Now may prove a good time for renters thinking about buying their first home – particularly for those approaching the end of their lease. The current market means contributing to your own home equity, rather than paying rising rents and helping pay off someone else’s mortgage, can be a good strategy. While first-home buyers often…
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Do you have big renovation plans for your new home, or do you want to make improvements before you sell? Now is a good time to make sure you protect yourself as building companies hit turbulent financial waters while they absorb increasing material costs. Leading industry researcher CoreLogic says construction costs jumped 9% in the…
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One of the most valuable and ambitious renovations before putting your home on the market is to rip out and replace your bathroom. A brand new bathroom can add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of your home and help it sell quickly. A bathroom is arguably the most complicated area of the…
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Did you know that switching from gas cooking to electricity can help save the environment? Research now shows that every time you ignite a gas ring, your stove will push out unburned methane that’s 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide (C02). And, according to a Forbes magazine report, the number of gas stoves being…
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Buying a home for the first time doesn’t have to be a daunting experience, if you know the basics before your start. It takes many puzzle pieces to ensure all your paperwork and lender funds are in order for settlement day, so preparation is the key to a successful transaction. One of the most important…
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Decorating our homes for the festive season is a highlight of the year for many of us, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for family and friends. But finding the right Christmas tree and most suitable decorations can be challenging if you’re in a small apartment or house. It’s a little deflating to buy the…
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Maintenance is a labour of love for many homeowners – traipsing around the local hardware store and eating snags is a weekend ritual for thousands of homeowners. Others, of course, would prefer to do something else, somewhere else. If you’re an owner who sees maintenance as a chore rather than an opportunity to test your…
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Many first-home buyers whose plans to buy in the city have been dashed by rising prices and interest rates are turning to regional Australia to climb onto the property ladder. While this isn’t an ideal solution for everyone, first-home buyers should not discount the idea. Regional centres are growing economically and offer excellent buying opportunities…
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Drone video of your property can make a fantastic impact on prospective buyers – but don’t get too caught up in this technology. They’re as spectacular for a beachside mansion with a swimming pool and tennis court as they are underwhelming for a one-bedroom unit. In other words, drone video isn’t for everyone so be…
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Have you ever sat in snail’s pace traffic on your daily commute and dreamed of owning a small acreage with fresh air, green fields and not a traffic light for miles? It’s really up to you whether this is just an idyllic daydream or an aspiration you can turn into a reality. Even for those…
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