Property prices have been on the rise globally. Like Australia, many countries experienced huge spikes in values for houses and apartments during the pandemic. Rents also went through the roof. For first homebuyers, the property market has been especially tough, but new and innovative trends are emerging to overcome the challenge. The first of these…
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Measuring the market mood isn’t always straightforward when property sales data isn’t heading for the stars, or dipping towards the floor. Everyone’s an expert when buyer behaviour is obvious. But the mood is a little harder to capture in Australia right now. Buyers and sellers have been hoping for more interest rate cuts, which seem…
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We all love a bargain! But even the most hardened property fan would admit bargains are rare in the highly competitive real estate market. Even buyers seeking fixer-uppers risk renovation costs ballooning if they do not do their homework correctly. What may seem a bargain can quickly turn into a nightmare of rising costs for…
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Storing petrol is not an issue many homeowners spend much time thinking about. But a lax attitude to flammable liquids at home can end in potential disaster. It is critical that fuel stored outside is at least 20 meters from the property and away from any ignition sources. Fire codes insist storage cans hold a…
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We’ve all walked into a property to start an inspection and been greeted by an agent who takes our details and then starts to gently quiz us about our intentions in the market. As a buyer, you have the perfect opportunity to take control of the conversation and to drill down on the quality of…
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Have you ever used colour psychology to try to decide the colour scheme of a room or your entire home? Most of us select the colours we like, and inevitably we rely on our favourites. But is there a better way? Colour psychology is the study of how colours affect human emotions and behaviour. For…
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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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The needs of first-time buyers are back on the political agenda now the next federal election is just around the corner. The election is now confirmed as May 3. And the Labor Government is moving to further ease the pressures on first homebuyers, and capture their support. It has announced an increase in price caps…
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The gender gap between the number of men and women who own property in Australia is closing, according to a study by Lonergan Research. Some 62.7% of women own at least one residential dwelling compared with 64.4% of men. Men remain the predominant group of property investors (14.2%) compared to women with 11.4%. In a…
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Plenty of advice is given to first homebuyers about selecting a property and how to handle the transaction, but little attention is paid to explaining a few important tasks that are necessary after taking possession. First homebuyers remain one-third of the buyer market and their active participation bolsters values in the lower market quartile. Their…
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