The most-read stories of 2013
This year was busy for property, and some great stories went up on Property Observer that readers loved.
Here are the top ten stories of the year, by views, on the site, and we reveal our Top Story.
5) NSW first home buyer grant to stay at $15,000 until 2016: NSW State Budget
The NSW Treasurer Mike Baird has announced the $15,000 grant for new homes buyers will be extended until January 2016 in the upcoming state budget.
The first home owner grant was due to be reduced to $10,000 in six months time on 1 January, 2014. It now has another two years at $15,000 during which developers and home builders will pursue the recently hesitant first home buyer constituency.
"We're saying to every first home owner across the state, if you are thinking of buying - think new," Mr Baird said.
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4) Victorian first home buyers grant jumps from $7000 to $10,000 but only for new houses and apartments
Following the decision among other east coast states, the Victorian first-home owner grant will increase from $7000 to $10,000 for newly constructed homes.
It takes effect from July 1, which will lead to a probable pause in the purchase of new houses and apartment over the next two months.
But there will be a rush - possibly even an unhealthy frenzy - from those first timers desirous of buying established homes as they will no longer receive the existing $7000 first home grant from July.
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3) Just $4000 hammer price difference, with entertainment the winner of the Block Sky High auction results
It was the narrowest of victories for the Adelaide sister contestants Alisa and Lysandra who now are thinking of becoming professional interior designers after winning the most profit in the 2013 Block Sky High apartment auctions.
Their win came after a $4000 difference between the top sale under the hammer and the second highest sale - apartment 5's Trixie and Johnno securing a $1.605 million sale and apartment 4's Madi and Jarrod who secured $1.601 million.
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2) Australian housing is in 'largest bubble on record' and will crash: Philip Soos
Academic Philip Soos has acknowledged that mainstream opinion is opposed to the idea that a housing bubble exists in Australia, as governments, the FIRE sector (finance, insurance and real estate) and many of his colleagues in academia all claim that prices are linked to fundamentals or intrinsic value.
But noting entrenched views exist on both sides, Soos has repeated his strong belief that evidence suggests the residential property market was currently experiencing a bubble, with prices detached from fundamental valuations.
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1) Camelot at Camden is captivating as A Place to Call Home location on Channel 7's new 1950s drama series
Camelot, the grandest house near Camden on Sydney's outskirts, was the location for filming of the latest Channel 7 drama series, A Place to Call Home.
Set among rolling green pastures with well-established cottage-style gardens, and a winding, tree-lined drive from gates originally from Yaralla, Concord, the historic Narellan mansion was built in 1888 for the White pastoralist family.
