Restricting house-hunting to smaller properties is one of the financial realities facing many first-time buyers. Most of us must work towards family-sized homes with spacious gardens over a decade or two. If you’re a new buyer who loves entertaining outside, don’t despair. You’ll find many small properties with courtyards that have fantastic potential. Assessing small…
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Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, and you risk losing thousands of dollars in value if you take shortcuts with hiring qualified professionals to ensure the deal proceeds smoothly. Adopting the For Sale By Owner approach (FSBO) can lead to a tangled web of issues that may have legal…
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With residential real estate continuing to enjoy value growth and stronger renter demand, inquiries about purchasing an investment property are increasing. Renewed interest in being a landlord will likely stem from the prospect of mortgage rates falling in the short to medium-term, coupled with record levels of rent: a trend that we’ve seen in many…
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With all the excitement of purchasing your first property, you can be excused for feeling a little intimidated by the prospect of furnishing it to complete your dream of home ownership. Naturally, you want everything to be perfect. Whether an apartment or house, this is your sanctuary. It’s where you’ll find respite from the pressures…
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One of the most efficient ways of cooling your home is incredibly simple and eco-friendly. Cross-ventilation is a technique which regulates cool air through the home, channeling it between open windows and doors strategically placed opposite each other. Local authorities often encourage home designs to minimize the use of HVACs to reduce greenhouse emissions. Cross-ventilation…
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Uncertainty among buyers and sellers about the outcome of the October election has added to the complexity of the New Zealand property market as it begins its value turnaround after a couple of tough years. Sales volumes dipped across the country in July, notably 15.4% in Auckland, as buyers and sellers wait for the poll…
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Statistics and sentiment don’t always choreograph neatly when the property market turns the corner; and that’s what we’re currently seeing in New Zealand. Buyer sentiment has increased markedly in the past few months even as the pace of value declines eases. The prospect that we’re near the end of an extended period of interest rate…
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Landscaping a perfect garden can add thousands of dollars to your home value and give you enormous pleasure. The sanctuary of a beautiful garden is priceless for some homeowners, but it can cost a pretty penny if you have to start from scratch. Multiple visits to a garden centre can seriously damage the bank account.…
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If you’re one of thousands of homeowners who’ve just come off a fixed-rate deal with their bank, you may wonder whether entering into a similar agreement is a good idea. Lenders are using attractive fixed-rate deals to compete for customers, both first-time buyers and existing homeowners, but is the time right to enter into such…
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Pressures of daily life often mean we’re always rushing from one task to another, trying to cram as much as possible into our day. And when you move into a new home, or you’re preparing to put your property on the market, it’s tempting to skate over important issues or try a few DIY jobs…
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