News Bulletin
On a roll…
In property news this week, confidence rises as prices soar; housing loans up for investors; and a hole in the wall that dispenses gold bars…
Riding the property wave
Australians in all states now feel house prices are headed higher, new research shows.
The latest Bankwest/Mortgage and Finance Association Home Finance (MFAA) Index shows three quarters of Australians (76 per cent) believe prices will rise in the current quarter.
Investors committed
Investors were the only ones taking out more housing loans during March this year, according to figures released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The data shows that the value of lending to buy investment housing rose by 3.0 per cent in March, to be up 24.0 per cent on a year ago.
Think brick, quick
Think Brick Australia is calling for last-minute entries into the Horbury Hunt 2010 Award.
Recognising architectural innovation and outstanding brick craftsmanship in built projects, the Horbury Hunt Award is one of three competitions that comprise the Think Brick Awards 2010.
Take a break, borrowers
Nice to see that the Reserve Bank Board has indicated that there may not be further rate rises in the immediate future.
ATM for billionaires
How is it that we can get gold leafing, yet still can't grow a gold tree in the backyard? While a money-tree and golden-egg-laying goose may be far on the mythical horizon, a real-life hole in the wall that dispenses gold bars is just beyond ours.
If it was going to be anywhere, surely Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Hotel was the place - boasting to be the most luxurious hotel in the United Arab Emirates, the elite hotel has raised the bar by installing a gold-dispensing ATM.
According to the UK Telegraph, the machine is coated with a thin layer of gold and offers customers 320 items to choose from, ranging from gold bars that can weigh up to 10 grams, to customised gold coins. A computer system updates every 10 minutes to keep the price in check with international markets.
Seat with a view
Imagine having a view of snow-covered, rocky mountains and icy-fresh waterfalls in the living room - even if you're living in an inner-city apartment.
Presented at Milan Design Week last year, innovative designer Gaetano Pesce's Montanara range of furniture brings the view right onto the couch, literally, by creating the illusion of a mountain scene, complete with rushing waterfalls and jagged mountain peaks.