Property

THE Royal Australian Institute of Architects WA chapter has successfully convinced the Commonwealth Government to designate 2004 as the Year of the Built Environment.

In part six of an eight-part series on development, Tracey Cook explores what tools are used in the industry to manage the inevitable risk that comes with development projects.

IMAGINE a building material that has all the strength of cement but weighs 25 per cent less and is waterproof, heat resistant and chemical resistant.

PROPERTY Council executive director Joe Lenzo has criticised the State Government for relying on a high number of property transactions to fund essential services.

With over 65s likely to represent 22 per cent of Western Australia’s population by the year 2031, retirement village development is a rapidly expanding industry, as Tracey Cook reports.

In this week’s report on development Tracey Cook looks at pre-commitment.

THE 100-metre setback guideline for all development in the State Government’s new coastal planning policy has received a mixed response from the property development industry.

WITH the lifestyle themes becoming more important in the marketing of residential estates, it is common for these developments to be built around recreational facilities such as golf courses, ornamental lakes or marinas.

WESTERN Australia’s system of ministerial planning appeals has ended and a more transparent and accountable system has been implemented.

Driven by different economic factors, investment into commercial and residential developments tends to follow a cyclical pattern.

A PRIME Fremantle property situated on the corner of Queen and Cantonment streets will be auctioned on June 4 2003.

AFTER years of lacklustre growth and playing second fiddle to southern regional centres, the Mid-West regional city of Geraldton is experiencing a change in fortunes. And investors are beginning to take note.

In this week’s instalment on property development, Tracey Cook looks at getting approval and finding finance.

THE old saying that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ is never truer than when applied to property developers and heritage buildings.

MORTGAGE broker, Mortgage Choice has recorded a growth of 34 per cent in Western Australian home loan approvals for the March quarter 2003, compared with the same period in 2002.

HOME construction is becoming an increasingly attractive option as the median house price pushes through the $200,000 mark, with growing numbers of Perth investors sinking their money into house and land packages.

IN general terms a ‘developer’ is considered to be an investor in property, whether it be a construction company that also undertakes its own development projects, or a property assets trust developing a recent acquisition.

A REPORT by FPD Savills has estimated a 14 per cent level of overall vacancy in the CBD by the start of 2004.

CONTINUED strong growth is forecast for the Greater Bunbury region during the next decade.

In the final part of a series on the real estate industry, Tracey Cook examines the work of property valuers.

A RECENT economic impact report has highlighted the State’s billion-dollar land development industry as a major employment generator and contributor to the economy.

They may not be popular in WA but auctions offer benefits to both vendors and buyers, as Tracey Cook reports.

THE rapid pace of technological change has presented building managers and property developers with a new dilemma – what technology infrastructure should they implement?

A RECENT court ruling in New South Wales may have an effect on land valuations in built-up Perth suburbs such as Cottesloe and Mosman Park.

THE construction of Exmouth Marina Village is already delivering benefits to the local economy, with LandCorp estimating about 20 per cent of the contracts value was flowing back

PLANNING and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has appointed Peter McGowan, a barrister who has specialised in planning law, as the new chair of the Town Planning Appeal

In this week’s look at the real estate industry Tracey Cook ponders the question that has the commercial office market guessing.

WORK has commenced on the Subiaco Sustainable Demonstration Home, an environmentally friendly display home in the heart of Subiaco Centro.

INCREASING numbers of tenants are calling on professional services to help them negotiate a better commercial lease.

THE housing and renovation industry accounted for over one third of Australia’s economic growth in 2002.

SPURRED on by the poor performance of the stock market, low interest rates and government incentives, investors have been spending up big on property.

MIRVAC Fini will sponsor an annual art event in order to develop links between its new Quay West Resort Bunker Bay development and the Margaret River art world.