realestate.com.au gets into renovations

The REA Group has bought home renovation and improvement website, homesite.com.au, from News Limited for $1.6 million.

homesite.com.au has been operating as part of News Digital Media, News Limited’s digital division. The Housing Industry Association partnered with News Limited in 2004 to launch the site and as part of this deal, the HIA will continue to endorse homesite.com.au for the next three years.

homesite.com.au is Australia’s leading renovation website with more than 450,000 unique browsers in January 2007. Since June 2006, the number of visitors has soared by 66% and the site now has more than three times the traffic of its nearest competitor.

Australian Property Journal