In the Media - 2016
Read CEO Miriam Sandkuhler's comments featured in Perth Now reminding purchasers of the importance of securing “the right property in the right location for the right price” here
Surging auction numbers lift Melbourne, Sydney property clearances
Read Miriam's comments featured in the Australian Financial Review on the final Super Saturday of 2016.
Miriam discusses an Albert Park auction result commenting that it "wasn't a bargain by any means, but it wasn't an excessive result." Read the article here
"Melbourne’s west is the investors’ new black"
Miriam discusses that investors have started looking west for more affordable housing, given the cost of investment grade property in the inner east or bayside suburbs.
Read Miriam's comments about strong clearance rates in the west being driven by investor demand here.
Tiny and dated Brooke St, Albert Park, house sells for $1million
Read Miriam's comments to the Herald Sun regarding first-home buyers need to compromise here
Regional Cash Cow Investing
I f you’re an investor looking for cash flow, what could be better than multiple income streams, derived from properties such as duplexes and blocks of flats – or what we like to term “cash cow” investments? There are good opportunities to find cash cows in regional Victoria, where rental yields are already generally higher than in Melbourne, but you’ll need to do thorough research to ensure you buy the right property in the right location. When looking for a property with cash cow potential, buyers’ agent and Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler recommends investors focus on small blocks of flats and duplex villas on a single title. “These are often more affordable with a lower entry point and generate a higher yield,” she says. “Granny flats also work, however some states and local councils have restrictions as to who can let a granny flat, so extra research is required.” Sandkuhler warns, however, that “cash cow” properties in regional Victoria are scarce and competition is fierce. Read more here
Empty-Nesters circle Avoca St, South Yarra, property and push price to $5.7 million
Miriam spoke with the Herald Sun recently regarding the price reflection at an auction in Reservoir as a result of "very tight supply levels of quality stock and strong demand." Read more here
3AW Drive: Tom Elliott podcasts
Miriam discusses the combination of factors affecting housing prices and whether Government charges and taxes play a part with Tom Elliott of 3AW. Follow the link and click on 24th October 2016. Recording starts at 41 minutes. Listen to the recording here
Surprise suburbs deliver above average yield, rent and price growth for Melbourne investors
Miriam chats with Domain and said "Bundoora looked set to next benefit from the ongoing “ripple out effect”, and being close to LaTrobe University made it attractive for students. The suburb had a tram line connecting it to the inner suburbs and city, and there was a nearby train line." Read more
Top buyer’s agents reveal their secret sauce for negotiating a great deal
It’s easy to get so focused on driving a hard bargain that you lose sight on how much the property is really worth. Miriam talks with Property Market Insider about being realistic about your offer is a better strategy than trying to squeeze every last cent from the deal Read more
3AW Drive: Tom Elliott podcasts
Miriam discusses with Tom Elliot from 3AW live from 6pm tonight about property price under-quoting and the $330,000 fine Hocking Stuart Richmond received in court today. Miriam was interviewed because she was the expert they spoke with about this topic last time it hit the news. Follow the link and click on today's date 6th October. Recording starts at 55 minutes. Listen to the recording here
Recovering from misguided advice
This week, Miriam has a personal discussion with Kevin Turner where they go on a bit of a personal journey and talk about her experiences with property which started some 26 years ago. As well as that, they discuss what Miriam has learned along the way from working with the number of people and clients she works with. Listen to the recording here
Middle Melbourne stars on auction market, as city notches strong 79 per cent clearance rate
Miriam talks with the Herald Sun about "while buyers were thick on the ground, not all properties were drawing their dollars." She watched a well-presented two-bedroom unit at 7/8-10 Chomley Street, Prahran earn only one bid from a young couple before passing in at $545,000 Read more
7 Common Mistakes Made By Investors
Miriam discusses with Hotspotting about the 7 common mistakes investors make. As Hotspotting says "Property investment is both Australia’s favourite way to create wealth and our most common way to lose money." Award-winning buyers’ agent and best-selling author Miriam Sandkuhler (also our Director) says too many investors have negative outcomes because they make common mistakes. Read more
Early auction nets big price for renovated 1920s Armadale house
Our director, Miriam Sandkuhler discusses with the Herald Sun that while "there is certainly a wide variety of quality on the market at the moment, I would caution buyers not to get carried away at auctions,” Sandkuhler said. “Some buyers may live to regret the amounts they have paid.” Read more
What's your most memorable buy?
Miriam talks with Australian Property Investor about her most memorable buy and how it was for a lovely home-buyer client who had a budget of $650,000 and wanted to buy a two-bedroom apartment in St Kilda. Miriam proposed that she buy a house with high land value instead. Read more
Melbourne real estate market not blooming citywide as spring market takes off
While auction properties are clearing well, and the market is witnessing tearaway results for selected properties, other houses and units are only getting over the line, or attracting no bids. Miriam chats with Chris Tolhurst of Domain, how “It’s a mixed market,” and how If properties appear to be compromised in any way, people just aren’t putting up their hand to compete.” Read more
Everybody loses except real estate agents
Miriam discusses with News Daily about how everybody loses with auctions, except real estate agents. “The challenge with auctions is that there are no cooling off periods available,” Property Mavens buyers agent Miriam Sandkuhler said. “People are buying it unconditionally on the day, and again, that’s why agents use them. They like a fast, unconditional sale.” Read more
Key Melbourne Areas Continue To Perform
Strong buyer competition in key areas of the Melbourne market, coupled with lower levels of stock available, is continuing to drive prices higher.
But buyers need to be highly selective about what and where they buy. Leading buyers agent Miriam Sandkuhler says fewer than 10% of properties in the market have the right fundamentals to perform consistently over the medium to long term.Read more
Why Investing in Property Isn’t Set and Forget
Miriam talks with realAs in regards to investing and why it isn't about setting and forgetting. Many investors venture into the property market wanting to buy a property that will deliver high capital growth, high income returns, require little maintenance and effectively need little of their time and attention. In other words, a ‘set and forget’ investment property that will make them wealthy, with little to no effort. Read more
Melbourne’s quality real estate is pulling in more bidders at auction
Miriam talks with Domain and says that the north and the west were experiencing high demand but current listings in these precincts were about two-thirds down on last year’s. Reservoir, 12 kilometres north of the CBD, was a top auction location on Saturday, hosting 13 auctions. “Reservoir has passed the threshold of being working class and is now up and coming,” Ms Sandkuhler said. Read more
How have estate agents changed?
This month Property Investor asked 5 property experts: What do you think the role of the estate agent has evolved to become in 2016? As Miriam says "I see the role of estate agents needing to become much more specialised and niche." Read more
4 Reasons Why Real Estate is Underquoted
Miriam talks about why real estate is under-quoted an how the need for pricing transparency nationally must come ahead of everything else, to eliminate an ingrained mistrust of estate agents by many consumers. Read more
North vs South wars: Melbourne
It’s a age-old turf war that is replicated across Australia’s capital cities – are you a northsider or a southsider? In the first in a series of North vs South we take a look at the territorial wars in our cities, starting with Melbourne.
The north-versus-south suburbs’ rivalry of Victoria’s capital city stems from deep historical roots. Naturally divided by the Yarra River, which snakes its way east-west from the Dandenong Ranges out to Port Phillip Bay . Read more
Hard to bag a bargain for established houses in pockets of Melbourne
Strong competition is forecast for established houses in the inner and middle ring suburbs before Easter.
In Preston, a 1950s three-bedroom weatherboard on just 380 square metres punched well above its weight when five bidders took it from the $610,000 reserve to $710,000, according to buyer’s advocate Miriam Sandkuhler. She let 10 Hope Street, Preston go to a young family, via Nelson Alexander. “It was a direct result of high demand and very low supply,” she said. Read more
Melbourne Moves Ahead As Capital Growth Leader
The start of 2016 has been a positive one for Melbourne’s real estate, with figures from Core Logic RP Data showing the Victorian capital is pulling ahead as Australia’s strongest market.
According to Core Logic RP Data’s latest Hedonic Home Value Index, the 12 months to the end of January saw Melbourne become the nation’s leader in terms of capital growth. Released yesterday, the index shows the past 12 months has seen the median dwelling price in Melbourne increase by 11% to $595,000. Read more
Buyers' Agent Brief
Miriam talks with Nicola McDougall from API Magazine about a Buyer's Agent Brief on how clarifying a client's objectives are important, including long term financial goals, how many properties he wants to buy and in what time frame.
I would want to know If Joseph is investing for capital growth or income and what his risk profile is (so that the strategy and property type match it). Read more