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With the 2018-2019tax submission due in 4 months, here are something to watch out for, when filing your tax returns. As usual, be wary of what you can and cannot claim. A good accountant would keep you out of trouble. https://www.domain.com.au/advice/heres-what-the-ato-is-cracking-down-on-this-year-849528/

Some good comments from Mark Bouris. https://www.news.com.au/finance/mark-bouris-the-big-problem-with-australias-struggling-housing-property-market/news-story/93c30a9863a7f0641ba687e13f675fa5

At almost 74%, the Melbourne property market is finally recovering. This is the 4th straight rise since the Federal Elections. Speaking with some buyers it is clear that with the Capital Gains Tax changes off the cards, the easing of lending and 2 consecutive rate cuts, confidence is finally returning to the property market. Investors with foreign funds are also flocking back into the market, taking advantage of the weak Australian Dollar. Stocks are also being reduced, as vendors alwho are inno urgency to sell pull their property off the market, while they wait for the market to rise. Rise it will, if the current trend continues. If you are preparing to get into the property market, have a chat with us. Claim your free property consultation today! https://www.businessinsider.com.au/property-auctions-are-selling-at-rates-not-seen-in-more-than-12-months-as-sydney-and-melbourne-recovery-continues-2019-7

Ok. If you've been following our blogs here and in Facebook, we've been saying the property market is bottoming. Last weekend's strong auction clearance rate is finally the indication confirming that. If you're ready to get into the property market, it is still not too late. If this upward trend continues its only a matter of time before prices start rise again. Have a chat with us. We can help you fast track the purchase. We'll help you get organised and manage the purchase process, from shortlising properties for you, organising the property inspections, conveyancing and settlement. Make full use of our free first consultation to help kick start your process. Book in your appointment on our booking website today. https://www.businessinsider.com.au/australia-property-market-election-rba-apra-home-prices-2019-5

In another move which can invite homebuyers back into the market, banking regulator APRA is reducing the 7pc home loan buffer. This means your ability to repay the mortgage will no longer be assessed based on 7% interest rate. Your serviceability is likely going to be better once this 7% buffer is removed. So, home buyers, be quick! Have a chat with US. Let us work together to define your property plan. We can put you in touch with trusted mortgage brokers, and provide a brief to help them understand the plan. Don't forget, we've a special discount for first home buyer. https://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/apra-scraps-7pc-home-loan-buffer-20190521-p51phr

Here's a $1 million dollar question. Are you more likely to tell the truth to someone who knows their stuffs? Or are you going to try to smoke your way through? Studies have shown that over 95% of the people are more likely to be upfront and frank when they are conversing with a subject matter expert. This is the value of the buyers agent. We've been asked many times, why should a buyer use a buyers agent. In addition to getting your answers from a trusted source, vendor agents (listing agents) or simply, the usual real estate agents are more likely to be frank with someone within the industry. Simply because it is easy for the other party to verify the information. Their reputation is at stake if they were found to be providing less than accurate information. Would you consider using a Buyer's Advocate?

While metropolitan Melbourne is experiencing a slow down in demand for properties, regional properties are being snapped up in record speed. Why? What do these buyers know that we don't? Well, here at Concierge Buyers Advocates, we've been advocating for regional properties about a year ago, well ahead of the demand. For the buyers who trusted our opinion, here is your reward. On average, the values of your properties would have grown between 12-20%, despite the difficult pandemic period. Now, here's why With the onset of working from home, city dwellers have suddenly realised that their convenient, but often tiny apartments are too cosy to be considered an ideal working environment. They have also realised that the milion dollar they spent on the apartment, could have gotten them a nice, luxurious 5 bed room property for a fraction of the price. This, together with the often-scenic peaceful settings of a regional town, appealed to the city dwellers. Technology has effectively closed the distance between these regional towns. What will happen when movements restrictions are lifted? Will these buyers sell up, and move back to the major cities? Only time will tell. https://www.domain.com.au/news/more-people-buy-in-regional-towns-during-coronavirus-lockdown-in-melbourne-968880/?utm_campaign=strap-masthead&utm_source=the-age&utm_medium=link&utm_content=pos1&ref=pos1

As Australia starts to relax its COVID-19 restrictions, Victoria has suddenly seen a spike in infections, and 12 suburbs are being put back into stage 3 lockdown. What does this mean for the Melbourne property market? How will this impact the Melbourne property market? What should you do, if you are STILL house hunting? Savvy property hunters are still buying throughout the lockdown. Should you have bought? Is it too late for you? COVID-19 Melbourne has, unfortunately seen a spike in COVID-19 infection numbers. 12 suburbs have been marked as COVID hotspots and travel in and out of these suburbs are being discouraged. This may seen dire, but how would this affected interests in the property market? While buyers are still buying, and properties are still being sold, CoreLogic has reported a drop in median prices. Is this a sign that the property market is crashing again? Unlikely. While drops of 1% make newsworthy and eye catching headlines, it does not necessarily mean prices are starting to crash. Prices seem to be trending down, but with buyers usually shopping within a price range of +/- 10%, it is hardly a cause for concern. What's more worrying is the curge in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. The possibility for a state-wide lockdown is high. Victoria could be put back into a Stage 3 restriction, if not worse. This means, non-essential businesses will once again be forced to shut, and non-essential travel banned. Outlook for the next 3 months If a statewide lockdown is re-instated in Victoria, activities could see a slow-down in buying and selling. Prices over the next 3 months will likely be stagnant (+/- 2-3%). Why so? Here is why: Foreigners are buying into Melbourne properties. They have seen how the Melbourne property market has consistently performed over the last 30 years, and the low Australian dollar is making this even more attractive. They will be reaping the rewards of low AUD (which will appreciate in future), plus the consistent 7% annual growth in property prices. While the rise in COVID-19 numbers are alarming, it is not unexpected. The spread of COVID-19 numbers worldwide, has reached a point where its containment and eradication is no longer practical and possible. People will start to get used to the the notion of living with COVID-19 for a while. When Smallpox, tuberculosis, AIDS were first discovered, people are equally alarmed at how deadly they are. Despite decades of trying to cure and eradicate these diseases, they are still around. And life goes on for us. Humans will learn to adapt to the new normal. Other than Victoria, all other states and countries in the Oceana reagion is starting to open us, and business activities are resuming. As the economy of the states around Victoria boom, Victoria has a lot to catch up. And the longer it stays shut, the more it will have to catch. And it will catch up. Victoria will not stay shut forever. We believe if a lockdown is re-instated, it will likely last 4 to 6 weeks, max. What does this mean for the buyer? Well... this would be the million dollar question. What should you do ? Get in touch to find out.

When it comes to selling your property, the cost of listing your property with a traditional vendor agent is very often the biggest expense you'll have. Depending on your property and its value, the cost of listing and agent commission can be well over $20,000 for a typical $800,000 property. Is this the only way to sell your property? Are there any other low-cost ways of selling your property effectively? We've been asked such questions many times. To most sellers, the only other way low-cost is to sell it yourself. But, how do you market the property? How do you know what your property is worth? Are you prepared to wast time handling low-ballers and time wasters? What about the risks of having a open for inspection on your own? What if, there is an alternate way of selling your property effectively. It is low-cost, and you'll usually only need to pay for the conveyancing to prepare the sales contract (which you will need to do anyway, through a traditional selling agent). Do you want access to a hidden source of qualified buyers? Buyers who are finance approved, and who are ready to buy the right property? What if buyers in this group is interested in your property? It could sell with little effort. Approach a buyer's agent. Yes, a buyer's agent. Some buyer's agent or buyer's advocates including us will be happy for you to approach them. We have a pool of buyers who are already qualified. They are serious buyers, and are in the market, finance ready, and are prepared to buy your property. We will guide you through preparing the property for sale, just like a traditional agent, put you in touch with conveyancers who will get your sales contract sorted. And we will manage the open for inspections for you. That's right, no commissions. You save the usual 2% commission and marketing cost. Interested? Get in touch with us.

It's not surprising news that some homes were sold at a loss in the March Quarter. If you have been following our posts, you'll recall that, prices have only just stabilised in the past 3 weeks or so. I. E., these statistics were a reflection of losses at the peak of the downturn. If you're hoping to pick up a bargain in these suburbs, don't hold your breath. These are sold properties, which means, they have already been bought. Gone. All's not lost, however. Chat with us, we can still find you a deal. Have a look at our property of the week blog. These are just a select sample of the discounted deals which we've come across through our AI search. There are still many out there. Let us know what you want, we'll find one which suits you. Have a read. https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-sydney-and-melbourne-suburbs-where-up-to-a-third-of-homes-are-selling-at-a-loss-20190708-p5255g.html