ASX announcements, Facebook’s war on news and rising real estate trends: Here are the biggest stories from the property sector for the week ending 28 February 2021.
Welcome to REB’s weekly round-up of the headline stories and news that’s important not only for the real estate sector, but also for the state of property in Australia more broadly.
To compile this list, not only do we consider the week’s most-read stories and the news that matters to you, but we curate it to include stories from our sister brands that also have an impact on the Australian property landscape.
1. Real estate group declares first dividend in 4 years
An ASX-listed real estate group has revealed a $9 million turnaround in its net profit after tax, as it unveils its FY21 first-half results to market.
2. Breaking up with Facebook: Real estate soldiers on
As the widespread impact of the Facebook ban on news becomes clearer, what’s also becoming evident is the ability of agents and real estate industry players to pivot away from the social media platform.
Since then, Facebook has backflipped on its decision to ban news, after coming to an agreement with the Australian government.
3. Top 10 inland rural towns to invest in
While it’s become apparent that regional housing markets have stolen the spotlight, having outpaced their capital city counterparts in 2020, new research has shown that inland rural towns have also sprouted in popularity.
4. BOQ to acquire ME Bank for over $1bn
Bank of Queensland Ltd has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Members Equity Bank Limited for $1.325 billion.
5. The unexpected costs that come with starting your own agency
Many new real estate principals underestimate the financial and emotional costs associated with kicking off a brand-new business, according to a number of industry professionals.
6. What’s driving the recent rise in micro-branding?
A boutique agency’s CEO has reflected on the recent rise in micro-branding, concerned that the business proposition may not be the be-all and end-all for agents it is often touted to be.
7. 5 tips to unearth the next property hotspots
A property expert has bullishly claimed that property hotspots are a “complete myth” that almost guarantees buyers will pay top dollar, and has instead urged buyers to seek out the “warm spots”.
8. Regional NSW leads regional house race
With demand for regional housing persisting, several NSW towns have emerged as the winners of the regional relocation trend.
9. 86 400 confirms broker commitment
The neobank has confirmed that the broker channel will play a key role for UBank under the proposed merger, adding that broker growth has helped it near $400 million in funding.
10. 4 key challenges for the property market in 2021
With financial assistance and government stimulus easing, can the property market remain afloat in 2021?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
![Grace Ormsby](https://res.cloudinary.com/momentum-media-group-pty-ltd/image/upload/v1669071770/Real%20Estate%20Business/GraceSquareBrighter_l5pqac.png)
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.