The number of loans approved towards purchase or construction of houses and apartments fell for the first time in seven months, falling 4.5 per cent from December.

Undoubtedly the increased incidence of natural disasters in Australia have had a lot to do with the drop.

Demand for loans in Queensland fell by 16 per cent as the consequence of severe floods as well as cyclone Yasi.

It may take some time for mortgage demand to return to pre-disaster figures.

Others have invested in boats, bikes, caravans and fishing and camping as lavish holidays and hotels were ditched for down-to-earth pursuits.

The obsession with health flowed on to chemist counters and medical clinics as workers fearful of getting the sack dosed up on medicines to stave off sickness.

Employees putting in extra hours at the office turned to housekeepers and gardeners to keep their homes in order.

And while consumers sacrificed luxuries such as jewellery and eating out, most refused to cut their hairdresser and beauty treatments.

Spending data reveals the Aussie love affair with sport extended beyond the spectator stands last year to the local fitness centre, footy oval and tennis court.

“People stayed home and did not go on major vacations, but they still needed some form of entertainment,” leading economist Craig James said.

“There’s also the Biggest Loser effect of constantly being told we’re getting fatter and not fitter.”

CommSec analysis of Bureau of Statistics figures confirms expenditure on televisions and stereos rose as families cashed in on discounted prices and cocooned at home to ride out the economic crunch.

Despite the obsession with wide-screen TVs, the cinema survived as a popular night out for movie lovers.

read full story

There were 469 properties listed for auction in Sydney on the weekend, with 75 per cent selling on the day. Those results were significantly better than last week, when 73 per cent of 348 properties sold. On the same weekend last year 62 per cent of 365 properties sold at auction in Sydney.

In Melbourne, the auction season seems to be well under away for another year with 959 residential properties listed for auction and 77 per cent selling on the day. Last week there was 725 properties put up for auction with 80 per cent selling. On the same weekend last year, there were 594 properties put up for auction with 69 per cent selling on the day.

There were 45 auctions in Adelaide with 76 per cent selling. In Brisbane there was 65 auctions with 48 per cent selling on the day.

If your credit history is preventing you from qualifying for a personal loan or a credit card, then a payday cash loan could  be just what you need.

Payday lenders offer small loans to persons who are employed and can demonstrate that they are able to repay a small loan from their next pay.

There are a numbers of specialist in the Australian market today offering loans for a few days or a few weeks that will cost you from as little as $2 per loan.  You can fix the washing machine, or pay for an unforeseen expense today, and repay the loan just days later.

Unlike other loans, cash advances are quick and easy.  You can go from application to money in hand in a matter of hours.

• Top-end sales gathering pace
• $3m-plus home auctions up substantially
• Rates will have little impact on top-end

A YEAR ago – just as the global financial crisis started to hit our shores – prestige homes in some of the Australia’s best suburbs were close to unsellable.

But top-end sales are gathering pace again. While there’s a time delay for figures showing what’s happening with private sales, auctions give immediate results and numbers are up substantially on last year, The Australian reported.

In the September quarter last year only 12 Melbourne homes worth more than $3 million each were sold under the hammer. This September quarter, 19 sold, a 58 per cent rise.

In Sydney the pattern was the same.

A year ago 22 $3million-plus homes sold at auction during the three-month period, while this year it was 36, a 64 per cent increase, according to researcher Australian Property Monitors.

read full story

While the numbers don’t lie, they don’t tell the whole truth. Statistics don’t always paint a clear picture and property is no exception.

For everyone looking to invest in property, it pays to take your statistics with a grain of salt.

Many people use stats as “proof” without understanding their limitations, Property Investment Adviser director Will Chapman says.

“If you make a large financial decision such as buying a property based on limited data, the wrong decision can be made,” Chapman says.

Anyone who watches housing values knows “median house prices” can vary by more than $50,000 depending which research is used.

So it pays to make sure you are comparing apples with apples.

Despite the differences, the companies that supply real estate data play a valuable role.

read full story

“All good things must come to an end.”

read full story