Increasing affordability is the main positive to be taken from the latest data on New Zealand’s real estate market. For the three months to the end of August, New Zealand’s average price was $957,000 – the same level of two years ago. Amid economic concerns, buyers with the courage to strike out now have a…
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A major challenge for the real estate market has been persuading empty nesters to sell the family home and downsize. Stamp duty on the purchase of a new home – a tax that can get into six-figure territory – is the key reason why older Australians are refusing to sell their family homes. In the…
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When preparing your house for sale, the most common advice you’re likely to hear is to repaint both the interior and exterior of the property. Sales agents will be especially keen for you to give the property a facelift so prospective buyers feel the property has been well maintained and feels fresh and inviting. Painting…
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For anyone buying a property, it’s easy to assume that so long as you meet the basic criteria to secure a mortgage, your lender will be only too happy to take your money. While that is largely correct, there are some internal rules that banks apply, especially to those buying into apartment buildings, that can…
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With industry research indicating property values are consistently rising at 0.7% – that’s on track for an annual growth rate of 8.4% – it’s a valuable exercise to validate reported market trends using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The total value of residential dwellings in Australia rose $213.8 billion to $11.56 trillion…
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Limited stock of homes for sale is helping to push values higher as the spring selling season gets into full swing. Deal values have continued to edge higher every month since February, according to the latest data from industry researcher Cotality (formerly CoreLogic). The market has registered another 0.7% upswing for August. For metropolitan areas,…
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The industry research is clear cut – prices are rising consistently at 0.7% a month, and there are approximately 20% fewer properties on the market this spring than the five-year average for this time of year. That’s tough news for buyers. While we’ve experienced three interest rate cuts since February – and all the major…
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Buying the first family home is a landmark moment in most people’s lives. For Australians, it’s seen as a rite of passage. Having somewhere to raise your children is a fundamental pillar of our society. Buyers are right to want to take their time and make the right choice. For some families, you may stay…
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Buying an apartment requires a different approach to purchasing a house – you have an ownership structure to consider, along with strata fees and investment potential. In today’s fast-paced market, an increasing number of first-time buyers and investors are now tailoring their expectations to encompass apartments. As house prices accelerate in the current climate, an…
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Maximising the value of their home should be the goal of any owner planning to enter the market. Momentum has swung to the seller in the last few months with steady monthly price increases, three interest rate cuts this year and an estimated 20% shortfall in housing stock that would have normally been for sale…
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