Andrew Winter

In 1984 in the west country of England, was where I started my career in Real Estate, what a different Housing Market that was then BUT in all that time one element of the market that has been consistent.

‘When interest rates are going down, slower than they are at the moment usually, buyer and seller confidence is increased and the market starts to take off”

Here we are in Australia in 2008, interest rates tumbling, increased Government assistance for first home buyers, some stamp duty reductions etc and in general the market is very TOUGH! There are exceptions of course but in general it is only the lower end of the market in a few places that is still a little alive.

Of course the reasons for this are obvious the whole world is in financial meltdown, a little unusual – thank goodness. So my point of all this is I cannot understand why buyers that are wanting their first home, investors who want a very safe, very long term investment, or home owners that have been lucky enough to sell SHOULD BE BUYING NOW!

The biggest difference between that 1984 market I started my work in and today is – ‘the average home buyers seem to be very focused on whether it is the right time to buy, how much money they will make on the home and if the suburb is tipped for growth. Back in the ‘old days’ people bought houses to live in, to raise families to have a real home and history proves if you do not pay over the market value at the time ; the chances of making healthy profits are actually quite likely. Sometimes it can take a while and sometimes it may never happen, but then you make on the next one.

My wife and I have recently bought a home as an investment, if the value goes up or down in the near future it doesn’t matter to us we will keep the home for as long as it takes. WE ensured market value was not being exceeded and tenants would be willing to pay enough rent.

So if you are in the market for a home, just get on with it – follow these rules and you can relax.

• BUY SOMEWHERE YOU WANT TO OR WOULD BE HAPPY TO LIVE IN

• ACCEPT HOMES CAN JUST ‘FEEL’ RIGHT AND GO WITH INSTINCTS

• CHECK THE VALUE IS RIGHT / PRICE YOU ARE PAYING IS OK, IF IT IS THE HOUSE OF YOUR DREAMS AND SOMEONE ELSE IS AFTER IT – DO NOT BE SCARD TO PAY A TINY BIT MORE, AS LONG AS YOU PLAN TO STAY THERE A LONG TIME.

• DONT BE FOOLED BY GENERAL STATS, EVERY SUBURB HAS NUMEROUS EXCEPTIONS TO PRINTED STATS BECUASE HOMES AND BLOCKS AND POSITIONS CAN VARIE SO MUCH.

Relax & enjoy looking!