Can you believe this year is almost over? There’s only 7 weeks left to Christmas as we count down to the end of 2016 – and what a rollercoaster year it’s been and we now have Donald Trump as the President elect of the United States.

The Reserve Bank met in the first week of the month and again left the official Cash Rate unchanged at 1.5%. Many economists still anticipate a further rate reduction in the first quarter of 2017.

The future’s looking green for homeowners and homebuyers, so to celebrate I thought I’d provide some food for thought by looking at a new report that shows how market confidence is surging. For those who want to flex their green thumbs, check out my guide on what veggies to plant right now so you can eat from your own garden all summer long.

Interest rates can’t stay this low forever. If you’re yet to take advantage of the current low rates, talk to me now – I’ll give you up to the minute advice and steer you in the right direction.

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New surge in property market confidence.

Median house prices in Sydney might be the nation’s highest, but new research demonstrates four other Aussie cities that are beating the emerald city in price growth.

Improved affordability is stimulating a surge in market confidence for both buyers and sellers across Australia. According to Knight Frank’s Global Residential Cities Index, Sydney has dropped out of the top 50 to 88th position due to a 6.1 per cent drop in positive price growth since last quarter.    

It placed just above Adelaide (89) – the final Australian city to make the top 100 in Knight Frank’s Global Residential Cities Index.

Sydney and Adelaide now rank behind Melbourne (43, down 1.6 per cent), with Canberra (61), Hobart (76) and Brisbane (82), all showing growth increases in the year to June.

Perth and Darwin recorded negative price growth, ranking 141 and 146 respectively. This suggests sellers are still feeling the effects of the resource sector downturn.

The report noted that, of the 150 cities tracked around the globe, 114 recorded positive annual price growth and 31 cities saw price growth exceed double digits.

Melbourne’s annual price growth of 8.2 per cent was far outstripped by cities like Budapest, up 23.6 per cent, Vancouver, up 23.4 per cent and top-performing city China’s Shenzhen, up 47.4 per cent over the 12-month period.

Is it time to upgrade your home? Find out how much you can spend the easy way – call me to crunch the numbers today.

How green does your garden grow?

Spring is in full swing and if you’ve got a green thumb, you’ll likely be spending some time in the veggie patch this month.

There’s nothing like eating fresh veggies straight from your garden to make you feel good. If you’re not blessed with a big backyard, don’t despair – you can still grow enough to feed a crowd on a balcony or in a small courtyard with today’s amazingly easy growing pods or vertical garden options.    

If you haven’t commenced your garden while we’re in the middle of spring’s great growing conditions, here’s my foolproof planting guide for what to plant right now:

•    Early November signals tomato planting time, with seedlings traditionally planted on Melbourne Cup Day. But don’t add too much fertiliser – the leaves will grow like mad but you won’t get much in the way of fruit. •    Salad leaves, lettuce and herbs are easy to grow in vertical gardens. They need consistent watering to thrive, so make sure you’ve got a dependable drip system, perhaps on a timer for the ultimate plant-and-forget veggie patch. Try to stagger your planting to allow for a continual supply of greens. •    Only got a few pots on your balcony? Try radishes, Chinese broccoli, rocket and a cherry tomato or two for effortless summer salads. •    If you’ve got some space in your backyard, consider planting broad beans. They’re so easy to grow, add nutrients to the soil and keep the grass and weeds at bay. Don’t forget to leave the roots in the ground after you harvest the beans to make the most of their green compost effect. •    If you already have an established bed now is the time to start labelling and recording what you’ve planted. A quick photo once a week will show how successfully your crop is progressing and help when it comes to making decisions about next year’s plantings.

Just when you thought interest rates couldn't go any lower?  It’s time to check whether your current mortgage is still offering you a great deal. I can help – let’s have a quick chat now.