Category: General

Benefits of living in a walkable neighbourhood

There’s a growing appreciation of walkable neighbourhoods – those vibrant urban enclaves where daily necessities and leisure activities are within strolling distance. This shift reflects a desire for a more connected, active and sustainable lifestyle with benefits ranging from improved health and well-being to reduced environmental impact.  A walkable neighbourhood is characterised by its pedestrian-friendly…
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Affordable housing policy makes poor start

Building more homes to increase affordability is always going to be a double-edged sword in this country. It’s great news for young buyers trying to break into the market, but a sobering trend for owners who rely on their homes to be their great financial assets. Consequently, the property market and its participants are keenly…
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‘The Exurbs’ – where Zillow users want to live

Zillow economists have crunched the numbers! They’ve analyzed their page-view traffic for nearly 2,300 American cities – plus data on property value growth and days on the market – to rank their users’ most desired locations. Would you guess Zillow users wanted the excitement of New York or L.A.? Or would they prefer those peaceful…
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Painting tips you shouldn’t brush off

Preparation is everything when it comes to painting, they say. And real estate agents will tell you one of the cheapest and highest-impact strategies to enhance  your home before sale is to paint the exterior and interior. Many owners will opt to paint themselves, especially if the priority is inside the home. And while preparation…
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Six DIY tasks to avoid when fixing your home for sale

We’re seeing a strong rise in the number of properties for sale this month – and with spring just around the corner, the trend is only going to get stronger. Across America, we have 17% more properties on the market than 12 months ago. Which means, many owners are about to up their DIY game,…
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How tariffs could affect America’s new homes market

The impending imposition of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports has sent ripples of concern across our housing and construction industry. Tariffs placed on eight countries plus the 27 members of the European Union are to take effect on March 12, 2025. They could significantly impact the cost of home construction and…
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Six ways real estate is changing for the better

The rapid advancement of technology and AI is revolutionising Canada’s real estate industry and changing how properties are being bought and sold. If you’re thinking of selling, talk to your agent about how you can best use these technologies to maximise impact and minimise your marketing expense. Here are six technological advancements that can save…
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Prices bouncing back as more homes hit market

The average price of a home in New Zealand is on the rise, and the latest 0.5% cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) is likely to add to the momentum of the real estate recovery. Even before the Reserve Bank of New Zealand got out its knife to reduce rates for the fourth time…
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Tips to stop buyers claiming bedroom is a broom closet

When buyers walk through your home for the first time, there’s no shortage of inquisitiveness and skepticism.  They’ll ask an agent such as myself about the price and the seller’s willingness to negotiate. There’ll be questions about local amenities, the age of the HVAC and lots of other queries important to each buyer. But there’s…
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Investors balance good rates news with slowing rent values

Investors must now refocus their attention on capital gain from property purchases after new data shows the huge rises in rents in the post-Covid period are finally coming to an end. A new survey by industry researcher CoreLogic shows national rents rose 0.4% in the last quarter of 2024. That’s the smallest increase since 2018.…
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