After turning its eye on first time buyers and introducing loan-to-value lending restrictions last year, the Reserve Bank is now looking to do something similar to property investors. Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler warned recently the bank may target investors with five or more properties with higher interest rates. He said the LVR restrictions had forced many first-time buyers out of the market, but that had allowed cash-rich investors to benefit by picking up cheaper houses. Reserve Bank data showed 45 per cent of residential properties being sold a month are being bought by investors, while just 9 per cent is going to first-time buyers. The Reserve Bank is expected to introduce …

American residential property is fast becoming a favourite investment for people from the world’s second most populated country – India. A report by the US National Association of Relators (NAR) released recently said Indians spent $5.8 billion, buying residential properties for the year ended March 31, 2014. This was a 6 per cent jump over the previous year. One reason for this is thought to be the Royal Bank of India’s increase to the investment ceiling for individuals to buy property overseas. The ceiling was recently raised from US$75,000 to US$1 million. “Indian high net worth individuals (HNIs), who have obtained American citizenship and are settled there, have several reasons for …

Confidence among companies who build homes in the US rebounded this month, after falling in October. The National Association of Home Builders released their latest Housing Market Index this week. The index determines housing trends and demand in the property segment after polling builders on single-family home sales, single-family home sales expectations and demand from potential buyers. November's index improved by four points over October.  "Low interest rates, affordable home prices and solid job creation are contributing to a steady housing recovery. After a slow start to the year, the HMI has remained above the 50-point benchmark for five consecutive months, and we expect the momen…