Category: Downsizer

Seven strategies to find a bargain in today’s market

The latest interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will undoubtedly help reignite momentum in the property market after a relatively solid but slow start to the year. With owners feeling more confident they’ll achieve their desired price, finding a bargain is going to get a little tougher. Strategies exist to overcome…
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Five-star touches that will impress buyers

If you think of prospective buyers as special houseguests, you’ll be halfway towards getting your property ready for sale. Priority should be given to making sure you have fixed all the issues with your home, and there are usually a few. Problems like leaking taps, flaking paint in the laundry or similar small-scale distractions can…
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Don’t panic! Decluttering is the key to impressing buyers

Have you committed to selling and moving into a new and exciting property?  That’s awesome! But are you now wondering how on earth you’re going to find the time and energy to get it ready for when the first potential buyers walk through your front door? Don’t panic. Millions of owners before you have had…
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Five tips for cleaning dirty grout and silicon

Once you’ve bought your new home, the motivation to make it even more perfect can be insatiable. Having already fallen in love with your property, it will only take you a few weeks to begin to see where it can be improved to suit your lifestyle and taste. When it comes to making any big…
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Number of $1m homes rises 25% in 10 years

The track record of property as a high-quality investment has been underlined again by new data showing the number of homes now valued at more than $1 million has increased by almost 25% in the past decade. Fewer than 10% of properties could boast $1 million values back in April 2015, but now that figure…
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Not even a democracy sausage can dampen home values

Australians are normally a careful people when it comes to money, and the prospect of a federal election is enough to put most property purchases on hold as buyers wait to see which party and policies win the day. Not this time. Buyer demand for homes across Australia showed no sign of stalling as the…
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NZ market full of opportunity as pendulum swings to the buyer

As we head into winter, the New Zealand housing market is full of mystery and intrigue. Trying to find the perfect time to buy and sell a home has rarely been harder if you believe you can read the tea leaves of our real estate market.  We’ve been helped by the recent 0.25% cut in…
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Five answers to queries on credit score

For first homebuyers, there’s a lot of focus on getting your credit score in great shape. Why? Because it totally affects the amount of money and interest rate a lender will offer you. Put simply, your credit score is a big deal when seeking a mortgage to buy a home. Explaining how it is calculated…
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‘Mild’ seller’s market under pressure as inventory builds

Sales of existing homes are tracking at four-million-a-year as America’s strong record of value increases continues, according to the latest housing report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Prices are up 1.8% on 12 months ago, and we have chalked up our 22nd successive monthly increase in values.  Existing home sales dipped 0.5% in…
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Seven summer watering tips to keep your plants healthy

Now summer has finally arrived, it’s a wonderful time to start enjoying your garden.  For those of you who are selling your homes this summer, you’ll find buyers will pay more attention to the front and back yards than at any other time of the year. So, it’s critical to look after your plants so…
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