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

There are many well-known elements of a property that form part of an organized buyer’s criteria list. As buyer’s advocates we often tell our clients that it is what we say no to that makes the most significant difference to the success of the purchase, not just what we say yes to. Some would know it… Read more »

This is a term I hear more frequently used these days. With lender scrutiny at the highest levels I’ve seen since the GFC period, many buyers, bankers and brokers are feeling anxious about potential finance issues. The inclusion of the clause however is often detrimental to the success of the purchase. So when should it be used?… Read more »

Market sentiment is a powerful force indeed. Reports in the media of lower auction clearance rates and slight drops on the median price of houses could give any nervous investor reason to be cautious. December figures for our two biggest capital cities certainly caught reader’s attention, but seasonality wasn’t broadly discussed.  And it should have been. In… Read more »

Every January (and without fail) I field questions from new and past clients about my thoughts on their holiday house acquisition ideas. And every year I learn more about why this is such a well-trodden path for so many. The reasons are always emotional and never pragmatic, ever. But when is it OK for emotion to rule?… Read more »

Having just returned home from a beautiful family trip to Sri Lanka I am feeling refreshed and excited to take in 2018 and all that it offers. Sri Lanka is a glorious island and the scenery, history, cuisine and culture is superb. As foreign visitors we had an itinerary, pre-purchased tickets, a Guide for some of our days, a… Read more »

2017 has been a mixed year for the Victorian housing market. With 100% Stamp Duty Concessions on offer for eligible Victorian property first home buyers up to $600K and subsidised Stamp Duty up to $750K purchases, the market has seen a dramatic resurgence of first home buyers since the concessions took effect on 1 July… Read more »

Property searches can span weeks. Sometimes they can span months. When preparation is not in place or expectations are unreasonable, the search can span years.  But sometimes… when plans are solid, planets align and the property presents itself, the search can take a matter of days. These can be the experiences that are quite stressful… Read more »

One common mistake buyers often make is assuming that there are set rules that can’t be broken when negotiating for a property. From negotiating a passed-in auction with a finance clause to facilitating a sale that allows them to collect the keys and move in before settlement, there are many twists and turns that can… Read more »

Back in 2012 I met a fabulous young buyer who was keen to build her financial future early. She was unusually pragmatic about the process and we quickly determined that ‘rent-vesting’ could work perfectly for her (buying an investment property in an area that would exhibit the strongest capital growth possible, while the landlord lives… Read more »

Gone are the days of vendors brewing coffee, baking cookies and buying a posie of flowers in preparation for opens. These days we have professional stylists, furniture hire companies, TV shows featuring property ‘flipping’, colour consultants, and agencies to make it all happen in a short stint of just a few days. Engaging these services… Read more »