Applying for your first mortgage can be nerve-wracking! The amount your lender offers you as a mortgage can make or break your ability to purchase your dream property in your ideal suburb. Your first goal must be to secure pre-approval. This is the conditional promise of a mortgage that allows you to make an offer…
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If you’ve been considering refinancing your loan or buying a new home, you may have heard that lending rules have changed. With record-low interest rates and banks trying to undercut each other in the variable rates market, the lending market has been hot. APRA – the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority – has now stepped in…
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When an agent has told you the property you’re about to view has “good bones”, have you wondered what they meant? It’s a familiar phrase in real estate to describe a house that might be old but has retained its structural integrity. So, if you wanted to upgrade the property, you shouldn’t find yourself spending…
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One renovation that can have a big impact, and take quite a bit of planning is updating your windows. It’s not a cheap exercise, and the essential question is whether it’s a good investment. Payback can come in a couple of ways – an improvement in the value of your home and a reduction in…
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Competing to buy a property at auction can be nerve-wracking. Your performance is there for everyone to judge, and you can see all the other people gathered who are trying to win the property, too. It can get intense. Of course, this tension creates an environment where the property will find its market value and…
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With 2022 promising to consolidate and grow the value of your property even further after a record-breaking 2021, it’s tempting to seriously consider your real estate options. An increasing number of properties are likely to go onto the market over the next 12 months, and this will give you a better opportunity to upgrade. If…
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Most homeowners will admit to making a few mistakes during a renovation. These projects can be complex, and it’s easy to miss opportunities such as making the kitchen a little larger or spending too much or too little on fittings. As experienced local agents, we hear many renovation stories. Most of my clients are thrilled…
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The kitchen is one of the most challenging parts of a home to remodel. You want to create a smooth workflow, where the family can cook together, eat and have fun. The most successful kitchen remodels begin with a plan that embraces your lifestyle, storage needs and cooking habits. If you get it right and…
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If you’ve got toddlers and young children, you need to be confident your new home is child-friendly and safe for your kids. Risks with swimming pools and spas are well-known, but danger can also lurk in the kitchen, bathroom and at the top of the stairs, and being proactive can ensure you are safe rather…
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The garage is often the dumping ground for sporting equipment, hardware, gardening tools, old furniture and anything in the house that can’t find a spot anywhere else. When it comes to sale time, a cluttered garage can pose a challenge for owners but it is worth taking on to maximize the feeling of size and…
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