In The Media - 2018

Dealing with property during a separation

I was staggered to learn that there are 46,000 divorces a year in Australia but then I found out its about 300,000 in the UK and over 800,000 a year in the US.  That is a lot of property settlement.  Miriam Sandkuhler discusses the complexities of divesting assets under pressure.  

Kevin:   As it was pointed out to me the other day, there are 46,000 divorces in Australia, many more than I thought, and it raises an interesting question about the challenges in going through a separation. What do you do with property? How do you split it up? What do you do after it? Miriam Sandkuhler is the CEO and buyer’s agent of Property Mavens, who’s already written a number of books as well. She’s been in our show and has had to deal with this on a professional level. She joins me to talk about it. Hi Miriam. How you doing?  Listen or Read here 

Emotional buyers with cash and equity on front foot at weekend auctions as finance hurdles bite

Home buyers with cash and major equity in existing properties were on the front foot at the weekend, bidding assertively at selected auctions in the inner-east and bayside suburbs.

But most segments of Melbourne’s residential real estate market continued to tread water. Domain data revealed a 45 per cent auction clearance rate from 815 results reported at the weekend. A total of 1151 auctions were scheduled, and about 200 of the reported pass-ins were properties passed in on a vendor bid.   

Hard-to-get finance certainly contributed to Saturday’s high pass-in rate, including to the pass-in of a double-fronted Edwardian home at 105 Erskine Street, Middle Park. Buyer’s advocate Miriam Sandkuhler was surprised that this property was passed in on a single vendor bid of $1.85 million, given that the Cayzer-listed home represented entry-level buying for families in Middle Park.

“It is a really strong sign that buyers can’t get finance,” she said. “The consequences of the current royal commission into banking are highly detrimental to the market at present.”

Read more here 

How to deal with property when going through divorce

A marriage breakdown is a difficult time in itself, but add property into the mix and it can become even harder.

What should you do when a divorce is looming and the market is softening?

Buyers agent Miriam Sandkuhler from Property Mavens spoke to Auction Day on navigating the complexity in property transactions during a relationship breakdown.

With emotions running high, animosity and imbalance in financial knowledge can create more challenges in the situation.

Sandkuhler’s top tips to sell in a weak market during a divorce are:

• Don’t resist the market
• The price depends on the buyer
• Remove emotion
• Listen to your agent’s advice
• Don’t rely on your family lawyer or family and friends for property advice

Watch the full video for Sandkuhler’s tips and examples of when she has dealt and overcome with tricky situations.

Re-named Melbourne suburbs drive price fluctuation

Some of Victoria’s most undesirable suburbs have gone up price by simply changing their name.

A chunk of Burwood has recently become Malvern East, while a part of West Footscray has transformed into Kingsville.

Property Mavens Director Miriam Sandkuhler told Tom Elliott it was all about perception when it came to where prospective home buyers were looking and buying.

“Locals will sometimes have a perception and those buying out of town might not be aware of that,” she said.

“If you’re a developer and want to develop a whole part of a suburb like they did with a large part of Port Melbourne and re-naming it as Beacons Cove, it could be beneficial.  Listen here 

What’s in a name change? A potential $100,000 jump in the price of the average home

Changing the name of a suburb isn’t easy but the pay-off can be huge.

A name-change campaign often requires years of lobbying by residents to succeed. But property values literally surge at the stroke of a pen if a suburb’s name switches from a down-at-heel moniker to something more upmarket.  Read more

It’s a strange market’: Middle ring faces price pressure at weekend auctions

Dozens of properties in Melbourne’s middle-ring suburbs are under downward price pressure because of “flat” levels of buyer demand, real estate agents say.

The price-sensitive middle ring, 10-20 kilometres from the city, under performed at the weekend – a trend reflected in the lacklustre weekend auction clearance rate of 49.1 per cent from 609 auctions reported to the Domain Group.  In Glen Waverley, 12 auctions were scheduled on Saturday, but it was a hard slog to sell some properties.  Read more 

Off-the-plan apartment pain as property prices fall

Buyers advocate and bestselling author Miriam Sandkuhler said buying a property off the plan has always been a risky move.

Firstly, there is a risk with the developer.

"The level and experience of the developer is quite significant to determining whether or not the property is going to end up being good quality," she explained.

There is also finance risk. "The builder and the developer may not actually qualify for the finance or be able to finish the development in a timely manner and those delays can sometimes cause purchasers some issues," she said.

Thirdly, there is market risk. Read more here 

Buyer Beware - Off the Plan Properties

Buyer Beware !!   If you know anyone who has bought an off the plan property in recent years ( which we never recommend) , they must view this report ! Please share

What to look for when doing a body corporate search 

Want to learn about the dangers of buying into strata titled property ?

You can listen to or read Miriam Sandkuhler's  latest media comments HERE 

Hot and cold: Auction results and bidder participation inconsistent across Melbourne

This weekend’s clearance rate was eight percentage points below the auction disposal rate achieved on the same weekend last year, according to Domain Group data. Even so, Melbourne clearance rates are performing at a higher level than most east-coast capital city markets.

But there’s still plenty of caution among buyers. And with more lenders now introducing out-of-cycle interest rate hikes, affordable homes below $1.5 million are tending to outperform more expensive property listings.  Buyer’s advocate Miriam Sandkuhler, of Property Mavens, said vendors needed to quote properties at reasonable prices to get a sale.   Read more here 

Why an over sized master bedroom is the latest luxury must-have for renovators

Main bedrooms are evolving from the standard three-by-four-metre space into master suites with premium finishes, additional living spaces and luxurious amenities.

The enormous master suites on The Block reveal how main bedrooms have been re-invented into hotel-style mini-resorts complete with in-built parents’ retreats, glamorous walk-in wardrobes and top-of-the-line en suites.

Tastes and expectations are constantly changing and luxurious master suites are becoming more sought-after, especially in high-end homes. Read more HERE

Take responsibility, not free advice

Miriam Sandkuhler talks about the seven step #investing process which is highlighted on her book Property Prosperity

Click HERE  to listen to the interview 

The property grass is not always greener 

You’ve heard of the old man with a beard sitting in a corner waiting for the best time to buy property as he waits for the market to bottom out.  I wonder what evidence people who do this use and why they think the grass is always greener.  Miriam Sandkuhler has a view and she shares it with us.  Click HERE to listen to the interview 

The Benefits of Equity

The Benefits Of Equity .

Leveraging the value of your home to acquire an  investment property is a sound financial tactic.  Read more here to see our Director Miriam Sandkuhler's case study. 

First timers vs CUBB’s – who wins?

Are you a first home buyer ?

Click here to hear our Director Miriam Sandkuhler speak with Kevin Turner from Real Estate Talk about

First timers vs CUBB’s – who wins?

We’re negotiating more to get the sale’: Renovated homes perform strongest at Melbourne auctions

Property sellers were urged to get out the paintbrushes and tweak the presentation of their homes as Melbourne’s weekend auction clearance rate again sank below 60 per cent.

Saturday’s auction market produced a 59.1 per cent clearance rate from a fairly small rollcall of 398 reported auctions. Freshly painted and recently renovated properties performed better than dated homes unless they were offered on the basis of their land value alone.

Pass-in negotiated sales were common.   Advocate Miriam Sandkuhler, from Property Mavens, said six bidders, including several Baby Boomers, contested a two-bedroom villa unit at 2/10 Ada Street, Preston.  She said the contemporary, architecturally designed unit was one of only two in the development and had a well-considered floor plan.

The home was quoted at $680,000 to $720,000. Nelson Alexander declared the apartment on the market at $740,000 and sold it for $788,000. Read more here

Strikingly modern West Footscray house races past reserve in hot auction

 A builder’s punt on a dated home in inner Melbourne paid off on Saturday, when the newly renovated house sold for more than $100,000 above reserve.  The recently renovated property at 3 Hope Street, West Footscray sold for more than double the $695,000 records show it last traded for in 2016. 

In Preston a two-bedroom townhouse sold for $788,000, after a tight battle between baby boomers and first-home buyers. 

Miriam Sandkuhler chief executive and buyer’s advocate at Property Mavens was present at 2/10 Ada Street but not buying, and she said it was a prime example of properties that were in high demand but low supply.

“The property itself was a strong owner occupier home. It had a well considered floor plan with an architectural design,” she said. “Primarily what it did have was really strong downsizer appeal as well as strong first-home buyer appeal.”

Ms Sandkuhler said despite slow bidding, the auctioneer managed to get a strong result. “It was mixed bag, there were six bidders in total,” she said. Read more here 

Economy slowing, Sydneysiders moving and towers shooting up

 DESPERATE landlords are having to slash rents to get city dwellers to move into their properties as new data shows our cities are littered with empty homes.

While there’s a mixed picture for Melbourne and Brisbane, Sydney has just recorded its highest vacancy rate in at least 13 years — as SQM Research figures now show 2.8 per cent of the city’s units and houses are sitting unoccupied. And they say it’s only going to get worse in the coming months.

That adds up to 19,572 residential rental dwellings estimated to be sitting vacant and available for rent, and experts say it could signal a dramatic slowdown in the city’s economy.  The picture is more complicated in Melbourne according to Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler.     Read more here 

Downsizing baby boomers making their mark in the property market

Baby boomers are downsizing and selling up the family home thanks to the federal government’s downsizer incentive scheme.

From July 1 the government provided an incentive to people over age of 65 to sell their home and deposit some of the proceeds of the sale to their superannuation.

Property Mavens buyers agent Miriam Sandkuhler told Tom Elliott there were a number of lifestyle and emotional factors for baby boomers looking to sell up.

“The scheme that’s come in you have to be over 65, owned your own home for in excess of 10 years, and you’re allowed to use $300,000 per person from the proceeds of the sale of your home,” she said.  “It’s creating opportunities for people who want to buy into tightly held areas for family homes that are larger.

“First home buyers and first time upgraders who are borrowing to buy will struggle to compete with cashed up downgraders, looking to buy the same stock.

“While this new legislation will benefit older Australians, it will be the detriment of Gen x and Gen Y.”  Listen here 

Three smart property moves for investors in the face of falling house prices

With signs pointing to flat or falling house prices on the east coast and rents following suit, it’s hard to imagine property investors can still find ways to make money.

But falling prices can create opportunities, and Sydney and Melbourne aren’t the only places to invest. Experts suggest other markets might be entering a growth phase, marking a prime buying opportunity.

Even investors and home owners without the cash to splash on another property can still focus on their own assets, although certain strategies for adding value might be more effective than others. Read more here 

Home loan headaches: How to avoid stretching your budget too far when buying a home

Managing the ongoing expenses of home ownership is more important than the size of the loan, according to Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler.

“People are debt averse, and they confuse debt with cash flow,” Sandkuhler says.

“They get emotionally stuck on the size of the debt rather than focusing on what the out-of-pocket costs are,” she says.  Read more here 

Downsizing Day: Why a wave of Baby Boomers will be cashing in their homes from July 1

The measures could increase the supply of homes for younger families by reducing barriers preventing older homeowners from selling, and allow more movement within the property market, according to Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler.

“It’ll free up bigger properties, which people below are going to upsize into,” she said. However, an influx of downsizers could create more competition for affordable properties.

“First home buyers and first time upgraders who are borrowing to buy will struggle to compete with cashed up downsizers looking to buy the same stock – smaller houses and single storey units and villas,” Ms Sandkuhler said.

“While the legislation benefits older Australians, it will be to the detriment of Gen X and Y.” read more here

Majority of first-home buyers fail basic property buying test, new survey finds

The majority of hopeful first-home buyers do not know what lenders’ mortgage insurance covers, do not understand what conveyancing means and are not aware there is no cooling off period when buying property at auction.

Most people looking to buy their first home have low levels of financial literacy despite 70 per cent reporting they feel confident making financial decisions, a new survey has revealed.  The ME Bank survey of 1000 Australians – 325 prospective homeowners, 525 home owners and 150 investors – identified knowledge gaps at every stage of the buying process. 

Miriam Sandkuhler, director at buyers’ advocacy firm Property Mavens, said the survey results were not surprising, and the consequences of being clueless could haunt buyers for decades.  Read more here

‘Auctioneers struggling with anything less than A-grade’

An ORIGINAL Albert Park - California Bungalow just metres from the water fetched $2.86 million as a Balwyn townhouse soared $165,000 past reserve at the weekend.

But auctioneers “are struggling with anything less than A-grade property” in a market where buyers no longer have the sense of urgency they did last year, property professionals say.

Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler said the three-bedroom house at 202 Kerferd Rd was in a “compromised location” on a busy road and facing west-east, but managed to top its reserve by $60,000 after competition between two bidders. Read more here

Downsizing decisions: Which type of home is best for low-maintenance living?

Downsizers have become a major force in the real estate market, with the combination of an ageing population and peaking property prices leading many empty-nesters to trade their properties for homes better suited to a low-maintenance lifestyle.

Government incentives announced last year allowing eligible homeowners to contribute up to $300,000 from the sale of their home to their superannuation are expected to cause a wave of downsizing when the measures come into effect in July.

For buyers seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle, not just any small home will do, and some properties are more suitable than others.

Single-storey villas are the most sought-after properties for downsizers, according to founder of Property Mavens Miriam Sandkuhler.

These compact properties are easier to maintain, and the walk-up entry and single-storey layout makes a villa an ideal property to transition to from a house.

A villa can prove a better investment than buying into a retirement village, while providing the same community feel. Read more here

Entry-level and prestige properties perform well at weekend auctions as upsizers face finance barriers

A palatial “compound” home in Glen Iris rocketed $1.1 million above its reserve to sell for $9 million at an invitation-only auction on Saturday as the city’s property market showed some renewed get-up-and-go.   

Entry-level properties between $600,000 and $900,000 were also well contested at many weekend auctions in the inner-city. And top-end A-grade properties above $4.5 million often outperformed homes priced from $1.5 million to $4.5 million as buyers had the wind taken out of their sails because of stricter bank lending policies.  Read more here

Coburg North house with music studio hits the right note at auction

A COBURG North house with its own music studio has struck a chord with a musical family to sell under the hammer.

Vendor Tim Holly said it was fitting to see the home he’d installed a soundproof production suite in five years ago pass on to other musicians.

“The whole family is musically orientated. It’s gonna be a good fit,” he said.

The first-home buyers — a family who had been renting a suburb over in Preston — outlasted two other bidders to win the keys to 90 Newlands Rd for $881,000, Brad Teal Coburg auctioneer Andrew Butler said.   Read more here

Business in the front, party in the back: How to renovate a terrace house for the 21st century

Lining the streets of our inner city suburbs with their stately facades, terrace houses are some of Australia’s most desirable properties, and some are hiding a surprising secret.

Much like a mullet, well-renovated terraces are “business in the front, party in the back”, with sought-after period features backed up by expansive open-plan living areas boasting indoor-outdoor flow.

Turn-of-the-century terraces are in high demand and low supply, and therefore command premium prices, according to Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler.Read more here

Ascot Vale our worst spot for price quoting, as Melbourne improves overall

PRICE quoting has become more accurate in Melbourne since beefed-up underquoting laws were introduced a year ago — but experts say the crackdown doesn’t go far enough.

Crusaders against the dodgy practice say the only way to stamp it out is to force sellers to reveal their reserve prices at the beginning of auction campaigns.

Property price predictor REALas found homes in greater Melbourne sold for an average of 9.6 per cent more than their advertised prices in March. Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler said the legislation’s biggest flaw was that the definition of a “comparable sale” was largely left to agents’ interpretation, with no requirement for them to have a similar land size to the property being sold.

The buyer’s advocate said the best way to eradicate underquoting was to make vendors publish a “realistic” reserve when they first listed their home, and not be allowed to increase it.Read more here

Experts tips on how to find and build your dream home

Buying a house and land package can be great value for homebuyers looking for a brand-new home in a growing neighbourhood. Unlike pre-owned property, house and land homes are customised to individual buyers’ needs and are built and appointed with current fittings and components.

So, what are the right steps to take when purchasing a house and land package? Here, we look at what research needs to be done, how the process works and how buyers can find an estate that’s right for them.  Read more here

Affordable homes Melbourne’s most in demand

Another three bidders battled for 22 Union St, Sunshine, reported Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler.

“It was a great little investment property with development potential and proximity to Sunshine Station, shops and schools,” she said.

An investor was successful for $747,000, topping a reserve of $740,000, according to Ms Sandkuhler, she said: “there is still interest and competition for the right property in the right location, but numbers are definitely down in terms of attendance. There’s a bit of a sense of slowing down.”  Read more here

Retro-chic, inner-city properties kick strongly, despite lukewarm auction results

Melbourne’s residential real estate market continued to experience lukewarm results at the weekend, with the city’s auction clearance rate falling to 61.4 per cent from 68 per cent on the previous weekend.

Just over 750 properties were set to go to auction on Saturday. Agents reported firm results for 581 of these, with 361 selling and 20 auction properties being withdrawn from sale. The 61.4 per cent clearance rate showed a drift in the market and was well down on the 73.7 per cent reported on the same weekend last year.

Analysts blame the generally subdued results on distractions in the market. This week’s Anzac Day holiday coupled with the recent run of school holidays have affected buyer interest and activity. Family home buyers, in particular, are postponing decisions to inspect or bid for higher-priced properties.  Read more here

Retro stars shine under the hammer in Mitcham, Coburg

TIME capsules were hot property under the hammer this weekend.

The auction of a 1940s Mitcham house with a colourful retro fit-out attracted three bidders and about 30 onlookers on Saturday.

It took 45 minutes and 34 bids for the clinker brick house at 11 Haslemere Rd to sell to a local family for $1.21 million — $10,000 above reserve.

Bidding inched up in $2500 and $1000 increments throughout the tight contest.

Ray White Mitcham auctioneer Mark Walsh said the buyers may extend the house in the future, but would “keep it as it is” for now.  Its 1068sq m block also featured a bungalow and self-contained studio.  Read more here 

South Yarra fixer-upper soars $825,000 beyond auction reserve

Properties on larger blocks close to the CBD triggered the hottest bidding duels at Melbourne’s weekend auctions, with a dilapidated house in South Yarra eclipsing its reserve by $825,000.

The five-bedroom fixer-upper at 95 Millswyn Street was auctioned in its lounge room amid Saturday’s hammering rainfall.

Auctioneer Philippe Batters from Williams Batters initially had to deal with extremely slow-paced bidding from two parties after kick-starting the sale with a $2.6 million vendor bid.  Read more here

Why Melbourne buyers ‘less willing to compromise’

BUYERS are less willing to make compromises, with fewer bidding and more auctions passing in and starting on vendor bids, experts say.

Wakelin Property Advisory director Jarrod McCabe said the market was more balanced.

“A nicely presented Carlton North cottage on a large block at 129 Newry St saw a crowd of about 40 but only two bidders, and passed in at $1.43 million,” he said.  

Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler said the market remained strong for properties in popular locations.

“There is, however, a trend of fewer buyers bidding and more auctions starting with a vendor bid and/or passing in,” she said.  read more here

Downsizer's to get a boost

Miriam Sandkuhler explains the possible outcome of a Federal Government initiative announced recently, that comes into effect on July 1, that offers incentives for retirees wanting to downsize from their principal place of residence.

Transcript:

Kevin:  There was a federal government initiative announced recently to help downsizers, a special contribution for retirees wanting to downsize. The 2017 superannuation changes now allow individuals over 65 who sell their principal place of residence to contribute up to $300,000 each from the sale proceeds into superannuation.

So, what’s this going to do to the market? Obviously, the intention there is twofold. Miriam Sandkuhler from Property Mavens joins me. Miriam, thank you for your time once again.

Listen and read more here 

Two homes for the price of one: Is building a duplex a good investment or double the trouble?

Buyer’s agent and Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler said suburb fundamentals are important for duplex builders.

“Location is paramount, so proximity to amenities, public transport, or parks – your typical growth drivers that apply to any property to maximise its chance to grow in value will apply to a duplex.”

The area will also affect the type of duplex constructed. “If you’ve got low land value you don’t want to overcapitalise on the quality of the build,” she said, adding that duplexes in areas with high land values should be finished to a high standard to reflect market expectations.  Read more here

Big bucks for Fitzroy house that’s featured in TV show Jack Irish and Aussie films

 In South Yarra, Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler saw a “well located” Edwardian on 365sq m at 25 Murphy St fetch a whopping $3.161 million under the hammer.

Ms Sandkuhler said four bidders battled it out for the home, which didn’t have heritage overlay, causing it to smash its $2.38 million reserve.  She said the investor buyer planned to rent it out, but they could also “renovate or detonate and develop the site”. Read more here

Boomers charge Melbourne auctions: Armadale home rockets $500k above reserve

Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler said Saturday’s auction market performed well in popular inner ring suburbs with great amenity and proximity to public transport.

“This was evident at 25 Murphy Street, South Yarra,” she said. “The auction of this well-located early Edwardian house on 365 square metres with no heritage overlay saw a crowd of 40 attend and four bidders battle it out for the title. Quoted low at $2.2 million to $2.4 million, the bidding opened at $2,125,000 and the property sold after multiple bids, in increments ranging from $50,000 to $1,000, for the substantial sum of $3,161,000 – a massive $781,000 over the reserve of $2,380,000.”  Read more here

Labour Day long weekend doesn’t limit auction sales in Melbourne

Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler watched a renovated, double-fronted house at 6 Bennie St, Brunswick fetch $1.32 million after a contest between three bidders. 

Ms Sandkuhler said well-attended auction was “done and dusted in 10 minutes” following a $1.25 million opening bid that “knocked many buyers out of contention”.

The four-bedroom house had been quoted at $1.15-$1.2 million. “There’s still strength in the market — the right property in the right position will always draw buyers, even on a long weekend,” she said.  

Ms Sandkuhler said the auction of 37 Drysdale St, Reservoir wasn’t so pretty, with the 536sq m block featuring a tired three-bedroom house passing in at $685,000 — well below the $770,000 reserve.  READ MORE

Parents are the first source for property advice, but are they always the best?

While parents can offer simple explanations of complex concepts, buyers’ agent and Property Mavens founder Miriam Sandkuhler said house hunters need to understand they key drivers affecting their local market.

“Take into consideration supply and demand factors and the demographic who might be renting the property from you if its an investment property,” she said. Read more here

IO Investors forced to sell 

APRA continue to tighten the lending to investors with a direction to banks to cut back on interest only loans.  Miriam Sandkuhler discusses the likely impact on investors and the market.

Transcript:
Kevin:  APRA are continuing to tighten some of the rules around borrowing money, particularly for investors. We’ve seen recently moves by APRA to get the banks to reduce their books in terms of interest-only loans. And many, many loans, of course, are interest-only. So, what does that mean? What’s going to happen to the landscape? Miriam Sandkuhler from Property Mavens has been looking at this, and she joins me. Good day, Miriam. How are you doing?

Miriam:  I’m good, Kevin. How are you? Read more here

Beaumaris knockdown sells $720,000 above reserve, as Melbourne clearance rates trend down

Property Mavens head Miriam Sandkuhler said the inner-Melbourne market was patchy. She noted that a cottage at 46 Glover Street, South Melbourne, which was passed in on Saturday by Greg Hocking Holdsworth on a low bid of $1.26 million from the sole genuine bidder, would have fared better last year. Read more here

Middle Park, Strathmore homes earn millions at auction

A MIDDLE Park Victorian smashed its reserve by $475,000 in a sale that highlighted the continued strength of properties in Melbourne’s A-grade areas, a top buyer’s advocate said.

Melbourne’s entry-level properties win the day as trophy home buyer pool shrinks

Entry-level properties in the inner-city and affordable homes in Melbourne’s outer suburbs were well contested at weekend auctions and many attracted price premiums.

But dozens of $2-million-plus prestige properties were passed in. Although many later sold after post-auction negotiations, some market watchers say the buyer pool for $2 million to $5 million properties is considerably smaller than it was a year ago.

Read Miriam Sandkuhler's comments here . 

Could a crackdown on interest-only loans trigger a US-style housing meltdown?

Are you at risk when your interest only loan converts to principal and Interest ?

Watch Miriam Sandkuhler's comments here on the ABC's 7.30 report for some tips on how to manage this. Watch here

Experts reveal what first-home buyers are doing wrong

Buyer’s advocate Ms Sandkuhler said buying property was a “very complex process” that left first-timers “vulnerable and susceptible to getting ripped off”.

 “A lot of first-home buyers assume they’ll qualify for a loan, so they waste time on the search process not knowing their limits. And there’s often heartbreak when they buy a property and fail to get their finance. Read More

Don’t believe the hype: When tree and sea changes don’t work out

Miriam Sandkuhler agrees that it’s important to explore the reality of a regional move before committing to it.

“You really need to test the waters first, because how you think it will be might not be the reality,” she says. “Spend lots of time there, and try to live as though you’re a member of the community. Connecting with people can give you a sense of whether it will work, and whether you’ll fit in.” Read more 

Why many millennials are rentvesting 

The property market is becoming increasingly impenetrable, especially for millennials and first home buyers.

However, a new trend known as rentvesting means those making their first steps in the market can maintain their lifestyle without forgoing their other real estate dreams.

Rentvesting means renting in your dream suburb, while simultaneously buying or investing somewhere closer to your budget.

 Nikolai Beilharz asked Miriam Sandkuhler about why rentvesting is becoming more popular. Listen here