the still-weak-but-not-as-weak-as-it-was dollar have certainly improved our ability to consume.
You say that its great that the AUD is strong, but we haven’t earned it.

Please tell me, how do we pay for all this consumption of imported goods? The answer is either debt or exports, and its all debt at the moment. Our current account deficit is…[Read more]

out of interest, what is your definition of a productive enterprise?
A business that produces a tradeable good or service. We can’t sell our overpriced houses to the rest of the world.

they typically outsource manufacturing offshore
Sure, but the design, development and profit stays in the company’s country of origin.

Who compiled it?
The…[Read more]

I want 2 go on record as saying that IMHO this is leading Australians of the future into financial turmoil.

We r not teaching financial fundermentals of how 2 save and start small to build wealth, we r teaching laziness.

I couldn’t agree more.
(and before Robert jumps on me, I don’t think all debt is bad)

Here is a chart of household saving…[Read more]

disagree… they were horrible times and frankly quite depressing being the laughing stock of the world.
Funny I don’t remember any recession or mass unemployment when the Aussie dollar was at 48cents. Sure imported goods might have been more expensive, but export-focussed businesses were thriving and putting on lots of staff.

Standards of…[Read more]

Rate rise dampens demand for home loans
The Reserve Bank’s decision to lift interest rates in March appears to have dampened enthusiasm for home loans, newly released figures show.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said owner-occupier housing finance, excluding alterations and additions, rose 1.3 per cent in March to $11.992 billion.

The…[Read more]

What if the Chinese grow strong enough economically to start buying Australian property en masse?
Point taken. I can see the Chinese investing the Gold Coast etc, but I can’t see it supplying enough demand to prop up the real estate market nationwide, or enough dollars to fix our CAD.

once the currency collpases you may as well switch off the lights
Rubbish! I don’t remember any lights going off when the dollar was at 48 cents (circa 2002 from memory). The economy was growing strongly at the time and the CAD was much smaller.

The strong resources industry which has pushed this currency up is a glimmer of hope in our short…[Read more]

it amuses me that you wish this banana republic status upon us so eagerly
Mate, we are a banana republic. The Australian economy revolves around building houses for each other and digging stuff up out of the ground and selling it to the Chinese. The only way we can avoid becoming a banana republic is by broadening our economic base, because once…[Read more]

dont know about that surf beach but anyway
Sure, it sucks compared with beaches further south, but its way better than most beaches in FNQ. Aren’t they trying to build a beach in Cairns now?

AFAIK Port Douglas is closer to the better preserved parts of the reef. The reef boats always sail north from Cairns not south. There is more agriculture…[Read more]

why Innisfail is so very low priced compared to Port Douglas
Ummm … would proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree have anything to do with it? How about a marina where most of the tourist operators are based, great cafes, bars, restaurants, stunning views north and south, a surf beach. I could go on.

Would take at bare minimum 14 properties to come to this number
Yes 1 property sold out of 14. I know of at least two more auctions that were withdrawn prior so the clearance rate was possibly worse than 7%.

Anectodotally I attended a few auctions last Saturday and not only was the reserve not met, no-one made a bid at any of them.

I reckon that’s about the tenth time you’ve mentioned “alterior motives” and “personal financial benefit”. You’ve also accused of posting using aliases (?!)

Nice.

I admit I vent my frustration at high property prices (and the sharks that inhabit the real estate industry) in this forum, but to think that I hope to somehow influence the property…[Read more]

Your comments seem to also be changing from doom and gloom bubble bursting to flat and soft landing.
Not at all. I was making a comment on where I think the market is now. Never have I said the market has already crashed.

I believe there’s a good chance the market will crash and that low clearance rates etc could be a pre-cursor to that.

Will…[Read more]

I am also against State Government Stamp Duty.
At last we agree on something!

It seems that you will continue posting what I consider to be propaganda until I agree with you. If I just say I agree with you, will you give up on this constant negative posting campaign of yours regarding the economy and property prices?
Seems like you’re trying to…[Read more]

The situation on the Northern Beaches is not an economic indicator for the rest of the country!
Jeez it was just an anecdote (similar to those that others have posted) I hardly think it warranted the BIG RED TYPE.

As for how the market is performing in the rest of the country … to the best of my knowledge Perth is still booming, I thought…[Read more]

One whole person has publicly agreed with you. Lets all be ‘selfish’ then!
Lemme see, AUSPROP and ANIBUS were in general agreement with me on tax reform. foundation, obiwan, SeeChange, baloo, ssab, carlin (amongst others) seem pretty bearish on property. That’s not bad tally for a property investment forum which you’d expect to be pretty bullish…[Read more]

I agree totally although I believe positive articles should also be included with the numerous negative articles that have been posted so a more informed and balanced decision can be made.

Go ahead, post some “positive” articles then. I’m not stopping you.

What it does suggest is that (as Robert has argued blue in the face before) the market could actually be just ticking along.
Well, I don’t know about other parts of the country, but where I am (northern beaches, Sydney) we had an auction clearance rate of 7% last weekend (no, not 70%, 7%). I’d hardly call that ticking along.

dmichie (and his aliases) will not like this post!
I don’t have any friggin’ aliases! Grrrr.

The housing boom is back – with a vengeance.
Yes, housing credit is continuing to boom, although at least the speculators (sorry “investors”) are getting out. Looks like owner-occupiers have seen the recent falls in prices as an opportunity to “buy the…[Read more]

I take issue with the absence of impartiality and ongoing posting of negative articles and commentary in an attempt to achieve your desired goals
These articles can only be seen as “negative” if its in your interest to see the house prices continue to rise. From a first home owner’s perspective lower house prices can only be a postive thing.

I’m…[Read more]