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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Purchasing real estate has been a rising challenge for aspiring first homebuyers due to a combination of higher prices and wage stagnation, but there are a number of government schemes to help young Canadians. The recent change in market momentum that now favours the buyer – thanks to an increasing number of homes for sale…
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Looking into the crystal ball of real estate is a perilous pastime. Any experienced agent will tell you it’s more important to transact when you are ready, rather than try to buy and sell a home like you would offload shares. By the time you’ve picked up on a new market trend, it’s usually too…
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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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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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Government data shows Americans are leaving expensive coastal cities and heading back inland for cheaper property and increasing job opportunities. According to US Census Bureau data, an estimated 39% of our population are now living in heartland America, an increase of 2.65% from four years ago. This trend could be important if you’re a property…
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Conventional thinking suggests we all love a neat and tidy garden – flowerbeds are organised and weed-free, hedges clipped, roses in bloom and trees shaped to perfection. When selling your home, this is the perfect philosophy to attract the greatest number of potential buyers. Of course, it’s not the only approach to gardening. An increasing…
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Paying for closing costs is just a reality of life that comes with buying real estate. There’s no escaping it, but you can shop around to reduce the expense of this obligation. For first-time buyers, it’s worth stepping through this part of a property purchase. Closing costs include legal and title search fees, required insurances,…
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Every cent counts when you’re saving for a deposit on your first home – and the ability to negotiate a competitive rent during this period can make a significant contribution to your financial progress. You should not underestimate your negotiating power when either renewing an existing lease or seeking a new rental. Zillow says that…
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The search for buyers has never been more important as the market mood continues its cautious optimism supported by strong employment trends and continued economic growth. The stock market gyrations in recent months on the back of tariff threats and promises of constructive trade negotiations mean the search for buyers is becoming increasingly competitive. Upsizers…
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