Blog

Will politicians damage the property market?

Australias economy should be the envy of the western world. Where many western nations are plunging in and out of recession, our economic growth is only slightly below trend and unemployment is relatively low. And with inflation seemingly tamed the Reserve Bank is comfortable with a cash rate at a generational low of just 2.75 per cent. But these beautiful numbers belie a tension and skittishness in economic commentary and in the mood of consumers and the electorate...

Richard Wakelin talks to Financial Review TV

Following a strong property market last weekend, including a 70% auction clearance rate, Richard Wakelin spoke to Rebecca Thistleton of TV.AFR.COM (The Australian Financial Review TV channel) on the state and outlook for the Melbourne market. Click here to view.

What to invest in Prahran: Richard Wakelin shares secrets with API readers

Discover Opera with Monique and Victorian Opera's Richard Mills

Today I had the honour and pleasure to host a luncheon for Victorian Opera's corporate supporters that previewed the thrilling 2013 season. The gathering was wowed by heart-rendering tasters from the season's program by three beautiful and angelic-voiced performers - Tess Duddy, Chrissy O'Neil and Nick Dinopoulos - accompanied on a grand piano by Richard Mills, VO's artistic director, who also provided a concise but comprehensive overview about the music and their respective o...

Monique: Asia-based buyers will not dictate Melbourne property market

We are, by many accounts, living in the Asian Century; a time when the nations of the world’s largest continent, led by China, will dominate the global economic, social and cultural landscape.  In light of the enormous strides since just the turn of the Millennium by the likes of China, South Korea and India, and the rise of brands like Samsung and Lenovo, it’s not a forecast I wish to contest (although forgive me if I don’t extrapolate too much from the success of Gangnam Style!) Fro...

Melbourne property market steady over 2012

It's that time again when we aggregate and average out the reports of the five main property market data providers. As you can see from the table below, property prices rose over both the 3 months to and 12 month to the end of December 2012 timeframes. The numbers confirm our experience in the market place that 2012 was a year of slow decline in the first half, followed by a weak recovery in the final six months or so...

Perfect Prahran: suburb profile

When it comes to cool and urbane Melbourne addresses, there are few, if any, suburbs that top the appeal of Prahran. Bordered to its north and east by the ever-so-establishment suburbs of Toorak, South Yarra and Armadale, and on its south by the more edgy St Kilda and St Kilda East locales, Prahran delivers an attractive mix of the contemporary and the customary. No better is this illustrated than in its shopping strips...

Satisfied client interviewed by Australian Financial Review

Click here to read Ian Nicolson's account of using the services of Wakelin Property Advisory, relayed to the Australian Financial Review. Visit here to read more testimonials.

Richard Wakelin's 2013 outlook: a year of modest recovery

2013 is shaping up to be a year of modest but sustainable recovery, according to Richard Wakelin, director of Wakelin Property Advisory. 2012 was the year when the residential property market oil tanker executed a slow motion change of course. Losses decelerated in the early months of the year, we drifted sideways in the middle months, and were now seeing prices creeping forward...

Time ASIC eyed government's role in pushing dodgy property to unwary

See Monique's column in The Australian. No doubt there will be some push back from the promotors and they'll emphasise how good Defence Housing and the National Affordability Rental Scheme are. But despite their protestations, do these type of properties pass the smell test which is, can you expect strong, consistent capital growth? The answer of course is no.