Thinking of telling the bank “a few white lies” to get the mortgage you want?

We need to talk.

After decades in the Real Estate industry, I still enjoy every auction I attend. I always learn something new or my beliefs are reinforced, and I never get complacent. It’s crucial to understand the core strategies of being successful at auction and knowing the signs to look for in your competition.

My recent experiences at three different auctions were the perfect reminder of that.

When the end of November hits, you can almost hear a collective sigh of relief as everyone begins switching into holiday mode! It’s an exhausting time of year in real estate, and if you’ve already been dealing with this tough market filled with uncertainty, nobody will blame you for wanting to wave goodbye to 2022 and start fresh in the New Year.

However, everyone else winding down presents a golden opportunity to take advantage of the perks of the changing market. Instead of putting off your search for another month and focusing on the festivities, you can find yourself in a strong position to buy if you’re motivated to make your move before Christmas. Here’s why…

Many people talk about the property market as a ladder with the ultimate goal to buy and sell your way up the rungs. However, the current state of the market is reminding us that the market relies on sellers making their way back down the ladder, vacating the properties that sit at the top for the upsizing crowd. 

Picture this - you’ve found your dream property on the best street in your favourite suburb, and it’s looking to come in on budget. Then you find out that just six years earlier, it was the scene of a gruesome murder.

Would you still buy it?

The only thing that’s predictable about the property market is that it’s unpredictable! One day, sellers are loving life as the market runs hot and properties sell for hundreds of thousands above suburb records.

Is your head spinning from the recent real estate flip? From one of the hottest markets on record to auction clearance rates sitting around 50%, the industry is still reeling from the whirlwind change!

For the last number of years, the Sydney market has been hot hot hot, with clearance rates into the 80% and most buyers having high stress levels in the fear of missing out (otherwise known as FOMO).

Moving house can be very stressful, so the last thing you need on moving day is to show up with moving trucks to find something’s not quite right. However, a strategic pre-settlement inspection will ensure a smooth exchange and no shocks when calling your new property home….

As someone who’s gone to thousands of open homes and is privy to all the tricks vendors use to make a great first impression, I still feel the emotional pull created by impeccable styling.

But all that styling disappears the moment you get the keys, so it’s essential to look beyond the sumptuous soft furnishings at any open home..

You’ve heard the phrase ‘knowledge is power’, right? Well, it’s never more true than in real estate. The more you know, the more empowered you are to make better property decisions, and in the current market conditions, that extra knowledge will put you ahead of the property-hunting pack.

People say that death, divorce and moving house are three of life’s most stressful events. Well, I can certainly vouch for the third one!

Even with my experience, plenty of moments highlighted how confusing and stressful things get when buying and selling a home! On the upside, the experience was undoubtedly educational and here are a few things that I learned…

Apartment living has become the way of life for many Sydneysiders, and while it may seem like the safe option to choose new or off the plan, there are a few things you need to consider before putting your deposit down…

This is what you’ve been waiting for, right? Sydney’s property market is on a massive downturn, so now is the perfect time to swoop in and snap up a bargain! Er, probably not.

As a diligent buyer, you have to become an analyst and look at the situation from every angle, on a micro and macro scale, to truly understand your position within the market…

Everyone always asks, “When is the perfect time to buy?” More often than not, the right time to buy is as soon as you can afford to buy the right property for you. Waiting until that crash that everyone’s talking about is just wishful thinking. Here’s why…

Foot traffic is consistently low on rainy weekends, so sellers hope for clear skies, and buyers like to see a property in a good light. However, if you’re looking for your forever home or a sound investment, the rain may be less of a pain than you think…

Buying a property is a rollercoaster ride, so it’s great to have someone by your side who wants the same thing. But what if they don’t? How do you narrow down your search if you and your partner are at loggerheads over the perfect property?

Beyond securing finances and finding a property that ticks all your boxes, keeping up with the intense pace of the property market is one of the biggest challenges when looking to buy…

There’s nothing more frustrating than not knowing how much a property sold for in your desired area. Luckily, it's not all doom and gloom, and there are ways you can turn detective to find out how much a property sold for if it hasn’t been disclosed by the agent….

Whether you’re looking as an owner-buyer or investor, my advice is to be really proactive over the holiday period, and you can start with my 5 tips for a property packed 2022…