EVEN though I do not smoke and never drink more than two beers, I do have many annoying habits, none of which I wish to give up.

So, rather than resolutions, I have compiled my wish list for 2013.

How happy real estate would be if they could be fulfilled.

1. One property law throughout Australia: We are a country of only 22 million people, so let us choose the best bits from each state and make us a world-class leader in property transactions. This would ensure we were not only a beacon of efficiency and transparency, but logic, too. A system for the new era, a system that not only protects buyers, but equally protects sellers.

2. Let there be fairness in the residential lettings market: Tenants do need protecting, but how about landlords? More often than not landlords are not wealthy banker types but mum-and-dad investors giving it a go. Let us break away from this one-sided policy we picked up from the UK and US and bring back fairness and common sense, with one set of laws for tenants in all states.

3. Interest rates a little lower, if you don't mind: True, our rates are historically low for Australia. However,we are in a global market and they are sky high, compared with the US,UK and Japan. Can we try to consider more fixed-rate promotions without penalties? It is not ideal if rates go down, but, if you are comfortable with an amount eachmonth or week, the assurance of no changes gives everyone peace of mind and an ability to truly budget.

4. Marketers/property investment companies: Stop telling everyone they can be property millionaires because you did it. Many who claim this achieved it in an era when, to be fair, all you needed was a little nerve and a reliable lender/broker and off you went. We may not see this type of property phenomenon again for manydecades, if ever. The value percentage gains needed do not add upand we really could not all be property millionaires.

5. Agents and vendors stop listing at ridiculously over-the-top prices: You clogup the market and wasteeveryone's time. You should always add a bit for negotiation, because you never know. However,just because the vendor wants a certain price does not mean that is what it is worth.

A good agent should just hang back until the sellers get serious.

6. Let us embrace more creative housing construction in respect of affordability: Small does not mean bad and good design is not expensive. Please let us see far less of the McMansions and House Burgers and more free-standing canapes and fine terraces.Andrew Winter is the host of Selling Houses Australia. Nominate him for a Logie at tvweeklogieawards.com.au/vote

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