Billionaires Under 30 years old: Do you need a loan?
It is amazing to consider that there are 6 people under the age of 30 who are billionaires in the world. Surprisingly they are spread around the globe – In the USA, Europe, China and The Middle East. The best known to most people is Mark Zuckerberg – the creator of Facebook. The inspiring thing […]
Just how much is $US700 billion?
With both the United States’ Senate and House of Representatives having approved the $700 billion bailout of the US economy, and President George W Bush having signed the act into law quicker than you could blink, now begins the blame game to see how this crisis snuck up upon so many. I, however, thought I’d […]
The world’s first $2billion home
Mukesh Ambani, head of India-based petrochemical giant Reliance Industries, and the fifth richest man in the world, is having a 27 floor skyscraper home built in Mumbai for approximately $2 billion. Forbes estimated Ambani’s net worth at $43 billion in March. Reliance Industries was founded by Mukesh’s father, Dhirubhai Ambani, in 1966, and is India’s […]
The Billionaire Club: Steven Spielberg
East Hampton, New York Net Worth: $3 billion Rank: 368 Called Quelle Farm, Steven Spielberg’s 12-acre summer retreat sits on Georgica Pond, the A-lister playground of such stars as Calvin Klein. The Hollywood kingpin and his wife play host to a retinue of top stars and their families each summer, the Clintons and Gwyneth Paltrow […]
The Billionaire Club: Oprah Winfrey’s home
Montecito, California Net Worth: $2.5 billion The self-made media mogul paid $50 million in 2001 for the 23,000-square-foot Georgian-style home she calls the “Promised Land.” Last year the spread was appraised at just under $85 million. For such a public persona, Winfrey ferociously guards the privacy of her home, situated on 43 acres. At a […]
The Billionaire Club: The Home of Bill Gates
The Home of Bill Gates Medina, Washington Net Worth: $58 billionGates’ 66,000-square-foot compound is built into a hillside on the edge of Lake Washington, near Seattle. Out-of-shape visitors can skip the 84-step hike to the ground floor and opt for an elevator ride instead. Among its enviable amenities: a 60-foot swimming pool with an underwater […]
Aussie Grabs Wizard At The Eleventh Hour
The battle to take control of Wizard Home Loans, as reported a few weeks ago by Marquette Turner, is over. Despite expectations that National Australia Bank would take control of the brand and franchise network, the race has been won by Aussie Home Loans. GE Money has offloaded its Australia and New Zealand mortgage offshoot […]
The Road Home: Cutting Homelessness In Half
The number of Australians living on the streets will be halved in the next 12 years, Prime Minister has asserted recently. Launching the Government’s White Paper on Homelessness, “The Road Home”, Mr Rudd outlined the Federal Government’s plans for reducing homelessness in Australia by 2020, with specific goals to cut homelessness by half and provide […]
The Manchurian Candidate: Chinese Property Market Stimulated
China has unveiled a stimulus package intended to boost its slumping real estate market. It has slashed taxes for second-hand apartment sales to help owners selling their homes. This means that anyone who has owned a home for at least two years can now sell it without having to pay a tax on the total […]
Mopping Up The Mortgage Brokers: Australia’s Banks On The Assault
After losing their market share to mortgage brokers during the real estate boom years in the earlier years of this decade, Australia’s banks are on the offensive. First off the market his year was Westpac which acquired the RAMS Home Loans brand, followed by the Commonwealth Bank which acquired a stake in Aussie Home Loans […]
The Great Australian Tax Grab
How’s this for short-sightedness: The New South Wales Government’s infinite wisdom to increase taxes by $3.6 billion AUD to compensate for their years of inept mismanagement of states coffers will have a huge impact on the property sector at a time when it can least afford it. NSW Labor Premier Nathan Rees and Treasurer Eric […]
Luxury Sales in Sydney: What’s Truth & What’s Fiction – Part 2
Part 2 of a 2 Part Investigation The low sales volumes that we have seen in 2008 have resulted from fear, necessity and pride. Each has played a role in reducing the number of sales. In so much as fear has contributed people are always cautious during times of upheaval or unrest. Economically it has […]
Short Vs Long-Term Interests: The Challenge For Australia’s Banks
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decisions to decrease interest rates over the last few months were welcomed by borrowers and lenders alike, most recently with the 0.75% cut in October and the 1% cut in September. The reality is, however, that most of Australia’s lending institutions have chosen not to pass on the full […]
Reserve Bank has blood on its hands – We must have further interest rate cuts – NOW!
Continued: Part 2 of a 2 Part Report The massive decrease in housing sales volumes has decimated State Government budgets as they lose hundreds of millions of dollars in would be stamp duty revenue. The flow on effect through to builders, other trades people, real estate agents and so many others throughout the economy is […]
BRAIN MATTERS: When Will The Roller Coaster Ride End?
This is a question on many people’s lips and our colleague in San Fransisco, Jim Walberg, has some great points worthy of noting. “THE key to our economic recovery is real estate values and consumer confidence. Real estate is the oil that fuels our economic engine. Generally, real estate is having a similar feel that […]
Luxury In London: Shop Like It’s Going Out Of Fashion
For those who have spare cash to burn we have found the perfect place for you – the $A4 billion Westfield Mall in West London that was opened today by new London Mayor Boris Johnson. This is anything but your average shopping arcade: not only is it the largest in London but it has managed […]
How to Survive the Sale Process – What you must know!
Times are difficult – sale volumes are down and the process of selling your home is taking longer than it has for years. Today we have heard that Australia may be heading toward a recession – the first in 18 years! The US Federal Reserve has cut official interest rates by 0.5%, the Japanese Government […]
Insights: Some of the Business Lessons I Learned at the Who’s Who Conference
Last week whilst at the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate Annual Conference and Award’s in Philadelphia, Michael Marquette & myself (representing Marquette Turner Luxury Homes) were awarded the title of the World’s Most Oustanding Rookie (New Luxury Real Estate Agency). Therefore, as the “newbie” we were in the company of other winners, some that […]
What Russian Real Estate Buyers Are Looking For
Russians are investing heavily in overseas property, and even though the Russian stock market continues to suffer (and there will approximately 50% less billionaires in Russia this time next year), there are ongoing reasons for wealthy Russians to search for prestigious properties to buy as a long-term investment. The experience of Marquette Turner Luxury Homes […]
Simon Turner’s “The Real State”: Aiding The Bubble Will Just Aid The Burst
Keeping up with the ever-changing commentary and realities of the Australian and worldwide economy (which don’t necessarily work in-congruence) can be pretty daunting. Whilst no economist myself, I nonetheless happily offer my opinion on “the real state” of play as I see them. There have been a number of moves taken by Kevin Rudd of […]
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