Building a portfolio with equity
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…
Seeing past the styling and decorating
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…
The Plight of the First Home Buyer
This year we’ve been able to be a part of quite a few First Home Buyer purchases and particularly of late. With the introduction of the full Stamp Duty Concession for purchases under $600,000 since July 1 2017, this contingent has been a powerful force in the metro markets. Aside from dealing with inexperience, competitive…
Only five property weekends remaining for 2017
With only five auction weekends remaining for 2017 we are preparing our clients for the pre-Christmas buying conditions. Unlike previous months we are currently seeing higher levels of stock on the market and we can anticipate some vendor and agent-driven subtle changes that are hallmarks of the approaching Festive Season. Most vendors facing a late…
Suburb Alert: Rippleside 3215
A suburb wedged between two parks, boasting stunning Victorian and Edwardian era homes just 2.5km from Geelong’s city centre with beach access is one of our favourite underrated suburbs of 2017. Rippleside is one of Geelong’s tiniest suburbs; with less than 500 inhabitants and a mere ~200 homes gracing its pretty streets. Nestled between even-tinier Drumcondra…
South Kingsville… our Inner-West’s Smallest Suburb
Our most recent acquisition was a special one indeed. A dear client who had moved down to Melbourne from Queensland had set her sights on the inner-west. We were engaged to help find her new home; preferably a modern townhouse with room for visitors, her two cats and she was keen for us to identify…
Bell curves and probability…
Property prices can be hard to predict sometimes. Outcomes don’t always go to plan and there will always be the surprise results that we call anomalies. Every time we meet a home buyer and commence the assignment with our new client we discuss the need for our assignment to focus on areas and dwelling types…
The Power of a Plan B
We often see buyers set their sights on a property they love. The excitement, the anticipation and the build up to auction day can be exhausting, and the fear of disappointment can really bite as the auction date closes in. We always continue the search, no matter how suitable the property may seem. We provision…
Sea Change in Belmont, Geelong
What are some of the options for First Home Buyers with a circa-$500,000 budget when they ideally want a character house, a nice sized backyard and proximity to cafes, train and shops? Geelong…. just 75km from Melbourne, 55 minutes’ drive on the freeway and an easy train ride into Southern Cross Station. Our most recent…
Asking the right questions
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…
Geelong’s Growth Story
Properties consistently selling 15-20% over reserve, heated auctions, high clearance rates…. and a bit of buyer heartache. This isn’t what some would have assumed about Geelong if they’d been profiled when sentiment was down after the Ford Plant closure, but things are looking up for the City by the Bay… the Land of the Cats……
Land size.. or land value?
A very common myth we continually bust is the idea that large landsize trumps smaller (and even subdivided) blocks. Of course, when land values per square meter are equal and the land is not affected by easements, restrictions or covenants, the larger parcel will always be preferred. But how do we decide which property will…
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1A/58 ANDERSON STREET,
YARRAVILLE VIC 3013
0422 638 362
03 7000 6026
CATE@CATEBAKOS.COM.AU