Overcapitalising - How to avoid this problem. This is a very common word used in both the finance and real estate industry. Many investors and owner occupiers would also be familiar with this term. Overcapitalising is caused in situations where you pay to much on renovations or home improvements. Implementing capital improvements such as laying high quality outdoor decking, changing a gazebo into an...
Living in rural country can be quite peaceful and quiet. A relaxing lifestyle indeed. If you want to buy a regional property, here is a list of a few common things you should look out for: Land Covenants:- When buying regional property, it is important to read the terms and conditions. In purchasing a block of land that was subdivided will often be subject to a number of land covenants. These terms and...
A Section 32 and Vendors Statement are actually the same thing. It was formerly known as a Section 32 but changed to a Vendors Statement in 2014. We will discuss this further and refer it to it’s newly updated name ‘Vendor’s Statement’. The Vendors Statement outlines the information a property seller must provide prospective buyers, such as the name of the relevant planning scheme and details of...
This is something we always highlight to a buyer. The term cooling off period means the same for any off-the-plan purchase. Should you be buying an Apartment, townhouse or house and land the disclosure is equally managed. However, the cooling off period and rules vary between each state of Australia. As we are domiciled in Melbourne, we wanted to share this information in relation to Victoria only. In...
Many Australians are cautious of buying apartments off the plan. At face value they seem complicated and hard to understand. However, this is quite the opposite. If you know what you’re doing an Apartment can really present so many benefits to you. We won’t elaborate on the opportunities within this article, but we want to share some important tips to buying an Apartment off the plan. Selecting...
Property affordability is challenging. A strategy many take is to use a guarantor. In this article we discuss the benefits on how it may help. Please note every strategy has it’s set of advantages and disadvantages. We therefore urge everyone looking to buy a property, particularly when using a guarantor to seek advise first. Many good sources are your accountant, financial planner, lawyer/solicitor...
While researching home loans, you may have come across the term Lenders Mortgage Insurance or LMI, but what does it mean? What is Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)? LMI is essentially an insurance policy that the borrower pays for to ensure the bank is covered if you default your home loan. Some people initially think it's an insurance policy to cover their mortgage repayments if they enter a...
When it comes to taking control of your personal finances, most don't take the time to create a budget. A budget doesn't mean you stop enjoying life. The primary purpose is providing you with a guideline to understanding what you can afford to spend on a property. This is irrelevant if you are buying a home to live in, use as a holiday home or to invest. It also allows you to discover what you are...
Establishing your objectives. As a former financial planner and now property adviser, Tristan Markulija has seen quite a number of goals and objectives. Some with great motivation, some very realistic and achievable, while some are completely unattainable. Part of our process in sourcing the right property for you, our team devote a large component in educating you on the property market, helping you...
The benefits of an owners corporation. An Owners Corporation was previously known as Body Corporate. We prefer to look at Owners Corporation with a pragmatic approach. Strata fees are in place for a reason. They are shared costs between residents for mandatory fees. These fees would typically include building insurance, public liability insurance and any legislation-based payments. These fees are...