The Blog

Moving to your dream home is filled with excitement and new possibilities, a chance to make it your own and get established in a new community. However, the actual moving process can be stressful and is often dreaded. Thinking about everything that needs to occur before and after the move, like the meticulous packing and […]

Not only are DIY projects cost-effective, but they can also be a fun and rewarding way to enhance your home’s value and transform it into a space you love spending time in. Whether you’re planning to sell your home in the near future or simply want to improve your space to something more functional, stylish, […]

Purchasing a property often brings about many questions and a frequently asked question is ‘what is the difference between Strata, Stratum and Company Share/Title?’ Emma Sorensen from realestate.com.au (REA Group 2022) has written an article (see below), which breaks down the different titles of property ownership and what they mean.   Article: Strata title, stratum […]

There is an array of news and speculation surrounding the property market and the economy as of late, however, a new report has been released showing a sharp uptick in search activity from foreigners looking for properties in Australia. Shannon Molloy, News Editor from realestate.com.au has written an article ‘Surge in the number of foreigners […]

Real estate may be a passion, a hobby, a blessing or a curse… love it or hate it, we are all involved with property in some way, shape or form. A property transaction may happen once, or twice, in one’s lifetime and being armed with a few key points may assist with making your purchase. […]

With a daily reminder that interest rates are on the rise, we definitely don’t need another article stating the obvious. However, what we can tell you is how interest rates will affect you in the property market. As interest rates continue to increase, it will naturally impact one’s affordability when trying to secure a mortgage. […]

We are well into March and properties are still moving exceptionally quickly. Naturally, we get a lot of questions around what is the best property to buy, however, this ultimately comes down to your overarching objectives. We could really talk about this topic for hours. An interesting question, which we are getting asked often, is […]

As we experience one of the fastest and largest global economic contractions in living memory, the response has meant that financial markets have rapidly re-priced securities like stocks and bonds. House prices usually take longer to reflect what is happening elsewhere in the economy for a number of reasons. This is because houses are both […]

Article: Owner Builder Works  Written by: First Class Legal, February 2021  Unless disclosed, owner builder works can lead to a Contract being voided (i.e. cancelled) at the option of the purchaser. So many people are renovating but, unless the work is done by a registered builder with a major domestic building contract in place for […]

The Victorian State budget has introduced changes, which will come into effect as of July 1 2021 with the key points being:    A premium stamp duty will be introduced for property transactions above $2 million  Land tax is to be increased by 0.25% for taxable land holdings from $1,800,000 to $3,000,000 Land tax is […]

It is no secret that the word on the street is that property prices are booming in Australia, but is this the case for Victoria and specifically Melbourne?  It appears that Australia’s big four banks are predicting a further rise in property prices in 2021 between 7 and 16.2% and that this will continue into […]

As the property market booms with many owners and prospective purchasers residing in, or looking to buy strata titled properties, the biggest question and point of discussion is. “how much are the body corporate fees?”    As more and more Victorians continue to take up apartment or townhouse living, it is becoming more prevalent that […]

January 2021 is well and truly underway and here are the top 3 things that I have noticed:  Low stock levels for sale properties Decreased demand for entry level rental properties… likely as people are sharing homes or moving back with parents Very high demand for large and luxurious 2 and 3 bedroom apartments for […]

As we approach the end of the year, we look towards the new year and begin to imagine what the future will look like. If you have been thinking of selling and know that the time has come for you to place your property on the market in the new year, you may be facing […]

A lot of people are currently talking about what we can’t do when it comes to leasing properties in today’s climate, but not many are talking about what we can do, which just so happens to be quite a lot.  Times have changed and so have we and our processes, adapting to our owners, tenants […]

Identifying your investment goals and having a clear vision of what they are will mean the difference between an average property portfolio and an impressive one. Carefully defined goals and objectives from the outset are essential given that short term returns, long term capital growth and overall rental yields are all largely determined by the […]

Changes in the property market have brought about many conversations around maximising investments in today’s climate. In turn, this has led to discussions around depreciation schedules, what they are, how they help and how to obtain one.    When it comes to property investments and investors, all deductions should be accounted for. The following list […]

Making our way to the end of the financial year, money is on our mind especially during today’s climate. It is time to look towards the future for what’s to come and how to achieve.    As we look towards the second half of 2020, the media is coining today’s market as a ‘buyers market’. […]

Experts, industry figures and politicians are asking questions about the suitability of stamp duty in a post-COVID-19 economy.   The pressing issue being that the revenue stamp duty generates depends on turnover in the property market, while at the same time it acts as a disincentive to change properties, impacting economic performance and government bottom […]

It is time to share some positive news surrounding the property market and what is working for us.   Properties for lease are still highly sought after and are wanted by many. The time to lease a property may take a little longer than usual, we’ve found around 5-6 days on average (up from the […]