The long Easter/Anzac Day break means many of you are out there enjoying the spectacular Brisbane weather, but where to go and what to do?

Museum or Macchiato? Abseiling at Kangaroo Pt or discovering Brisbane's hidden laneways? The bustle of weekend markets ... or a quiet picnic at New Farm Park?

The list is long, the decision hard, and often we find out about great events ... once they're over L

Today I've put together a few of my favourite sources for finding out what's on, where it's on, what's new and what's worthwhile doing and seeing in Brisbane ...

(Image: Abovephotography.com.au)

On-paper

If you're a fan of flicking through a magazine or newspaper then grab a Courier Mail, Brisbane News, Bmag, mx, Style magazine, Brisbane Circle or ionBrisbane tourist map for details of up-coming events and exhibitions. Most of these publications are free and found in cafes, restaurants, tourist info or public places around Brisbane's CBD.

If it's real estate you're looking for then Saturday's Property lift-out in the Courier Mail is what you need.

On-line

Although TripAdvisor is the first port of call for most tourists, there are some other great websites and eNewsletters that I prefer and are also great for locals:

Visit Brisbane 

Their new-look website is set to be launched next week, so have a look at what Brisbane City Council's prime tourism site has to offer. Alternatively subscribe to their eNewsletter to get all the latest news about what's happening and new in Brisbane directly into your inbox.

Must Do Brisbane 

Week by week Must Do Brisbane highlights all that's on in the region. They also have a great, informative eNewsletter with many fun ideas for that precious free time.

Weekend Edition

This website has become very popular with young professionals as it targets the type of events, places and music that they love. Their eNewsletters are also interesting and stylish.

Food-lovers' tips

Brisbane's vibrant food culture has really gone ahead in leaps and bounds over the last few years and every week there's somewhere new, exciting place to try - from all cultures, food directions, hip-pockets and ambience. Here are my favourite two Brisbane food bloggers - both have their fingers on the pulse of everything to do with food in the greater Brisbane region:

Eat, Drink and be Kerry Recently voted as one of Australia's top food bloggers, Kerry Heaney knows the Brisbane food scene like no other.

Miss Foodie A delightful person and vibrant food specialist, Kirsten is very passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of food and new places in and around Brisbane.

Don't forget the Brisbane Greeters!

New to Brisbane? or would like to show off our lovely River City to visiting friends or family? Enjoy your own tour guide from Brisbane Greeters. These knowledgeable locals will show you areas and facets of Brisbane's CBD you never knew existed. Even long-time residents are sure to learn something new and fascinating about their river city ... and it's free.

Have a great time exploring the Brisbane you knew and lots of places and food you never knew!!

(Source: Louise Moeller - HS Brisbane Property marketing consultant)

It's a fascination for every economist, property analyst and property buyer/seller ... the change-reaction effect of interest rates on the economy as a whole and property prices. Too high? Too low? Going up? Down? Sideways?

But it's way more than an 'Aussie issue' - it affects every country and it's often interesting to look at what the global monetary organisation, the International Monetary Fund, is saying. This, coupled with comment from our own Reserve Bank head, Glenn Stevens, makes for very interesting reading.

Following is a good article*, from the current Eureka Report published by well-known economist, Alan Kohler, covering many currently discussed issues in Australia and placing them in relation to the 'big picture'. Take a few minutes to read, and perhaps find some new insights into what I'm calling Australia's 'great rates debate' ...

Brisbane - the place to be!

Brisbane is on everyone's radar this year.

The biggest names hitting town this week are Prince William & Princess Katherine. Will they have Prince George in tow? What will Kate wear?

... but this is just the tip of the iceberg with preparations well underway for the massive G20 summit being held later in the year, when all notable world leaders, their entourage and media will descend on our sunny River City.

On the property front we're also seeing lots of visitors to Brisbane's CBD ... from all over Queensland and interstate - buyers busy checking out CBD apartments.

It's a bevy of activity in Brisbane at the moment and is set to continue throughout the year!

Understanding how our populations are expected to grow and live in the future is a fundamental key in forecasting property demand and dynamics in the next years to come.

And it's here that 'downagers' are set to become the latest trend and strong force of the future.

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about Maggie Smith type characters from the popular Downton Abbey series, but about people living lives and lifestyles typical for those of a younger age group.

We will see Australians retiring later, working til a later age, and moving to access the best job opportunities, according to forecaster and strategist Mark McCrindle.

"Because we are, overall, living longer, we recognise the financial need to also work for more years and set ourselves up better from the start," he explained. "The states with the highest population growth rates WA, ACT and QLD (3.4%, 2.2% and 2.0% respectively) are also the states with the nation's lowest unemployment rates 5.9%, 3.4% and 6.2%."

Sea-change or CBD-change?

It's a trend that we're already seeing within Brisbane's CBD - 'young retirees' leaving the rambling high-maintenance family home in the suburbs not for a house on the beach, but for a stylish CBD apartment. From here they are well-placed for job or contracting opportunities. In between jobs they can lock up and leave easily for a quick holiday from their CBD apartment - whether it be a few days or a few months. At present they make up about 10% of our active CBD buyers, however, if McCrindle is right, then this percentage is expected to grow in future years.

How do clever parents gets their kids out of home?

Gone are the days of kids leaving home the second they turn 18. They are, in fact, also tending towards their own downager-trend. "As a direct result of the downageing pattern, young Australians are less inclined to rush into employment or marriage, choosing instead to expand their tertiary education and save money whilst living at home with family members," explained McCrindle.

Some clever parents are looking to the CBD property market for a solution: They are buying a CBD apartment for their kids to live in whilst at uni or other studies. The really clever bit is that once the kids have finished and start working, the parents then 'gently' persuade them to move on - leaving the apartment ready for the parents to move in. A win-win situation!

Around 30% of my active CBD buyers currently fall into this category - whether from Brisbane, further afield or even overseas ... there are some pretty clever parents out there!

(Source: Property Observer, Louise Moeller - HS Brisbane Property marketing consultant)

Contract Tip No. 2

Time is ticking!

"Time is of the essence" for the contract. This is a legal term that means that you must perform all your obligations under the Contract strictly by 5pm (or other specified time) on the specified due date.

For example, you must be ready, willing and able to settle on the Settlement Date, otherwise the seller may either terminate or affirm the contract. In both cases, the seller would also be able to claim damages from you.