Renovations are often at the heart of an owner’s strategy to maximise the value of their home, or for investors seeking top-dollar from rental income. But which renovations really sell a property or attract a top-paying tenant? Most focus falls on bathrooms and kitchens – two areas that are expensive to upgrade because of the…
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One of the biggest contributors to the long-term value of your property is location and local infrastructure. Areas where governments are investing in trains and schools quickly begin to contribute to higher local prices. A recent survey from the industry researcher Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) outlined how buyers were paying six-figure premiums to live in suburbs…
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With mortgage rates holding stubbornly at around 6.75%, first-home buyers continue to face a tough challenge to break into the property market. Only a few weeks ago, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) called for an increase in the building of new homes for first-time buyers following its own report that revealed existing homes were…
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The challenges of the housing market were cited as one reason why the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has again decided to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR), reducing it by 0.25% to 3%. Cheaper mortgages are now likely to further encourage the signs of green shoots that have emerged in several regions in…
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Six of New Zealand’s 16 regions continue to deliver value growth for their owners, while the rest of the market prepares for a turnaround after the Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) for the seventh time in two years. With a record-high level of listings and a cash rate now down a further…
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Market momentum continues to pick up nationally following the third cut in interest rates since February. Industry researcher Cotality has reported a sixth successive month of value gains across the real estate market – a great sign with the spring sales season just around the corner. Dwelling values rose by 0.6% in July – the…
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With the spring sales season just around the corner, sellers have a great opportunity to maximise the value of their property. The dynamics of the market have swung back in the seller’s favour since the temporary lull in real estate fortunes at the beginning of the year. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has recently…
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The spring sales season is just around the corner and buyers are likely to face one of the most competitive periods since the post-Covid property boom. We’re seeing the early signs of a competitive sellers market with recent auction results that are consistently delivering clearance rates of more than 70% every weekend. And just because…
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The upcoming spring sales season is expected to be one of the most competitive moments for property buying in recent memory. After a period of high interest rates because of the post-Covid spike in inflation, we have seen the interest rate fall from a high of 4.35% in February to its current level of 3.6%.…
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Home-hunting takes on an extra dimension when you are a pet-lover and you need somewhere that’s suitable for your dog or cat. According to data from the RSPCA, Australia has one of the highest percentages of pet ownership in the world. Some 69% of occupiers have a pet, with 48% owning a dog and 33%…
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