Making headlines this week, lending and sentiment up over Autumn; rental vacancies low; and how we can contribute to the ‘circular economy’
Reality shows like ‘The Block’ set off DIY trends where suddenly everyone thinks it’s easy to renovate. What typically ends up happening is the renovation comes in over budget, late and with an ordinary finish. Here are just a few pointers that DIY renovators need to think about:...
Autumn is traditionally a steady, solid time for the Australian property market, but this year the seasonal shift between hectic summer and quiet winter has been impacted by broader economic changes.
Sentiment, values and lending all lifted through the past months, according to NAB Executive for Home Lending Denton Pugh, who suggests that even before interest rates were cut in February, speculation had prompted a response in the housing market.
The role of composting in the fight against climate change will be in focus this year during International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), to be held from May 4th to 10th in Australia.
“As a community we can all contribute to a healthy planet by keeping food scraps out of landfill and one of the ways is through composting either at home or through a council provided collection service,” says Chris Rochfort, CEO of the Centre for Organic Research & Education (CORE).
Rental vacancies have sharpened once more, a new report shows.
According to SQM Research’s latest data, Australia's residential dwelling vacancy rate dropped back to 1.1 per cent in March 2025, down from 1.5 per cent in January 2025. The total number of rental vacancies fell to 34,428 dwellings.
If you find a new wasp around your home this month, don't panic just yet. It is possibly the solitary Mud Dauber Wasp, which is not only harmless but will help control spiders and other bugs. Image: Australian Museum
What do you do if you have too many cars and friends to house in your home? Maybe you buy the property over the road, if you’re a successful architect with plenty of money.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Steven Harris initially bought the block with no plan other than ‘to prevent someone else from building something hideous’. Then he realised it was perfect for a new house with a studio, guest accommodation and garage space for his fleet of 21 Porsches.
This Sunday (4th May) is both International Permaculture Day and Sustainable House Day, offering ideas, advice and practical help for anyone interested in building, retrofitting or renovating sustainably.
For the past 20 years, homeowners have been opening their homes to visitors on Sustainable House Day, but since Covid this has expanded online to offer an extensive source of expert advice, insight, and peer-to-peer education. If you still want to visit homes, the event has instigated ticketing in order to manage visitor numbers. For information on all events, see the sustainablehouseday.com website. Credit: Shane Harris Arch Imagery