The strong performance of the housing market, despite the recent interest rate hike on Melbourne Cup day, should give heart to homeowners who are looking to either upgrade or downsize this summer. The most recent Home Value Index from industry researcher CoreLogic shows property has edged up again in October, registering 0.9% value growth on…
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Buying property as the market bounces back after its lull can be challenging, especially for first-timers who’ve not experienced the pressures of sealing a deal. If you have a pre-approved loan, your lender will often set a 12-week deadline before you need to apply again. These buyer guidelines will help you respond quickly to an…
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Buyers use plenty of tricks during a property inspection to look for any flaws in their potential new home. Some open and shut cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathrooms, while others stare at the ceiling above the bathroom to spot dampness, or inspect under the sinks to look for water damage. Paintwork at floor…
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Ensuring a home attracts buyers has always been a critical part of preparing a property for sale. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how hard you’ve worked to declutter and generally prepare, there may still be a risk that you could have missed something that will turn buyers away. Follow this checklist to make sure everything is…
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A retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, a garden is also somewhere to send the kids when they’re getting under your feet or have used up all their screen time. However, being able to maintain a garden and even make it thrive, can be a mystery for some homeowners who complain they…
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It’s that time of year again when the sweet smell of jasmine wafts across towns and cities and heralds the beginning of summer. But if you have fruit trees or a vegetable garden, there’s an entirely different perfume that is just as much part of summer: the pong of stink bugs. Those nasty little suckers…
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A city home in a bush setting is one of the more desirable types of property that Australians aspire to own. It has everything. Proximity to the city, employment, and world-class services and amenities while nestling among the gum trees and cooling ferns. It also has snakes. Lots of them, if reports of sightings this…
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If you’re saving for a first property or your next dream home, it pays to carefully watch market indicators that offer a strong sense of where the property scene is heading. Why is this important? Fundamentally, because you need to be ahead of the curve. You want to avoid being caught up in the surge…
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Renovating an apartment can be a tricky business. Owners must follow tightly controlled rules and regulations enforced by a strata committee or owners’ corporation on behalf of all residents in the block. You can’t simply alter the outside of your apartment, such as installing new windows or doors, without written permission. Strata rules, which are…
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You don’t need to be beachside or on a rural property to be concerned about predictions for this bushfire season. Trees and flammable native shrubs surround many homes in cities and regional centres. While the bushfire risk is dramatically reduced in the cities, situations can run out of control in the suburbs. If your home…
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