For many families, a property is their most important financial asset, and the swings and roundabouts of the real estate market often determine when it’s possible to upgrade to a bigger and better home. The past 18 months of high interest rates have brought all the factors that influence property values into sharp focus. While…
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Residential property sales will increase by more than 10% across America this year in a bullish sign for buyers and sellers alike, according to 2024 predictions from the National Association of Realtors. It forecasts 4.71 million transactions, fuelled by interest rates dropping to an average of 6.3% for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. NAR believed the…
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With spring just around the corner, it’s fun to start thinking about how you might revitalize your garden once the winter blues have been blown away. Planning your garden will not only save you time and money, but give you a sense of purpose and a goal when you pick up your gardening fork for…
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The key question for many house hunters and sellers in 2024 is whether the property market will be any easier to navigate this year? A historic low in housing inventory coupled with some of the highest mortgage costs in 20 years made 2023 challenging for anyone who wanted to buy or sell property. While 2024…
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One aspect to consider when buying a home is the length of time it might take for the transaction to complete. Because of the nature of the property and financial markets, it can feel like you’re on a roller-coaster: sometimes the ride goes quickly, and then it slows. It can feel super-quick once you’ve got…
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Rules around home loans in New Zealand may be about to change, possibly dampening prospects of another boom that would put ownership further beyond reach for those trying to enter the property market. Changes are expected mid-year to the Debt-to-Income rules that govern how much and in what circumstances a lender can issue a mortgage…
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The New Zealand lifestyle property market ended 2023 on a positive note, with $432 million in total sales during December. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand data showed this was up from $411 million the previous year. Sales volumes increased as the year ended, with 1,297 lifestyle properties sold in the three months ended…
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The continuing strength in Australia’s property market has been underlined by data showing the value of new owner-occupier loan commitments rose 10.1% year-on-year in November 2023. And the number of these new home loans increased by 7.3%. These numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate continuation of the strong sentiment that increased values by…
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We can all enjoy a sigh of relief now that the busy holiday season is over for another year. But, in the aftermath, a few small tasks should always be carried out to keep your home in good order. One job is to do a big declutter and eject unwanted gifts, broken toys and old…
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The long, warm summer days can offer time for homeowners to catch up on some maintenance issues, preventing bigger problems from occurring down the track. The extreme weather we’ve been experiencing this summer can take a heavy toll on your home. A mixture of heat and prolonged periods of rain can damage exterior paint and…
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