The Federal Government's Green Loans Program was introduced in July 2009 to assist families to install solar, water saving and energy efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So far, however, only building societies and credit unions have signed up to participate. The program includes a free home sustainability assessment, which is the first step in qualifying for an interest-free loan of up to $10,000 over four years. A qualified home sustainability assessor visits the household and investigates energy and water consumption patterns to identify actions that households can take to save energy and water. Each household then receives a tailored report outlining recommended actions ranging from small things like switching to energy efficient light bulbs to larger scale changes such as installing rainwater tanks and solar panels. Households may wish to access a green loan to make the larger scale improvements. Westpac's new Green Loan will be available from 16 November 2009. It includes no monthly service fees, establishment fee or prepayment fees and it is interest free, repaid over a maximum of four years. Top 4. Last minute rush fuels home loan surge The number of loans issued for the construction of new homes surged again in September, as first home buyers raced to beat the October 1 deadline for the reduction in the First Home Owner Boost. Housing finance commitments for first home buyers saw an increase of 14.5 per cent from August to September. The total number of dwellings financed for owner occupiers, seasonally adjusted, rose by 5.1 per cent in September, to be up 32.7 per cent on September last year. The home building industry looks healthier, with an increase of 8 per cent over the month in the number of loans issued for the construction of new dwellings. This figure is up 83.9 per cent on the same month last year. The total number of seasonally adjusted loans for owner-occupiers (net of refinancing) grew by 6.2 per cent in the month of September 2009 but was up by 44.2 per cent compared to September 2008. The number of loans for `new' dwellings (construction/purchase of new dwellings, combined) grew by 5.5 per cent over the month, to be up 75.8 per cent on the same month last year. The number of loans for the purchase of new dwellings was down just 0.6 per cent over the month to be up 57.5 per cent up on the same time last year. The number of loans for the purchase of established dwellings rose by 5.0 in September, to be up 20.4 per cent on the same time last year. Top 5. They paved paradise... An Irish man has been awarded compensation after his home disappeared under a car park. BBC News UK reported recently that Neville Presho, a film-maker who had purchased the 150-year-old house overlooking a harbour on Tory Island before moving to New Zealand, returned to find no trace of the six-bedroom home. Where the home had previously been, however, lay a car park and a septic tank for a neighbouring hotel. The court heard that an unexplained fire had damaged Mr Presho's home a year prior to his return, and over the following months the rubble was cleared and the new developments made. The judge ruled the hotel's owner should pay the damages and also be liable for costs, entitling Mr Presho to a new house or its equivalent market value. Top 6. Rainy day perspective One of the things we love about rainy days, alongside the puddles and effortless garden watering, is watching the rain running down the windows misshaping the world outside. Holding this sentiment, two minds from design collective Droog have created Windowdrops - transparent `water drops' made from self-adhesive PVC that can be stuck on windows and mirrors, morphing the view and creating interesting reflections. They come in packs of 8 drops, the smallest around 3cm and the largest around 8cm long. Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 06 November 2009 Quote of the Week "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.~ 1. OCR up to 3.5 The Reserve Bank decided this week to raise the official cash rate (OCR) for the second month in a row. The move takes the OCR to 3.5 per cent, adding about $45 to the average monthly payment for a typical 25-year, $300,000 mortgage. In a statement announcing the decision, Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens said that the strong economic conditions in Australia have meant that inflation is not likely to drop as much as previously expected. Higher dwelling activity and public infrastructure spending are also starting to provide more support to spending. Inflation has been declining for the past year, but the Reserve Bank Board expects that both CPI and underlying inflation will be consistent with the target in 2010. "With the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia now having passed, the Board's view is that it is prudent to lessen gradually the degree of monetary stimulus that was put in place when the outlook appeared to be much weaker." Governor Stevens hinted that there might not be further rises in the near future. "The adjustments at the October and November meetings will work to increase the sustainability of growth in economic activity and keep inflation consistent with the target over the years ahead", he said. Top 2. Home prices rise House prices in all capital cities have risen over the past twelve months, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Over the year to September 2009, preliminary estimates show that the price index for established houses for the weighted average of the eight capital cities increased 6.2 per cent. Annually, house prices rose in Darwin (+12.3 per cent), Melbourne (+8.4 per cent), Canberra (+7.8 per cent), Sydney (+5.9 per cent), Brisbane (+5.6 per cent), Hobart (+5.4 per cent), Perth (+4.4 per cent), and Adelaide (+3.7 per cent). The movement in the preliminary established house price index between June quarters 2008 and 2009 has been revised from an estimated decrease of 1.4 per cent to an estimated decrease of 0.7 per cent. Preliminary estimates show the price index for established houses for the weighted average of the eight capital cities increased 4.2 per cent in the September quarter 2009. The established house price index increased by 4.3 per cent in Sydney, 4.7 per cent in Melbourne, 4.4 per cent in Brisbane, 1.7 per cent in Adelaide, 4.5 per cent in Perth, 1.8 per cent in Hobart, 3.4 per cent in Darwin, and 4.3 per cent in Canberra. The movement in the preliminary established house price index between March quarter 2009 and June quarter 2009 has not been revised, showing an estimated increase of 4.2 per cent. Top 3. National Architecture Awards announced Australia's major new arts, theatre and `culture palaces' from Canberra to Melbourne to New York, and the architects who designed them, are among major winners at this year's Australian Institute of Architects' National Architecture Awards. For the first time in four years, Australia's most prestigious residential award returned to Sydney, with the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture/ Houses going to an innovative house on Sydney's northern beaches - the Freshwater House by young Sydney husband and wife team Tony Chenchow and Stephanie Little of Chenchow Little Architects. In describing the project, a four-bedroom home for a young family of five on a small 332 sq m site, the jury commended the design for providing "an outstanding solution for an elevated site, and achieves a private compound, screened from the neighbours, yet open and expansive towards an outdoor lawn terrace, the beach and sea." In a second major win for the couple, Chenchow Little Architects shared the National Award for Small Project Architecture for the Ang House in Sydney's Mosman, with young Victorian firm Bellemo & Cat for their Polygreen House in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote. In a double scoop for fellow young Sydney-based husband and wife team Rachel Neeson and Nick Murcutt of Neeson Murcutt Architecture, the couple received National Awards for Residential Architecture for two strikingly unique houses in NSW and Victoria - the Whale Beach House at Whale Beach in Sydney and Zac's House at Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsular. The Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing was presented to Melbourne-based practice Wood Marsh for the 22-storey Balencia Apartments on St Kilda Road in Melbourne. Of the project, the jury said: "The architects have demonstrated sensitivity, skill and experience in negotiating an impressive balance between the commercial interests of the client, the comfort and amenity of the occupants and architecture's responsibility to the public domain. They have created an exemplary model for sophisticated multiple housing in an urban setting." The Colorbond® Award for Steel Architecture was presented to young Sydney-based architect James Stockwell for the Snowy Mountains House overlooking Lake Jindabyne. "James Stockwell's commission to create a robust, economical house for an extended family carefully addresses issues of climatic extremes, simple maintenance, and sustainable objectives. It has its origins in simple alpine huts and basic ski lodges, but here delivered with a straightforward finesse. The house combines autonomy with reasonable construction cost, minimum maintenance, and good longevity, achieving excellent sustainable credentials." Top 4. Insulation rebate thins out Insulating our homes became more expensive but safer this week, with the reduction of government subsidies and the introduction of new regulations. From November 1, the insulation rebate has been reduced to $1200. Transitional arrangements apply for people who have accepted a quote but are waiting for the work to be done, provided the work is completed by 16 November 2009. Announcing the changes, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said that demand for the rebate in the first four months of the full roll out of the scheme has been significant and is currently running well above projected demand. "More than 500,000 Australian households have already installed ceiling insulation putting them on the path to reductions in their heating and cooling costs of up to 40 per cent", Mr Garrett said. The new safety precautions and consumer protections, which also apply from midnight on Sunday 1 November 2009, include: a ban on metal fasteners for foil insulation such as metal staples or nails mandatory installation of covers over downlights and other ceiling appliances , which have always been commonly used but are not compulsory under Australian Standards a targeted electrical safety inspection program of Queensland homes with foil insulation installed under the program, starting at 10 per cent of installations, with the potential to adjust upwards as results are analysed. From December 1 the Government will also: publish a 'name and shame list' for any business struck from the installer register as a consequence of failure to meet program guidelines including 'dodgy' behaviour a requirement for the provision of two genuinely independent quotes a mandatory requirement that a formal risk assessment be completed for every installation before any installer is allowed to start work. The Minister said the creation of a 'name and shame' list was also an important change to the program guidelines. "Through our audit and compliance program I expect some 6,000 ceilings to have been inspected by the end of November, escalating to 11,000 by the end of the year", he said. "Insulation installers are on notice that we will not hesitate to strike them from the register, take legal action and name and shame them if they are found doing the wrong thing." Mr Garrett added that the two-quote rule will encourage householders to shop around, find a reputable installer that they're comfortable with and get value for money. Top 5. What did you say, sleepyhead? Most of us have woken from a deep sleep sometime with pillow creases imprinted on our face, in which case greeting others is the last thing we want to do. Now a UK-based designer has come up with a way to let your early-morning face speak for you. With the words Good Morning Sweetheart embroidered on a 100 per cent cotton pillow slip to imprint onto your skin as you enjoy those last few Zs, your loved ones can see how you feel even when you're tired and drowsy. Top 6. Vacation with the Jetsons Hotels often lure vacationers by offering out-of-this-world attractions, though not many can claim to be literally out of this world. With the ultimate goal of being the largest chain of space resorts, Galactic Suite has its sights set on launching the very first private space station as an orbital hotel by 2012. According to its website, the entire experience will include an 8-week astronaut training course on a tropical island from where the space ship will launch. After arriving at the outer-space resort, vacationers can enjoy weightlessness, Velcro suits (to help with the weightlessness), showers in a spa room with bubbles of floating water and the experience of orbiting the Earth at 30,000 km/h, completing 15 orbits each day. In simpler terms, travelling around the world in 90 minutes, meaning every 45 minutes you witness the sunrise and sunset. If things go to plan the galactic resort will be up and running by the end of 2012, and it looks like a 3-day vacation will cost just under AU$5M per person. Better start saving! Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 30 October 2009 Quote of the week "You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair." ~Chinese Proverb~ 1. Land prices on the rise The price of land is increasing nationally, according to the latest residential land report released by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and property information and analytics provider, rpdata.com. The HIA-rpdata.com Residential Land Report shows the weighted median price of raw land in Australia increased by 1.1 per cent in the June 2009 quarter to $174,490. Sydney remained the most expensive market with a median price of $255,000, while the most affordable market was Mallee in Victoria with a median price of $70,000. The report shows that median land prices rose for the second consecutive quarter, after declining throughout 2008. The volume of land sales for Australia is also trending higher, with sales up by 1.3 per cent in the June 2009 quarter compared to the same period last year. Of the 40 non-metropolitan areas around Australia reported on for the first time in this report, 25 saw an increase in median land value over the June 2009 quarter. According to Tim Lawless, rpdata.com National Research Director, the effect of land supply constraints are likely to be compounded by ongoing increases in demand for housing. "In raw numbers, population growth is at record levels and Australia's population hasn't increased this fast since the baby boom", Lawless said. "The latest population projections released by Treasury suggest the rate of population growth in Australia is not likely to let up any time soon." Lawless suggested that this fact alone should spark policy makers to act sooner rather than later with regards to instigating a more proactive and strategic land release program. Top 2. Buying a home not so scary Halloween can be for many people a time for scary films, eerie pumpkin carvings and lolly-seeking children dressed up as ghosts and goblins. In the midst of a busy Spring property season and with so much `spook' about, it's understandable if you find buying your first property frightening. Property ownership need not be scary, as long as you take the time to research your options, prepare yourself for the lifestyle change - emotionally and financially - and think through each decision before finally committing yourself, according to national mortgage broker Mortgage Choice. Senior corporate affairs manager Kristy Sheppard says it is also important to remember that a property purchase provides you with an asset. So, while accruing the related debt may be daunting, you're actually adding to your long-term financial wealth. "There are no real tricks to achieving property ownership; it's hard work but many Australians will vouch the treat is well worth it", Ms Sheppard says. "To put the `scariness' into perspective, the top five concerns for first homebuyers aiming to purchase this year, according to our 2009 Mortgage Choice First Homebuyer Survey, were the length it takes to pay off a home loan, the fear of not being able to afford repayments, the concern of being committed to such a large financial obligation for such a long time, the amount of money repaid by the end of the loan term and buying the wrong home." "These are all valid concerns, especially when considering imminent rate rises, widespread pay increase freezes, high migration figures and the pressure of supply versus increasing demand", Ms Sheppard said. "Yet, undertaking thorough research while seeking professional knowledge and support can help ensure nothing scary comes your way." She suggests asking all the necessary questions before you are locked in; careful research will help you understand what those questions are. This may involve searching the web, talking to friends and family about the purchase decision and your mortgage choices and seeking professional finance advice. If you're still in doubt about your ability to repay a mortgage on your own, consider purchasing with a friend, partner or family member. The survey found that an increasing number of first time buyers were looking to purchase with someone else to ease the financial obligation. "Make sure, however, that you consult professional legal advice to understand the roles and responsibilities of each party before committing yourself", Ms Sheppard advises. This Halloween, Mortgage Choice offers these handy treats to help make buying your first property a rewarding experience. Research all that you can but save yourself valuable time by embracing new media - online forums and social networking sites are a great place to ask questions and gather firsthand accounts of the pitfalls and benefits. Set up a great savings plan early on so you don't feel overwhelmed or rushed to scrape together a deposit when you find your ideal home. Challenge yourself to save as much as you can within a timeframe; this will give you a clear goal post and help you to create a good savings habit. A small treat here and there is a good reward for staying on track. Practice making loan repayments ahead of time. Visit a reputable mortgage broker to help you figure out what your weekly/fortnightly/monthly repayments would be and budget accordingly so when the time comes it's no real financial surprise. Be organised with your paperwork. Set up a folder to collect all of the documents you'll need for applying for a home loan so when the time comes you're not rushing around searching for that important piece of paper. Documents such as passports, bank statements, recent pay slips or tax returns, plus written details about assets, liabilities and any other income will all be required. You don't have to do this on your own. Forty-one per cent of all new Australian home loans are written through a mortgage broker. Offering a step-by-step guide to the mortgage market, they can help reduce your apprehension and empower you to make the right move. Top 3. Make your renovation a winner Renovating a property for sale can appear to be a trump card, but homeowners have been advised this week to study the deck before judging the strength of their hand. Building advisory service Archicentre suggests homeowners who are considering renovating their homes on the strength of predictions of a dramatic jump in property values over the next few years take a conservative approach to avoid over-capitalising. David Hallett, Victorian State Manager of Archicentre says that while design, budgets and cost controlling are not at the sexy end of renovation, these are the things that are more likely to return value on renovation projects. "More than half of all Australians renovate at some point in their lives with the hope of generating extra non-taxable income when they sell the family home, the principal place of residence", Mr Hallett says. "If home owners get the renovation design wrong they can end up spending tens of thousands of dollars to devalue their home or reduce its market appeal." He cited the example of the young couple who turned a three-bedroom home into a `two-bedder' by building a new large bathroom and walk-in robe at great cost. "When the couple called the real estate agent to sell the property they were stunned to find the removal of the third bedroom had devalued their property by between 10-15 per cent as they had made it unmarketable to families with more than one child - thus a large part of the market." Mr Hallett said renovators who pour money into expensive fittings such as taps, benchtops and whitegoods in the kitchen and bathroom areas can find they add little or no extra value to the sale of the home, cutting into the financial return. Archicentre is urging caution for homeowners to ensure they maximise their profit return by doing their homework and not bank on forecasts of property values. "For many cashed up home owners the renovation of the family home is often the last roll of the dice to substantially increase their wealth in retirement by investing in the family home, which becomes a tax free investment when ultimately sold." "With a quarter of Australia's population expected to be 65 or more by 2047, the use of equity in the family home to boost retirement funding through renovation has become an important national wealth creation strategy as well as underpinning jobs." Mr Hallett urged home owners who are considering renovating as a way of generating savings or boosting their retirement funds to make sure they do their homework on the design of the renovation, cost, tendering and management of the project. "Undertaking a renovation is like running a small business by dealing with the many suppliers, tradespersons, and gathering the materials, fixtures and fittings", he said. Archicentre recently polled its membership of over 800 architects on what requests their clients were making to improve their homes through renovation. This is what they found: Kitchen Trends * Drawers not cupboards 81.7% * Large island benches 77.2% * Walk-in pantries 58.0% * Concealing appliances 50.2% * Colourful splashbacks 35.6% * Computer data points 22.8% * Concealed food preparation area 20.5% Master Bedroom Trends * En suite 93.2% * Walk-in-robe 85.4% * Deck or balconies 57.5% * Study 28.8% * Freestanding furniture (sofas) 17.8% * Bidet 7.3% Bathroom Trends * Frameless showers 80.8% * Double basins 54.8% * Separate powder rooms 50.2% * Baths 48.4% * Double showers 37.9% * Concealed cisterns 37.0% * Heated floor 37.0% * Free-standing baths 30.1% * Views of internal courtyard 28.8% * Spa baths 13.7% Top 4. What's the buzz about? The sweet taste of honey, the sound of Spring or a sharp and painful sensation brought on by a sting - we all have particular associations when we think of bees. As pollinators, however, bees play a major role in multi-billion dollar industries all over the world, as well as a critical role in the way our ecosystem thrives. Australia has over 1,500 species of native bees that live in a wide variety of nest sites, which unfortunately can be destroyed through landscaping and careless gardening. The good news is there are things you can do at home to help the buzzing little workers thrive, like cultivating flowers and plants suitable for bees, providing them with a healthy environment in which to exist. We tend to pay close attention to the plants we personally want and don't want in our gardens (such as "weeds"). However, animals and insects aren't so picky - even weeds will at times provide pollen and nectar, so before you go clearing them out, consider removing them after their flowers are spent (but before they go to seed). If you really want to help out nature's pollinators - not just bees, but butterflies, flies, wasps and beetles also perform the function - plan your garden to include a range of plants that will offer pollen and nectar throughout the year. Plant or encourage the growth of plants native to your area, as native bees will automatically have a stronger attraction to them. They particularly like eucalypts, grevilleas, callistemons and melaleucas, amongst many others, though they also like non-native plants like roses. Some of the best non-native plants to encourage an increase of bee activity around your garden are herbs such as borage, basil, lavender, hyssop or rosemary or flowers such as Zinnia, Wallflower, Globe thistle or Cotoneaster. If you can avoid using pesticides, do, or aim for one with low levels of toxins, and keep bees in mind while you're planting - they will need shelter from strong winds, and have been found to prefer warmer sunlit spots to shaded areas. According to the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, bees come in a great range of colours and sizes, from a tiny 2mm to 24mm. Some have furry overcoats while others are smooth and shiny like a stainless steel kettle. During these warmer months, you have a good chance of seeing native bees anywhere in Australia. Bees nest in habitats as diverse as tree hollows, underground burrows or inside plant stems. Native bees that you are most likely to see include: Stingless Social Bees (Trigona and Austroplebeia) Australia's own native honeybees can be found building resinous nests inside hollow trees. They store their aromatic honey in tiny pots. Leafcutter Bees (Megachile) Many gardeners first discover leafcutter bees when they notice the neat circular pieces that the bees have cut away from the edges of leaves. The bees weave these leaf pieces making tiny cells for their young. Blue Banded Bees (Amegilla) These bees love visiting purple flowers such as native peas. Teddy Bear Bees (Amegilla) These fat bees can be found nesting in shallow burrows in the soil. Reed Bees (Exoneura) Reed bees make a habit of nesting in dried stems of a number of plants including tree ferns and the dead canes of lantana. When these plants are removed from gardens or bushland people often don't realise they are destroying the colonies of these bees. Check for nests and relocate them before removing. DID YOU KNOW? European honeybees collect 90% of available nectar and pollen but pollinate only about 5% of our plants. Native bee honey called Sugarbag has a unique, tangy flavour. Not all bees sting. In fact, most Australian bees don't. Most Australian bees are solitary. Of the 2000 species of native bees, only 10 are social and form hives. Top 5. Out of the big house, into the fire Choose wisely the people you live with, as the wrong combination of people can make your home feel less like a safe house and more like a prison. An Italian man recently opted to return to prison than serve out his term under house arrest arguing with his wife, Reuters reports. Santo Gambino had already served time in prison for dumping hazardous waste before being transferred to house arrest, but found it more peaceful on the inside. When Gambino went to the local police station and asked to be put away again, police charged him with violating the conditions of his sentence and made him go home to patch things up with his wife. Top 6. A new bathroom page-turner Sharing a house with friends or family can save lots of money and keep things lively, though a shared fridge, sink and toilet seat can raise points of tension. The book may have been re-written on the latter with Toilet Pages, a concept from an Italian designer that offers a set of individual wafer-thin seats for each member of the house, with a bookmark-style tab on the side to tell whose is whose. Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 23 October 2009 Quote of the Week "When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters--one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity." ~John F. Kennedy~ 1. House prices to grow by 20 per cent The strong housing market activity in late 2009 is set to continue into 2010 with ongoing positive incentives for property investors and `upgrader' to enter the market, according to a new report released by QBE Lenders' Mortgage Insurance (QBE LMI). The latest LMI Housing Outlook 2010 - 2012 (researched and written by BIS Shrapnel) confirms that current low interest rates have helped to alleviate the mortgage pressure on households while bringing housing affordability back to its most attractive level for almost a decade. Prices at the top end of the market have fallen more than the medians, giving home owners the opportunity to trade up to their next dwelling after selling their current house into the buoyant first home buyer market. Furthermore, the strong rental environment and stabilisation of house prices are favourable factors for property investors to also come back into the market. Ian Graham, CEO of QBE LMI, said that the outlook for the housing market is also positive for those who have recently entered the market, particularly first home buyers. "Low interest rates, solid growth in rents and housing shortages will create favourable conditions for a strong recovery in residential property prices in the second half of 2010, through to 2012", Mr Graham said. "Double digit house price growth is forecast across all capital cities from June 2009 to June 2012, particularly in those markets with positive affordability (Adelaide +23 per cent) and a continuing undersupply of housing (Sydney +21 per cent and Melbourne +19 per cent)." The report forecasts that prices in Brisbane could grow by up to 15 per cent as moderate economic conditions offset the affordability advantage. Lower growth is projected for Perth (+12 per cent), influenced by a decline in investment in the resource sector after the record levels seen in recent years. "Despite a 0.25 per cent rate rise in the first week of October, housing interest rates are expected to remain at a stimulatory level for some time, with the low interest rate environment remaining supportive of the first home buyer", Mr Graham said. "Demand from first home buyers is expected to continue, notwithstanding the expiration of the First Home Owner Grant Boost Scheme in December 2009." Top 2. Not there yet New home building fell in the June 2009 quarter, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Seasonally adjusted work done on new residential dwellings fell by 1.2 per cent in the June 2009 quarter to an annualised worth of $33.2 billion, 6.5 per cent down on a year earlier. Work done on detached houses fell by 1.8 per cent over the June quarter to be worth $22.3 billion in annualised terms. Work done on `other residential building' was essentially flat at an annualised $10.9 billion. Seasonally adjusted new residential work commenced in the June 2009 quarter fell by 7.4 per cent to an anualised $32.3 billion. Housing Industry Association Chief Economist, Dr Harley Dale said that while 2009/10 should be a healthier year for new residential construction, there is still likely to be a shortage of new dwelling stock. "We are on the cusp of a moderate recovery in new home starts and that should feed through to a positive year for new dwelling investment in 2009/10", Dale said. "However, the sixth consecutive decline in the worth of dwelling commencements in the June 2009 quarter highlights that dwelling investment isn't turning the corner yet. "There are a number of factors likely to constrain the increase in new housing supply over the next 18 months, including projects bogged down in the approvals process and lack of available finance", he added. "These factors suggest that the pressure lower income rental households face from tight rental market conditions will remain with us for some time to come." The weakness in seasonally adjusted new residential work done in the June 2009 quarter was primarily reflected in Queensland where activity fell by 13.6 per cent. New residential work done fell by 1.8 per cent in South Australia, by 0.4 per cent in New South Wales and by 0.2 per cent in Western Australia. New residential work done increased by 5.5 per cent in Victoria and was up by 5.6 per cent in Tasmania, 27.8 per cent in the Australian Capital Territory and 48.6 per cent in the Northern Territory. Top 3. Debunking bushfire bunkers Consumers must carefully examine representations made about fire bunkers before they buy, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman, Graeme Samuel, warned this week. The ACCC is concerned that some web-based advertising may have given consumers the impression that there was an Australian Standard for bushfire bunkers which their product met. "The simple fact is that there is currently no Australian Standard for bushfire bunkers", Mr Samuel said. The ACCC raised concerns with three traders who had made claims about compliance with standards linked to products such as septic tanks or concrete structures. After the ACCC's approach, the traders promptly removed the representations and are in discussions with the ACCC with the best way to correct any misleading impression given. "Consumers obtain a high level of comfort from claims that products meet Australian standards," Mr Samuel said. "The ACCC is conscious that residents in bushfire prone areas are deciding now about how to protect themselves during the fire season. "In view of this the ACCC moved to investigate the issue and obtained the prompt withdrawal of the representations." Before making decisions in relation to the best means of protecting themselves from the risk of fire or the possible installation of a fire bunker, consumers should talk to experts in the field. The Australian Building Codes Board has recently begun work on a national standard for the design and construction of bushfire bunkers for personal use. The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission is also considering making interim recommendations in relation to regulation of bushfire bunkers. Top 4. No kidding when it comes to child safety With warm weather on the way, nature is calling young and old alike to venture outdoors. The mature among us are fairly well-equipped to look after ourselves, however when there are children around it's always best to take safety precautions and keep an eye on them at all times, especially in the vicinity of a swimming pool. Monday the 26th October is National Kidsafe Day, which coincides with Childrens' Week, providing a great opportunity to increase awareness of unintentional childhood injuries and ways they can be prevented. If you or the neighbours have a pool, some good points to remember are - According to the Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia, home swimming pools are the most common site for accidental drowning of children under the age of 4. The good news is many of these accidents can be prevented. There are a number of security features that can be added to home swimming pools to help make them safer. Pool alarms are one safety item that is becoming popular with homeowners in the United States. In fact, pool alarm sales in the USA have doubled since 1994. When used properly, pool alarms can alert a homeowner if a child enters the water accidentally. Although alarms vary, generally electronic sensors trigger a loud signal both inside the home and around the pool area alerting others that something has entered the water. Pool alarms can either be fitted to the edge of the pool or left floating in the water. Many home owners are starting to use powered safety covers that are like a garage door going across the pool. They are very secure and if a child accidentally falls on the cover, they are not likely to penetrate it. In many States and Territories, Kidsafe will be participating in local Children's Week events as well as running activities. For more information, visit kidsafeday.com.au. Top 5. The good, the bad, and the eccentric Would you fancy living in a lighthouse? Or perhaps a superhero lair like the Batcave? What about a replica castle with a drawbridge and dungeon? Not what most of us want, perhaps. Yet these and more have been designed and built by architects and contractors in the United States, resulting in some weird albeit intriguing homes available on the market. With their curiosity piqued, Forbes Magazine teamed up with a collection of US real estate agencies to uncover some of the strangest homes on the US market at the moment. One home that explodes off the list is the Volcano House. Located in Newberry Springs, California, from a distance the house looks like a spaceship that crash-landed in the desert, charring the surrounding hillside. In reality the home is more in this world than out of it, as the dome like structure is built into the top of a real volcanic peak. It is listed at around AU$807,500. Another even more secretive abode is the Batcave - an angular, jutting Laguna Beach CA estate built into a cliff-side that's almost completely hidden from the road by the mountainous surrounds. Listed at around $12,765,000, it's a fair guess to say the name comes from the entry to the lair, which, just like Batman's, is accessed by driving through a hidden tunnel and ascending into the home (while still in your car) on a hydraulic lift. For the perpetual rolling stone with a desire to own a home, Apartment at Sea is a residential community at sea, giving luxury homeowners a chance to travel the world without sacrificing the high-end surroundings they're used to. More elaborate and exclusive than a cruise ship, the boat encourages owners to design their own "apartments" - while they may gather no moss, there is a risk of barnacles. Apartments range from $1.5M to $14.5M. Also among the weird and wonderful homes that made it onto the list is Red Rock Drive Castle, a dentist's 30 year-old castle in Maine. With turrets, a drawbridge and dungeon, it is listed for $3.77M. Another, Riverfront Playground, has almost every amenity its designers could dream up, including a wedding chapel, a seashell-shaped pool, an orchestra-sized amphitheatre, a 1950s ice cream parlor and an Egyptian-themed lavatory that features a faux sphinx and tomb. It is listed for almost $15M. Top 6. Identified Firing Object The months surrounding the holiday season are often filled with outdoor activities, with friends and family around for a BBQ, party or just a quiet al fresco meal. For the chillier evenings, UFO outdoor fireplaces are an out-of-this-world source of warm mood-lighting. And they come in environmental peace. Finished in mineral stone, the sleek UFO-shaped burner uses natural plant alcohol, so there's no carbon residue, vapours or smoke. Top

Latest Property News from Ted Hanson

Friday 16 October 2009 Quote of the Week "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." ~Earl Nightingale~ 1. Investment housing finance rises Investors are moving in to fill the gaps being left as first home buyer numbers decrease, according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In seasonally adjusted terms, the total value of dwelling finance commitments excluding alterations and additions increased 0.7 per cent. An increase was recorded in investment housing commitments, up 7.6 per cent, while owner occupied housing commitments fell 1.7 per cent. First home owners represented 24.9 per cent of the total number of finance commitments in August, down from the high of 28.5 per cent in May. This is the lowest result in nine months. Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) President David Airey pointed out this week that the number of loans to first home buyers is now similar to that in December 2008, two months after the First Home Owners Grant Boost (FHOG Boost) was announced. "This is an indicator of what can be expected between now and the end of the year, as the FHOG Boost is phased out", Mr Airey said. "We continue to see investors filling the gap left by first home buyers with the value of investment housing commitments up 7.6 per cent", he added. The number of finance commitments for new housing increased by 4.6 per cent for the construction of new dwellings and 4.9 per cent for the purchase of new dwellings in seasonally adjusted terms. The REIA suggests this indicates the Government stimulus for the construction industry is working, although a slightly lagged response. Loans for owner occupied housing decreased in most states and territories, with the exception of ACT, SA and VIC. The decrease in the number of loans was not so great as that observed in July 2009, when the number of loans decreased by 2.8 per cent. 2. Construction activity resumes: Australian PCI® Stronger demand in the housebuilding sector has driven the national construction industry back into positive growth in September 2009 following 18 months of contraction, according to the latest Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®). The seasonally adjusted Australian PCI® rose by 8.4 points to 50.8, to be above the critical 50 points level for the first time since February 2008. By industry sector, growth was confined to house building where the rate of growth in activity increased to its highest level since December 2007. The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) Associate Director, Economics and Research, Tony Pensabene, said the results provide further encouraging signs of an improvement in the industry from the extreme weakness reported at the start of the year. "Underlying the move into positive territory in September was house building activity, which expanded for a third consecutive month on the back of low interest rates and the stimulus from the First Home Owners Grant both of which are now in reverse", Mr Pensabene said. "Moreover, while the pace in decline in new orders eased, it is clear that weak conditions persist in the apartment, engineering and commercial construction sectors." The results show that industry conditions remain tough overall with companies facing intense competition to secure new contracts amid the on-going difficulties of tight credit conditions and poor investor sentiment. "While this persists, growth will be held back and conditions are likely to remain fragile," Mr Pensabene warned. Key findings for September include: Total industry activity moved from negative territory to a position of stabilisation. House building exhibited solid improvement in September, signalling the third consecutive month of growth in housing output. New orders (seasonally adjusted) increased in September, although overall growth was at a modest level. Employment expanded in September as an increased number of firms adjusted capacity to accommodate higher workload requirements. 3. Keeping the roof on We all know we need to look after our bodies in order to live longer, yet we often forget that our homes also require maintenance over time. While things like cracking paint, peeling wallpaper or squeaking doors are easily noticed and repaired, other areas of the house such as the roof can be overlooked - until it springs a leak, or a possum makes a new home there. So how do you know when to repair the roof, restore it or replace it altogether? Leaves and foliage left to pile up on the roof and in gutters can cause rotting and in turn lead to leaks or structural damage, so the first and easiest step in roof maintenance would have to be keeping an eye on the gutters and on overhanging trees. If your roof is in generally good condition, you may be able to save a considerable amount by only repairing the particular areas that need attention. If you do decide to repair, remember to take into account what the replacement tiles look like and where you can get them from, as similar tiles are often unavailable or difficult to match, and the "patchwork" look may not be for everyone. Restoring your roof involves repairing the damaged materials on your roof and removing lichen and moss with a chemical spray treatment. You may wish to have a professional do the job for you, or at least have one inspect your roof to check if a pressure hose could do further damage. If your roof is just beyond repair, or you are looking to alter or change the material, a full roof replacement may be in order. Also, if you are renovating or extending your home, it can be worthwhile to replace the entire roof to keep continuity throughout the house. 4. An alarm you won't want to miss House fires aren't the type of thing you want to sleep through. A US man whose home caught on fire and partially collapsed early one morning this week slept through the entire ordeal, only to be awakened when fire-fighters were doing a walk-through of the home 2 1/2 hours later, the Pittsburgh Post reported recently. The early morning blaze was so out of control when firefighters arrived, they were unable to gain access to the home for two hours. Firemen inspecting the house after the flames had died down were alarmed to find a man sleeping in a bedroom. Perhaps not as alarmed as the newly woken man, who appeared to have no idea what was going on. No one else was harmed in the blaze, though fire-fighters were baffled at how the man had survived. When it comes to house fires, we aren't all so lucky to escape unharmed, and that's where smoke alarms come in handy. As we edge closer to summer, it's a good time to check and even replace your current ones. When purchasing smoke alarms, be sure they have been certified as meeting the requirements of the Australian Standard and carry the Standards Australia Tick Mark. There are two main types of alarms available, and it's helpful to know what the main differences are. Ionisation alarms detect the presence of large quantities of very small particles entering the ionisation chamber, which when in sufficient quantity will cause an alarm to sound. They are more responsive to fires that start as, or quickly escalate into a flaming stage. This type of fire often produces less visible smoke. Ionisation smoke alarms are prone to nuisance alarms from cooking (toasters, open grillers, birthday cake candles and the like) and should not be installed near kitchens. Photoelectric alarms have a chamber with a light source and visible smoke entering the chamber makes the light scatter (like the dust in the air in a sunbeam of light), and in sufficient quantity will make the alarm sound. These alarms are superior to ionisation smoke alarms in detecting the visible smoke produced by smoldering fires. Most residential dwelling fires, whether flaming or smoldering, tend to produce large amounts of visible smoke. Photoelectric smoke alarms should be installed in sleeping areas and paths of travel to sleeping areas. 5. Top tips for saving water Next week is National Water Week, which seems like the perfect time to look at reducing water usage around our homes. If you have a garden, mulch it well to reduce evaporation by up to 70 per cent and fill it with native plants such as grevilleas. They don't need a lot of water, flower all year and attract bees and birds. If you don't have a garden, reduce the time you spend in the shower and check taps for drips - a leaking tap can waste up to 20,000 litres of water a year. 6. Soaking up good vibes And during Water Week, what could be more relaxing than kicking back in a nice warm bath, listening to your favourite music? In an innovative new design from Kohler, VibrAcoustic bathtubs create an environment of harmony and vibration. Built-in panels broadcast sound waves through the water and resound in your body, while colour-changing lights perform chromatherapy functions; and if that's not enough, the DTV-Bath interface that controls all the features will let you program your own favourite playlist or choose a radio station.