Property is a reliable case study of how a market responds to varying economic factors. Whether you are a buyer or seller, the dynamics that influence real estate rarely change – confidence in the economy, perceptions of job security, mortgage costs, and supply and demand. Right now, we’re seeing buyers pivoting as they grapple with…
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A great way to take the temperature of Australia’s property market is to watch the auction results come in. The numbers vary from week to week, but the trend rarely deviates substantially in terms of providing a sense of the market sentiment. A clearance rate of more than 70% is an indicator of a strong…
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Continual media coverage of property prices and interest rates reflects the importance of our homes as a cornerstone for building personal wealth. It often feels as if every ebb and flow is highlighted, often leaving us confused about the true investment value of property. New data reminds us why the majority of us firmly believe…
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With the latest 0.5% cut in interest rates, New Zealand buyers must start to think strategically about the best time to jump into the market. Now the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has trimmed rate by a full 1% in the last few months, you have precious few moments to consider your strategy before prices…
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Premium brands always do well in market downturns – and that’s true for the “dress circle” properties in the Queenstown area. The value growth down south has been stellar while other areas of New Zealand – most noticeably Auckland and Wellington – continue to feel the impact of high mortgage costs. The announcement of a…
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A significant change has been made to the home appraisal process, which will affect both first homebuyers and upgraders. Lenders will now be required to implement a borrower-driven process for requesting a Reconsideration of Value (ROV). Essentially, owners of homes can now contact their lender and ask for their home to be revalued so that…
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Signs of an immediate uplift in the momentum of the New Zealand property market have emerged following the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.25%. Taking the OCR to 5.25%, the mid-August move by the Reserve Bank was the first rate cut in more than four years.…
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Keen observers of real estate often use trends in home loan applications as a predictor for the short-term performance of property prices. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics for May indicates Australia is having a strong winter ahead of an anticipated busy spring selling season. Significantly, the data illustrates that while there may…
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Facing voter frustration at housing affordability, the White House has pushed legislation to Congress seeking to cap annual rent increases at 5% and punish corporate landlords by withdrawing their federal tax breaks if they ignore the limit. The Biden administration also pledged to repurpose public land in Nevada so 15,000 affordable housing units can be…
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With interest rates now 0.5% less than just a few weeks ago, Canadian homeowners and buyers are poised to spur the market back into action. Whether the two recent rate cuts from the Bank of Canada will be sufficient to electrify the market remains to be seen. However, Canada is one of the first developed…
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