Author: Kylie Davis

Making most of the property bounce

With an election out of the way, it seems that confidence has finally returned to the property market, with a new industry survey showing rises of more than 2% in the three months to November 1. Positive results have been reported in the cities and regional centres as optimism returns based on a probable end…
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Winners and losers as market swings back

It may be early days in the recovery of New Zealand’s property market, but new research has shown an almost nationwide resurgence in confidence. With 566 suburbs recording value growth in the past three months, it’s worth studying the national picture so you get a sense of how this might affect your own strategy for…
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Garden checklist to avoid s-s-slithering problems

A city home in a bush setting is one of the more desirable types of property that Australians aspire to own. It has everything. Proximity to the city, employment, and world-class services and amenities while nestling among the gum trees and cooling ferns. It also has snakes.  Lots of them, if reports of sightings this…
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Enjoy stink-bug free garden

It’s that time of year again when the sweet smell of jasmine wafts across towns and cities and heralds the beginning of summer.  But if you have fruit trees or a vegetable garden, there’s an entirely different perfume that is just as much part of summer: the pong of stink bugs. Those nasty little suckers…
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Fertilisers to super-charge your garden

A retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, a garden is also somewhere to send the kids when they’re getting under your feet or have used up all their screen time. However, being able to maintain a garden and even make it thrive, can be a mystery for some homeowners who complain they…
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How to avoid creating buyer nightmares

Ensuring a home attracts buyers has always been a critical part of preparing a property for sale. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how hard you’ve worked to declutter and generally prepare, there may still be a risk that you could have missed something that will turn buyers away.  Follow this checklist to make sure everything is…
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Plugging into power a valid point when buying

Buyers use plenty of tricks during a property inspection to look for any flaws in their potential new home. Some open and shut cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms, while others stare at the ceiling above the bathroom to spot dampness, or inspect under the sinks to look for water damage.  Paintwork at floor…
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Buying tips for meeting deadline pressures

Buying property as the market bounces back after its lull can be challenging, especially for first-timers who’ve not experienced the pressures of sealing a deal. If you have a pre-approved loan, your lender will often set a 12-week deadline before you need to apply again. These buyer guidelines will help you respond quickly to an…
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Good summer vibes to attract buyers

The strong performance of the housing market, despite the recent interest rate hike on Melbourne Cup day, should give heart to homeowners who are looking to either upgrade or downsize this summer. The most recent Home Value Index from industry researcher CoreLogic shows property has edged up again in October, registering 0.9% value growth on…
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Can granny flats solve our housing crisis?

Property researcher CoreLogic has released a heroic set of numbers that reveal granny flats could solve our residential accommodation problems. The study claimed to have found 655,000 sites across Australia that could accommodate a granny flat, regardless of whether your grandmother was interested in being an occupier. More than a third would be within 2km…
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