Every Sunday Cate shares a recent adventure or interesting industry observation.

This year’s auctions haven’t been easy. Not that last years’ were easy, but when it comes to houses, the only difference between spring season last year and this current market seems to be stock levels. Buyer competition is highly-fueled and as strong as last year, yet the numbers of quality properties available in the inner and middle… Read more »

We assist many clients with exciting investment purchases; from renovators to “move-right-in’s” but it is rare to find houses quite as beautifully renovated as this beauty. Yesterday in a wave of exhilarating bidding, pass-in negotiations and contract signing, two wonderful clients of ours had to take some time to adjust to the shock of their… Read more »

Late last year a fabulous couple from Sydney engaged our services to help find them a home down south to relocate to. Their mission seemed achievable; three bedroom property, sizeable block size for a garden and entertaining area, private outlook, well lit internal spaces, within walking distance to rail, near to local parkland, and… offering good NBN… Read more »

The lovely Sharyn joined us six months ago today. We love her calming influence, her cheery optimism and her fabulous fritatta dishes she brings in. Unprompted, Sharyn sent us this blog… and we think it says it all. We share an office space of 25sqm and we love it. We overtalk each other when the… Read more »

A new client approached us a week ago about assisting with the negotiating and auction bidding for a house she’d identified herself. The street was one I was very familiar with; Adelaide Street Albion. She had chosen well. Close to station, surrounded by plenty of period houses and near parkland. I told her she’d selected… Read more »

Securing a period single-fronted Victorian cottage in a great suburb is a challenge at any time of the year. But in February, when pent-up demand is still strong, buyer numbers still surpass house numbers, and bidders seem to be stretching to levels which surprise everyone, tackling a purchase like this one is a really challenging feat. This time… Read more »

Our office had it’s old hum back last week. The auction files sat proudly on our desk and the phones were buzzing with deposit cheque clarification and contract legal review feedback. We’d started to really miss our auction bidding and it had been exactly seven weeks since our last public auction. This break is what shapes… Read more »

Back in late 2015 Amy and I met a fantastic investor client who’s apportioned savings, borrowing capacity and cashflow position placed her in an exciting and unique investing position. She desired reasonably healthy out-of-pocket cashflow (not exceeding $650pm before tax benefit) and had targeted a spend of around $500,000. Our client valued the idea of… Read more »

I met with a delightful couple some weeks ago. Their brief was simple – but it wouldn’t be easy. They had a goal to find a three bedroom home in Newport or Altona North but they were capped at $600,000. Like every other first home buyer who is keen to take advantage of the stamp… Read more »

With only two more weekends left for the year until Melbourne’s auctions take a break for nine weeks, there is a feel of motivation (and in some cases, desperation) in the air. Some buyers have been searching for weeks, some for months, and we recently met someone who had been searching for a year. Buyers want… Read more »