Introduction Give any child paper and crayons and ask them to draw a house, 9 times out of 10, you will get a triangle on top of a square and perhaps a few windows and doors peppered in for good measure! Even though most adults think of the classic “triangle” gable roof when they think…
Introduction When it comes to buying a house, there are lots of options. Whether it’s a house, townhouse, terrace, semi, duplex or a villa — there’s pros and cons for each type of building. Town planner and Consult Planning director Aaron Sweet says that “there are 10 different classes of building under the Building Code…
When it comes to buying your first home, second home or your forever home, establishing how much you can borrow is critical. The phrase “borrowing power” gets thrown around by the banks and mortgage brokers, but what exactly is it and how can you make sure that you can borrow what you need to, to…
Introduction It’s not called the great Australian dream for nothing. For most Aussies, buying their first home is a major life goal. But the reality is, buying your first home can be overwhelming. Understanding how much you can borrow, calculating upfront costs, saving for a deposit, keeping up-to-date with the latest government grants, researching the…
The HomeBuilder Program has been extended by the Federal Government until 31 March 2021. This is welcome relief for those wanting to build their home, but have faced unforeseen changes this year. The extension does however come at a lower rate than the previous grant. What is the HomeBuilder Progam? The HomeBuilder Program offer’s a…
Stamp Duty for Victorians is about to change. For those who have been putting off buying a new home due to major changes this year, you are not alone. 2020 has put many plans on hold, especially for buyers wanting to break into the property market. However, there is some good news for Victorians. What…
Often when you buy your first home, many don’t consider it as a long-term home that will suit future plans. However, with a little bit of planning a good design, your first home could be your forever home, should it meet your long terms plans and requirements. There are pros and cons when buying a…
Budgeting for home maintenance is a great way to ensure you are keeping your home in great condition. Regularly attending to essential upkeep, ongoing and regular maintenance helps to keep repairs and any issues under control. This will allow you to budget and plan ahead as smaller issues arise. In this article, we step through…
When you are in the process of downsizing your home there is a great deal to think about, including what are the essentials you want in your new home, what are ‘nice to have’s’ and the important features you are searching for in your new property. Downsizing to a smaller property can seem overwhelming, however,…
If you are about to jump into the housing market and buying your first home, you should be aware that there are plenty of hidden costs that you might not have considered. From stamp duty, lenders mortgage insurance, and sneaky fees, being aware of the hidden costs can help to ensure you have adequate savings…
When building a custom home in Victoria, there are plenty of benefits to creating a home that ticks all your boxes as far as fixtures, features and design. Whether you’re building a home for a young couple, family or retirees, there are a wide range of options for customising your home to provide the finest…
If you have ever considered buying a second home, you might be thinking it is out of your reach. However, plenty of people in Victoria are buying their second home with little to no deposit thanks to the equity generated from your principal place of residence. If you’re interested in finding out more about home…