Category: First Home Buyers
First quarter of the year sees home values stabilise
The recent release of the RP Data-Rismark Hedonic Daily Home Value Index results for March showed that national home values rose 0.2 per cent in March 2012 – a potential sign that the Australian housing market is stabilising. The market has remained unchanged for the quarter ending 31 March 2012; this flat result is the strongest result since March 2011 when values increased by 0.7 per cent. According to the managing director of Rismark International, Ben Skilbeck: “While...Read complete post
A good time for buyers in the housing market
The residential property market can sometimes be a confusing space to navigate, especially with the media attention it often generates and receives. The views of property commentators, as well as the constant flow of data released, often appear to be conflicting, with the media conveying sometimes contradictory signals to buy, sell, or hold. I consider myself fortunate to be in the position I am, as I have access to our internal company data as well as the experience and opinions...Read complete post
Should you buy a house or an apartment?
It seems to be a very common question when it comes to buying real estate, particularly for first and second-time buyers – will it be better decision to purchase a house or an apartment? As a starting point, the factors that go into making this decision are mostly personal preferences. These include whether the property is an investment or to be your residence, the location that you’d like to live in, how many people will be living in the property, what types of maintenance you are...Read complete post
There are good opportunities for first home buyers available in the market
The presence of first home buyers in the residential property market has done somewhat of a back flip over the past couple of years. In 2009 we saw a peak in first home buyer activity – according to RPData first home buyers made up 28.5 per cent of all owner occupier finance in May of that year. This was a period where the effects of the Global Financial Crisis could still be seen in lowered interest rates and government stimulus efforts. 2010 however was a different...Read complete post
Why it is important to attend an open house before buying a property
Although they can sometimes be a great deal of work, the open house is one of my favourite aspects of the real estate selling process. In most cases, much preparation will have gone in to ensuring that the property shines on the day, and owners are proud of what they are offering to the public. With property being one of the largest purchases that the average person will make over a lifetime, I am usually quite surprised to hear of situations where acquisitions are made by people...Read complete post
Housing supply remains an issue
The issue of housing supply is contentious at the best of times. It is not unusual for seemingly conflicting data and reports to be released almost concurrently – sometimes we are told that there is too much stock on the market and people aren’t buying, at other times it is that there are not enough homes and prices are skyrocketing. It is important to understand that the residential property market has both a short term and long term outlook, both of which can be affected by...Read complete post
Tips for First-Home Buyers
So you have decided to take the plunge and purchase your first property – congratulations! In my view, owning your own home is one of the most significant and satisfying purchases you will ever make. Although the initial outlay may seem like a lot, by paying off a mortgage each month you are actually building equity and essentially setting yourself up for the rest of your life. The first step to buying your first property is to save the money for a deposit. Depending on your...Read complete post
Settle on inclusions before buying at auction
It’s a realization that can be incredibly frustrating, sometimes tarnishing the experience of moving into a fantastic new home – “But I thought they were leaving the dishwasher/shutters/built- in heater…” Many people often assume the inclusion of various fittings, fixtures and appliances in their purchase of a property. In some situations, it only comes to light upon moving in that various household items which were present upon earlier inspections have been removed and taken...Read complete post
Professional property inspections - should you have one before buying?
It is a question that we often hear from buyers who are considering the purchase of a property - should I have a professional property inspection conducted before buying? While I can’t speak for every real estate agent in the business, from my experience I can tell you that arming yourself with the knowledge from a property inspection usually puts you in a much better position. The purpose of a building inspection is to determine any issues that may exist in a property that you...Read complete post