Category: General

Six tips for first-time buyers as market turns

First-time buyers emerge With interest rates now retreating after two years of prohibitive mortgage costs, the real estate landscape is starting to open up for first homebuyers. Many first-time buyers put their ambitions on hold as the cost of cash rose after the pandemic, and we also saw a historic spike in property values in…
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Eight tips for giving your home a facelift before sale

With the summer break beckoning, many homeowners will be planning to spend some time with a paint brush to give their home a facelift. Many of them will be doing so with the intention of putting their properties on the market for the late-summer and early-autumn sales season. With interest rates still at 4.65% –…
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How DIY work can impact property value

When it comes to home maintenance, owners tend to overrate their DIY skills, producing work that either doesn’t add value to their property or damages it. If buyers recognise poor work they will often seek a discount to pay for remediation or consider another property with no such issues. These home improvement tips will help…
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Does a pool give you that sinking feeling?

Traditionally, the “Great Australian Dream” has been a home on a quarter-acre block.  Today, we’ve shifted our standards, and many buyers will gladly swap the space for the luxury of a swimming pool. However, buying a home with a pool can be a tricky business. If you’ve found an ideal property that has an aging…
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Don’t get cold feet with a winter sales campaign

The idea of selling your home in winter shouldn’t give you the chills. Many factors play to your advantage when you put your property on the market at this time of year. As an experienced agency, we know you’ll enjoy less competition from rival sellers seeking to win buyers’ attention during the winter months. Why…
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Rate cuts spark up NZ market – and there’s more to come

Property values are starting their return to normal growth patterns, according to data released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ). Average prices rose 1.5% over the three months to the end of October. This is a welcome turnaround after seeing drops of -0.6% and -0.3% in the previous two quarters to July…
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Listings and sales rise in response to rate cuts

The real estate scene is on the move thanks to falling interest rates and reduced mortgage costs. Transactions were 7.7% higher in October than for the corresponding period last year, according to the latest Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) figures. The result suggests we can put aside any doubts that homebuyers would not respond to…
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Is the property market finally making a comeback?

Optimism for a big rebound in New Zealand property prices have increased with a third successive cut in interest rates. Our Official Cash Rate (OCR) has dropped a further 0.5% to 4.25% – the third successive reduction by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. While it’s too soon to see evidence of the latest cut,…
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What are today’s homebuyers thinking?

With today’s real estate market experiencing ebbs and flows on an almost monthly basis, sellers often ask me about the profile of a typical buyer. Usually, they’re seeking information that will help them prepare their home for sale and a guide for how long it might take to strike a deal. In our neighborhood, there’s…
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Seven ways to maintain your home this winter

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, it’s time to prepare your home for the challenges of the colder months. Just like we bundle up in warm coats and hats, our homes need extra care to withstand winter’s chill.  From a real estate perspective, proactive maintenance not only prevents costly repairs but…
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