Posts by Cate Bakos

I am often asked by prospective purchasers, “Can an agent do that?” when they have had a disappointing outcome in a pre-auction or negotiation situation. The reality may surprise some. Agents are bound by auction rules, but negotiation and pre-auction scenarios are quite different. When imbalance in our market conditions strike, campaigns are more likely…

People often ask me how I found out information about a sale. When it comes to negotiation or auction bidding, our job is to establish the facts, read the play, and execute the best strategy with the right tactics. It shouldn’t come as a surprise when we know roughly, (or exactly) where a reserve price…

We use the term “A-Grade” a lot, but what does this really mean, and how do we distinguish between A-Grade and other grades? In this Buyer’s Market, it’s easy to buy a bargain property. The critical element that buyers need to focus on now relates to the quality of the property. Anyone can buy a bargain, but determining whether…

The property market may not have been presenting idyllic conditions for investors in Victoria, and there is plenty of commentary on this topic. However, Victoria has delivered optimal conditions for first homebuyers, and for several reasons. The Victorian (and Federal) governments have historically provided some exciting opportunities to first home buyers, and justifiably so. Looking…

Every now and then I’ll take on the task of reviewing an investor’s portfolio. Often, this is initiated by a financial planner. I meet many different investors, and this particular task a few years back has stuck in my mind. The investor had a sizeable portfolio with mixed styles, locations and even had an interstate…

It’s that time of year again. Economists, banks and commentators start sharing their predictions for 2025’s capital growth around the nation. Plenty of us do it, but few get it right. Today’s Sunday blog focuses on the predictions for 2024. Who got it right? Who got it wrong, and why? Firstly, let’s consider the annualised…

Many investors and homebuyers grapple with this question. They worry about the capital growth prospects of a townhouse versus a house, and homebuyers ask themselves whether they will outgrow a townhouse. It’s not that black and white though. Well-located, beautifully proportioned townhouses and villa units can be enticing for tenants and home-buyers alike. Many investors…

Have you ever wondered why a property can sit on the market for weeks, and then all of a sudden when you submit an offer, there is suddenly another offer? Many buyers believe that the agent is bluffing. Occasionally they are, but it’s rarer than people imagine. In the majority of cases, the agent does have another buyer. Their…

I recall an auction quite a few years ago, back in 2016. We were bidding on a beautifully converted two bedroom, two bathroom warehouse apartment with enclosed balcony in Kensington. We secured the property for our client for $631,000. Just 3km from CBD and conveniently located near shops, station and arterials were just some of…