It has been an amazing year, with the Australia wide growth in house prices being positive, and more amazingly, the rate of growth being the same to the year ending 30th September 2009 as it was to the year ended 30th September 2008. The rate of growth for both years was 4.62%.

Affordability issues are starting to make their mark. For the first time that I am able to remember, and possibly in history, the growth rate in units across Australia has outperformed the housing market. The unit market outperformed the housing market by 0.5%. This is a trend that I expect to see occurring more over the next decade. The First Home Buyer's Grant activity slowed during the last quarter and there was a higher level of activity in the middle market segment.

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At last we can report that our housing markets have moved more solidly into positive territory.

Winter is usually one of the slower periods but improved affordability coupled with the First Home Owners Grant has seen auction clearance rates reach around the mid 60% across Australia and there is good asset growth in all but the top end of the market.

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Government has again proved that it has no desire to see our housing markets adjust. Further, it is making it clear that its health is paramount to ensuring our success in avoiding a deepening recession.

In this insightful feature from John Edwards of Residex, find out why Australia's property market is not set to tumble like a house of cards. Read on to find out more...

It's time to simply say: "at last our markets look as if they are moving to moderate growth".

Across Australia the result for the quarter ended 31st March was still negative but smaller at 0.84%. It is being negatively affected by the very poor results that are now coming out of the previously booming resource States, with Brisbane and Perth showing losses of 1.89% and 3.95% respectively.

In this informative article by Residex’s John Edwards, you will learn where are state’ property markets are really at.

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Another month passes and things don't get worse, they simply present as more of the same but slightly better.

In this insightful commentary on the current state of play, John Edwards from Residex shares his views on the government’s latest attempts to keep our economy afloat and how by trying too hard, they may in fact be digging a deeper hole.

Read on to find out more and for the latest property data…

It is not since May 1991 that we have seen such a significant interest rate adjustment process by the Reserve Bank in any 6 month period. In May 1991 the adjustment for the 6 month period to May was in total 5.75%. This represented an adjustment of something in the order of 33% of the peak rate of 17.5%. The adjustment of 3.75% in the last five months is significant but not as high. However, in percentage change terms it is close to 50% of the peak rate of 7.25% in March 2008.

In this timely and insightful feature article, John Edwards from Residex explains how the dramatic drop in interest rates is creating renewed interest in our property markets.

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Realistically, it has been not a bad year. It could have been a lot worse. In fact my speeches given in 1999 and 2000 did predict an outcome a little worse in 2008 than we have seen this year. Having said that, as we approached the adjustment I was less negative and the actions of the Reserve Bank and Government have caused an outcome which was better than we might have expected.

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Let's start with the good news. I so often pick up the newspapers and read nothing but comment on the things in life that are depressing. I don't know about you but I am looking forward to the day when I read something positive in the newspapers. I am yet to understand why newspaper editors and government don't realise that constant bad news just makes things worse.

Read on for some good news...finally...

In recent weeks the Federal Government has made strong and decisive moves which will have served to put a floor under the Australian housing markets.

In this very informative article, John Edwards from Residex sheds some much needed positive light on the ongoing housing market debate in Australia...