In our first edition for 2025, value impetus easing; growing herbs for health and happiness; and 2024’s most expensive house sales
Following years of resilient growth, home values in some states reported falls over the final months of 2024, according to new data released this week by Corelogic.
CoreLogic’s Home Value Index (HVI) showed values were down 0.1 per cent nationally in December, after peaking in October and holding flat in November.
If your New Year’s resolutions included eating fresh and healthy food in 2025, make it easy on yourself by planting a herb garden now.
Growing herbs makes sense in so many ways. They smell good, taste (possibly) even better, are incredibly easy to grow in gardens, pots, tubs, in full shade or sun so are easy plants for any conditions. It is simply a matter of choosing the right ones for your situation and needs.
2024 saw some astronomical prices paid for real estate around the world, the Daily Mail reported this week, with the biggest sale raking in US$90 million (AU$144m) for Ellen DeGeneris’ Santa Barbara home.
DeGeneris, who has expatriated to the UK, is reported to have paid US$70m for the house just two years ago. Other hefty sales include a house in Miami Beach sold to David and Victoria Beckham for $72 million (AU$115m), as well as homes in Nevada, Malibu and Aspen that all went for over US$60 million.
In a definite step-up from the regular porta-loo, German architect Nico Goebel has designed and built ‘thegoodviewloo’ - a translucent on-site bathroom offering scenic views of Cantabria, in Spain.
Covered in corrugated polycarbonate sheets, thegoodviewloo provides a composting toilet and shower for use during the construction period and beyond, with minimal expense and environmental impact. Image: Nico Goebel