The big story in most countries around the world is how they’re beginning to see daylight at the end of the tunnel in their real estate markets. Following the U.S. down a road of deflated prices and tough credit situations, most world markets are just now beginning to see improvement. Builders are forecasting new business, and existing homes are selling faster and at stable or better prices…mostly. But, it’s a tentative situation, and bears close monitoring to stimulate improvement and avoid a “double-dip” in prices.But, then there is Australia. In years past, Australia had relaxed foreign real estate purchase rules. But, they were reimposed in 2008. While there hasn’t necessarily been aggressive enforcement of these rules, the trend is now toward strict interpretations and fast actions. The influx of foreign money, much of it Asian, into the Australian real estate markets is generating complaints from ordinary Australians that they’re being priced out of their own housing markets.

In Australia’s major cities, prices have been climbing steadily, especially in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The country’s mineral exports bonanza is one contributor to this rapid growth. With the purchase of a $23 million property in November 2009 at auction, the Victoria state market accelerated, breaking through a weekly billion dollar sales barrier in March 2010. In an international survey at the beginning of 2010, Australia’s housing was the least affordable of six other nations, United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland. Foreigners are said to be bidding up prices in every area. One influence is the number of Asian children studying in the country, and their parent’s purchases of housing for them.

Some analysts blame a lack of housing supply and government grants to first time buyers are partially to blame. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had this to say: “We want to make sure that Australian working families are not being priced out of their own family homes. That is why we have acted in the way in which we have done. We want to make sure that foreign speculators are not going to force up prices for Australians seeking to buy their own home, buy their first home and we think this is the right course of action.” Violation of the rules is resulting in stiff penalties, including mandatory sell orders. Real estate agents are also being carefully monitored, with penalties to those found to be helping foreign investors to evade the rules.

Americans are split on whether they are satisfied with their real estate agents services, according to the latest survey conducted by Housing Predictor, which forecasts housing markets in all 50 U.S. states. The online survey indicates respondents are divided on the quality of their agents services. Forty-seven percent of the respondents said they were satisfied with their last real estate agents services, while a nearly exact number of 46% said they were not satisfied with their agents. Some seven percent were unsure.

After a national real estate boom in many states, the survey indicates that real estate agents may have a long way to go to increase the public’s perception and enthusiasm of their industry. Previous studies have also shown that the public does not blame their real estate agents for paying too much for properties they have purchased in the last few years.

Housing Predictor regularly surveys visitors to the web site on a variety of issues related to the real estate industry, which is one of the largest driving forces of the national economy. Despite the slowdown in the housing market in many states, 18 states local markets are appreciating, including Texas and New Mexico, where foreclosures are just beginning to record higher numbers. Forecasts for more than 250 local markets in all 50 states are provided on Housing Predictor, where you may also search real estate listings and foreclosures, which is becoming an increasingly active market for many home buyers and investors.

Housing Predictor has forecast that more than two million homes will be foreclosed through 2009 due to fall out from the sub-prime loan crisis as it spreads into the conventional mortgage markets. Foreclosures are at near record high levels in many areas, but are rare in the second home and vacation markets, where a large percentage of buyers pay cash for property. Housing Predictor is a leading online resource for consumers, home owners, the real estate industry, mortgage and financial companies, which regularly consult the web site for its unbiased independent housing market forecasts.