With the direction of interest rates on the minds of buyers as we enter 2024, many first-time purchasers are settling on an apartment rather than stretching finances further to secure a detached house. Prices of detached properties generally rise faster than apartments because of the intrinsic land value. However, apartment living is becoming increasingly popular,…
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With Australia’s property market in a resurgent mood at the end of 2023, the prospects for continued value increases for the next 12 months appear strong. The cash rate hike to 4.35% on Melbourne Cup Day may have dampened the party, but industry researcher CoreLogic continues to show monthly rises of up to 0.9% in…
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If you plan to sell your property when it’s vacant, one of the most important features will be your flooring. A beautiful timber floor can set a property apart from others if it has been well maintained. It’s a great idea to assess the flooring to determine whether it needs a little TLC before going…
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New Year always sees a new crop of apartments come onto the market as owners seek to upgrade or investors re-evaluate their property portfolios and cash out. If you are in either of these categories, make sure you maximise the value of your apartment by showing it in its best light. Staged apartments featuring fit-for-purpose,…
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Do you have any “special features” in your home that may actually turn away buyers? Ask your agent to give you an honest assessment of how the market will receive your property and, if there are some problem areas, consider fixing them to optimise your sale price. Our handy checklist highlights some of the features…
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Australia’s housing market has not been short of the occasional twist or turn in 2023, and many owners sat on the sidelines to watch how it would play out. In the past four months we’ve seen it turn from decline to a far more positive sentiment. But we got a final twist with the Melbourne…
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Whether you want to upgrade your home or you’re a first-time buyer, the recent interest rate rise imposed by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Melbourne Cup day will be of more than passing interest. Families, couples and singles in the throes of buying their next or first property will want to know the…
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Demand for more sustainable residential buildings isn’t going away, and both the federal government and many local councils appear on course for adjusting building regulations during the next few years. The real estate industry is increasingly discussing the impact of a draft Federal Government and CSIRO rating system that would influence home valuations and insurance…
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The momentum for Australia to reduce carbon emissions from residential buildings is growing stronger, with the nation’s largest city councils pledging to phase out gas stoves. The City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne have joined the Global Cooksafe Coalition, which is seen as a prelude to banning gas stoves following similar moves by…
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Property researcher CoreLogic has released a heroic set of numbers that reveal granny flats could solve our residential accommodation problems. The study claimed to have found 655,000 sites across Australia that could accommodate a granny flat, regardless of whether your grandmother was interested in being an occupier. More than a third would be within 2km…
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