Author: Kylie Davis

How to downsize without stress

The Holidays often herald a time of reflection and a desire for new beginnings.  If you’re considering downsizing, this is the perfect time of year to take a pause and consider your options for how you want to live the rest of your life.  If you’re in your 50s or older, or you’ve become empty-nesters…
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Holiday decorating tips to lure buyers

The Holidays are upon us, and while you’re busy decking the halls, don’t forget that it’s also a fantastic opportunity to impress your home for potential buyers if you’re about to put your home on the market. Winter is not usually a boomtime for selling your home, of course. However, the recent cuts in mortgage…
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Your checklist to find the perfect entertainer home

If the ability to entertain guests is a priority for your next home purchase, then you need to look beyond mere functionality when inspecting a variety of homes. For seamless entertaining, prioritize an open floor plan that integrates the kitchen, dining, and living areas, fostering a sense of connectivity and flow.  The kitchen should be…
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Seven ways to maintain your home this winter

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it’s time to prepare your home for the challenges of the colder months. Just like we bundle up in warm coats and hats, our homes need extra care to withstand winter’s chill.  From a real estate perspective, proactive maintenance not only prevents costly repairs but…
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What are today’s homebuyers thinking?

With today’s real estate market experiencing ebbs and flows on an almost monthly basis, sellers often ask me about the profile of a typical buyer. Usually, they’re seeking information that will help them prepare their home for sale and a guide for how long it might take to strike a deal. In our neighborhood, there’s…
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Is the property market finally making a comeback?

Optimism for a big rebound in New Zealand property prices have increased with a third successive cut in interest rates. Our Official Cash Rate (OCR) has dropped a further 0.5% to 4.25% – the third successive reduction by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. While it’s too soon to see evidence of the latest cut,…
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Rate cuts spark up NZ market – and there’s more to come

Property values are starting their return to normal growth patterns, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). Average prices rose 1.5% over the three months to the end of October. This is a welcome turnaround after seeing drops of -0.6% and -0.3% in the previous two quarters to July…
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Building bounce promises more homes on the way

Property values depend on a number of factors – the health of the economy, confidence in the employment market, affordability of interest rates, price trends and the number of new homes being completed. The supply factor – the number of homes being built – continues to be a huge political issue in almost every mature…
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Does a pool give you that sinking feeling?

Traditionally, the “Great Australian Dream” has been a home on a quarter-acre block.  Today, we’ve shifted our standards, and many buyers will gladly swap the space for the luxury of a swimming pool. However, buying a home with a pool can be a tricky business. If you’ve found an ideal property that has an aging…
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Eight tips for giving your home a facelift before sale

With the summer break beckoning, many homeowners will be planning to spend some time with a paint brush to give their home a facelift. Many of them will be doing so with the intention of putting their properties on the market for the late-summer and early-autumn sales season. With interest rates still at 4.65% –…
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