A favourite piece of advice from any real estate agent goes something like this – “never underestimate the importance of making a good first impression”. In property, what agents are really saying is that you should make your home look fantastic from the street. That’s where the first impression is made – not when prospective…
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Given the whirlwind of events happening in the US and overseas, many owners are asking whether they should sell their home now or wait until next year, when perhaps the dust has settled. It’s always great that owners look at the big picture when validating their desire to sell and either upsize to a larger…
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New Zealanders’ optimism about the housing market continues to rise with more owners opting for a variable mortgage rate rather than locking one in. Almost one-third of Kiwis (31.8%) have now opted for a floating rate in the belief there are more cuts to come from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ). Commentators are…
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Summer is just around the corner, and if you’re ready to upsize or downsize to a new dream home, this is the perfect time to start preparing your property for sale. If you’ve been living in your current home for more than five years, you can expect a healthy return on your investment. Median existing-home…
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Deciding to sell and move to a new home is not always straightforward and requires careful thought. You need to have the financial resources behind you, whether you are upsizing or downsizing. You’ll need to lay your hands on funds to pay for some of the essentials that come with purchasing your next home. For…
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Have you ever opened the door to your pantry and wondered, “where is the spiral pasta? I know it’s here somewhere.” We’ve all had that moment where we spend more than 10 seconds casting around for that pasta. For most folks, staring into the abyss of your pantry – or their fridge – is a…
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Home prices have shown an initial resilience in the face of economic threats and actions from Washington. Prices slipped just 0.8% in February as buyers increased their caution and sellers decided that perhaps this was a good time to hold onto their properties. Uncertainty, however, can be your friend in the property market. It can…
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A collective “watch and wait” stance has been adopted by property owners as Canada holds its breath for the next installment from the White House. After the steel tariffs, we now have a 25% levy on our auto industry exports to the United States. At the time of writing, the world was poised for so-called…
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For those planning a wonderful spring and summer garden this year, it’s time to roll up the sleeves and start planting. If you’re also preparing to put your home on the market for the spring or summer selling seasons, it’s vital you highlight your garden as a major feature – it’s a significant contributor when…
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With a modest cut of 0.25% in the cash rate in February, many young buyers have been asking why interest rates have been so high. To many older Australians the current cash rate of 4.1% represents incredibly cheap money. Many will recall the days when banks charged up to 17% in the early 90s. Those…
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