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According to the latest Global Property Guide, Australia recorded the fourth-largest price increase during the year to March beating many of the world's best and biggest cities of 16.6 per cent.

But industry funds have maintained a fairly consistent performance advantage over master trusts.

Over 10 years, the not-for-profits remain ahead by 1.3 per cent a year, returning 5.8 per cent versus 4.5 per cent for the retail sector.

In May, the Australian share market lost 7.5 per cent for the month, with the global unease compounded by concerns about the Government's proposed tax on mining profits.

CHINESE companies will build mines, railways and port facilities in Australia under a series of billion-dollar resources deals signed in Canberra.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, and its thirst for iron ore and natural gas helped keep Australia out of the global recession.

Mr Rudd said the 10 deals focused on resources and energy.

"This demonstrates the dynamic relations between the two countries in this sector, and the strong complementarity of the two economies," he said in a statement.

Under one deal, Chinese companies will help fund a US$8 billion coal mine, railway and coal-loading terminal near Bowen in Queensland.

The staggering spending habits of some home buyers has seen the equivalent of 12 $1 million-plus homes selling a day at auctions for the past three weekends, said Mal James from Melbourne's James Buyers Advocates.

ADELAIDE will botch the development targets in its 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, unless dramatic changes are made to council and planning regulations, the development industry says.

The State Government's 30-year strategic plan aims to have 70 per cent of all new development built in urban in-fill areas, with only 30 per cent on Adelaide's fringe.

The plan also reduces the encroachment on to agricultural land and revives languishing inner-city areas.

However, recent data shows there has been no increase in infill development since the plan was introduced.

In its bi-annual Economic Briefing Report, to be released today, the centre says the state is expected to grow at just 1 per cent this financial year. This was a strong result considering the global economic turmoil.

The result was underpinned by a large increase in State Government infrastructure spending and the Federal Government's economic stimulus package.

"The good news is that looking ahead stronger private sector demand is expected to make a greater contribution to economic growth," the centre says.

While the State Government has been spending big on infrastructure, the centre warns that an austerity push will slow this in coming years.

"The Government has budgeted for substantial reductions in infrastructure spending in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to reduce the budget deficit, and if this is to be achieved the Government will not be able to make major new investment commitments for those years," the Centre says.

The report's authors have also criticised the government by making infrastructure investment decisions driven more by short-term electoral interests rather than real value.

While the Centre expects the economy to perform well, it is not predicting a drop in the unemployment rate below the current level of 5.3 per cent because of strong population growth.

CAMERON ENGLAND From: The Advertiser June 17, 2010 8:01PM

In its Residential Property Prospects, 2010 to 2013 report, BIS Shrapnel predicts a median house price of $410,000 in June - an increase of 14 per cent for the year.

The median metropolitan price reached a record in the March quarter when it hit $405,000, Valuer General figures show.

BIS Shrapnel senior project manager Angie Zigomanis said because Adelaide had the lowest median of the mainland capitals, it did not experience the same interest rate and GFC-induced decline in prices compared to some of the other capitals.

Real Estate Institute of SA president Michael Brock said prices could even exceed rises of 20 per cent by 2013.

"A lot of Adelaide's capital appreciation depends on the outcome of the mining super tax," he said. "If the Federal Government compromises on that and the mining projects in SA are not put on hold, then I would predict an even higher return.

"(But) South Australia is still one of the most affordable states."

ADELAIDE house prices are forecast to surge by 20 per cent during the next three years, adding further pressure to prospective homebuyers.

In its Residential Property Prospects, 2010 to 2013 report, BIS Shrapnel predicts a median house price of $410,000 in June - an increase of 14 per cent for the year.

The median metropolitan price reached a record in the March quarter when it hit $405,000, Valuer General figures show.

BIS Shrapnel senior project manager Angie Zigomanis said because Adelaide had the lowest median of the mainland capitals, it did not experience the same interest rate and GFC-induced decline in prices compared to some of the other capitals.

Real Estate Institute of SA president Michael Brock said prices could even exceed rises of 20 per cent by 2013.

"A lot of Adelaide's capital appreciation depends on the outcome of the mining super tax," he said. "If the Federal Government compromises on that and the mining projects in SA are not put on hold, then I would predict an even higher return.

"(But) South Australia is still one of the most affordable states."

THE number of first home buyers in South Australia has plummeted to its lowest level in more than five years, prompting calls for stamp duty relief.

Just 476 first homebuyer loans were approved in April - the lowest since January 2005 - according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

A combination of interest rate rises and the axing of the first home owners boost has resulted in half the number of loans approved in the four months to April - 4287 compared with 2117 in the previous year.

The figures have led to calls for the State Government to adopt inducements similar to those announced interstate to buoy the housing market.

Real Estate Institute of South Australia president Michael Brock said SA's stamp duty and land tax were among the highest in the nation.

"Our property taxes are disproportionately aggressive," he said. "It's an unnecessary burden and a disincentive for people to invest in real estate."

The Housing Industry Association believes SA will lose its competitive edge unless Treasurer Kevin Foley introduces relief in the September Budget.

"If we're serious about maintaining our competitiveness so far as population growth is concerned, then we need to address these issues," executive director Robert Harding said.

The New South Wales Government last week announced it was abolishing stamp duty for people buying a home off the plan worth up to $600,000.

The latest quarterly Treasury figures shows stamp duty takings rose by $56 million to $974 million over the previous year which also prompted Opposition Treasury spokesman Iain Evans to call for reform.

"We are going to need to stimulate the housing industry to provide jobs and one way to do that is through stamp duty reform," he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Foley said the Government would not comment on plans for the September 16 Budget.

High school teacher Vicki Dent, 30, spent more than a year searching for her first home, before finding, and buying, one within her price range at Devon Park last week.

"First home buyer incentives really need to be increased, the bigger grant should have stayed around permanently. I missed out on it and it could have made a big difference," she said.

"Interest rates do seem to keep rising, and that is a worry, but I just thought I should bite the bullet and buy now."

HANNAH SILVERMAN From: The Advertiser  June 8 2010

A Housing Industry Association report identifies areas where the rate of population growth exceeded the national average and where approvals totalled more than $100 million.