REIV Conference – Underquoting panel discussion
Estate Agents in Melbourne may be interested to attend the REIV Ignite Conference on the 21st of March at Crown Conference facilities. It should be a very informative day with some top speakers, including Simon Cohen from Consumer Affairs Victoria, Gus Balbontin from Lonely Planet and Stephen Scheeler former Managing Director of Facebook (Aus & NZ). I […]
REIV Awards for Excellence 2017
Janet Spencer Finalist REIV Awards for Excellence 2017 We are thrilled to announce that Janet Spencer has been named a finalist for the 2017 REIV Awards for Excellence in the Buyer’s Agent of the Year category. The REIV Awards for Excellence showcase the best of the property industry and celebrate leading real estate agency practices […]
Rental management fees – how much is fair?
Landlords are wondering, rental management fees – how much is fair? Since 1989, I have been hearing the ongoing conversation about what to pay for management fees of investment properties. Across metro Melbourne we are seeing firms offering cost free periods and/or low fees like 4% excluding GST. The Buyer Solutions team questions what services […]
Downsizing – How to do it well!
We were recently approached by a real estate publication for commentary on older Victorians downsizing from their larger family homes. Here are some top questions we answered: What Melbourne suburbs do you think are currently popular for downsizers and why? A lot of downsizers want to stay in the area in which they currently live, so […]
Victoria’s new underquoting laws
How is the real estate industry embracing and implementing Victoria’s new underquoting laws? Effective from the 1st of May, there are new laws introduced by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) to prevent real estate agents and vendors from underquoting to prospective buyers. Many changes have been introduced. CAV’s website tells us the following: “All Victorian estate […]
Property tax changes from 1st of July
Property taxes are changing from the first of July, 2017. The Victorian state government will close a property duty loophole between spouses who own investment properties from that date. Transfers between partners will no longer be exempt from stamp duty, except for changes for the principal place of residence or following a relationship breakdown. […]
Buyer Beware! Is there a big development coming next door?
During our pre-purchase due diligence last week for a property in Kew, we found a major surprise. A surprise so big that it caused us not to bid. A major development next door to the north will fundamentally change the amenity of the target property during construction and when built. The property next door, a magnificent […]
Property Update at North Melbourne Football Club
This week we were invited to be part of a panel discussion at the North Melbourne Football Club to examine how real estate plays a part in overall financial fitness. The audience was made up of players and staff looking to educate themselves on what the benefits of owning good property are and how to invest in […]
Should you let a selling agent bid for you at auction?
Auction advice for property buyers from Buyer Solutions Last Saturday Buyer Solutions was bidding at an auction for our investor client in Melbourne’s eastern suburb of Forest Hill. The auctioneer took centre stage and three of his colleagues placed themselves amongst the bidders to assist buyers in attendance. From the buyers perspective is this a […]
Impulsive Property Buying – What Can Go Wrong?
Impulsive Property Buying – What Can Go Wrong? If you’re in the market for a property or just have an interest in real estate you’ve probably been to an auction. Tensions are high, adrenaline is pumping, serious bidders are eyeing off their competition and vendors are nervously lurking about in anticipation. Auctions are dramatic spectacles […]