The FHOG (end of)...

From today's AGE:

First home-owner deadline looms: Rudd

April 23, 2009 - 1:06PM

The boost to the first home owners grant will not be extended beyond June 30, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has suggested.

"The first home owner's boost, as you know, we have indicated that will conclude within a very fixed and finite time frame," he told reporters in Perth.

"It's had strong useful results so far, but I have got to say all good things must come to an end."

The grant was raised from $7000 to $14,000 for existing dwellings and from $14,000 to $21,000 for new homes as part of the government's $10.4 billion stimulus package last year.

Mr Rudd said the Government was still measuring the full effects of the boost but it was important the community understood deadlines were imposed for a particular purpose.
Withdrawing the grant could hit some families hard.

Today, Treasurer Wayne Swan said he could not guarantee that the jobless rate won't hit double digits after a ''bleak'' report form the International Monetary Fund on the global economy.

Releasing its latest World Economic Outlook late overnight, the IMF forecast Australian growth would contract by 1.4% in 2009, before growing by 0.6% in 2010.

The IMF now expects world growth to decline by 1.3% in 2009, a hefty 1.8% reduction from what it predicted at the start of the year, while developed economies are expected to contract by 3.8%.

''It's the worst set of global forecasts the IMF has yet bought down because it now believes that the recession will be deeper and longer than previously forecast,'' Mr Swan said.

''And of course this has made an Australian recession inevitable.''

The IMF expects Australian jobless rate to be 7.8% in 2010, compared to its current level of 5.7%.

In February the Government had forecast a jobless rate of 7% by mid-2010, although Mr Swan has already indicated that unemployment will be higher than that because declining growth, and new forecasts will be included in the May 12 budget.

Mr Swan was asked if he could guarantee that the jobless rate wouldn't hit the double digit levels seen in the early 1990s.

''There are no guarantees when you are amidst the most savage global recession since the Great Depression,'' Mr Swan said.

''The Government will do everything we possibly can by way of economic stimulus to support jobs now ... and to put in place the building blocks for recovery so that we can maximise the employment opportunities that will flow from the global recovery when it comes.''

He said the pace of economic recovery will depend on the rest of the world.

''I myself personally am a little bit optimistic about China, and that's a good thing,'' Mr Swan said.

The road...

Aaron did a drive by of the block today. There were guys working on the storm water and the road... should be finished in approx 3 weeks! So we may be able to park our cars on road soon and not dirt! Very exciting!!

The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL)...

Just some more info we'll have to familiarise ourselves with!

http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/resources/documents/Building_Commission-BAL_Guide_(3).pdf

The HIA Home Ideas Show...

Today we headed into the city for the Home Ideas Show. We had a list of items we wanted to check out... decking, plantation shutters, water tanks, and pergolas/outdoor blinds.

1. Modwood Decking.

We dont want to do any paving at all, rather we'll use decking around the front entry, and our large entertaining area along the north side of the house off the dining room. We assumed we would use timber, but after today are considering the Modwood Decking alternative. Modwood is manufactured from recycled plastic milk bottles and reclaimed pine waste. It is designed not to warp, crack or splinter, and requires a lot less maintenance than timber. Check out the site www.modwood.com.au. Below is an image of the timber look (on the left is the smooth finish, on the right is the brushed finish).

2. Plantation Shutters

We decided previously that we would use plantation shutters throughout the whole house, even bi-fold plantation shutters over our sliding door off the dining room. There wasn't a great amount of info available at the show, but we picked up a few brochures.

3. Underground Water Storage

Aaron previously got prices from Reece for underground water tanks. Today we found a system that can be taylor made to suit the shape or size of the area we want to put it. It is even strong enough to be installed underneath our driveway. The system is basically made up of modules made from recycled materials. They arrive flat packed, and are assembled on site. I could ramble on about it, but you could just visit the site http://www.undergroundwaterstorage.com.au/ below is an image of the modules used to create the storage system.

4. Pergolas/Outdoor blinds

We plan to construct a pergola off the north side of the house, directly outside the dining room, and stretching almost the entire length of the house, from the garage to the family room. Fielders had the look we're after, a pitched, or dutch gable pergola, with room for ceiling fans for when it's hot in summer (we've learnt this lesson from 5 1/2 years on a rental property with a north facing pergola with a low roof - it's sometimes way too hot to sit underneath). Check out their info at http://www.fielders.com.au/. Stratco also had a good range of the style of pergola we're after. You can check out http://www.lifestylecontructions.com.au/ Below are some pics of what we're after, including some outdoor blinds.

The contract signing - DELAYED!!!...

Received an email today from S, she had been reviewing our file, and found that our contract paperwork will not be ready by our contract signing date next week!

We had already re-arranged work committments so were incredibly annoyed.

We exchanged a few emails, and she was very apologetic, but has organised a new contract signing date which will be May 14. She has requested the contracts for her review by May 7, so hopefully we'll be on track then, and have no more delays.

This post has been edited (quotes removed): April 26