Many families want to support each other. Parents often ask us how they can help children buy their first property. With the housing market continually rising, many children will face affordability challenges. Some parents look to buy properties to gift to their children in the future, but this is not always feasible, for instance if you have three children. Many are also not quite fortunate to have the...
There is good news out of Canberra with the announcement of the $680 million HomeBuilder package. The Federal Government introduced its HomeBuilder package on 4 June 2020. The HomeBuilder package The big winners are owner occupiers and first home buyers. The government is prepared to compensate owner occupiers and first home buyers if they choose to buy a new or off-the-plan property in the remainder...
When we buy a new home we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. How we have grown to love kitchens. If it’s cooking, cleaning or even entertaining. This is where a common question arises. Benchtops - stone versus laminate. Is it better to include stone or laminated bench tops? There isn’t necessary a right or wrong answer but here are some differences you may want to take note before your next...
Melbourne was blessed with a colourful Autumn, but now winter is upon us and the cold and frosty mornings are already here. Some love the raining nights while being tucked under a warm heavy blanket while others simply freeze no matter what they wear or do... Here are a some tips to keeping warm this winter. Check your heater The heater hasn't been on for while and it may have collected some dust...
A full turn-key house is an upgrade made available by home builders in which they take care of necessary additions to the home, like internal wall painting, flooring, and blinds. By upgrading to a full turn-key package, you can relax knowing your home truly will be a 'move-in ready' solution. Once you receive the keys you can immediate lease the property or move in and start living the dream! A full...
When buying a brand new Apartment it is very common to see a storage cage included. There are many benefits of a storage cage and here we explore them. A storage cage is often built with chain-wire or a welded mesh frame. A storage cage can vary in shape and size but they generally don’t exceed 6m3. They can be built from floor to ceiling or to a nominated height (such as an over car bonnet). Some can...
When buying off-the-plan not much can happen in the way of settlement until the vendor has received a certificate of occupancy. Your property must pass a series of inspections. These inspections may include a variety of reviews such as a fire safety check, an electrical or plumbing inspection and any other general building inspections What is required for a certificate of occupancy? In order to obtain...
Don’t set and forget – always ensure your insurance is up to date. When buying a property it’s important to ensure your asset is insured against any unforeseen events. It’s likely to be the most expensive asset you buy. We’ve noticed overtime investors review their property portfolio performance but neglect to review their insurance. Insurance cover provides a vast range of unforeseen...
Common mistakes buyers make - and how to avoid them. Buying a home is one of the biggest commitments you’ll make in a lifetime. If you can get it right the first time, you’ll obviously increase the chances of adding more properties to your net wealth. In doing so this article may help you prevent some common mistakes buyers make. You may also enjoy our article on "First Home Buyers - 5...
How do valuers assess a property valuation? No matter if you purchase a brand new, off-the-plan or second-hand property, we are all in the mercy of the valuer. This is less relevant for a cash buyer, but for the most part, buyers require borrowed funds to complete their purchase. This means the bank will employ a valuer of their choice to complete property valuation. There are many professionals in...