With traditional media (papers, TV + radio) fear monging with negative headlines these past few months about the stock and property markets and Armageddon generally, we thought a sense of perspective was due ...

Markets can go down as well as up, but over time, the Australia share market and property market GOES UP! (see diagram of ASX since 1900)

Short term, prices in stocks and housing overall has fallen back a bit ('corrected',  'adjusted'?) - in Australia overall, this meant a 1.8% fall in September quarter: yes, the largest fall since 1978, but Perth's fall was less than national average at 1.1% (Brisbane property prices fell 3.3%).

With these price falls comes more realism, which should bring more turnover - which is what we want! - especially as we've had 2 recent rate cuts (and another tomorrow?); plus doubling of first home owners grant (tripling for new homes).

Plus of course we live in the country most able to ride out the financial storm. As John Symond recently said to the REIWA Conference, " even if China was to cut its demand for our natural resources by 50%, we'd still be fine as we can only supply about two-thirds of what they want anyway "!

Uncertainty is the chief protaganist, and the media love to prey on our fears and concerns. So let's get the truth out there, and as the situation settles, things will just get better and better... and the next upswing may last longer. Historically, it seems to work that way.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do email Charlie your thoughts

OK - now a gripe.

We receive complaints from real estate agents and web users that some of our clients are taking properties OFF our site, then reloading them AS IF they are new properties (but it's the exact same listing, maybe with a price change).

Like realestate.com.au and other sites, we do not condone this practice, and follow up all complaints with the agents concerned.

Under REBA rules it could be viewed as false advertising (VIEW recent REBA newsletter about this), as the property goes on the site as 'new' (when it isn't new), goes out on property alerts (again, as if it is a new listing).

ALSO - this drags down the quality and integrity of our site, and others - and we would ask that this NOT be done.

We are also going to set limits on entering listings that have recently been on the site; and just as we are doing for listings that have been entered more than once (in more than one suburb) we will act to hide them on aussiehome.com.

PLEASE NOTE - we did develop the 'new price' field, which if ticked flags the property in the search results as having a new price. We will also recode our alerts so such properties go out (but not as new listings, as 'new price' ones).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION. If you'd like to comment on this - please email Charlie

OK - back to the positive...

Whether you're a US election junkie or hate any mention of it; you have to be impressed with the manner, reach and effectiveness of the Obama Campaign for President.

Utilising the internet, he has developed a groundswell of supporters and donors (raising over Aus$1.1 billion privately) and is on the verge of a historic win (Prediction from the 538.com - Obama wins 52% of popular vote, with 332 Electotal College votes).

Apart from his use of the web, he has risen above the fray, captivated with simple clear messages ("Yes We Can"), planned and organised brilliantly, and has been tough enough to withstand 20 months of scrutiny and attacks. In a business & marketing context, there are real lessons to be drawn here.

Best US election website: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ (using techniques borrowed from baseball predictions, this site analyses all the polls, and has been very accurate at predicting winners: they have Obama 94% chance of winning).

Who's going to win the Melbourne Cup? - that's harder to predict! But good luck to everyone who has had a punt.

After our Smart Company Award in September, we garnered some good local press - especially as we were the only WA winners (from 270 entrants)... courtesy Western Suburbs Weekly, and The Stirling Times