An intriguing article has been published on the popular real estate website Realtor.com, claiming mortgage lenders are checking the social media profiles of prospective clients. It says lenders are seeking out information on the professional side of your life, trying to substantiate your work history and make a judgment on your track record as an…
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The nation’s ability to build more homes has become one of the most hotly-contested issues in Australian politics. While the new Labor Government has made several high-profile promises on housing, most relate to helping Australians buy their first homes. Underpinning Labor’s pledges, however, is the nation’s capacity to build more homes to meet demand. Our…
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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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As Australia moves on from a historic election victory for the Labor Party, it’s worth reflecting on what it promised voters before we all went to the polls. Housing became a central theme of last month’s election, and the policies of the returned Labor Government are likely to have an impact on the ability of…
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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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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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With the rental crisis easing in many centres of Australia, landlords and property managers are again battling to find high-quality tenants. For the first time since the arrival of Covid back in 2020, renters have an increasingly wider selection of properties from which to choose. And while rents are still expensive – especially in the…
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The Bank of Mum and Dad is one of the most discussed concepts when it comes to young people saving for their first home. Official data on the financial strength of this so-called “bank” is absent in Australia, although a survey by Finder.com.au – a comparison website – claimed it was worth $35 billion and…
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After months of owners holding onto their properties tightly and bolstering prices, the pendulum is swinging back in favour of buyers, and especially for Kiwis who are seeking to upgrade. The recent 0.25% reduction in interest rates – the Official Cash Rate (OCR) has now fallen from 5.25% last August to 3.25% – is offering…
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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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