Australian new home approvals at high levels, but uneven across states

New home approvals in Australia bounced back in July and remain at very high levels by historic standards, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

US property cash sales now at lowest since 2010, latest data shows

Cash sales made up 34.4% of total home sales in the United States in May 2014, the lowest share since May 2010, the latest data shows.

Keeping China's rise peaceful is our biggest geopolitical challenge

The biggest geopolitical risk of our times is not a conflict between Israel and Iran over nuclear proliferation. Nor is it the risk of chronic disorder in an arc of instability that now runs from the Maghreb all the way to the Hindu Kush. It is not even the risk of cold war II between Russia and the west over Ukraine.

Spanish property sales up 26% but expert warns data is skewed by tax changes

Image The Spanish property market sales grew by 26% year on year in March according to the latest figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Miami see blistering start to 2014 with sales, prices and listings all up

Following three consecutive record sales years and more than two years of appreciation, the Miami real estate market began this year with strong sales, prices and new listings.

Survey reveals confusion among tenants and landlords in the US over rental laws

Demand for residential rentals in the United States is strong but there is a great deal of confusion over existing rental laws among many landlords and tenants, a new survey has found.

Overall some 82% of tenants and 76% of landlords lack understanding of laws on security deposits, credit and background checks, the latest Zillow Rentals survey shows.

Why many U.S. renters are just saying no to buying homes

With a wife ad a 10-year-old daughter, Matthew Amster-Burton appears to be one of the likelier people to buy a house, but the Seattle food writer says he has no interest in doing so.“It does feel weird sometimes, because it’s supposed to be the grown-up thing to do,” says Amster-Burton, 38. ” … But it’s really not my goal, and it does seem like I’m swimming against the tide sometimes.”

The Fragile Five: What you need to know about the 5 emerging markets causing chaos in world markets

Last year Morgan Stanley declared the Brazilian real, the Indonesian rupiah, the South African rand, the Indian rupee, and the Turkish lira as the “Fragile Five.”

Chinese property markets set for a stable year

The outlook for residential and commercial property in China is set to depend on the Chinese economy in 2014 with home inflation curbs set to continue, according to the latest report from international consultants Knight Frank.

EU Banks Fined $2.3 Billion For Market Rigging

AMSTERDAM - The European Commission has fined a group of major global banks a total of 1.7 billion euros ($2.3 billion) for colluding to profit from the manipulation of key interest rates.

European recovery is in trouble as German economy slows, French GDP falls

Two of the continent’s largest economies, Germany and France, released data Thursday morning which showed that their recoveries are faltering. Germany’s gross domestic product rose only 0.3 per cent in the third quarter, in line with estimates, down from 0.7 per cent in the previous quarter.

UK has highest property taxes in the developed world

Property taxes in the UK are the highest in the whole of the developed world and the system needs to be overhauled, it is claimed.

Signs of national price growth in the US moderating, says Clear Capital index report

National home price trends in the United States are showing signs of moderation but prices still grew by 11.7% in October compared with a year ago, according to the latest index.

The West maintained it’s the regional lead with yearly price growth of 19.5%, the HDI market report from real estate valuation firm Clear Capital shows.

Risk of price bubble in some US markets falls back

Image The risk of a real estate price bubble in some overheated markets in the United States is receding with the latest analysis report from Zillow suggesting that fewer markets are at risk of becoming unaffordable.

Prime property prices in Dubai up by almost 12% so far in 2013

Image Prime residential property prices in Dubai have been rising since the beginning of 2012 and have increased by 11.9% in 2013 so far, according to the latest index.

Brazilian and other Latin American buyers increasingly looking for property in Miami

Image Brazilians are again the biggest group of overseas buyers searching for second homes and investment properties in Miami, according to the latest data from the Miami Association of Realtors.

Mexico economy shrinks for first time in four years

The Mexican economy unexpectedly contracted for the first time in nearly four years in the second quarter, adding to the recent string of disappointments from Latin America’s previously fast-growing economies, and from other emerging markets.

Demand and lack of supply pushing up home sales and prices in Miami

Intense demand for family homes in Miami has resulted in sales and prices surging, especially in the lower prices ranges where there is a lack of supply, according to real estate agents.

Europe cracks down on credit and debit card fees for merchants

BERLIN—The European Union said Wednesday that it plans to cap some credit and debit card fees in a move that would save retailers up to €6 billion euros ($7.9 billion) per year.

Restrictions in Asia Pacific on foreigners buying property unlikely to change

Restrictions for international buyers looking to purchase property in the Asia-Pacific region are unlikely to be lifted in the near future, according to Knight Frank’s latest review of property markets in the area.