Islington History
Islington
Islington is a suburb of Newcastle situated in the Hunter Region of New South Wales in Australia. It has a convenient location very close to Newcastle Central Business District (CBD), located just 2 miles from the CBD. Initially Islington started out as a residential area, but it now has an industrial area as well as is in close proximity to the Hunter Institute of Technology. Since it is located close to Hamilton and to the Hunter Institute of Technology, it does offer a more economical alternative to Hamilton in terms of cost of living. The population of Islington as per the 2016 census is 1,883 people. Currently, a lot of young professionals are making Islington their home.
History:
Islington was established in the early 1870s as a primarily residential area. It is located on Maitland Road that later became a part of Pacific Highway and then Sydney-Newc...
Indicators for future growth
The most effective supply and demand indicators for future growth.
We all know the basic premise of value growth in most industries is supply and demand. For the property market, demand is a property investor's best friend. To understand the state of supply and demand across markets in Australia, there are specific indicators to keep an eye on as you research. Here's our list of some of the indicators that you can monitor to get a detailed idea of supply and demand in a market.
Days on market (DOM)
The number of days that a property is on the market indicates how quickly properties are moving. As demand exceeds supply, the DOM will decrease, indicating a potential growth and in-demand suburb.
Discount to the sale price
Monitoring the sold price of properties and comparing it to its listing price will indicate the discount price on each property. As suburbs become more popular,...
Hamilton History
Hamilton
Hamilton is a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. There are 4 suburbs here that bear the name Hamilton i.e. Hamilton South, Hamilton East, Hamilton North and Hamilton. All of them are located fairly close to each other. Except for Hamilton, all the others are predominantly residential areas. Hamilton is a commercial area located just 4 km from the Central Business District (CBD) of Newcastle. Hamilton is a cosmopolitan area and is largely multicultural in nature. The combined population of all of them according to 2018 census is 13,057 people.
A prosperous business area located around Beaumont Street, Hamilton has a number of shopping establishments like restaurants, retail outlets, florists, hairdressers, cafes and restaurants, pharmacies and so on. Hamilton Business District Committee is actively involved in organizing events like Hamilton Music, Food and Wine Festival.
History
Continue reading
New home construction to fall in 2019.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) recently stated that the recent slowdown in new home construction will continue as new home sales decline.
The rate of new home sales has dropped by 27.1% since its high in April 2014. While this equates to a small decrease of 0.5% per month, the ongoing declines in this segment of the market indicate how established this trend is in the wider property market.
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) supports the HIA's findings. ABS data released in October found that new house starts were down in July and August 2018 by 9.4% and 13.6% respectively. These are the lowest new home start figures since October 2016. This recent decrease in new home starts is likely to be driven by decreasing home values, tightened lending criteria and declining immigration figures.
New apartment building starts have experienced a deeper decline than private detached housing starts. According to the ABS, approvals for apa...
Fennell Bay History
Fennell Bay
Fennell Bay is located in New South Wales in Australia. It is a lovely suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie. Fennell Bay is situated to the north of the town of Toronto.
History
The name Fennell Bay came about due to its early settler, Richard Fennell, who started living here in 1847. The area was subdivided in 1882. Some of the early businesses in this area were a sawmill that operated in the year 1883 and a mine called South Stockton was also operational. Modern amenities came in the 20th century with a Post Office opening in 1947 followed by a Public School in 1959. The earliest bridge used for transportation was built from timber structures. The second bridge was built in 1967.
Attractions
Fennell Bay is a unique place due to its fossil forests. It is located in the northwestern corner of Lake Macquarie. These fossil forests hold a great significance from the point of view...
Are you storm ready?
As the summer months approach, many areas around Australia will also enter storm season. There are a few things you need to do as a landlord to make sure your properties are prepared for storm season. Taking some time to prepare now will help in making sure your properties are well-maintained throughout the summer months. Here are our top tips for getting prepared for summer storm season.
Make sure you have the right insurance
Having the right level of insurance coverage for your investment properties is crucial to make sure you're covered in the event of storm damage occurring at your property. You'll want to make sure you have coverage for things such as vacancy loss (in case your property needs to be vacant for extensive repairs) and flooding (even if you live outside a flood zone). If you're unsure of what kind of coverage you have, talk to your insurer and get any questions cleared up to make sure you have the right coverage well ahead of storm ...
Fassifern History
Fassifern
Fassifern is a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales in Australia. It is located close to the suburb of Toronto. Fassifern is located on the western shores of Lake Macquarie close to Fennell Bay, which has mangrove and she-oak trees along its shores. Fassifern has big expanses of native bush land towards its north and west regions.
History
The earliest subdivision in this area dates back to the year 1888. Fassifern saw a spurt in growth due to the earliest industries that operated here. A sawmill was functioning here in 1883. Then in 1886, the Northumberland Land and Coal Company owned by the Croft family started a colliery here. The Railway Station opened here in the year 1887. This station was very close to the colliery. It was initially called Wyee and later the name was changed to Fassifern. No one knows how the name Fassifern originated. This railway station is a major railway station...
How to keep your property cool
How to keep your property cool in the summer months.
The warmer months are approaching and that means your home will be warmer too. Before you go running to turn on the air conditioning, you may be wondering what else you can do to keep your home cool. Here are our tips for keeping your home cool during the summer months.
Keep your blinds closed
This is especially helpful for the south and west-facing areas of your home. By keeping your blinds closed in south and west-facing rooms, you can stop the harsh afternoon sun from heating up your home. Given this tip doesn't use any electricity, it's also a cheap and cheerful first step to keeping your home cool.
Try blackout curtains
If your window coverings still let in a lot of light, you could try blackout curtains. Not only do blackout curtains keep out light but they also naturally insulate a room. If you want to try blackout curtains and it's going t...
Elermore Vale History
Elermore Vale
Elermore Vale is a suburb on the western outskirts of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia. According to the 2016 census, this suburb has a population of 5,526 people.
History
The earliest industry in Elermore Vale was coal mining, chicken farming and cattle farming. It was only in the early 1900s that the area started becoming more of a residential area. A public school was established in the year 1960. Many other amenities were also developed in the mid 20th century that caused the population of this suburb to increase with more settlers moving in.
Amenities
Elermore Vale has two public schools currently: Elermore Vale Primary and Wallsend South Public School. There are childcare facilities and three Preschools in this suburb namely Elermore Vale Pre School on Jubilee Road, Elermore Vale Early Learning Centre and Elermore Before and After School Care. Public transport i...
Is it the right time to buy again?
Is it the right time to buy again?
Median home values around Australia have been mixed across the major cities in 2018. We're taking a look at recent median home value figures and how property has performed in the year to date.
Property prices around Australia's major cities have continued to decline in recent months. A recent CoreLogic report revealed that median home values around Australia decreased by 0.1% in late-August. This figure, coupled with continued decreases in median home values in previous weeks made recent decreases in home values hit 0.4%.
In Sydney, prices decreased by 0.1% per week, while the same occurred in Melbourne and Brisbane. There was a more significant drop in median home values in Perth at 0.3%. In contrast, median home values in Adelaide increased by 0.2%. This has been attributed to the generally strong median home values across South Australia in recent times.Continue reading
Cooks Hill History
Cooks Hill
Cooks Hill is an inner city suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia.
History
Cooks Hill originated from the coalmines present in the area. The suburb developed through land sales from Brooks Street onto Darby Street. A large commercial centre was established at Darby Street bringing more prosperity to the suburb. Darby Street was originally named Lake Macquarie Road and was actually a public access road into the AA Company Coal mine land. Cooks Hill was severely damaged during the 1989 Newcastle earthquake when several buildings were badly damaged. Since then, the area has been rebuilt and has seen rapid growth. Cooks Hill has beautiful tree-lined streets, rows of Victorian terrace houses, turn-of-the-century timber cottages and corner pubs. It has a beautiful blend of houses available for purchase and renting. According to the 2016 census, Cooks Hill has a population of 3,621.
Amenities
Continue reading
Avoid financial pitfalls
4 ways to stay focused and avoid financial pitfalls in your portfolio.
As a property investor, there's a lot you need to manage every day. While your property manager will likely take care of most of the everyday administration of the property, there are a few key things you need to do for your portfolio to be set up for long-term growth. Here are 4 things you need to do to stay focused and avoid financial pitfalls in your portfolio.
Be diligent with maintenance
It may be tempting to hold off on replacing the old oven or dishwasher that continually breaks to save money, but it could turn into a costly problem later. When you purchase an investment property, set up a regular maintenance schedule with your property manager and/or accountant. Having a regular maintenance schedule for your included fixtures and furnishings, routine inspections and exterior property maintenance will keep your property in good condition. Keeping your ...
Coal Point History
Coal Point
Coal Point is a suburb located on the western side of Lake Macquarie near the town of Toronto in New South Wales. It is a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie.
History
Coal Point was named so because of the location of the first coal mine in the area. The town of Coal Point has an interesting history that is interlinked with the town of Toronto. Reverend Threlkend who started an aboriginal mission in the Toronto area started coal mining activities at Coal Point in 1840. Coal mining activities were conducted here from 1840 to around 1906. Thus, Reverend Threlkend set up the town at Coal Point with the original inhabitants being the workers engaged in coal mining activities.
The initial subdivision done in 1887 of the Toronto Estate by The Excelsior Investment and Building Company and Bank Ltd. led to the formation of Coal Point. This area around Lake Macquarie is largely affluent and has settlers from the highe...
Get your rental bond back
How to make sure you get your rental bond back
Most rental properties in Australia require a bond to be paid at the start of your tenancy. The bond payable is equivalent to 4 weeks of rent. Providing there is no damage at your property at the end of your tenancy, your bond will be returned in full at the end of your tenancy. To get your bond back, you and your property manager need to complete the bond refund form relevant to your state. To make sure you get your bond back, follow the steps below.
Take care of your property and report maintenance needs
Make sure you take care of your property throughout your tenancy. The most common reason tenants have money taken out of their total bond payment is because the property has been damaged and needs repair. If you report any maintenance and repair needs quickly throughout your tenancy, and take care of the property, it should be in good condition at the end of your tenancy.
Carrington History
Carrington
Carrington is a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. It is close to the harbour and the central business district, and it services the port. It is a suburb well separated from the other suburbs, and it can be reached by Cowper Street Bridge over Throsby Creek. Carrington is named after Lord Carrington, the governor of New South Wales in 1887 at the time when the area became a Municipality. According to the 2016 census, the population of Carrington is
1,929 with 50.8% being male and 49.2% being female with the median age being 35
History
The Aboriginals knew Carrington as “mud crab”. Earliest industry here was fishing and gathering oysters and mud crabs. To begin with, Carrington used to be under the water at high tide and evolved slowly by dumping activity of ships, which saw the island emerge out of the dumped mud. People started settling in the area in the 1860s, and it soon grew as...
The rise of micro-apartments
The rise of micro-apartments
With the rapid increases in property prices in cities like Sydney and Melbourne in recent years, the need for affordable property is higher than ever before. Although property prices have softened in recent months, high density living, and the rise of micro-apartments is a potential answer to securing affordable property that's close to all of the amenities people want and need.
Given the smaller property size, the sale price of micro-apartments presents a much lower entry point for property investors to gain exposure to the property market. Are micro-apartments a good investment though or are investors better off focusing on more traditional property types?
One of the biggest challenges investors may face if they're interested in purchasing a micro-apartment is securing finance. Analysis by property research company, RiskWise found that banks enforce strict lending criteria for properties with floor plans u...
Cardiff History
Cardiff
Cardiff is a suburb of Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. It is a part of the City of Lake Macquarie local government area.
History
Cardiff has an irregular shape. And, there are associated suburbs of Cardiff South and Cardiff Heights. Cardiff was originally known as Winding Creek after the creek, which originated in this area. Later, one of the early settlers in this area, Mr. James Edward, suggested that it be named after Cardiff in Wales after the place he originally belonged to. Thus, Cardiff was so named, and this name was officially approved in the year 1889. The earliest subdivision of this area took place in 1875 and subsequently in 1887.
Coal mining activity was carried out in this area from the earliest days. The miners and their families were the earliest inhabitants of this area. Fruit cultivation in the form of peach and plum orchards was also carried out. Other popular trades in this a...
Downsides to positive cash flow properties?
Positive cash flow investment properties are considered by some investors as gold in today's hot housing market.
Having a positive cash flow property provides you with another stream of income, while giving you the capital you need to pay off your loans faster than if your investment was negatively geared.
Investment properties that provide positive cash flow are often located in regional areas where housing prices and stamp duty are lower than inner city areas These factors make properties in these areas perfect for first-term landlords and investors with a strict budget.
The potential for the housing market to turn resulting in falling property prices means investment properties can fail to deliver strong capital growth. With cash flow positive properties, this risk can be counteracted with a regular return on investment. Like all investment models, however, there are downsides to positive cash flow investing. Below, we've detailed some of the key things yo...
Callaghan History
Callaghan
Callaghan is a suburb of the city of Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. It is located 10 kms. from Newcastle’s central business district. The main campus of University of Newcastle, a premier University, is located in Callaghan.
Origin
Callaghan is named after Sir Bede Callaghan who was the Chancellor of University of Newcastle from 1977 to 1988 in recognition of his huge contribution to this area. Callaghan is synonymous with the University of Newcastle, which is among the top 10 Universities in Australia for many years and is renowned for its research facilities. The University has over 35,500 students on its rolls and has huge expansion plans. The place provides a great institution for studies and research for students far and wide. The University contributes tremendously to the amenities in the area. Most real estate here is residential with many units rented out to the students here.
Be...
Booragul
Booragul
Booragul is a suburb of the City of Lake Macquarie. It is located to the north of Toronto in New South Wales. Booragul in aboriginal means “summer” or “warm place.”
The history of Booragul dates back to the early 19th Century when in 1829, Madame Rens of Sydney received a grant of 914 acres in the Teralba Parish. She, however, did not develop it, thereby, the property reverted to the Crown. In 1830, it was granted to Captain James Ranclaud whose wife and son could not maintain it after his death in 1832, and they too lost it back to the Crown. It was then granted to Dr. James Mitchell in 1842. Subsequently, there were 4 subdivisions in the early 20th Century. His daughter, Margaret Quigley and her descendants helped in the development of Booragul.
The earliest industry in Booragul was a slaughterhouse. During World War II, the Defence Department used a section of the town as an army camp. This a...
How To Find A Great Housemate
HOW TO FIND A GREAT HOUSEMATE
Living with a housemate can have many benefits including shared living expenses and having someone to chat with when you get home from work. Finding a suitable housemate, however, can be a difficult process. While you may not end up being best friends with your housemate, you still want to make sure you're living with someone who contributes to a livable environment in your home. Here are our top tips for finding a great housemate.
Check if your friends know anyone looking for a place.
Before you go listing your place on a housemate finder website, ask your friends to see if they know anyone looking for a new place. Having a recommendation from a family or friend helps to build trust from the start, plus it's easy to check with your friend if the person is a good fit to be your housemate.
Meet a few times for interviews.
We all know the danger...
Boolaroo
Boolaroo
Boolaroo is a beautiful suburb of Newcastle located in New South Wales, Australia. It is situated close to Lake Macquarie and lies on the border of other towns like Toronto, Speers Point and Warner’s Bay. A small part of Boolaroo juts out into the Lake Macquarie and is a charming place to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and to indulge in activities like fishing and boating.
Boolaroo is an aboriginal word that means “place of many flies.” Though the history of Boolaroo extends way back to the early 19th Century, the town actually started flourishing in the 1890’s. The early industries in those days were transport and construction firm and a sawmill. In the early 20th Century, a Post Office, Public School, and a Railway Station opened in the town.
Boolaroo had lead/zinc smelter operations till the year 2003. But, that has been completely cleared since the smelter operations ceased. Now, the small town...
Blackalls Park
Blackalls Park
Blackalls Park is a nice suburb in New South Wales situated on the western side of Lake Macquarie. It is a small community close to the towns of Fassifern and Toronto in New South Wales. It has a population of 2759 as per the 2016 census. Other statistics include
Male 48.1%
Female 51.9%
Median age 42
Families 760
Average children per family
for families with children 1.8
for all families 0.8
Housing
All private dwellings 1,160
Average people per household 2.5
Financial
Median weekly household income $1,139
Median monthly mortgage repayments $1,625
Median weekly rent $310
Transport
Average motor vehicles per dwelling 1.8
History
Blackalls Park has an interesting history. There was a Blackall family, which were th...
Birmingham Gardens
Birmingham Gardens
Birmingham Gardens is a suburb of the city of Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. Birmingham Gardens is a residential area situated very close to the University of Newcastle and is a part of Newcastle’s central business district. According to the 2016 census, the population of Birmingham Gardens is 4,044. Most of the residents belonging to this suburb are people over 55 though due to its proximity to the University, a lot of younger people are making this place their home.
History
The Birmingham Gardens area was first subdivided in the 1930s. The area developed rapidly subsequently due to the low cost of land available. Mr. T.M.Burke named the suburb after the English town of Birmingham. Mr. Burke had originally subdivided this area, which was initially owned by Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company and sold to Commonwealth Oil Refineries.
Amenities
Beresfield
Beresfield
Beresfield is a suburb situated to the north west of Newcastle in New South Wales in Australia. It is located just 22 kms. from Newcastle’s central business district. And, it comes under City of Newcastle local government area.
According to the 2006 census, Beresfield has a population of 3,116. It is a thriving suburb that has access to good amenities and has a well-developed real estate.
Location
Beresfield is located on a low ridge that arises from the areas surrounding the wetlands and floodplains of the Hunter River. It is located close to the suburbs of Thornton, Tarro and Woodberry that have a similar location. Beresfield is bisected by Anderson Drive that was previously known as Maitland Road. Towards the northern part of Anderson Drive are located a shopping centre and a railway station. The part to the south of it has the Newcastle Memorial Park cemetery and crematorium along with sporting ar...
Awaba
Awaba
Awaba is a picturesque and cozy town located in the city of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales in Australia. It lies to the west of the town of Toronto. It is a tiny and charming town with a population of just 350 as per the last census conducted in 2006.
Awaba is an aboriginal word that means “a flat or a level surface.” The town was established in the year 1885. It has a peculiar old time charm associated with itself. The township came around after a timber depot opened here, and a Railway Station began functioning in the year 1887. The town also has coal mining activities, and the Awaba State Coal Mine was established in 1948. Awaba is a part of Awaba State Forest. Awaba also has a Fire Station, a Post Office and a Primary School.
Awaba is a beautiful town that offers an opportunity of staying close to the nature. The beautiful Lake Macquarie with its lovely beaches and glistening waters is a short distance away. One co...
Broadmeadow
Broadmeadow
Broadmeadow is geographically the center of Newcastle city in Australia. A bustling suburb, it has a population of 1,730 people as per the 2006 census. These days, Broadmeadow is very popular with young families due to its wonderful surroundings and proximity to amenities along with affordable real estate.
History
Broadmeadow developed around “Nineways,” which as the name suggests is the convergence point of 9 roads or tramlines. Originally, Broadmeadow was a part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares. The area developed around the Great Northern Railway, the road of Newcastle’s western suburbs and the construction of the Sydney to Newcastle Railway line way back in the 1880s. Nineways initially was just a green space in the center of the roundabout where the roads or tramlines intersected. But later, this area was rebuilt with traffic ligh...
November
13 Nov 2018 | Islington History
09 Nov 2018 | Indicators for future growth
07 Nov 2018 | Hamilton History
02 Nov 2018 | New home construction to fall in 2019.
October
29 Oct 2018 | Fennell Bay History
25 Oct 2018 | Are you storm ready?
22 Oct 2018 | Fassifern History
15 Oct 2018 | How to keep your property cool
11 Oct 2018 | Elermore Vale History
08 Oct 2018 | Is it the right time to buy again?
05 Oct 2018 | Cooks Hill History
02 Oct 2018 | Avoid financial pitfalls
September
26 Sep 2018 | Coal Point History
19 Sep 2018 | Get your rental bond back
10 Sep 2018 | Carrington History
06 Sep 2018 | The rise of micro-apartments
August
31 Aug 2018 | Downsides to positive cash flow properties?
28 Aug 2018 | Callaghan History
13 Aug 2018 | How To Find A Great Housemate