Author: Kylie Davis

Eight emotions when buying a new home

Every buyer goes through a series of emotions from the moment that they begin their search for a new home to the euphoric time when they take possession of the front door key. Let’s not sugar-coat this:  buying property can be stressful for a time. And first-time buyers must deal with the anxiety of dealing…
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How to buy a ‘fixer-upper’

Some buyers regard them as diamonds in the rough – homes that are rundown or neglected.  These buyers can see through the grime and the dilapidation and can’t wait to start renovating. If you’re one of those folks, then you’re a breed apart.  The archetypal fixer-upper is only right for a buyer who has sufficient…
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How to find the best mortgage for your needs

Buying a new home often means confronting the challenge of refinancing and choosing the best package from a wide choice of products with varying interest rates and eligibility rules. Many of us select a 30-year loan with a fixed interest rate, while others choose a 15-year option, which has a lower interest rate but higher…
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Top tax claims for landlords

The tax rules around owning a rental property can be confusing, and it’s common for landlords to misunderstand which business expenses can be legitimately deducted to minimize their tax bill. Business expenses for rentals are available to those who actively manage the property, rather than a passive investor. And while it might sound obvious, the…
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How to create Danish ‘hygge’ in your home

Hygge is a Danish word that is best translated as ‘cosy’. It is not a design style as much as a feeling of contentment you get from being happy at home in a warm and loving atmosphere, especially when it’s cold and miserable outside.  What’s great about hygge is that you don’t need to spend…
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Six ways to add value to your home before sale

Nobody sells on a whim so there’s little excuse for not preparing your home for the moment that it goes on the market. You’ll give yourself the best chance of maximising the final sale price by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your property, and deciding whether to invest in some smart renovations that will…
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Five reasons why apartments are better than houses

Apartment living offers the mixture of a hassle-free lifestyle, convenience and security that the ownership of a house cannot match. Buying a unit is also comparatively cheaper because it does not come with the cost of purchasing – or maintaining – an entire block of land. Many people are turning their back on detached houses…
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Get organised now to sell before Christmas

If you are looking to move house and be settled into your new home by Christmas, now is the time to start thinking about putting your home on the market.  As a rule of thumb, you should expect your home to be on the market for between 30 to 45 days. You can check the…
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4 ways to reduce the stress of selling

Selling your home can be stressful even when the process is well organised and proceeding as expected. There’s a lot going on at a psychological level that can make you feel deeply uncomfortable even when things are under control. Let’s take a look at why you might be feeling unsettled and how to reduce the…
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Four ways to brighten your boundary

A tired or broken boundary fence will always be a drag on the positive impression that you want your home to make with prospective buyers and can have an impact on the final sale price. Fences that lean, have missing or rotten slats are not only unsightly but signal to buyers that they’ll have to…
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