Many investors and homeowners will have kept a keen eye on the recent Federal Budget to see if it will ease some of the challenges caused by 12 months of interest rate rises implemented to tame inflation. This snapshot looks at the Budget’s leading programs aimed at encouraging investors, helping first-time buyers and committing to…
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Since the Covid-19 pandemic reached our shores, one of the big points of focus for many buyers has been finding a property with space to work from home comfortably. Anyone who perched around the dining table, jostling for space as their children did their homework, knows the importance of work-from-home space. The Australian Taxation Department…
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With the chilly weather fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to start planning winter crops in your back garden. And if you’ve never thought of popping a few veggie seeds into pots or creating a vegetable patch, this may be the ideal moment. The brisk conditions we’ve been experiencing are perfect for so-called cold-season crops,…
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Discipline around maintenance is essential to keep your home in great condition as neglected properties can cost a lot of money to put right before a sale. A worse result is when a property fails to reach its value potential because it’s rundown. While many buyers may be home-hunting for a fixer-upper, more want a…
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If something doesn’t feel right or is not what you wanted, say something. If you don’t, the problem is on you, and you’ll be unhappy aboFinding a fixer-upper or property that needs a little TLC may be a practical and lower-cost entry into the real estate market for first-home buyers. But, securing the property is…
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Hardly a day passes without another article published on the wonders of living in regional Australia and how the thousands of sea and tree-changers who’ve bitten the bullet have never looked back. So, as we descend into winter, it’s a great time to consider whether leaving the city for the bush or beach is everything…
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Owning a swimming pool is one of those dreams that go hand-in-hand with the Great Australian Dream of owning a home on a quarter-acre block. If you’re looking for a new home right now, should you only consider properties with a pool or be prepared to install one after you’ve moved in? Swimming pools do…
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The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is proposing to ease mortgage loan rules this month to give buyers a better opportunity to find finance. It will allow lenders to increase from 10% to 15% the number of loans they can issue that require a Loan-to-Value Ratio above 80%. The Reserve Bank imposed the regulation in…
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Real estate prices could be at a turning point according to forecasts from leading industry researcher, Core Logic. With data showing that average values were down just 0.6% in April, negative market sentiment could be coming to an end. CoreLogic economist Kelvin Davidson issued an important reminder about prices, saying property values were still $200,000…
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When you start planning a move to a new home, your mind buzzes with a thousand thoughts, yet one important decision may be forgotten: what to do with your pets? Moving home can be a source of anxiety for cats and dogs that have grown familiar with their current surroundings and even the local neighbourhood.…
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