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Cafes

How do we grade a property?

By Cate Bakos | May 12, 2019

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…

Auction

“Counterintuitive” bidding: what is it?

By Cate Bakos | May 5, 2019

Just this week a fabulous industry colleague (and friend) tagged me in his thought-provoking post and asked me to comment on this. And indeed I could. I take advantage of this phenomenon often. Tim’s article he handpicked for his post (attached here), explains that the laws of supply and demand don’t always apply to an…

Long Propery Show

When patience pays off

By Cate Bakos | April 28, 2019

In this Buyer’s Market climate, our auction clearances are lower, days on market are extended, vendors are often applying discounts to their asking price, and it’s not uncommon for agents to lose their listings to opposition agents. It’s a different dynamic in contrast to the heady days of 2017. Back in the days of Seller’s…

John

Seven Facts About Home Upgrading

By Cate Bakos | April 21, 2019

There is a bit of talk in the media about the current conditions being opportune for home buyers who are upgrading, but the process of buying, selling, packing, moving, settling is a lot more challenging than the headlines suggest. Not all markets are equal, and the recent headlines generalise about the metropolitan Melbourne market in…

Winning Money

How would you invest $1M?

By Cate Bakos | April 14, 2019

Many of us imagine this scene. We suddenly receive one million dollars….What would we do with it?  Generous recipients consider who they can help, which friends they can treat, and how they can all enjoy it. But what would a pragmatic Property Investment Advisor like me do? I’d model it out, combine it with considered…

Kidman House

How scarce is the product you want?

By Cate Bakos | April 6, 2019

Last week I met with a lovely couple who are struggling to find a well-located, nicely renovated, four-bedroom home in Yarraville. They said they’d been searching for many months and the right house just hadn’t come along. I explained to them, “Many inner-ring suburbs in Melbourne, particularly in the inner-north and inner-west are problematic for…

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How much money can you save me?

By Cate Bakos | March 30, 2019

I get this question all the time. And I understand why. Buyer’s Advocate fees are a serious dent in some buyer’s pool of savings, and for those who need to see a tangible and guaranteed benefit, it can be a tough fee for an advocate to explain. But the thing is; it’s not measurable. For…

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Wedding… House… Both?

By Cate Bakos | March 24, 2019

Yesterday I met a delightful young couple who were newly engaged, contemplating buying a property and saving for a (big) wedding. Their ability to save was strong, but their wedding guest numbers were larger than typical primary school student numbers. The cost would be significant. They justifiably had concerns about their additional savings capacity and…

Mark Auction

Should you put in an offer prior, or go to auction?

By Cate Bakos | March 16, 2019

This is a very common question we field, and the answer is simple.  “It depends on the situation.” Most buyers don’t like the thought of competing for a property in a public auction format. It’s intimidating, it’s fast, it requires emotional (and often some financial) investment in the process before being assured of a purchase, and…

Stamp Duty Stamp

Chicken and egg?

By Cate Bakos | March 10, 2019

When Bull markets turn Bear, the order of how people upgrade their home changes. This, in turn can impact stock levels, particularly when aspiring Sellers don’t like what they see. I was asked to comment for The Age’s Domain this week about the apparent concern that our State Revenue Office has expressed in relation to…

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When is an investment property a bad-performer?

By Cate Bakos | March 2, 2019

During the week I had the task of reviewing an investor’s portfolio. She had secured her properties without my help, but had a sizeable portfolio with mixed styles, locations and even had an interstate investment in the list. It’s important to note her work-timeline. She had held these properties for over a decade; one for…

Eldridge 1

Why are investors going to the regions for cashflow-neutral? Some are right here in Melbs!

By Cate Bakos | February 24, 2019

That’s right…. some cashflow-neutral options (as pretty as they ain’t), are right here, under our noses in our very own city. Some are within the 7km radius. So firstly, what does cashflow-neutral really mean? When rent rolls in and expenses are drawn out, the net differential for a cash-flow neutral property is close to zero. The expenses, (or outgoings) include five things;…

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