The national voice of Australia’s real estate sector, the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has entered into a new partnership agreement with Australia’s leading customer-connected banking group, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank.

The new arrangement will see Bendigo and Adelaide Bank become the exclusive sponsor of REIA’s two flagship market data and analysis publications, Real Estate Market Facts and the Housing Affordability Report.

REIA CEO, Ms Amanda Lynch has described the new partnership as a perfect match and says it demonstrates a wonderful commitment to the real estate industry by the bank.

“Support like this is critical to enable us to do the number-crunching work our members expect of us. We’re very excited to have such a respected partner on board to ensure the continuation of these important publications,” Ms Lynch said.

Executive, Bendigo Wealth, Mr John Billington is equally enthusiastic about the new relationship and says involvement in the production of Australia’s most authoritative sources of real estate analysis will also result in tangible benefits for banking customers and the bank’s business partners such as mortgage brokers and independent financial planners.

“Nobody understands the real estate industry like the Institute and its members and this partnership will help give us additional insights that we can use for the benefit of customers,” Mr Billington said.

General Manager, Third Party Lending at Adelaide Bank, Damian Percy, said “Given the bank’s involvement in assisting people into housing for more than 100 years, we are particularly pleased to be able to support the quarterly Housing Affordability Report. The Housing Affordability Report is an important publication and a pertinent reminder that housing is more than an asset class. Appropriate and affordable housing underpins stable and successful communities. We forget that at our peril,” Mr Percy concluded.

The June quarter editions of Real Estate Market Facts and the Housing Affordability Report will be the first releases under the new partnership agreement and will be available through the www.reia.com.au website in early September.