This Month's Top Headlines

What stories have you been reading. The following were the most clicked-on headlines on PropertyWeek.ie in August.

It is interesting to observe that the overwhelming sentiment of the most popular headlines are negative, which is both consistent with the current gloomy economic outlook and affirms the notion that bad news sells.

Can positivity within the property industry and media break the downward property spiral?

1. HOK gives blessing to firms to take its staff in cost-cutting bid

ONE of the country's leading estate agents, Savills HOK, has given its blessing to the recruitment of staff by its own commercial customers as it attempts to reduce staff numbers in the face of the property slowdown.

2. Property market in 'crisis' as homes sell at discount
THE property market is in "crisis" with homes increasingly being sold at below-market asking prices, according to estate agents and auctioneers.

3. Estate agents close under market pressure

Newer agents take the biggest hit while established companies drop salaries and diversify into rentals and commercial property.

4. House prices still have long way to fall
FAT cats certainly won't be rushing out to buy property over the next year-and-a-half.

5. What's going to happen to property in 2009
The 'Sunday Tribune' surveyed a wide range of property experts and found broad agreement: things are going to get worse.

6. Property prices set to plunge 40pc from their peak
THE housing market is going through a drastic correction at the moment which will see prices fall as much as 40pc from their peak, according to a survey of economists.

7. RE/MAX 'Super Auction' of cut-price homes to woo first-time buyers
Currently, Re/Max is planning a pilot 'Super Auction', to be held in Galway on 12 September. If this is successful, the company plans to expand the concept nationwide.

8. Builders' holidays are all over
THE BUILDERS' holidays have turned out to be more "staycation" than vacation this year. For many construction workers and tradespeople, the focus is now on surviving the months ahead.

9. Repossession bids surge by one-third
THERE has been a sharp jump in the number of cases where banks are seeking the possession of homes and businesses.

10. New station to cut city travel times
A NEW railway station offering 25 daily trains into the heart of Dublin will open today.