6 Key Questions to Ask Your Broker
More Australians than ever are using a mortgage broker to help them navigate the wide variety of home loans on the market today. If you're buying for the first time or refinancing and have never used a broker, you're probably asking yourself whether you need any help. It's simple enough to apply for a loan. You can step into any bank and do that. The challenge is finding the deal that best su...
How to create a beautiful ensuite
Installing a brand new bathroom is a great way to prepare your house for sale and achieve the maximum possible sale price. Brand new bathrooms and kitchens have the most impact on buyers during inspections, and they will certainly set your home apart from most of the properties currently for sale in the neighbourhood. Planning to renovate a bathroom requires attention to detail and pati...
6 features to win the hearts of post-lockdown buyers
Fashion in real estate comes and goes, and it’s been interesting to see what buyers are seeking in this Covid pandemic era. As experienced sellers know, meeting the demands of the marketplace is one of the critical arts to maximise the value of your property. This is why so many owners of apartments and houses will invest in a new bathroom or kitchen to make their homes more attractive ...
Economic confidence fuelling demand for home loans
National economic confidence is a factor many home buyers take into account when considering refinancing, purchasing a larger home or diving into the property market for the first time. Nobody wants to make a substantial financial commitment if there is a risk of bad economic news that affects consumer confidence making prices head south. Right now, the data suggests there’s little chan...
Four super-cheap ways to make a first impression
Real estate agents can be so passionate about the need to create a great first impression when selling your home that you might be forgiven for feeling a little pressure. Our passion is not misplaced, however – curb appeal has a direct impact on the number of buyers your property will attract and strongly influence their desire to own it. Homes that are shabby and untidy can turn ...
7 renovation mistakes to avoid before selling
A renovation strategy is an excellent approach if you want to sell your home and maximise its value. But beware of falling into the traps that could hurt your return. A significant influencing factor that owners often forget when preparing for sale is the buyer’s preferences, and identifying features that will command a price premium. Buyers love a great kitchen and bathroom but can rec...
6 reasons why you should list your home right now
The demand for property during Covid caught many people by surprise as buyers optimistic for the future poured into a market suffering from a lack of homes for sale. The supply and demand equation is only part of the real estate picture. We have record-low interest rates supplemented with federal and state government saving schemes, tax discounts and grants of $25,000 and more for first-...
The market is strong but think local when you sell
When we try to follow the property market in the media, all we ever hear about are auction clearances and the prices being reached. If there’s a boom, then pundits claim a bust just around the corner. We’ve heard this a thousand times but the information is too general to help you decide whether it’s a good time to upsize, downsize or buy your first home. It’s importan...
8 pro tips for your bathroom renovation
Renovating a bathroom is one of the best ways to simultaneously add value to your home and improve your feeling of wellbeing. A luxurious bathroom adds a new dimension to your lifestyle and always proves a winner with motivated buyers. Typically, it will not just bolster the price of your property but shorten the time it spends on the market. A bathroom renovation can be complex as yo...
What is a Section 27 and what does it mean?
When you hear someone talk about a Section 27, they are simply referring to Section 27 of the Sale of Land Act, Early Release of Deposit Authority. Often suggested by real estate agents as part of the transferral process, a Section 27 can be extremely beneficial to Owner-Occupiers selling their home. When a purchaser pays their deposit for a property as part of their formal offer, typica...
What do my Owners Corporation levies pay for? Who determines how much they are?
This is one of the most common questions our Owners Corporation Managers receive, and rightfully so! It is often the last thing on people’s minds when purchasing a property however it is still an important factor to consider. The levies you pay go toward a wide range of costs which can differ based on the type of levy you are paying. There are also several factors at pla...
What does an Owners Corporation Committee do?
Ah, the Committee! A commonly misunderstood entity in the Owners Corporation space that plays a vital role in the management of your property and its affairs. Let us first elaborate on their arrangement before getting into the nitty-gritty of what they do. An Owners Corporation with 13 or more Lots must elect a Committee at each Annual General Meeting. Owners Corporatio...