Andrew Winter

Well I am confused and I know what I am talking about!

There is a property cycle, and in reality we are at, or close to the bottom.

So it should be time to BUY, BUY, BUY... and in many cases people are. However we are finding that sales are getting stronger in many places, but for obvious reasons it tends to be the lower end of property market that are getting the sales, because of stamp duty reductions/changes, buyer incentives, low interest rates and first home buyer packages.

This should equate to a recovery of the bottom of the market, which in turn filters up through the value bands and so and so on, meaning a slow but good recovery and eventually price rises too. This time, however, we are in this weird global financial meltdown that has never occurred before in the same way, neither have markets all over the world been so influential in our housing market here.

The main reason the market is generally still very much on hold is so many people not knowing if they have any job security now or in the near future.

If you are looking ok on the job front, or are an investor looking for a long term investment and the rent will easily cover any mortgage, you should be buying now.

Find a keen seller, find a great mortgage deal and go low risk. "Low risk" is popular established areas, existing housing stock etc. and places where the market is not flooded with ‘For Sale’ signs.

Do not buy if you want to make a fast $, do not buy if the mortgage is going to be a struggle, do not buy a rental investment negatively geared and do not buy if you might need to sell in the short term.

Told you it was confusing!

Some of you should be buying some should hold off. If you are a normal house owner wanting and can afford to trade up, it is a great time, but sell first to ensure you know how much you have to spend and do not find yourself in a forced sale situation.

For those of you thinking of down sizing try to wait a while.