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Everyone looks forward to Christmas and the summer holiday season. After all, 'tis the season to be jolly. This year, it could also be the right time to buy a home. Here are 5 reasons why clever property buyers are considering making a purchase this holiday season. Motivated sellers Spring is one of the busiest times of year in Australia's property markets. That's when all the buyers are out in force and vendors have the best chance of getting their price. If a vendor i...

Firstly, a holiday budget should include ALL your expenses. Often the biggest holiday spending culprits aren't just the gifts you put under the tree, there are also the annual get-togethers with friends, tickets for raffles around the office to support local charities, teacher gifts, the office Secret Santa - the list goes on.   Here are six ways to have a great holiday season on a budget.
Make a list Make a list of who you have to shop for and ask yourself if y...

It's been nearly eight years since the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) last raised the country's official cash rate. Interest rates have been at historical lows for quite some time and as a homeowner, you may never have experienced an "official" rise in interest rates. At present, interest rates remain at an historical low levels and we expect them to stay that way for a while. However, forecasters predict Australia's economy will continue to strengthen over the n...

With home values and auction clearance rates softening in our Spring property markets, buyers will have the upper hand when it comes to negotiating on price. So, it's a good idea to arm yourself with some sharp bargaining tactics before diving in.
Nobody wants to pay more than the current market value for a home. Here are six negotiation tactics to help you get the right price on your Spring property purchase.   1. Research the market value in advance When it comes t...

Pre-approval is a green light from a lender. Put simply, it confirms you're eligible to apply for a home loan up to a certain amount. Essentially, the lender checks your financial circumstances, to decide if you'll meet their criteria and can afford to repay a mortgage. A home loan pre-approval usually lasts for three to six months and gives you a set budget during your property search. Here's why home loan pre-approval is so important. To confirm your borrowing power B...