NSW: New life to old suburbs is all part of the plan

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The living area of a typical 2-bedroom apartment at Como

''Land is cheaper and development in the inner ring of suburbs is rippling out to other areas''  

One of those areas to the south is Riverwood in the Canterbury-Bankstown district. The first private building, Como, with 197 apartments over 10 levels, is now being sold off the plan, with prices starting at $295,000.

What makes it attractive??

- closer to the city, at 15 kilometres, than some of the other new communities in the west and south-west

- Next to the community centre, near upgraded train station and new sports centre and it fronts on to fantastic reserves.

- There is a market square, retail precinct and library... AND more than 32 hectares of parkland and waterways

In short, don't underestimate less popular suburbs! The strong demand for apartment high-density living is driving new development and these developments need land!!  

Whilst there is still strong demand in both VIC and NSW for apartments, there is a clear oversupply of apartments in VIC and shortage in NSW! Those in NSW, don't worry! 6000 due for completion over the next 18 months. Sydney's building boom would produce the highest number of apartments for almost a decade. WOW!!

''In Sydney, we're at the beginning rather than the end of that cycle,'' he said, adding that new apartment projects in the inner city were now at ''the leading edge of housing recovery in Sydney''

Remember: People of all generations and ages in both Victoria and NSW have two criterias - Convenience at the tip of their fingers and somewhere they can relax and unwind after a busy hectic day at work.

VIC: Grollo family proposes pencil-thin tower for CBD

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Dubbed by some as the pencil-thin tower, it would feature one continuous structure of reinforced concrete and look like cutting edge buildings in cities such as New York and Hong Kong.

Thought this very unique pencil-thin tower was too intelligent an idea not to share!

The tower will house about 150 high-end apartments and 13 levels of premium office space.The facade of an existing Edwardian-era building will be incorporated - innovative ways to optimise space!!

SYD: City's destiny is high density

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It's on for young and old in the Sydney of the future, as baby boomers and first-time buyers drive demand for urban centres that have it all.....

 

Developers are targeting old industrial sites along the foreshores of the Parramatta River, west of Sydney, in suburbs along the Cooks River and Woolooware Bay, to the south.

Buyers don't just want apartments - they want shops, public spaces and a sense of community!

The state government has released a draft Metropolitan Plan for Sydney for 2031 and it is clear more high-density urban centres will be needed for 1.3 million more people - they will require 545,000 new homes and 625,000 new jobs.

 ''People want infrastructure, they want community space, they want retail and health and education all nearby''

 

For full article, click here

A picture is worth a thousand words

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''Location may be the most important factor for buyers when determining price, but it is the photos that help entice them to the open house''

"You want someone who will respect the fact that in many cases you're putting your most valuable asset on the market and this represents not only a financial but an emotional transaction"

* Hide all TV revotes

 "Sell on emotion and if you can get that emotional connection on a property the price becomes secondary''

"At dusk there is warmth - it makes a huge difference. Apartments can look pretty ordinary in the cold, hard light of day''

PRE-PHOTOSHOOT CHECKLIST

KITCHEN AND MEALS AREAS
* Clear all benches of clutter
* Remove and hide all appliances (kettle, toaster, etc)
* Remove all fridge magnets and photos
* Clean all appliances (rangehoods, stoves, etc)
* Hide loose electrical leads
* Hide tea towels
* Set table with good cutlery and plates
* Add table centrepiece

LIVING AND FAMILY ROOMS

Even small boutique apartments like this can be attractive!!

* Turn TVs off
* Remove magazines and newspapers
* Remove gym equipment
* Hide loose home-theatre cables
* Clear clutter from shelves and coffee tables
* Arrange furniture to make the room look larger

 BATHROOMS AND ENSUITES
* Remove toothbrushes and shavers
* Remove soap from showers
* Remove kids toys from bath
* Clean mirrors and benches
* Set out best towels and present the room


 
BEDROOMS
* Remove any clothes and clutter from floors
* Hide personal items
* Make all beds and straighten pillows
* Remove items from bedside tables
* Remove baby cribs if applicable
* Check globes in bedside lamps

OUTSIDE
* Move vehicles from driveway and front
* Remove rubbish
* Mow and edge grass
* Trim trees and bushes
* Sweep cuttings and leaves
* Put away kids toys, bikes, etc
* Make sure outside lights work


FINAL PREPARATIONS
* Turn on lights and lamps
* Open curtains
* Close toilet lids
* Lock pets in the garage
* Park cars in garage or off-site
* Take the family out while photos are taken.

Real estate agents' tricks now open for inspection

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You've probably experienced a situation where you may feel like you have been "fooled" by agents who speak up properties and then..... turns out to be way off your expectations. Here's some lines used by real estate agents and their translations! Get to know them and get the property YOU want :) What is the true meaning of the words used....

Estate agent speak "The property has excellent transport links"
Translation "There's a motorway and or busy railway line right next to it"

Estate agent speak "In need of modernisation"
Translation "This property hasn't been updated since the 1970s and needs a complete refit"

Estate agent speak "An ideal purchase as your first three-bedroom home"
Translation "You can barely fit a bed into the third bedroom"

Estate agent speak "Set within a purpose-built residential development"
Translation "This property is in the middle of a large housing estate"

Estate agent speak "Easy-to-maintain living space"
Translation "It's really incredibly small"

Estate agent speak "Conveniently located"
Translation "Next door to a busy main road and above a take away"

Estate agent speak "Unexpectedly re-available"
Translation "The previous buyer pulled out at the last minute due to major problems or the surveyor revealed that the property was vastly overpriced"

Estate agent speak "Reduced"
Translation "Desperate"

Estate agent speak "Within easy reach of local schools"
Translation "Kids will congregate outside your house at lunchtime and drop litter all over your driveway."

Estate agent speak "Ideal for the first-time buyer or as a buy-to-let investment"
Translation "The property's small and in a terrible area"

Estate agent speak "Tremendous scope for improvement. A real blank canvas"
Translation "Derelict"

Estate agent speak "In need of some updating and offered with no onward chain"
Translation "An old lady has recently died in the house and it hasn't been decorated since she originally moved in 50 years ago"

Estate agent speak "A garden flat"
Translation "A dark and most probably damp basement flat"

Estate agent speak "The property has many character features"
Translation "The ceilings are extremely low"

Estate agent speak "Low maintenance rear garden"
Translation "The garden is concrete"

Estate agent speak "Situated in a stamp duty exempt area"
Translation "Situated in a deprived part of town"

Estate agent speak "New price!"
Translation "This property was massively overpriced in the first place"

Estate agent speak " Character…."
Translation "Dilapidated"

Hope that was of great help to you!!

Victoria's property market gaining strength

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Victorian Valuer-General figures confirm that state's property market is gaining strength!

• The median Melbourne house gained $22,500, or 4.8 per cent, and rose to $495,000 between September and December
• The data released this week also showed solid improvement for units in Melbourne, which rose by $8600, 2 per cent, in the same time frame
• In country Victoria house values remained steady with a $280,000 median, while units rose $5000, 2.2 per cent, to a new median of $235,000.
• Bendigo enjoyed a boom, with the median house price rising 23.4 per cent to $377,500 from $306,000.
• But.... Wonthaggi suffered a 36.1 per cent hit to median values, which fell to $182,000 at the end of the December quarter from $285,000 a year prior.
  
  

  Slight drop in home values in April and May but overall... OUR MARKET HAS ENTERED A RECOVERY!! :D

  
  

  For full article, click here

VIC: Renovating promised greater protection from dodgy builders in State Government reform

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"The changes outlined in the Victorian Domestic Building Consumer Protection Reform Strategy are intended to lead to fairer, quicker and cheaper dispute resolution for people whose home construction or renovations hit snags."

"These reforms recognise that the current system is not working as well as it should for either consumers or for builders,'' Mr Attorney-General Robert Clark said.

 

The major reform:

- Builder regulation and domestic building consumer protection will become a 'one-stop-shop' under the Victorian Building Authority;
- Inspectors will now give rulings after on-site inspections;
- Insurance cover will be made more accessible; and,
- Builders will face stronger standards, oversight and disciplinary action for poor performance;
- Greater scrutiny of building surveyors and the building permit system.

"Informing consumers about these reforms will be a key part of the reforms, so that consumers can know their rights and know where to get help if a dispute arises with a builder,"

The proposed strategy will undergo further consultation with consumers and industry stakeholders before it is implemented progressively across 2013 and 2014.

A step in the right direction....

For full article, click here