The biggest question for many young Americans starting out in life is whether it’s a smart play to keep renting or if now is the time to jump into the property market. Only a few years ago, this would be a simple question to answer because money was cheap with rates in the 2% to…
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It’s always fun to see what the hottest home trends will be for the year, even if they won’t suit your property. Website Zillow has highlighted six of the zaniest trends in interior and exterior home design, most of which are suitable for the luxury end of the market. However, super-luxe trends can cascade down…
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With the property market showing all the signs of a recovery later this year, first-home buyers may want to start formulating purchase plans for the coming months. Diligent planning and research around location, property styles, size and finance will accelerate the buying process and limit the risk of mistakes. Key to a successful strategy is…
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For many families, a property is their most important financial asset, and the swings and roundabouts of the real estate market often determine when it’s possible to upgrade to a bigger and better home. The past 18 months of high interest rates have brought all the factors that influence property values into sharp focus. While…
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Residential property sales will increase by more than 10% across America this year in a bullish sign for buyers and sellers alike, according to 2024 predictions from the National Association of Realtors. It forecasts 4.71 million transactions, fuelled by interest rates dropping to an average of 6.3% for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. NAR believed the…
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The key question for many house hunters and sellers in 2024 is whether the property market will be any easier to navigate this year? A historic low in housing inventory coupled with some of the highest mortgage costs in 20 years made 2023 challenging for anyone who wanted to buy or sell property. While 2024…
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Rules around home loans in New Zealand may be about to change, possibly dampening prospects of another boom that would put ownership further beyond reach for those trying to enter the property market. Changes are expected mid-year to the Debt-to-Income rules that govern how much and in what circumstances a lender can issue a mortgage…
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The New Zealand lifestyle property market ended 2023 on a positive note, with $432 million in total sales during December. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand data showed this was up from $411 million the previous year. Sales volumes increased as the year ended, with 1,297 lifestyle properties sold in the three months ended…
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The continuing strength in Australia’s property market has been underlined by data showing the value of new owner-occupier loan commitments rose 10.1% year-on-year in November 2023. And the number of these new home loans increased by 7.3%. These numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate continuation of the strong sentiment that increased values by…
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Buying early may be the smartest and most profitable decision for investors looking to begin or expand their property portfolio this year. Substantial rental income and a strong flow of immigrants into Australia continue to pressure rental markets across the country. Predictions that property will experience 2% to 3% in value growth this year indicate…
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