Special Report: Property sector hopeful

Calling the bottom of the market is fraught with danger for real estate agents and developers, but many in the industry are hopeful that the tide is beginning to turn.

IT took less than 18 months for the state government's shared equity scheme - a lifeline for the first homebuyer market - to exhaust its three-year, $300 million budget.

URBAN infill was a key policy of the Carpenter government, outlined in the 'Network City' plan for a series of transit-oriented, high-density developments in Perth.

THE downturn in Western Australia's housing market has had a huge impact on the state's real estate industry, with businesses consolidating their operations and a number of sales consultants leaving the sector.

SUSTAINABILITY and affordability are beginning to drive innovation in the use of building materials in Western Australia's housing industry, with more developers using imported and lightweight products.

DESPITE tightening global credit markets, property analysts remain optimistic that the residential sector in Western Australia is headed for a growth phase in the near future.