State governments frequently offer bonuses to people building new homes or buying their first property, but many have strict deadlines attached. Property Observer has a useful state-by-state listing of current schemes and their expiry dates which is worth checking out if you’re looking into your first home. More »
There are already iPhone and Android apps from Realestate.com.au (one of the two main players in the Australian online real estate market). The site has now updated its iOS app to include iPad-specific features including “magazine-style” browsing and the ability to see property details and search results on a single page. More »
We’ve talked up the merits of practicing savings and investment strategies in a simulator before, but many online simulators aren’t geared particularly to Australian conditions. Investorville, developed by the Commonwealth Bank and designed to demonstrate some of the challenges of investing in property, is an exception. More »
Following the release of realestate.com.au’s Android app, Fairfax has launched its own real estate app – its first contribution to the Android Market – and it’s as well designed and fully featured as you’d expect. More »
Around here, we don’t like Android apps that look like cheap and lazy bookmarks. Fortunately, realestate.com.au’s new Android app doesn’t fall into that category, offering a well-integrated experience if you’re looking for a property to buy or rent. More »
When we reported Google’s withdrawal of its Maps-based real estate search, commenters pointed to Suburb View as a useful alternative. With options to search for places to buy or rent in any Australian location, it’s definitely a useful tool to have on hand when house-hunting. More »
From February 10, Google will dump its real estate listings search on Google Maps, a decision it attributes to low usage and planned changes to its coding system. It sounds like not too many people will miss it (and rival real estate sites are doubtless cheering), but it’s a reminder that even a company as apparently dominant as Google can’t succeed in every market it tries. [Google Australia Blog]
Everyone wants to get the top dollar for their home, but setting a high price and expecting potential buyers to haggle you down to a reasonable one is a sure-fire way to scare them off before they even contact you. More »
We looked at Home Price History, an online resource where people can share pricing information about properties and help plan their real estate searches, back in 2008. The basic functions of the site are still the same, but it has recently added an option to keep any information you enter private. More »
