Sunday Blog - Expert property investment insights

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…

When it comes to property selection, it’s often the things we reject that help formulate a good investment decision.  Aside from being mindful of tenant appeal and owner-occupier appeal of a property, we must always be mindful of lender appeal. Since the days of pandemic lockdowns, the quest for inner-suburb living has revitalised itself. We often…

We work with buyers every single day. From our position on the other side of the coin, we see a lot of vendor decisions that make for a strong campaign. But often we see vendors get things wrong too. Here are five insider tips to help vendors navigate the important task of selling their property.…

There has been plenty of speculation around interest rate cuts. What will trigger a cut? When will they happen? What will that cut do to the housing market? And what metrics can we rely on as a predictor of rate movements? The news from America gave a few Australians a glimmer of hope about interest…

We are often asked about deposit bonds, especially when agents or vendors reject a request from a buyer to use one. What are they? Is there a risk? And when are they particularly useful? Today’s blog answers all of these questions. A deposit bond can be used effectively when a purchaser has the means to…

Melbourne has faced some tough headwinds since the pandemic. The tough lockdowns saw strong internal migration, both from our capital city to other states, and from our city to our local regions. The chart below shows Melbourne’s arrivals and departures during three data collection dates during the COVID pandemic. The Census chart below shows the…

Investor appetites for improvements and renovations have waned in recent years. This is due to several reasons; expensive materials and trades, a builder shortage, and challenges associated with rental laws and access to the property. Increased compliance requirements and rental reforms are forcing many investors to tackle a renovation though. Ideally, we prefer to select…

Melbourne’s sale volumes have increased markedly. Unlike several other capital cities, buyer are spoilt for choice right now. The particular categories of buyers who are currently facing optimal buying conditions are the first homebuyers, imminent renovators, and down-sizers. This is due to the sheer numbers of exiting investors who are selling their investment properties. In…

We are all familiar with the theory of social proof. Everyone else is doing it, so it must be good. When it comes to property, there are multiple ways that social proof can strike. Sometimes it will completely foil a good plan. When it comes to real estate, social proof is a far bigger threat…

Auctions are interesting. People assume that all auction purchases must be unconditional, but technically this isn’t correct. However, if an agent has interested buyers who plan to bid, they will almost-always insist on bids being unconditional. This can be difficult for buyers who aren’t feeling confident about their chances of success. Buyers don’t like to…