We keep hearing about a supposed interest rate cut that is “coming” as is it is going to miraculously fix all our spending problems and put much more money in everyone’s back pockets. Oh dear, if you really think this is the case, you are sadly mistaken! Don’t get me wrong, to pay less on…
Over the last few years more investors have been considering secondary cities such as Geelong, Newcastle and Launceston which were more affordable than our big capitals. Domain Economist Trent Wiltshire recently wrote: “Secondary cities have been on a run, proving more affordable options for buyers after prices shot up in the closest major capital city….
Being located in a school catchment area can make a massive difference to a property’s value. Clearly some people are prepared to pay a significant premium according to new REIV data which shows that homes located within the catchment area for some of Melbourne’s best public primary and secondary schools are fetching over $400,000 compared to…
Have you ever wondered how much do you need to earn to be able to afford a house in Australia? Well…even though 2018 saw a substantial cooling in the property market, house prices still remain considerably high, with the proportion of those choosing to rent continuing to rise. A survey by The Salvation Army revealed…
First home owners grants have been around in most States and Territories for nearly two decades now, and are one of many other financial incentives put forward over the years to help first-time home buyers. The original First Home Owners Grant was a Federal Government initiative that was established in the early 2000s to offset the…
There are risks associated with the suburb and risks that are associated with the specific property. The number one risk is taking advice from a property professional who is not paid for their services. In this industry no one works for free. As a general rule, if you are not paying, you are not the…
What’s the outlook for the Western Australian property market? It’s been in the doldrums for over 4 years now – is it finally going to turn the corner? Recently QBE released its Australian Property Market Outlook – 2018-2021 and they suggest that a further 2% decline in the median house price is forecast over 2018/19, before modest price growth…
Ignore the real estate ‘experts’: housing isn’t going bust. Now that’s interesting advice- especially coming from an expert. One of the commentators I have been following for a long, long time and one who has an outstanding track record is Don Stammer. I learned a lot from Don in my early days of investing and…
You know what they say about hot spots? “Last year’s hot spots become this years not spots!” So have you ever wondered what happened to all those mining town hotspots? You know…those darlings of the hot spotting websites, spruikers and many of the property commentators who’ve now moved on to looking for the next hotspots. Well,…
The changes to our population and our demographics is one of the categories we carefully watch for our Quarterly Riskwise Risks and Opportunities report . The population & demographics category measures the overall population growth as well as its components (net overseas migration, net interstate migration and natural increase). Population growth is a key driver in…