Remodeling has its challenges, however. The stress and work involved in managing contractors to achieve your vision can be overwhelming. Over-capitalization is an additional issue to ponder. If you spend $80,000-plus on a major remodel, you risk investing more in the property than it’s worth. Having the best house in the worst street is not…
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Making a successful purchase of a home requires the alignment of several factors, and one of the least-mentioned but most important is your relationship with a mortgage broker or bank loans officer. Ensuring you have found the most suitable financial product for your purchase is critical. A combination of rising real estate prices and a…
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If you’re selling your home right now or planning to do so, understanding the biggest red flags that turn off buyers will be hugely helpful. When preparing your home for sale, avoid basic mistakes that will undermine your hard work. Bad smell Nothing makes a buyer balk faster than the smell of cigarettes and tobacco.…
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A strength of the American real estate market is the availability of an agent to help you find and purchase a property. While this service is commonplace in the US, buyers in many international markets are left to fend for themselves, locating a suitable property and then being forced to negotiate their own deals with…
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With New Zealand just days away from an election that the Nationals are tipped to win, it’s worth pausing to consider the party’s proposed tax policy that is said to open up 50,000 homes to foreign ownership. While this has gained much attention in real estate circles, it will likely affect only 3% of the…
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Optimism about the New Zealand property market is back with market pundits telling one news poll that prices might jump up to 6% next year and again in 2025. As we all know, prices have fallen by double-digits since their peak in November 2021: a consequence of a 20-month campaign to raise interest rates to…
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The performance of Australian real estate continues to confound and confuse the pundits with news that the market’s entire value has once again broken the $10 trillion barrier. What does that mean for you? For owners, your faith in real estate as an investment has been rewarded with the latest data suggesting values have increased…
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Making a great first impression is one of the most essential recommendations for any home. One element often ignored is the front door, which can set the tone for the rest of the property. If yours is a little shabby or weather-worn, we have some suggestions for you, highlighting how to select an appropriate replacement. …
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Modern property design encourages us to use our gardens as an extension of our homes. Whether you’re lucky enough to live in a new home or have recently added an extension, you’ll know how architects emphasise an almost seamless boundary between your interior and the garden and entertainment area. If it’s time you made some…
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With many young families currently in the market for a larger home, a burning question is whether it’s worth paying a premium to be near good schools. If you have a young family, how much extra would you pay to be in the catchment area of a good school? The Real Estate Institute of Victoria…
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