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Apr 20, 2022
Lest We Forget The Meaning Of Anzac Day
Long weekends, public holidays and short working weeks are always met with big smiles and eager chats about plans to get away or relax. Although, leading up to this next public holiday it’s important for us to remember the meaning behind such a significant day – Anzac Day – and take a moment to pay tribute and respect to all the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) that served in Gallipoli and the First World War, and the many other Australian and New Zealand service personnel who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. How ANZAC Day has evolved The first Anzac Day commemorations were held in 1916, initially established as a tribute for those that served in Gallipoli, with it later becoming an established National Day of Remembrance in the 1920s. It is said that only approximately 3,000 war veterans out of the 600,000 Australians that served in WWII are still alive today, and sadly our last living Anzac passed away several years ago. Although our tangible connect to the day is fading quickly, new generations – primarily untouched by the reality of war – are still seeking connections with this important piece of Australian history. These connections come in the form of continuing traditions such as the Dawn Service, the Last Post and Anzac Day marches, just to name a few. Marking the day in your own way Whether you’re up for the Dawn Service, an annual Anzac biscuit baker, or spend the day with loved ones, everyone has their own unique way to commemorate the day. Have a read of what Anzac Day means to some of our First National leaders, and take the time to think about how you and your family mark the 25th of April. If you’re looking to adopt a new way to commemorate Anzac Day and pay your respects with kids in tow, we recommend these 3: 1. Baking Anzac Biccies Kids love getting messy in the kitchen, and Anzac biscuits – whether chewy, crunchy, or syrupy – always turn out delicious. You can bake and gift them to friends, neighbours or family, or encourage your kids to set up a stall and sell them, donating profits to a charity like the Anzac Appeal or the Anzac Foundation. 2. Visit a local memorial site There’s nothing quite as powerful as a memorial site as a backdrop for talking about the meaning of Anzac Day with your children. And it’s particularly powerful to experience the ceremonies and the coming together of people from all walks of life that takes place at a memorial site on Anzac Day. Places of Pride will help you find a memorial near you. 3. Read a book together Sometimes understanding Anzac Day can be difficult for kids. Thankfully, plenty of books are available that delve into the topic at an appropriate level for kids of all ages. It’s great to read these books together so that you’re on hand to answer the inevitable questions. To mark Anzac Day in the comfort of your own home Commemorate Anzac Day Your Way has plenty of ideas for paying your respects minus the crowds. And for a complete list of events planned for 2022, visit the Australian War Memorial. The way we pay our respects may change, but the sentiment doesn’t As new generations become removed from the realities of those who have served, the importance of keeping traditions alive and maintaining our connection and appreciation for the past strengthens. Everyone pays their respects in their own way, and while traditional in-person ceremonies looked a little different over the last two years, the sentiment remains strong, and in most states, these will revert to past traditions for 2022. It’s essential to check with your local health authorities, and if in doubt, Commemorate Anzac Day Your Way at home. DISCLAIMER The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.
Apr 14, 2022
How to Better Support Our Kids!
After two years in and out of lockdowns, home-schooling and a general lack of regular routines, our kids are back in the classroom, back to their after-school activities and generally back on track with school life. And while kids are a resilient bunch, getting back into pre-COVID routines can be a bit of a shock to the system and a source of anxiety – in just the same way that heading back into the office is for us adults. However, with experts agreeing that school closures can do more harm than good, how can you support your kids as they rediscover school life? 1. Prioritise communication Now that we all have lives outside of the four walls of our home, it’s the perfect time to re-establish open discussions and regular communication with your kids. You can help ease their back-to-school anxiety by talking with them about the positives of returning to school – like connecting with friends and offering them reassurance and support with any issues they face. Practical tip – make family dinners a priority. Banish phones and distractions and use the time to discuss the day that was. Include plenty of open-ended questions and make sure everyone has a chance to be heard. 2. Re-establish routines With nowhere to be in the morning, getting dressed became a pointless affair, bedtimes crept later, and hobbies were put on hold. Kids thrive with structure, so now that we’re living with COVID and experiencing a new form of normality, re-establishing family routines is essential for reducing stress associated with unpredictability. Getting your children involved in creating these routines helps gain their buy-in (depending on their age), and the routines should include chores that assist with the smooth running of the household. Practical tip – make sure any chores included in your family routines are age-appropriate. Raising Children has helpful suggestions broken down by age group. 3. Get social without spending a cent With increased financial pressures off the back of COVID for many, expensive outings and activities are luxuries that might no longer make the budget. Fortunately, with the easing of restrictions on gatherings and the use of facilities, there’s plenty of free fun to be had. Organise a social group with other kids and parents from school and agree on a day to meet up weekly – not only will your children benefit from strengthening bonds with their peers, but it’ll give you a chance to develop a support network with local parents. Whether you head to a local park and bring along cricket bats and soccer balls or make it an afternoon at the beach, all you need to do is pack some snacks and a picnic rug. Practical tip – take turns organising the week’s meet up spot, so there’s plenty of variety and sharing of the load. 4. Practice positivity and mindfulness Our mental and emotional health has taken a battering over the last two years, and practising positivity and mindfulness is now as important for kids as it is for us adults. Mindfulness helps with our ability to make peace with uncertainty and focus on what we can control in the present moment. Positivity exercises can help with self-esteem and self-worth and bolster our overall feelings of optimism. Practical tip – mindfulness activities don’t need to be complicated; start with these from Raising Children. To inject positivity into your family routine, try something as simple as taking turns around the dinner table, saying one great thing about your day. 5. Bring back hobbies and creativity Although they can be expensive, out of school activities are invaluable for developing social skills and supporting mental wellbeing. Physical activities like sport have plenty of benefits for overall wellbeing and don’t need to cost the earth, and other activities like art and drama allow kids a creative outlet that has been shown to enhance academic, social, and emotional outcomes. Practical tip – get your child involved in the process of choosing which after school activity they want to do and make sure they don’t take on too much (particularly while they’re still adjusting to being back at school). 6. Set aside time for family activities After some intense and forced family time over the last couple of years, many of us have lost focus on what fun family time looks like. Take a step back and think about what works for your family and how you can schedule it into your week. Connection and quality time together as a family is super important for your children’s development and can also help keep the lines of communication open. Practical tip – family time doesn’t need to involve an expensive outing; it can be as simple as heading out on a regular family bike ride, incorporating a family movie night, or cooking together on the weekend. There are loads of free family fun ideas here. 7. Take a holiday these school holidays We’ve all been juggling school and home for so long, so why not take a well-deserved break from work these school holidays (if you can) and enjoy some time out with your kids. Whether you head away, play tourist in your own town, or dabble in some at-home arts and crafts, removing the pressure of multi-tasking will provide a welcome break for you and your family. Practical tip – Check out your local state or territory website for things to do this school holidays and make the most of activities and events close to home. And because school holidays aren’t always a breeze, check out these Parent Line school holiday survival tips. Enjoy the return to normality but be aware it’s not always easy Socialising and leisure have been foreign concepts for the last few years, so while it’s exciting to look forward to a return to normality, it’s only natural for some anxiety to be present amongst our kids and within ourselves. By taking the time to re-establish pre-COVID routines and injecting fun and positive family time back into our lives, we’ll all reap the benefits. Remember, if you or a family member are struggling, it’s ok to ask for help. Contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 DISCLAIMER While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. Seek professional help if you have any concerns and remember to follow local and state government health guidelines. The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use
Apr 12, 2022
8 Tips For An Egg-Citement Filled Easter
Whether you celebrate the religious aspects of Easter or see it as a day of fun for the kids, the Easter long weekend is an egg-cellent opportunity to catch up with friends and family, spend some time relaxing and have a bit of fun. We’ve collated 8 tips to fill your Easter weekend with festivities for the whole family – adults included! 1. Entertain with ease Often the fun of hosting a get together is dampened by the stress of catering for your guests. Who wants to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is having a great time? Enter the delivered grazing platter! With so many options available to cater for different needs – everything from appetisers (think delicious cheeses, cured meats, dips and gourmet crackers) through to full-on feasts – simply place your order, sit back and enjoy. 2. Inject some cute craft With adorable bunnies, colourful eggs and fluffy chicks taking centre stage, there’s a lot for kids to love during Easter (not to mention the chocolate). And it’s always a fun time to get them involved in arts and crafts. Start the crafting early and help them make cards for friends and family, and then over the Easter weekend, set up some craft activities like these to keep them entertained. Kmart and Target stock Easter crafting kits for an even easier option. 3. Plan a huge hunt It’s not Easter without an Easter egg hunt, but it doesn’t always have to be about chocolate or all about the kids. If you’re gathering with friends and family, create an adult-only hunt of epic proportions. You’ll quickly find out who your competitive friends are as you watch the fun unfold! Whether you go for a traditional all-out chocolate grab, a treasure hunt with clues, or a golden ticket hidden in a plastic egg, there are plenty of ways to create an adult-friendly hunt. Hop over here for some kid-friendly Egg-stra Special Easter Egg Hunt inspiration too. 4. Add a touch of homemade Nothing says Easter quite like freshly baked hot cross buns slathered generously with butter. Blow your guests away and bake your own this Easter. Sure, there are a few steps, and it involves a bit of time, but it’ll be worth it. Can’t bear to bake? Fake it and pop some of these in the oven – The HCB Directory: where to find Australia’s best hot cross buns. 5. Invite the Secret Easter Bunny With Easter evolving into a time to share gifts for some, take away the stress and invite the ‘Secret Easter Bunny’ to your gathering. Much like Secret Santa or Kris Kringle, rather than buying gifts for everyone in the group, you’ll be anonymously allocated one recipient. Online gift exchanges like Elfster make the process super easy to manage, and you can even create a wish list of gifts. 6. Capture the moments While we’re constantly snapping moments on our phones, go old school this Easter and provide some disposable cameras for people to use throughout the day. It’s an entertaining and interactive activity that everyone will enjoy – and some kids probably won’t even know what they are! Developing all the snaps later on is half the fun and will provide you with some priceless memories of the day. 7. Incorporate traditions Do your kids know why a bunny is associated with this religious holiday? While it’s perhaps the most significant holiday of the Christian calendar, you don’t have to be a devout Christian to understand and appreciate the meanings behind the many traditions that we all incorporate into our Easter celebrations. From hot cross buns to Easter Sunday feasts and dyed eggs, here’s some background on our Fun Easter Traditions so that you can add some understanding and context into the frivolity. 8. Get onboard with games The Easter egg hunt is synonymous with the Easter holiday, but there are plenty of other egg-citing egg-related games that you can incorporate into your weekend. The good-old-fashioned egg and spoon race is a winner for all ages, and for some guaranteed laughs, get your guests on the floor rolling an egg to the finish line using…only their nose. For more Easter games suitable for both kids and adults, check out this round-up of games. Hop to it and have some fun! After spending the last few Easters cooped up, it’s time to spread your wings a little and create some special memories and new traditions with friends and family this Easter. First National Real Estate would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Easter holiday! DISCLAIMER While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. Remember always to check and follow your local and state government health guidelines. The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.
Apr 4, 2022
Adelaide - Recently Crowned Australia's Most Liveable City, But Does It Stack Up For Property Investors?
With a burgeoning foodie scene, an art, music, and festival calendar and premium wineries on your doorstep to rival any other Australian city, plus some spectacular coastline and outdoor adventures to be explored, it’s hardly surprising Adelaide has been crowned Australia’s most liveable city. In fact, Adelaide came in third in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index for 2021, positioning it as a hot spot both globally and domestically. But how does it stack up from an investment point of view? Investment appeal Bordered by parklands and natural beauty, Adelaide’s known as a city where you can simultaneously do business and breathe. It’s this lifestyle balance that many are seeking, which is contributing to Adelaide’s reputation as a fantastic place to live. Work-life balance aside, here’s what’s positioning Adelaide as a hot investment spot: Poised for long-term economic growth With $3.8 billion BioMed City – one of the largest health and life sciences precincts in the Southern Hemisphere – setting up camp right in the heart of Adelaide and some of the world’s largest businesses like Google, Amazon, Deloitte, MIT, PwC, Accenture and The Australian Space Agency all opening the doors to new offices in Adelaide, the economic future for Adelaide is looking very bright. With economic growth comes employment Due to the sheer volume of large-scale businesses calling Adelaide home, employment opportunities are substantial. Add to this the fact that South Australia has become the country’s ‘Defence State’, which has created thousands of jobs (it currently accounts for around 1.5% of all jobs in South Australia). This number is pegged for further growth, with French shipbuilding company Naval Group predicted to create another 4,000 jobs in the next seven years. Local government infrastructure investment Adelaide is a globally connected city, and the revolutionary Ten Gigabit Adelaide landmark project positions the city as the first in Australia with a city-wide 10Gbps fibre optic network. In addition, there is over $3.6 billion of existing and planned CBD infrastructure developments, including the renewed Riverbank precinct, which attracts millions of visitors annually. The education draw-card With world-class education institutions (the city’s universities are ranked within the top 2% of institutions in the world), over 140 public and private schools, 25 English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) institutions and 13 private higher education institutions, students head to Adelaide in droves, making rental accommodation in continually high demand. Where you’ll find Adelaide’s investment sweet spots Not surprisingly, the CBD’s inner-ring suburbs remain the most attractive from a growth and rental perspective; however, outer-north, and southern suburbs are seeing similar levels of growth. And with Adelaide’s median house price sitting just over $570,000, it presents significant value as the third most affordable capital city behind only Darwin and Perth. From a rental perspective, Adelaide has the least available rental space of any Australian capital city, with vacancy rates of just 0.6%. According to Canstar’s Rising Stars Australian Property Market Report, here’s where you’ll find Adelaide’s 5 best suburbs to invest in: 1. Belair – with a 7% rise in median house prices in the last quarter of 2021 alone, this suburb on the south-eastern foothills of Adelaide has easy transport options to the CBD, great schooling options and Belair National Park on its doorstep. All this results in strong rental demand and opportunities for long-term capital gains. 2. Broadview – currently undergoing a period of transformation as older houses get replaced with new, Broadview in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield is a family-friendly suburb with affordable housing. Rental demand is strong, with near-zero vacancies and a median price on the rise (up 10% to $600,000 in the last quarter of 2021). 3. Eden Hills – close to the city but with a country feel, Eden Hills has seen a climb in house prices in the last 12 months, with a current median house price of $660,000. Just 20 minutes to the CBD and 15 minutes to the beach, rental properties are in high demand, and the current vacancy rate sits at 4%. 4. Elizabeth Vale – the northern suburbs of Adelaide include some of the most affordable (some with median house prices below $200,000); however, with Adelaide in growth mode, these suburbs present great future value for investors. Elizabeth Vale in the Playford Region has a large rental population (with over 42% of residents living in rental properties) and near-zero vacancy rates. 5. Golden Grove – also in the northern precinct, Golden Grove is a leafy suburb within the City of Tea Tree Gully. It features excellent infrastructure, easy access to the CBD, fantastic schooling, and plenty of amenities, making it a desirable suburb for renters and homeowners. The median house price jumped almost 10% in the last quarter of 2021 (to $565,000). Ready to invest? Before you hit the open home trail, it’s essential to get your ducks in a row. This includes getting your finances in order, understanding your budget, and learning the intricacies of the local market. Here’s what you need to consider: Explore equity in your existing home – in short, equity is the difference between the market value of your current home and the balance of your mortgage. If you’re in the fortunate position to have built up equity (by paying down your mortgage, through capital gains, or a bit of both), your lender can advise you how much usable equity you have available to invest. While you’ll need to speak to your lender to get a bank valuation on your property, your local First National Real Estate office can provide an indicative market valuation to get the ball rolling. Identify your goals and stick with them – while it can be easy to get swept up in the appeal of a potentially lucrative do-up or a home you might like to live in for retirement, keep your end goal in mind. With investment properties, ongoing maintenance, tenant demand, and potential for capital gains should be at the forefront of decision making. Understand the local legal intricacies of sale and purchase – if you’ve purchased a property before, you might think you’re familiar with the process from a legal perspective. However, different states have different intricacies that you need to be aware of. Things like due diligence, vendor statements, and the type of sale (i.e., private treaty versus auction) can all differ, so it pays to get a property professional involved and make sure you’re well versed. Understand your obligations as a landlord – if you’re looking to rent your investment property out, you’ll need to be across your rights and responsibilities. Legal Services Commission South Australia provides plenty of detail around residential tenancies. If it’s your first time investing, this Guide for First Time Investors is packed with plenty of practical tips, and First National Real Estate is always on hand to share our local knowledge and expertise. And if you’re considering a rental investment, our property managers are a wealth of information regarding potential rental returns. DISCLAIMER Please note the information provided here is general in nature and should not constitute legal, financial, or professional real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use. Residential property is affordable While median house prices are experiencing growth, Adelaide has one of the lowest residential property prices of all Australian mainland capital cities.
