THE PRACTITIONER'S COMPANION
Monday 7 July 2025

ARTICLES

Jul 18, 2024

Renter relief hits with more cooling in sight

Clouds are finally starting to part for Australian tenants, with rents in most major cities either falling, stalling or growing at a slower pace. Low vacancy rates have pushed advertised rents higher for several months running but the latest report from real estate platform Domain shows conditions are improving for renters.

Jul 18, 2024

Home lending slips but still well ahead over the year

New home lending remains far ahead of where it was a year ago despite a minor dip in May for property investors and owner-occupiers. Over the month, the Australian Bureau of Statistics logged a 1.7 per cent fall in all new housing loans, to $28.8 billion, with first-home buyer loans down the most, sinking 2.9 per cent.

Jul 18, 2024

First mini-cities revealed in fast-tracked housing plan

The first planned mini-cities have been unveiled under a signature NSW housing policy a minister insists will enable the state to deliver on ambitious home-building goals. Tens of thousands of homes could be built near four stations as part of a blanket high-density rezoning around those and other transport hubs. Plans for the initial fast-tracked precincts were revealed on Tuesday as part of a strategy the government says will rebalance housing growth around new metro stations and existing train infrastructure.

Jul 18, 2024

Competition freedoms suffer in eConveyancing reform delay

For the past decade, conveyancers have used digital provider, PEXA to settle properties on behalf of home buyers and sellers. PEXA operates as a monopoly. A regulator has been established to promote a competitive environment that drives efficiencies, cost-savings and innovation in the e-settlement space.

Jul 14, 2024

Australia shuts the laundry door

Of the $1.1 billion of criminals’ assets seized by AFP between July 2019 and June 2024, more than $720 million involved real estate. Now federal authorities are working to close the gap and pushing lawyers and conveyancers to fall in line.

Jul 14, 2024

Ann tech-savvy and heartfelt approach to customers

Ann Blannin-Ferguson was elected Australian Institute of Conveyancers NSW president a year ago, bringing four decades of expertise to her significant advocacy role. Time has taught her so much and Ann has evolved as a practitioner and as a leader of people along the way.

Jul 14, 2024

It’s time to clean house

Authorities are closing the legal loophole that has allowed international criminals to launder money through Australian real estate transactions.

Jun 17, 2024

QLS enters a new era: Help where it’s needed

Matt Dunn stepped into the role of CEO at the Queensland Law Society in March, having served an ‘apprenticeship’ dating back almost two decades. The Tasmanian native’s long tenure with the society – punctuated by a stint at the Law Council of Australia – has already seen him spend 13 months as acting chief executive. Now he is ready to tackle the role for real. Australian Conveyancer sat down with Matt to hear about the many challenges facing lawyers in Queensland and his plans for practical advice and guidance for the industry.

Jun 17, 2024

Suburban shift: we’re moving out.

Outer suburbs that ring Australian capital cities are home to the country’s record population growth.   Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a record 517,200 added to the rolls of the nation’s state capitals. The biggest increases over the course of the 2022-23 financial year were in Melbourne and Sydney…

Jun 17, 2024

We’re moving out

The national housing crisis, the cost of living, and the capacity to work remotely is changing the mindset of property buyers. Many are opting to relocate to metropolitan fringes and beyond.