Category: First Time Buyer

Six surprises every first-home buyer should know

Now may prove a good time for renters thinking about buying their first home – particularly for those approaching the end of their lease. The current market means contributing to your own home equity, rather than paying rising rents and helping pay off someone else’s mortgage, can be a good strategy. While first-home buyers often…
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Your choice: bank loan officer V mortgage broker

Buying a home for the first time doesn’t have to be a daunting experience, if you know the basics before your start. It takes many puzzle pieces to ensure all your paperwork and lender funds are in order for settlement day, so preparation is the key to a successful transaction. One of the most important…
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Six fantastic reasons to buy this fall

Fall is a great time to bounce back in the real estate market if you missed out on a dream property last summer. The legion of buyers scouring the market for a new home just a few months ago has thinned out as inflation and fuel prices bite, and mortgage costs rise. The great news…
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Five ways to find your dream home faster

House-hunting requires time and effort and there’s nothing more exciting than finding your dream home. The best way to fast track this process is to make a list of your priorities before even stepping out the door to go and see a property.  Knowing your “must-haves” and nice-to-haves” helps ensure your agent only shows you…
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How to decorate a studio apartment

If you’re a first-time buyer and single, or just starting your journey as an investor, one style of property that’s likely to suit your budget is a studio apartment.  It’s one of the easiest points of entry into real estate, and there’s always a keen rental market regardless of the prevailing economic circumstances. For a…
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Ready to quit the big smoke?

Many first-home buyers whose plans to buy in the city have been dashed by rising prices and interest rates are turning to regional Australia to climb onto the property ladder. While this isn’t an ideal solution for everyone, first-home buyers should not discount the idea.  Regional centres are growing economically and offer excellent buying opportunities…
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Checking smoke detectors may save your life

It’s an exciting moment when you’re about to sign a contract to buy your dream home; the possibilities for this new chapter in your life will feel limitless. Before walking this path, though, a few serious administrative tasks must be completed. Perhaps one that can be overlooked is checking the smoke alarms on the property.…
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Is your property plan on track, despite rate rises?

It’s a challenging time for upsizers and first-home buyers as they determine if they have enough cash and credit to fulfil their immediate property ambitions. Changing interest rates have made the mortgage and refinancing landscape a moveable feast. Lenders are tending to take more time in assessing applications at the moment as they weigh up…
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Stay alert and you’ll find your dream home

It pays to keep an open mind if you’re considering whether to enter the property market to upgrade your home, downsize or make your first purchase. Rising property values and mortgage costs have made real estate a difficult market to read for some buyers.  Media reports of stellar, 30%-plus growth in cities such as Nashville…
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How to stay positive as a first-home buyer

First-time buyers who’ve been watching real estate prices in the past 12 months may have experienced a sinking feeling as many values kept rising, some by 10% year-on-year. Properties many couples and singles have targeted may no longer be within financial reach, but I urge first-time buyers not to be disheartened. As an agent in…
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