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Australia’s property market has had four consecutive months of growth, after a worrying period of declines. This recovery has taken many by surprise, not least of which the long-suffering aspiring first home buyer who thought they finally had a way in. Is it too late for them?
I think the ABC said it best earlier this month: “The speed at which the housing market has bounced back has stunned many observers.” While Perth and Darwin haven’t kept pace, the real estate markets that we most closely monitor have sprung back to life as though a defibrillator has shocked them...
For Australians with a home loan, we’re dealing with two major factors that you should know about right now. The first factor is that banks have never been more competitive for your business, and the second factor is that those same banks, ironically, are largely failing to pass on the full rate ...
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last week points to additional evidence Australia's housing market is showing further signs of recovery, thanks to a surge in the number of people who are borrowing. The ABC reported the value of new loans issued to households jumped 3...
Despite record low interest rates, and the recent loosening of some borrowing regulations, it’s actually become harder to secure a loan. Why? Because major lenders are more closely scrutinising how people spend their money. But what exactly are they looking at and what are they looking for? Whic...
Historically, one of the best barometers for the health of the property market is auction data… So, I asked my colleagues at Australia’s largest real estate company - Ray White - to share their nationwide auction stats looking back at the year that has been. They collect this data every weekend,...
With all the hype around record low interest rates it's easy to get tunnel vision and focus only on the lowest number when choosing a home loan provider, however finding the right loan is about much more than just the best rate. When assessing possible options for home loans, borrowers frequentl...
We’ve not seen interest rates at this level since the 1950s, so what are the opportunities and pitfalls that come with a cash rate at one percent for everyday investors? Low interest rates represent benefits in some investment categories, and hurdles in others. So how do you make low rates wo...
A recent study has revealed that it takes only eight minutes on average for home hunters to decide whether or not to buy a particular property. That’s swift! Even more-so if you consider that buying a home is the single biggest purchase a person will make in their lifetime. So if you’re selling ...
“We’re very confident the housing market has bottomed,” proclaimed Australia’s largest property developer last week. But loans are still an issue, needlessly. Make sure your spring buyer clients are prepared sooner rather than later.
If you’re a green thumb: you know one plant species from the next, you have a sense of landscaping styles, as well as the skill, equipment and time, then you don’t necessarily need a gardener. But if you’re lacking time, knowledge, the requisite skill or maybe just don’t want to get your hands d...
If you’re buying your first home or helping a family member enter the property market, make sure you’re ‘bid ready’ by doing the following before raising a bidder paddle or making an offer.
Winter traditionally brings with it a lull in the property market, yet this winter is like no other. What’s in it for you if have plans to buy? They say property cycles are seasonal in Australia: in winter we hibernate (owners don’t look to sell and buyers are less active), then in Spring bidders...
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