The momentum for Australia to reduce carbon emissions from residential buildings is growing stronger, with the nation’s largest city councils pledging to phase out gas stoves. The City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne have joined the Global Cooksafe Coalition, which is seen as a prelude to banning gas stoves following similar moves by…
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Demand for more sustainable residential buildings isn’t going away, and both the federal government and many local councils appear on course for adjusting building regulations during the next few years. The real estate industry is increasingly discussing the impact of a draft Federal Government and CSIRO rating system that would influence home valuations and insurance…
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Whether you want to upgrade your home or you’re a first-time buyer, the recent interest rate rise imposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Melbourne Cup day will be of more than passing interest. Families, couples and singles in the throes of buying their next or first property will want to know the…
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Australia’s housing market has not been short of the occasional twist or turn in 2023, and many owners sat on the sidelines to watch how it would play out. In the past four months we’ve seen it turn from decline to a far more positive sentiment. But we got a final twist with the Melbourne…
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One question that often perplexes many buyers is the value that should be placed on a home in the catchment area of a good school. How much extra should you expect to spend simply because good schools are on your doorstep? Is it worth $20,000 or even $50,000? Of course, if you don’t have a…
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For the first time in more than a year, New Zealand’s property prices have started to edge higher after a long period of interest rate rises. The average price of a home has been benchmarked at $952,000 in the latest House Price Report for October released by the OneRoof website and industry researcher Velocity. Auckland…
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If you’re saving for a first property or your next dream home, it pays to carefully watch market indicators that offer a strong sense of where the property scene is heading. Why is this important? Fundamentally, because you need to be ahead of the curve. You want to avoid being caught up in the surge…
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Renovating an apartment can be a tricky business. Owners must follow tightly controlled rules and regulations enforced by a strata committee or owners’ corporation on behalf of all residents in the block. You can’t simply alter the outside of your apartment, such as installing new windows or doors, without written permission. Strata rules, which are…
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You don’t need to be beachside or on a rural property to be concerned about predictions for this bushfire season. Trees and flammable native shrubs surround many homes in cities and regional centres. While the bushfire risk is dramatically reduced in the cities, situations can run out of control in the suburbs. If your home…
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If you’re searching for your first property, there’s a lot to think about. Prices are trending up again, you’ll likely wait until next year to see interest rates fall, and it feels as if there are a lot of buyers circling every property you visit. However, the goal and achievement of buying your first home…
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