Inflation and interest rises are changing the real estate landscape after one of Australia’s strongest-ever growth eras, in which values increased an average of 35% in two years. Buyers’ so-called “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) has gone now, and industry researcher CoreLogic is reporting mild value falls for houses and apartments nationally. While its analysis…
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The Great Australian Dream of owning your own house or apartment seems to be shrinking, at least in the size of its ambition. The total square meterage of both houses and apartments has decreased while blocks continue to offer less space, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. For first-time buyers, this…
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Young families buying their first property are presented with a range of financial and practical challenges, and one of the most important is to ensure the home is safe for their children. If you’ve got toddlers and young children, you need to be confident your new home is child-friendly. Risks with swimming pools and spas…
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Losing a property at auction can be disappointing, but you must ensure that it doesn’t turn you into a vulnerable buyer. You have to remind yourself to fight the emotions of missing out and stick to the fundamentals of property search. Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of feeling that you have to…
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A rental crisis that has struck post-lockdown Australia is allowing investors an opportunity to re-enter the market. Rents have risen almost 12% in the past 12 months and the vacancy rate stands at an incredible 1%, according to new data from SQM Research. These factors, combined with subdued pricing as our interest rates move north,…
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A bathroom remodel is an excellent strategy to increase your property’s value before sale or to add some modern luxury to your existing home. Together with a kitchen, the bathroom is the most complex room to upgrade because it requires attention to detail. You’ll need to coordinate at least four contractors, usually a builder, electrician,…
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As a first-time buyer, or a current homeowner looking to refinance, you’ll find that it pays dividends to create a mortgage repayment strategy. Don’t make the mistake of just following your lender’s instructions. If you play the game smartly, you’ll discover a few tricks that will shave thousands of dollars off your payment schedule. Making…
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The rainfall generated by the El Nina weather system has given homeowners many challenges, from plugging roof leaks and finding sunny days to mow the lawn to battling ugly, furry mould that suddenly appears on walls and ceilings. Many cases of mould can be attributed to the damp weather and lack of ventilation throughout the…
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The rain that has been our almost constant companion on the East Coast this year has made the ground so wet that it could start affecting the structures of some homes. State capitals Sydney and Brisbane have been inundated with more than 1,200mm and 1,500mm respectively, and many regional areas have been hit harder. Cairns…
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When you sit down to negotiate the purchase of a new home, do you know what’s on the table? Are you about to have a conversation that’s only about money, or is there more to talk about? This type of conversation is most common in the Australian market after a property has been passed in…
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