Sales go according to plan as grants appeal

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 With government assistance of up to $35,000 now available, buyers are looking for something fresh!!

Wallis Creek : a new master-planned community coming to life on 60 hectares in East Maitland, for which metropolitan buyers could receive the relocation grant. It's due for completion in 2018 with large lots, a diverse range of house-and-land packages and the NBN to be connected to every home.

 

• A sharp rise in the sale of new homes over old has encouraged developers to consider more projects in the hope it's a trend that will continue.
• Property buyers appear to have an increased appetite to live somewhere newly built, with good design and the latest features. A major factor driving the trend has been government incentives to those buying off the plan.
• Available support includes the First Home Owner Grant of $15,000 on new homes under $650,000, along with stamp duty savings for first-home buyers and the Regional Relocation Grant, which provides applicants with a one-off payment of $7000 to help with the cost of relocating from a metropolitan home to an approved regional area.

For full article, click here:

Gluten free, Nut free Blueberry Muffin

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Ingredients

• ⅓ cup + 3 tablespoons coconut flour
• ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• ½ cup coconut milk, full fat
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 3 eggs
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup fresh blueberries

Instructions

1. mix the coconut flour with the baking soda in a bowl
2. in a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, coconut milk, coconut oil, eggs, and vanilla extract
3. add the coconut flour mixture and mix to form a batter
4. fold in the blueberries
5. pour batter into paper lined muffin pan cups and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until tops start to turn golden brown. Wait until they are completely cool before removing from the pan.

Recipe makes 6 blueberry muffins. Store in the refrigerator.

Just something sweet and comforting for this cold, rainy weekend! Have a great weekend!

Bricks and mortar proves hot thanks to low rates, high yields

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SYDNEY: the nation's investment capital, with investors accounting for almost half of all sales in NSW.

'The market had been flat for a couple years... but now rental demand is strong, prices are going up and interest rates are down.''

PERTH: Perth's yields were higher than Sydney's because the mining boom had created a severe shortage of rental accommodation - median price of $318,000, apartments in Perth's inner city yield a whopping 10.3 per cent on average.

Perth real estate agent Brendon Habak, of Realestate 88, says the number of investors in Perth has doubled over the past year, with more east coast buyers being drawn in by high yields. ''I'm originally from Sydney, where you buy an apartment for $600,000 and you get $600 a week rent,'' he said.

''In Perth, if you bought for $600,000, you are going to get $900 a week back.''

More small investors are expected to enter the market this year, with fixed-term deposits at historic lows to enjoy the capital growth.

''People over the past few years have built up stockpiles of cash and now they are at a point where they are getting hardly any return on it,'' he said.

''They would be getting about 3.5 per cent yield from a bank, when you can get a yield of 5 per cent on a $500,000-$600,000 apartment."

 For full article, click here

The hills are alive..

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Hills alive with buyer potential 

Investors are getting their skis on, lured by low prices and interest rate cuts.

Victorian alpine properties (Dinner Plain, Mount Hotham, Mount Buller and Falls Creek) prices have dropped by 60% in some areas over the past 6 years. 

The market is ''bouncing along the bottom''

As well as the impact of the (1) sluggish economy, (2) the January bushfires at Mount Hotham and Dinner Plain are still causing problems, with significant roadworks required to repair areas damaged in landslides that occurred when heavy rains fell on the denuded landscape (3) The high Australian dollar has dampened the overseas demand for alpine property

Location is important for Mount Hotham and the other resorts. ''You need to be somewhere close to all the action where you don't have to go far to get to the ski lifts,''

Buying in the snow: what you need to know

Park it:
Ensure your property includes car parking.
Loan issue:
Mount Buller, Falls Creek and Mount Hotham properties are leasehold, which can make securing a bank loan difficult.
Clear head:
If it's an investment, don't be swayed by emotion.
Lift access:
If buying at a resort, ensure the property is close to the ski lifts.

For full article, click here

Bedroom Ideas

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Simplicity & Elegance

Rustic & Edgy

So tropical! Love the open space. Bright sunshine and airy feel!

Hippie-style!

one word: royal

Under the sea theme!

Very down-to-earth feel about this. Love it!

Low cash rate - but how can it perform best for you?

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RBA's decision to cut cash rates to a low of 2.75% is already boosting buying activity by investors but...... the rate of price growth in residential markets is slowing.

•  well-researched asset selection is more critical than ever - to understand what and where to buy and how much to pay
• A slow growth environment : prompt more buyers to use an adviser to identify investment-grade properties. (They are conversant with the market and can access data that the public can't)

 ''While none of us can guarantee future performance, there is nothing like understanding historical performance''

 "Always consider the target tenant market and whether a property will appeal to a valuer,'' 

 "Property is all about asset selection. ''It's great to have whiz-bang financing, taxation advice, depreciation allowances and negative gearing but, if you're not buying the right asset in the first place, you can throw all of that out the window,'' he says"

For full article, click here

NSW : Investors head west to follow growth

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'High yields and growth rates have smart investors taking another look at once maligned suburbs..'

    


''50% of all buying activity in Sydney at the moment is from investors, and that's likely to rise even further with low interest rates and cheaper mortgages"

- Auction clearance rates have been as high as 86% per cent in the inner west recently.

- Developers are keen to build on any infill or former industrial sites.

- Much more popular than it used to be for young families, investors, everyone. 

- Much more reasonably priced

-Accessible with good public transport and lots of cafes and schools

- Much more relaxed feel compared to the east (less cramped)

For full article, click here

SYDNEY: Rivers of gold start to flow

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What developers are up to and what buyers today want!!

 (For full article click here) 

• Developers are now opening up new riverside properties with similar ambitions as beach suburbs: fancy new apartments and a whopping great big shopping centre. 

• Buyers don't just want living quarters; they want shopping centres, public spaces and a sense of community. 

•  Demand for these developments was coming from downsizers, Generation X and Generation Y buyers who are shunning suburbia.  

'The people here do everything together; people canoe, they go golfing, there are numerous classes on, there is a band that plays every month and there is even a church.''

Hmmm.. Next investment maybe???

Tips on how to move house smoothly

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Moving is always a major upheaval, and worse when you know nothing about your new home turf.

 

YOU have found the perfect house, done your sums and know you can afford it . . . then you look at a map. Gulp. Your dream home is across town. 

PRE-MOVE

Moving house is one of the most stressful experiences individuals can go through but with a little thoughtful planning the move does not have to be as stressful!

When a family relocates it is important parents start talking to their children about it weeks in advance -They will need time to grasp the idea and come to terms with a change

You can also help kids by trying to maintain a sense of routine and find out if it is possible for the kids to visit their new school.''

ON THE MOVE

Be realistic about the time it will take them to settle in!!

Establishing connections and a lifestyle early on, it can make the settling process a lot easier

Connect with community groups, local sporting clubs or your local gym.

NEW MOVERS

Here's a litte story:

After six years in Altona Meadows, Ms Bennetts, husband Matthew Tallent and daughter Mary-Clair bought on the Mornington Peninsula in January.

"It was a lifestyle choice. Our daughter is three, we are hoping to have another baby and want to live in an area that feels safe, has lots of activities and a close-knit community,'' Ms Bennetts said.

But travelling between her old and new lives has been a challenge in recent months.

The couple run Bennetts Boots shops in Richmond and Hoppers Crossing and their busiest months are February and March.

"We really miss having my mum only 10 minutes' away when we lived in Altona Meadows as she was fantastic for babysitting or a cooked meal,'' Ms Bennetts said.

"But we plan to make friends and form social groups in Rye and have found great support in the local community centre child care group.''

First-home buyer Vanessa Phillips recently moved from Melbourne's inner-east to its inner-west.

After five years "on and off'' in Windsor she expects to get the keys to her Yarraville townhouse this week.

The move can't come soon enough, despite some sadness at saying goodbye to neighbourhood friends.

"I will miss my friends in the park where I used to walk my dog but I cannot wait to have my own north-facing garden and to be moving to a real village like Yarraville,'' she said.

Tips for making a move smooth:

Treasure chests

Pack - and clearly mark - a couple of boxes with emergency items including medicine, toiletries and children's school essentials. Keep them apart from your main household items.

Seek counsel from council

Check your new local council website for information on rubbish collection, community events, local shopping facilities and transport options.

Pound the pavement

Stroll through surrounding streets, a park or the local shopping strip.  Pets are also a great conversation starter so take them with you

Love thy neighbour

Once you are in your new home your neighbours will be curious, so introduce yourself. This also boosts neighbourhood security.

Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

ONE MORE RECIPE FOR MOTHERS' DAY!

dry:
3 1/4 cups oat flour
5 Tbsp ground seeds (flax, chia, pumpkin.. - I used flax and raw pumpkin seeds)
1 Tbsp baking powder
3 Tbsp chopped walnuts (optional)
3/4 tsp cinnamon

wet:
3/4 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
3/4 cup organic sugar
1 mashed banana (or sub another 1/4 cup of non-dairy milk)
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup warmed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

fold in:
6 oz. chocolate chips or chunks (semi-sweet chocolate)



Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease baking sheet with coconut oil.

2. Process enough rolled oats (in high speed blender or food processor) until soft and silky like a roughly textured flour - this is your homemade oat flour.

3. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

4. In a small bowl, add the coconut oil and non-dairy milk. Warm in microwave until coconut oil melts and is warmed along with vegan milk. Stir in the sugar, vanilla, lemon and mashed banana.

5. Fold the wet into the dry and then fold in the chocolate.

6. Place this bowl in the freezer for about 5-7 minutes - just until the dough begins to firm up a tiny bit but still stays fluffy.

7. Using your hands, grab the dough and press gently into balls. Tips: If you want "ball shaped" cookies that hold their shape make sure your dough is very chilled going into the oven. If you want cookies that spread, make sure your dough is still pretty soft and just chilled just enough so you can handle it. Warmer dough makes for more spread cookies.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes or until the edges brown.

9. Cool for a few minutes before trying to move these cookies. They are very delicate coming out of the oven and will fall apart if you grab one when still steamy hot. (Still delish, but delicate.)

10. Serve warm after cooling a bit. Store in the fridge (they will become quite firm when fully chilled) and warm in the microwave to serve - or served cold - your choice. You can also store on the countertop for up to a few days. These cookies freeze very well too for long term storage if necessary.

$A plummets as $US surges

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"The Australian currency fell to 100.47 US cents early on Friday, its lowest level since June 2012."

"The US dollar shot to 101.21 Japanese yen, passing the 100-yen mark for the first time in four years."

- Sign of strong employment growth sparked speculation that the US Federal Reserve may start to scale back its economic stimulus programs that have weighed on the American dollar for the past couple of years.

- The RBA described most of their growth forecasts as little changed, which gave the impression that they still have scope to ease their interest rate (but they are not likely to do so in the next month or two)

- Sydney is the hotspot - The place for investors right now. low interest rates! high housing prices! HEAVEN! 50% of the market are investors -proving to be stable. Watch the video here - only a minute.

From the May RBA Statement :

At its May meeting, with inflation a little lower than had been expected, and growth of economic activity likely to remain below trend into next year, the Board judged that a further reduction in the cash rate would help to support sustainable growth in the economy, and would be consistent with achieving the inflation target. The Board will adjust the cash rate as appropriate to foster sustainable growth and low inflation.

RBA has decided to cut interest rates by 0.25% with the intention to boost economy as unemployment is rather low in most capital cities. Housing markets though have been having 2-3 great years and this is even better news! Here's the link to watch the video

Mothers' Day Ideas : The Secret To Perfect Cauliflower Pizza Crust

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Cauliflower Pizza Crust

makes 1 large crust

Ingredients:

4 cups raw cauliflower rice
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup soft goat cheese (chevre)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
pinch of salt

Get creative with the toppings and cheeses.. I'm not a big fan of goats cheese at all so i'll probably replace it with mozarella and maybe top a few types of cheeses like feta, haloumi or saganaki (watch the salt!!)

I promised another recipe last week so here it is. Lunch or dinner mothers' day dish?? I am actually so excited!!

MOTHERS' DAY IS COMING. HAVE U GOT ANY PLANS??

DELICIOUS!!

yum!

Cohabiting: The moving in together checklist

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Moving in together is MASSIVE decision. It's alot of work getting a house together, working out how you will both finance the property together.. It's very different when you're actually living with that person.. are you really ready to move in together? Have you really thought it through? Is it a good idea? Hmmm.... for full article here

Is your relationship healthy?

Let's face it.. By this stage you're probably not in the "honeymoon period" and it’s important to discuss what your expectations are in terms of the daily grind – who will do the cleaning, cooking or take out the garbage?

Some basic questions:
- Do you genuinely like each other? 
- Are you really in it for the long haul?
- Do you have the same vision of the future together?  
- Are your lifestyles compatible? 

When the going gets tough...

This is reality : Living together means seeing each other at your best and worst. There's no place to hide.

Have you seen each other sick or stressed? Have you fought or bickered? How did you deal with it?

Test the waters

Do a test run for a month or so at one or other of your houses.
Of course the reality of actually living together will be different, but it's as close as you’ll get to the real thing before you take the plunge.

Money talks

Moving is costly.Moving IN ties you together financially.
You need to make sure you and your partner can cover the costs of sharing, and discuss and plan how you’ll split the expenses like rental bond, weekly rent, bills and groceries.
If it all comes crashing down how will you deal with the fall out?
Have a financial – and emotional – 'get out' plan. Nothing too formal and strict. Just set a time span of say an hour on whatever day you choose. This way it's less intimidating and stressful. You can mentally prep yourself before the discussion. AND it will be more productive and effective!!

Make sure you both sign on the dotted line

If the relationship breaks up you could be homeless and out of pocket, so get your name on the lease or mortgage, make sure things are divided fairly.

Two ingredients for a happy cohabitation:

(1) COMPROMISE

(2) COMMUNICATE

NSW: Lifestyle, property lure buyers to the shore

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''You're close to the city and to just about every major attraction you can find in Sydney. As well, it's a pretty exclusive area and has long been a well-recognised address for the well-heeled.''

NORTH SHORE, NSW!

North Shore NSW council is aiming to create an urban-chic demographic to the area, which offers a lively cafe, restaurant and bar scene as well as good transport links and proximity to the city - Just the sound of this is making me wanna pack up my bags. Sounds like a perfect environment to live in!! 

The best thing about living on the lower north shore is being able to walk or catch public transport everywhere you need to go