If you’ve been shocked at the increase in the cost of gas and electricity lately, you’re not alone. Utility prices are on the march along with fuel and food, all of which are feeding an inflation rate that has prompted the Reserve Bank of Australia to hike its target cash rate to 0.85% and increase…
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With inflation capturing many of the headlines at the moment, it’s not a crazy idea to assess the insurance coverage for your home. The rising price of materials for construction and the availability of labour have combined to push the cost of renovation, maintenance and replacement much higher. Leading industry researcher CoreLogic says construction costs…
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As the market mood changes, sellers will be well-served by paying additional attention to the quality of the marketing campaign for their property. A campaign targeted to prospective buyers for your area can earn you tens of thousands of dollars more for your property than a half-hearted or cut-price effort that fails to capture the…
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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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