Have you ever dreamed of living on your own tropical island? Commuter traffic, the queue at the check-out and call centre muzak would all be terrors of the past on your own island of swaying palms and sun-kissed beaches! Most that come on to the market are around Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands and off the Tasmanian…
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Our expectations of a modern home are changing, and that’s having a direct impact on how many owners are approaching renovation projects. The work-from-home (WFH) movement, climate change and the pandemic aftermath are the most powerful factors influencing today’s designs. Owners are keen to explore sustainable building materials and want the highest levels of insulation…
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Persistently high inflation is taking its toll on homeowners as the Reserve Bank of Australia continues to push the cash rate higher with the promise of more rises. Some 35% of housing debt is locked into fixed-term loans, according to the RBA’s Financial Stability Review. Two-thirds of those fixed-rate deals expire this year. Being squeezed…
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A feature of any wet and warm summer is the emergence of ants, digging their way through the mortar of bricks and pavers and often invading your kitchen. While there are more than 12,000 species in the ant family, the two most common pests across the Southern Hemisphere are the sugar ant (also known as…
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Easter is one of the last opportunities of the year to entertain friends and families before winter sets in. While the nights are closing in and the days become cooler, we are lucky enough to have a climate that encourages outdoor entertaining. Hosting a gathering at your home is a special moment – it’s how…
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Higher tariffs for household gas, plus publicity highlighting how methane emissions from gas cooktops risk your health and contribute to global warming, have many owners considering switching to induction cooking. Gas cooktops are being targeted by organisations such as the Global Cooksafe Coalition. Its goal is to stop gas cooking because of the methane issue.…
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Renovating your home can be a good strategy to improve its value, if you have made the right choices when you purchased. Any upgrade will offer its most significant value the moment it is finished. So, if you’re thinking of moving up the property ladder in the next five years, it’s probably best to start…
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Home buyers have entered 2023 on an optimistic note with the latest national research revealing that homes are becoming increasingly affordable. National values dipped 3.4% in the quarter ending December 31, according to the new OneRoof Valocity House Value Index. And that can be good news, too, for owners looking to upgrade their property. Upsizers…
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A significant challenge facing New Zealand remains the affordability of property for first-time buyers. Even though prices across the country have tapered from the incredible rises we witnessed during the pandemic, purchasing your first home remains a significant financial challenge. Often parents will step in to help their children find their first rung on the…
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Wooden floors can be one of the most striking assets in a home, but it’s important to give them some attention if they have endured endless foot traffic and a few too many food and drink spills. Remember that you are dealing with a natural product and its finish will dull over time if you…
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