BY Adam Woledge 18th April 2009
While water flow is certainly a hot issue at the moment, this week I’d like to talk about floorplan flow. This is a topic that can be hard to describe but is very easy to understand and visualise when you walk through a house.
Modern-day living demands open and flexible spaces with plenty [...]
BY Adam Woledge 18th April 2009
Going outside my usual architecture role, I was having lunch with Grant Rheuben (a reputable mortgage broker 0423 834 067) and he raised some interesting points, as he usually does.
I’ve kept these points fairly succinct, as our market news is not about complicated economic matters, but more about what is really [...]
BY Mal James 4th April 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Paul is a big-end-of-town agent getting multi-million-dollar deals in Hawthorn, Kew, Glen Iris and Canterbury on a fairly regular basis. We don’t always see eye to eye and have had some real scraps but, nonetheless, the respect is there for what he achieves for his selling clients. Paul does [...]
BY Mal James 4th April 2009
Three significant quiet and non-auction buys this week. It is believed that JP Dixon recently sold a home in middle Brighton for around $10 million and Kay and Burton sold 49 South Road, believed to be in excess of $4 million. A very quiet off-market was put away in Camberwell in [...]
BY Mal James 28th March 2009
We have been involved in looking at some high-end apartment purchases recently, although, to date, we haven’t actually bought one for some time. Speaking to selling agents and other people actively involved in high-end apartments, there is agreement that there is more buyer interest than last year, which from August to [...]
BY Mal James 28th March 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Nothing fazes Hamish (well, he doesn’t show it). We’ve never seen him lose his cool under pressure. If you need to know something in his specific Boroondara area, then ring Hamish, as he almost always knows the answer. A conservative buyer quoter of homes and a big seller, Hamish is pleasant, friendly [...]
BY Adam Woledge 28th March 2009
An interesting property presently up for sale is 17 Houghton Rd Balwyn North. Among a building landscape of cream-brick 1960s houses and period reproduction mansions sits this innovative two-storey architectural jewel by renowned Australian architect Nonda Katsalidis (responsible for, among others, Eureka Tower, HM@S, St Leonards and Franklin St apartments).
This [...]
BY Mal James 21st March 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Scott is Sandringham’s quiet achiever. Respected by many, including his rivals, Scott gets a number of deals over the line quietly and without much fuss. In fact, I’m not sure we know as successful an agent with such a low profile. We like Scott because he gets in his car and meets [...]
BY Adam Woledge 21st March 2009
Multiple living zones in the modern, average family home have many benefits, allowing families to have a formal living space away from the informal areas of kitchen, dining and outdoors. However, acoustic privacy can be an issue and it is crucial that these two living areas are well separated and can [...]
BY Mal James 21st March 2009
There is definitely more housing stock coming onto the off-market part of the market; however:
1. it’s not across all geographical markets and dollar market levels; and
2. it’s not necessarily the home you must buy; ie the price and quality is mixed.
Specific off-market properties that we have heard about, driven by, or looked [...]
BY Mal James 14th March 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Geoff with his silver hair is the most recognisable agent and auctioneer in Albert Park, having been round for decades. He always has a smile on his face and in our opinion genuinely trying to help all he comes into contact with especially his selling clients. His auctioneering style is [...]
BY Adam Woledge 14th March 2009
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the cost of living coming down (the price of milk and petrol are two examples that come to mind). But, while house prices have been dropping, renovation and building costs, in general, look set to go up.
One reason for the price increase is that renovation [...]
BY Mal James 14th March 2009
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overall stock levels are down! This is true if you look at actual auction and private sale transactions only; however, the amount of stock available for consideration is not as low as the Internet portals or The Age classifieds may portray. There is a considerable proportion of homes available through the [...]
BY Adam Woledge 28th February 2009
People will often analyse the floor plan in great depth when they are looking to buy a house. Are the room sizes big enough?, is the flow OK? Is the bathroom in the right position? The list goes on. While this is important, ceiling heights should also be considered. Often a house with [...]
BY Adam Woledge 21st February 2009
Lifts are becoming the new "must-have" accessory at the higher end of the market. Increasingly, lifts are a standard accessory (indeed, a standard request) in new, multi-level prestige homes. But lifts are not just restricted to new homes..
BY Mal James 13th December 2008
The New Game in Town – Best Offer in buy 6.00 pm on Deadline Day. No Rules – Written or Otherwise No Guidelines from REIV or Law What Price – When is enough actually enough – when is it too much? The Buyers Dilemma – Are you trying to buy [...]