Archive for the ‘Buying’ Category

Open Houses

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Open houses are traditionally used by agents to show their clients (vendors) that they are doing something to sell their property and to promote themselves. At Shedden Real Estate, we keep it as an option for the client, but do not insist that we hold them and explain the risks to the client. For the agent open houses are a source of enquiry as the majority (70%) have no intention of buying the property yet it gives them names and numbers of people that live nearby or  are interested in property. Personally, I don’t like open houses; as I would prefer to spend half an hour with a buyer, one-on-one, that is genuinely interested in the property than 6 or people that have no intention of purchasing. Let’s look at the drawbacks of open houses:-

Vendors

Strangers who have no intention to buy looking at your home

If there is a potential purchaser in the home and a loud mouth neighbour makes a disbarraging comment about it, you can potential lose the buyer

“overexposing” to the market

If there are only a couple of people in the open it is harder to sell on its exclusivity or that it is sort after

Contents insurance does not cover you for open houses

Buyers

You can’t hold the agents attention 100%

You can’t really have a private conversation if there are people floating around

You are limited to a set time for a set amount of time

Advantages

Yes we have sold homes to buyers that may not have seen the property if it weren’t for the open house sign on a nearby street

We may get someone who was passing by that may not have otherwise noticed it

Buyers feel anonymous and less pressured “to buy something they don’t want” at an open house

You can schedule your day around one time a week

If you want genuine buyers that are in a position to purchase your property, not large numbers of people coming through your home, DON’T have an open house. If you would like to know about open houses and selling your home you can reach me through the following channels

Email: info@shedden.com.au

Phone: +61 2 49261566

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sheddenrealestate

Twitter: @tironmanning

Shedden’s listings now on realestate.com.au

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Shedden Real Estate’s properties now appear on realestate.com.au.  This is to complement our existing listings on www.domain.com.au, www.homehound.com.au, wwwgoogle.com.au, our facebook page and of course shedden.com.au.

To view our listings on realestate.com.au, please click the link below:

http://www.realestate.com.au/buy/by-kmfizb/list-1

BankWest First Home Buyer Report 2010

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Below is an interesting article about the report by BankWest on the First Home Buyer Market. What does this mean for our bustling market?

Bankwest First Time Home Buyer Report 2010

Housing affordability has continued to worsen over the past year, with first home buyers needing 4.5 years to save for a house deposit, up from 3.7 years.

The second annual Bankwest “First Time Home Buyer Report” also found thousands of young Australians have been forced to rent or live at home with their parents for an extra 10 months as they struggle to pull together a house deposit.

The research shows a first time buyer couple needs to raise an $85,800 deposit to purchase the median house, and $76,900 to buy a median unit.

There are 26 Local Government Areas (LGAs) – in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth – where it would take a first home buyer couple on average earnings more than a decade to save a house deposit.

Bankwest Retail Chief Executive, Vittoria Shortt said this was the stark reality of a strong Australian property sector.

“Increasingly we are seeing an entrenched two-speed market emerging with property owners on one side and a growing army of first home buyers seemingly locked out on the other,” Ms Shortt said.

Ms Shortt said first time buyers needed on average four-and-a-half-years to get together a conservative 20 per cent house deposit. This drops to four years for first time unit buyers.

View the full article at:

http://www.bankwest.com.au/Media_Centre/Financial_Indicator_Series/Bankwest_First_Time_Home_Buyer_Report_2010/index.aspx

If you are a first home buyer and would like to discuss property, please contact our office on 492615566

WHEN YOU ARE A SELLER AND A BUYER

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

The following article is an extract from the book, Real Estate Mistakes by Neil Jenman.  Although the article was posted back in 2003, what it discusses is as relevant today as it was 7 years ago.

Do You Sell First or Buy First?
If you want to sell your home and buy another, which comes first – Selling or buying? There seem to be dangers whatever you choose.

The advice you receive from agents is often the advice which is best for the agent. The agents will tell you to sell first if they are going to be the selling agent or, if you are thinking of buying from them, you may be told to buy first. If you sell first, you have nowhere to live. If you buy first, you may not be able to sell – unless you sell fast and cheap.

So, what do you do – sell first or buy first?

The answer is neither: Do not sell first and. Do not buy first.

Instead, do them both at the same time. It’s the safest way. Plus, it gives you complete control with low pressure.

Here’s how you sell and buy at the same time:

First, you place your home for sale (NOT AUCTION – it is almost impossible to sell and buy at the same time with auction.) It is easier for agents when sellers are forced to sell. But you are not going to be forced to do anything; you are going to do it your way. And you are going to win – without having anyone else lose.

A Summary of Selling and Buying Together

The solution to selling and buying at the same time can be summed up in four simple stages.

Stage 1. Find a Buyer.
Finding a buyer for your home does not mean selling your home. It means you have found a buyer who will accept your condition of you finding another home before you sell.

Stage 2. Find a Home.
Finding a home does not mean buying a home. It means you have found a home where the seller will accept your condition of selling your home before you buy.

Stage 3. Match Finances.
Once you have found a buyer for your home and you have found a home to buy, you have to make sure there is enough money from your sale to cover your purchase.

Stage 4. Sell old home. Buy new home.
This is the final stage of selling and buying at the same time. It is the perfect solution with no risk and low stress. If the finances match, you sign a contract to sell at the same time as you sign a contract to buy.

Make sure, of course, that the conditions of both contracts are the same, especially the ‘time conditions’. You don’t want to spend two weeks in a motel. A good real estate lawyer will help you.

Selling and buying, at the same time, can be simple, safe and pleasant.

To view the entire article online, please visit:

http://www.jenman.com.au/news_article.php?id=36

If you are looking at buying and selling at the same time, please contact Shedden Real Estate on 4926 1566.

How much is my house worth?

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Recently we posted a blog about www.onthehouse.com.au.  A comparable website for those looking for property data on real estate in Newcastle is the Australian Property Monitors’  www.homepriceguide.com.au.  This site provides similar information to www.onthehouse.com.au including sales information along with data such as number of properties sold and highest/lowest prices.  For $74.95 24 month comprehensive postcode reports are available or for $64.95 a 12 month report can be purchased.

Check out www.homepriceguide.com.au and tell us what you think about the information it provides for those  buying, selling or simply wanting to obtain an idea of the value of their home.

If you would like to know how much your property is worth from a local expert in Newcastle Real Estate, contact Shedden Real Estate Newcastle on 4926 1566 or visit www.shedden.com.au.

Investing in real estate in Newcastle? Check out this website.

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

If you are a serious investor in real estate or would like to become one, the website www.realestateinvestar.com.au is definitely worth a look.

The service Real Estate Investar provides is similar to those offered by other websites but really targets the data analysis needs of property investors.  It helps investors analyse  properties and for example, find properties with positive cash flow and development potential.

Real Estate Investar offers a free demo, so why not give it a try and let us know what you think.

Shedden Real Estate has a number of properties with investment potential for sale in the Newcastle area, contact our experienced team today on 4926 1566 or visit www.shedden.com.au for more information.

Newcastle Real Estate Data: On the House

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

We recently came across the website, www.onthehouse.com.au which provides comprehensive property information including listing, rental and sold data for free.  That’s right, for FREE.  Most providers of this information charge subscription fees or upfront payments for once off reports.  So this is a refreshing change – allowing the average buyer or seller access to information that helps them make a more informed decision.

So why not give the website a try and test its information for real estate Newcastle and let us know your thoughts.

If you are thinking of buying a house or selling property, contact Shedden Real Estate Newcastle today on 4926 1566 or visit www.shedden.com.au for more information.

Searching for a property? Try Nestoria, The Easiest Way to Find Australian Real Estate….

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Shedden Real Estate Newcastle has discovered the recently (when we say recent, we mean March 30th 2010) launched Australian real estate search portal, Nestoria.  Having operated in Europe for some time, Nestoria has expanded to the land down under.  Boldly proclaiming to be ”The Easiest Way to Find Australian Real Estate”, Nestoria sources its real estate listings from Domain.com.au, AussieHome.com, RealEstateWorld.com.au and individual real estate agency websites.
With old hands Domain.com.au and Realestate.com.au and the recent entrance from internet search powerhouse Google, people seeking real estate have never had so much choice and access to properties listed for sale.  This can only be a good thing for those searching for a new home or investment property.
According to the Nestoria website:
Nestoria is a search engine for Australian real estate. Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for you to find your ideal property to rent or buy.

What is Nestoria not?
  • A real estate agent – We DON’T sell or let real estate.
  • A financial services company – We DON’T sell mortgages or insurance.
  • A software company – We DON’T build backend software for real estate agents to manage their inventory.
  • A valuer – We CAN’T value your property.

We’re a pure search engine just for real estate. That’s it.

Our team:
Nestoria is owned by Nestoria Australia Limited. We are a small international team of entrepreneurs with strong backgrounds in internet search, working in partnership with Classified Ad Ventures. You can find some of our team members in Melbourne, and if you’re in London, you can sometimes find us at the John Snow pub. Dr. John Snow is a bit of a hero of ours. In 1854 he plotted a central London outbreak of cholera on a map, thus pinpointing its source. In the same way, we hope you’re able to use our search engine and maps to cut through the distracting clutter and find exactly the property you are searching for. Learn more about John Snow.
Shedden Real Estate’s listings appear on Nestoria so check it out and let us know your thoughts of whether you think it is “The Easiest Way to Find Australian Real Estate”:
http://www.nestoria.com.au/
To view Shedden Real Estate’s listings, please visit http://www.shedden.com.au/residential.html

My Hot Tip – Mayfield Newcastle Herald Article

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Invest or occupy at Mayfield West

Author: By TYRON BUTSON
Date: 24/10/2009
Words: 654
Source: NCH
Publication: Newcastle Herald
Section: Domain
Page: 52
Extract:
Mayfield Place position

SNAPPING up 57 Maitland Road, Mayfield, will secure investors a prime piece of commercial real estate in what is soon to become a central shopping hub.

The converted house, formerly used as an optometrist office, has been listed for sale for $336,000.

It comes with two offices and a fully functional kitchen and bathroom plus lock-up garage and rear-lane access.

More importantly, prospective buyers will be able to take advantage of the proposed Mayfield Place project.

Melbourne-based McMullin Group has lodged a development application with Newcastle City Council for the ambitious project, which will include Coles and Aldi supermarkets, 22 specialty stores and three kiosks.

It will also feature 12 apartments in a double-storey complex, and six town houses.

The Maitland Road property backs directly onto the proposed site of the residential development. Shedden Real Estate’s Tiron Manning said it was a prime spot.

“It doesn’t get much better than this opportunity,” he said.

“This area is going off and whether you convert the existing structure or demolish it and start over with a bigger building, you’re in a prime position to exploit the new growth.”

Editorial Comment by Tiron Manning

I really wish he hadn’t quoted me verbatim there. “Going off” probably isn’t the best use of my vocabulary. But this article does tie in well with the previous post.

My Hot Tip – Mayfield!

Sunday, March 28th, 2010

Before BHP announced its closure in the late 1990’s, Mayfield was a suburb made up of older people and young families. I remember growing up in Mayfield and thinking back, how well looked after all the homes were, albiet a little dated. Things shifted somewhere between the announcement and the market boom, and Mayfield developed a reputation for being a bit “rough” and “dodgy”.

Even today, the stigmatism is still there, but boy has the main street changed. Takeaways, cafes and all the services available within a short walk. Major public transport routes run through Mayfield. The skate-park in the Eastern precinct. All investment by people with belief that the suburb is worth investing in. The most noteworthy of developments to come for the suburb is the new shopping centre situated at the old Delforce/Deloraine car yard. Over $10 Million of property has been purchased in this precinct with the vision to finally create competition for the area’s largest Woolworths. The D.A (in council at present) is for 22 speciality shops and two supermarkets, Coles and Aldi. Aldi’s plans to develop the former Steve Mason Family Cars site (next door to KFC) hit a snag and now has many locals excited at the opportunity to pick up cheaper groceries, while staying local. This development will no doubt create lots of jobs during and after construction and significantly improve the amenity of the area.

Also in council, a D.A for the demolition and construction of a new KFC restaurant with additional seating and parking is also great news for the suburb. What’s this mean for investors and home owners? Growth, growth and more growth. Mayfield is less than ten minutes to the CBD, beaches and university, adjacent to the TAFE College and cycleways to the Harbour. Great place to raise a family or invest in a rental property.