Category: Downsizer

Countertop trends that are coming your way

Investing in your kitchen is never a bad strategy – a “Cost vs. Value” report from Zillow shows even the smallest improvements can deliver a return on investment of between 70%-100%. Improving the quality of your countertop and appliances will always catch the eye of the discerning buyer when you decide to sell. Zillow research…
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Top seven features buyers want in 2026, according to Realtors

No buyer is the same – each one has their own priorities and preferences as they walk through the front door of your home or apartment. Their idea of perfect living will always align to their lifestyle. So, no matter how much effort you put into preparing your home for sale, the majority of buyers…
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Selling this Spring? 10 tips to help you to start preparing now

With the Holidays and New Year celebrations behind us, the spring sales season for real estate kicks off in little more than three months’ time. If you’re planning on selling your home at this peak buying period, you might find it a little scary to think you have around 12-16 weeks to prepare. Spring is…
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Seven tips to ensure your home stands out from the crowd

As price trends head ever higher and finance pundits predict that we’re done with interest rate cuts for the foreseeable future, what’s it going to take to get a buyer excited about your property? What are the trends for 2026 that will stop buyers thinking about their prospective mortgage repayment and fall in love with…
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Buyers will tread carefully with these floorings in 2026

When preparing your home for sale, it can feel like there are a million tasks ahead of you, each vitally important to winning over the buyer and achieving your maximum possible price. One of the overlooked elements of a home is the quality of the flooring. It’s true that buyers don’t walk into a home…
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Six tips to achieve effortless luxury in your kitchen

Have you ever heard of the trend called Cashmere Kitchen? It’s a new fashion based on an old philosophy of making your kitchen cosy with warm neutrals rather than taking the more modern path of a stark-white tableau. Designers say that to create a Cashmere Kitchen you must use natural materials with neutral colours and…
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Values keep rising amid predictions of strong 2026 market

As we enter 2026, the real estate market continues to produce outstanding results for sellers and investors despite buyer disappointment at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to not cut interest rates for a fourth time in less than 12 months. The average value of a home rose 1% in November, following a 1.1% rise…
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Westpac shocks – Kiwis urged to shop around for better loan deals

Just as Kiwis were getting used to the idea the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) might end its program of interest rate cuts, Westpac NZ shocked everyone by raising rates 0.3% on fixed term loans. The move prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to suggest owners and first-home buyers should “shop around”. After Westpac announced…
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Buyers watch for positive signs to spark 2026 revival

As we enter 2026, New Zealanders can reflect on a property market that resisted a recovery despite nine interest rate cuts but saw values remain steady. As the latest OneRoof home survey points out, there were winners and losers in 2025, and we should not feel downcast about the immediate future.  The latest cut of…
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Building approvals slide, suggesting tighter market to come

One of the hottest property topics right now is the ability to accelerate the building of new homes to keep up with demand generated by an increasing population that features a 450,000+ annual immigration intake. The lack of supply, which industry data suggests is 20% below the five-year average, is a key reason for property…
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