Australia's largest and most expensive housing markets, Melbourne and Sydney, have remained among Asia's healthiest investment destinations despite steep price falls and declines in building approvals and activity over the last year. According to a new report from PwC, the Australian property market has remained the "most appealing" location for those shopping within the Asia Pacific market thanks to sound fundamentals, high yields and increasing rental prospects. The report which has measured the current outlook on real estate investment and development trends throughout the Asia Pacific region has highlighting emerging markets and sectors to watch. Amid an impending trade war, rising interest rates, tighter access to credit, and buyer fatigue at sky-high prices for both commercial and residential properties, PwC's survey respondents have pointed to new opportunities particularly in markets such as Vietnam and India which are "ripe for development projects". City Investment & Development Prospects for 2019 Image: Emerging...

Australian cities are changing. You see that change in our newest outer suburbs and former country towns that now make up our commuter belt, where a third of the nation’s population growth has taken place over the past eight years. Here, up to 70 kilometres from the CBD, is where many have realised their dreams of home ownership, only to find the transport, hospitals, schools and other facilities Australians expect are lacking. More than 1 million Australians have moved to the outer suburbs of our major cities since 2011. All levels of government have a role to play in driving infrastructure improvements. However, for nearly one fifth of Australia’s population, the federal government’s piecemeal approach to infrastructure investment is impacting their daily lives. More than 1 million Australians have moved to the outer suburbs of our major cities since 2011. Yet despite accommodating 35 per cent of Australia's population growth...

Tenants hoping the property downturn would spur rents to drop across Melbourne have so far been left disappointed, with new data showing weekly asking prices for houses have continued to climb to record levels while unit rents have flattened. As the rental market enters its busiest fortnight of the year, the latest Domain Rental Report has found the citywide median weekly house rent increased 2.3 per cent over the December quarter to reach a record high of $440. Units remained stable over the quarter at $410 per week. The inner south region recorded the biggest annual jump, with asking prices for houses surging from $600 to $650 per week. Meanwhile, the region’s median rent for units increased $20 per week to $420, translating to an extra $1040 a year. Median weekly asking rents for houses in Melbourne  RegionDecember 2018       December 2017       QoQ      YoY       Inner$610$6001.7%1.7%Inner...