I often see people getting out and about attending open homes and speak to many who tell me they are spending several hours each week searching on real estate websites when they haven’t done the basic preparation. If you’re one of them then here are a couple of tips to point you in the right direction...

Next week on the 1st of July, the new NSW Home Builders Bonus comes into play which is sure to attract plenty of attention. In a move designed to stimulate the building market, vacant land with a price tag of less than $400,000 as well as off the plan property up to a value of $600,000 will be stamp duty exempt. There is also a specific incentive for the seniors market where a new home can be stamp duty exempt with a value of up to $600,000. Of course you will need to read the fine print for all conditions.

But will this approach actually result in more stock coming onto the market than was going to anyway or will it simply create an inflationary bubble in this sector of the market similar to that created by the First Home Buyers Grant and the changes to the FIRB rules. If it follows the path of the FHBG and the FIRB approach then watch the prices rise!...

Do you know who you’re competing against when buying a home or investment property after the Federal Government announced even more changes to the foreign investment rules on April 24?

What impact has the foreign investment rules had on our real estate market over the past 16 months and what impact will the new changes have going forward? How has it affected supply and prices and what’s likely to happen in the near future...

There’s been plenty of discussion in recent months about the increase of foreign buyers pushing up Australian real estate prices in established areas after the Federal Government relaxed the regulations last year.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that relaxing the FIRB laws was always going to increase demand and apply pressure on prices to rise for the limited stock that is available already. After realising the consequences of its decision the Federal Government has announced more changes – some reverting back to the previous policy position while others are new...

The countdown to Christmas has begun and the pressure is on to organise the gifts, the lunchtime feast and holidays away. While it’s important to have fun and enjoy the break, don’t get too carried away and blow your budget – particularly if you’re saving a deposit for a home or investment property...

A. With any property or other investment purchase you’re taking a risk. If you want to increase that risk then buy in an area that you’re not familiar with - and if you really want to take your risk to the extreme then buy in another country...

Here’s a question I was recently asked that I thought was a good topic to share with my blog readers.

When deciding between buying an investment property or a home you really need to look at your short, medium and long term goals. From a financial, wealth accumulation perspective, in 99% of cases you are going to be better off buying an investment property...

I have been warning people about rental guarantees for over a decade in articles, books, and media interviews however it appears that prospective buyers continue to be fooled by the slick marketing.

I regularly speak with people who have had a negative experience when buying a property with a rental guarantee and I am yet to find one who tells me "we purchased the property at a great price, the company honoured the rental guarantee and the property rented for more once the rental guarantee period finished"...

Don’t go overboard with the current low interest rates. Whilst rates are at 49-year lows, remember that they won’t stay at these levels for the long term...