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REINSW releases finalists for 2017 Awards for Excellence

The Real Estate Institute of New South Wales has released the finalists for its 20th annual REINSW Awards for Excellence.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Politics

Solution to Martin Place homeless camp elusive as government brings in new laws

Uncertainty still surrounds the controversial 'tent city' in Sydney's Martin Place, though new laws are being introduced by the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, that will allow the government to intervene.

New South Wales (NSW)Sydney

Featured Property

Designer, north-to-rear Paddington terrace with views of Trumper Park

A flawless designer renovation has transformed this classic 1890s Victorian terrace into a haven of light and cutting-edge luxury. For sale through Simon Doak, Craig Rajczyk, and Stephen Jones of 1st City Real Estate Double Bay.

National

The Economy

New rules mean lenders see 'positive data' when assessing loans

At last some good news for first-home buyers: new rules are being fast tracked to provide lenders with greater access to 'positive data' about borrowers, potentially making it easier for first-home buyers, who may not have a long credit history, to have their loans approved.

National

Construction

Aerial imagery reveals Australia's growing population

Australia’s population is booming, with some regions growing by more than 50 per cent over the last five years.

Queensland (Qld)Brisbane

Design

Council reveals designs for $18m Brisbane River moorings

Brisbane City Council plans to build ten new moorings on the Brisbane River, opening up access to the central waterway and improving connectivity in the city.

Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

Featured Property

From creche to contemporary Carlton pad

A first-floor apartment in the building that previously housed Melbourne's first crèche is for sale through Andrew Lusi and Terri Thompson of Woodards Carlton.

National New South Wales (NSW)Sydney Victoria (Vic.)Melbourne

The Economy

Twenty per cent of Newcastle sales from Sydney buyers: PRDnationwide

Newcastle real estate is benefiting from new transport infrastructure and Sydney affordability pressures, says John Church of PRDnationwide Newcastle.

International

People

Beyoncé and Jay-Z buy over-the-top Bel Air mansion

Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been long-term renters in Los Angeles, but are plunging into the market with the purchase of a $113 million Bel Air mansion, billed the most expensive sale of the year.

National

People

Get to know Lisa Merkesteyn, architect at Carter Williamson

Lisa Merkesteyn, project director of Carter Williamson Architects, talks to SCHWARTZWILLIAMS about her love of architecture, and about growing interest in 'green' buildings.

Pages

News Roundup

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/01/oregon-tiny-houses-solution-homelessness?utm_source=The%20Shortlist%20Daily&utm_campaign=bc4dfa054a-The_Shortlist_Daily_02_April_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7870ce0889-bc4dfa054a-302919405

Can Oregon's tiny houses be part of the solution to homelessness?

As we walk around the neat, colourful collection of tiny houses in Opportunity Village, sitting on an acre of grassy city land in Eugene, Oregon, it’s clear that the problem he’s trying to solve is not homelessness as such: it’s housing.

The Guardian

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/australias-shortlist-of-venice-architecture-biennale-entries-revealed-20150402-1mdat0.html

Australia's shortlist of Venice Architecture Biennale entries revealed

The shortlist of proposals for the Australian exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale has been announced, with entrants vying for the chance to be part of the inaugural exhibition in the new Denton Corker Marshall-designed Australian Pavilion.

The Sydney Morning Herald

http://architectureau.com/articles/ken-maher-elected-new-national-president-of-the-institute/?utm_source=ArchitectureAU&utm_campaign=d8712b7b1e-AAU_2015_04_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3604e2a4a-d8712b7b1e-40540417&mc_cid=d8712b7b1e&mc_eid=d865be39ad

Ken Maher elected 2016 national president of AIA

The Australian Institute of Architects National Council has elected Ken Maher as the 2016 national president at its first meeting for 2015 on 18 and 19 March in Melbourne. Maher is winner of the 2009 Gold Medal and a Life Fellow of the Institute.

Architecture AU

http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/queenslands-peak-real-estate-has-announced-a-major-cull-in-cost-saving-measure/story-fndbalka-1227287426960

REIQ pulls out of REIA

After weeks of denials, Queensland’s peak real estate industry body has finally confirmed it has pulled out of the national umbrella and the Real Estate Institute of Queensland has sold its online property portal to RealEstateView — a firm owned real estate institutes in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

news.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/29/realestate/the-passive-house-in-new-york-city.html?hpw&rref=realestate&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Passive houses on the rise in New York

It was less than a decade ago that a building design philosophy from Germany called “passive house” jumped the Atlantic Ocean and quietly took root in Brooklyn. Now, with a few dozen homes and small projects built or retrofitted to this still exotic standard, passive buildings appear poised to enter New York City’s housing market in a much bigger way.

The New York Times

http://www.wsj.com/articles/architect-homes-streamlined-yet-sophisticated-1427389096?tesla=y

Architects' homes are often simple

Many luxury buyers seek homes with complicated floor plans, high-end finishes and the latest technology. But architects’ homes are often simple, sophisticated structures that merely look expensive.

The Wall Street Journal

http://architectureau.com/articles/design-competition-for-the-worlds-most-remote-island/?utm_source=ArchitectureAU&utm_campaign=633d4c81ad-AAU_2015_04_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e3604e2a4a-633d4c81ad-40540417&mc_cid=633d4c81ad&mc_eid=d865be39ad

Design competition for the world’s most remote island

The Royal Institute of British Architects has launched an ideas competition for the future development of the remotest inhabited island in the world. Tristan da Cunha is a self-governing British overseas territory, made up of four islands, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Architecture & Design

http://www.afr.com/personal-finance/get-set-for-39-per-cent-interest-rates-on-home-loans-as-rba-likely-to-cut-again-20150401-1mam5s

3.9 per cent interest rates on home loans on the way

An April cut would push deposit rates below the essential 3 per cent threshold where savers think they can still cover inflation or their cost of living in a near risk-free asset class. It will also open the door to 3.9 per cent "special" home loan rates, with fixed-rate products offering the cheapest deals as the yield curve prices in a terminal RBA cash rate that is less than 1.6 per cent, or almost two standard cuts below 2 per cent.

The Australian Financial Review