Commonwealth bank are getting into a similar space as to what Westpac has tried to do.
With the craze to create iPhone apps well and truly in monition, this apps delivers some incredible information to buyers as well as some terrible inconsistencies.
If you have an iPhone device - It's worth having a play with.
(Thanks Keith for the heads up here)
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Crime Mapping
Thursday, 29 July 2010
While we don't see too much of these here yet in Australia. We should see more and more of this type of information pop up over the next few years.
This is a crime map of San Francisco. The big 3D mountain like structures are the crime hotspots and areas to best to steer clear of - or you may see this as an opportunity to pick an investment in an area that has previously had some crime problems which have deflated the housing prices and created an opportunity.
If we could see these type of maps in Melbourne's suburbs - that would be a good thing. It would help families pick safer areas and would help focus attention on prevention in certain communities. Check out Flowing Data.
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Awareness of new developments
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
I really like these sorts of applications that are starting to be developed.
Just posted on the Open Australia blog is a new online platform that helps you find out about planning proposals for upcoming developments close by to a property you’re interested in.
The iPhone application lets you do this by just pointing the phone and its camera to the property. It’s an interesting was to help property buyers.
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Moving past paper
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
We should really get better at paperless transactions.
It's the frustration to many buyers on waiting for contracts getting sent by post from solicitor to agent to purchaser.
The art of a pdf contract is nothing new but still foreign to many business practices in Melbourne. Some interesting programs are coming out with digital signatures and provide a much speedier way of doing business.
Naturally we will see a slow uptake and some concerns to begin with, but just like internet banking - I think people will grow confidence with digital exchanges in the not too distant future.
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Auction Wrap
Monday, 26 July 2010
The clearance rate for this weekend has dropped back to 67% - down from last weekend's 72%.
There were 560 auctions that took place across the state, of which 374 sold and 185 passed in, 123 of those on a vendor bid.
Overall this weekend results were solid, however again very few 'run away' results occurred.
39 Woodside Street, Fitzroy North attracted a small crowd on the weekend where 6 bidders emerged. Bidding opened up at $700,000 on a genuine bid and sold for $890,000 under competitive and enthusiastic bidding.
The next three weekends are set to hold around 550 auctions each, with a drop the following weekend to 130, due to the election.
While we don't see too much of these here yet in Australia. We should see more and more of this type of information pop up over the next few years.
