http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/ Thu, 21 Aug 2008 6:36:23 PM idstudios/RSS (Version 2.0) en-au http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/07/Property-Web-Sites-Our-Housing-Market/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/07/Property-Web-Sites-Our-Housing-Market/ BLOG POST Andrew Winter http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/07/Property-Web-Sites-Our-Housing-Market/ Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:00:00 AM
So it raises the question is all this information good… if it is good, who is it best for, or is it just great for everyone?

Well, as an agent, I am a little biased. I believe this information is fantastic for buyers and investors alike, providing you understand how to interpret the results. While being great for agents on one hand it’s also a bad thing for agents as some buyers and sellers focus on recent sale results and ignore the current market and compare their home to the wrong property! This makes an agents job harder is establishing a marketing price. It’ s actually awful for sellers as the buyers now have TOO MUCH information and end up being so price focused they forget they are trying to buy a home.

As an old fashioned guy, the property market survived very well before all this information was easily accessible. We do now run the risk of ‘too much information’ and home buyers ending up being so led by $$$ they miss the good homes to buy that will actually end up making the best profit.

I have just recently dealt with potential buyers who would not increase a single dollar on a great home in a great spot that they love, just in case the market drops a little further. I feel like shouting and screaming back and saying ‘Why the hell does it matter?’; if it is your home and you love it, BUY IT, enjoy it and if it does go down in price for a while who cares... a good home always bounces back the best!

So everyone, do your research BUT PLEASE DON’T GET SO BOGGED DOWN IN INFO you forget you are buying a home. Remember market conditions can change very quickly so historic results can be very misleading, as can area medians and post code results, as postal areas always have a huge variation in performance of their housing stock.

A final cautionary tale, in every suburb that quotes medians, growth increases or decreases there will be numerous exceptions to that rule. That is why there are agents for price advice and you employ professional valuers!]]> http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/06/What-State-Is-The-Aussie-Housing-Market-In/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/06/What-State-Is-The-Aussie-Housing-Market-In/ BLOG POST Andrew Winter http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/06/What-State-Is-The-Aussie-Housing-Market-In/ Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:00 AM
The answer for home owners, home sellers and people just dreaming about their first home is NO; it will not kill the market.

Anyone who has been involved in the housing industry over several decades will tell you the market always goes in peaks and troughs – we are currently nicely buried in the proverbial trough. However housing values; and that is actually the only element anyone cares or comments about, are affected by far more elements than just the governments latest fads. A popularity, or unpopularity, of an area, location of a home, employment, the home itself, interest rates, lending criteria’s, sellers over optimistic value of their homes
And good old fashioned demand from people just wanting to own their own piece of Aussie soil. These factors all impact on a market that in reality is very, very complex.

MY main concern with all media coverage relating to the housing market and the research and figures regularly quoted is the fact these statements are so general, for every one in a suburb that has made a loss; I guarantee someone in that suburb has made a profit too!! Losses make more dramatic news.

So what state is the Aussie housing market? As far as I am concerned it is a solid market place that is currently very accommodating for buyers ready to grab a good deal, it is not good for sellers who what top dollar and it is tough for people requiring big loans, but hang in there. No one can guarantee you will make a profit on any home but if you don’t initially the secret is to hang on long enough and you will!]]> http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/05/The-Best-Time-To-Sell-The-Million-Dollar-Question/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/05/The-Best-Time-To-Sell-The-Million-Dollar-Question/ BLOG POST Andrew Winter http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/05/The-Best-Time-To-Sell-The-Million-Dollar-Question/ Sun, 25 May 2008 12:00:00 AM
So why does everyone want to know the answer to this? Because YOU are all so greedy when it comes time to sell- okay, me included. It is not so much about the question so much as why it is asked!

It is commonly thought that by choosing a certain time of year to sell, it will miraculously improve your chances of selling and help you get top dollar

Sorry, it is not as simple as that. I recall when I first became involved in Real Estate in South East Queensland, everyone said, ‘Get ready for the Christmas and New Year buying and selling frenzy’. I remember thinking that was different, as in the UK market, the market had lost that kind of predictability well over decade ago. I should have trusted my instincts; that particular year it was the winter when sales were on a roll.

Many other influences affect the market itself. Remember, as sellers you have total control of the saleability of your own home, so differences between an October or June list is really only the tiniest part of the overall picture. An overpriced, poorly presented, poorly marketed home will not get a good price; or sell quickly at any time of the year. A beautiful ocean front home may sell well in summer, but could sell equally well in the colder months with the wind blowing and the dark grey clouds over it.

So it is a myth, there are always exceptions to every property rule; that is what makes it such a fascinating subject to me. Snow to sell a ski lodge and sun for a beachside unit of course helps, but only if everything else is right! So be warned, if you ask me that question I may just turn around and ask why you want to know?

Of course it could be you want me to predict market conditions for your home in advance accurately, if I could really do that I would not be chatting on telly to earn money. Anyone who claims they can guarantee a certain figure in the future is not really a property expect, but more than likely a misguided amateur!
]]> http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/To-Rent-Or-Buy/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/To-Rent-Or-Buy/ BLOG POST Andrew Winter http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/To-Rent-Or-Buy/ Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 AM
For most of us, ‘investing elsewhere’ can be high risk and with very, very low long term returns.

So my advice is buy, and rather than writing hundreds of words look at the below example, noting my very conservative estimate of likely capital growth- history has proved this time and time again.

N.B.: First Time Buyers’ purchasing costs will vary state to state, so for the purpose of this example I have used QLD costs as a guide.

Example:
In 2008 you buy a modest home for $250,000

10% deposit. Save it, borrow it from Mum and Dad; sell your HSV Ute, whatever it takes
Deposit $25,000
Legals $1,000
Stamp Duty
Incl other charges $401 (incl special discount for FTB)

Cost for you to buy $26,401.00

Plus 10 years of Interest Only mortgage payments at average rate of 8.5% = $186,960.00
Compared to 10 years rent at say $225 per week = $117,000.00

The additional cost of ownership over 10 years $69,960.00

N.B.: The monthly amount will vary in both rental and mortgage monthly payments, so for the purpose of this example that will balance out over the 10 year period. Owning a home will also mean rates are payable.

The rental option means you save $96,361.00 over the 10 year period.

The owner option
(allowing for only 50% capital growth in the period- most areas in the country are considerable higher that):

Home value in 2018 $375,000
To pay off loan $225,000
Capital Gain $125,000
Deposit value $25,000

The owner option would leave you with $150,000 cash (excl disposal costs) even allowing the for the extra $96,000 costs to own you are still over $50,000 ahead. You are also likely to have made a higher capital gain that 50% and your mortgage costs could go down considerably as well during the ownership term as rates are high now and tend to go in cycles.

One more point to consider when your money is tied up in a home is you cannot waste it! More people manage to pay mortgages than save! In this example you spend a total in deposit, purchasing costs and mortgage payments of $213,361 and sold for $375,000. An untouched amount of $161,639 will be in your account- not many tenants will have that after 10 years of renting.

Go on, buy! I did!
]]> http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/Welcome-To-My-Blog/ http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/Welcome-To-My-Blog/ GENERAL Andrew Winter http://www.lifestylechannel.com.au/AndrewWinter/2008/04/Welcome-To-My-Blog/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:00:00 AM
Unlike Valuers or Surveyors, not only do we look at the homes, we get involved with the owners, the buyers, the viewers, their comments etc. That is why I do know what sells a house and how to ascertain an accurate price- it is pure experience.

The involvement with utilizing this experience for TV came about by accident back in 2001. TV work couldn’t be further away from my comfortable world of houses, so I did hate it for the first year or two, and then the pay cheques got a little bigger so I carried on. Plus, I started to embrace the whole situation and the opportunity it gave me to be really honest and help people stuck in their own homes. If any of you have ever been in that situation, you will know if you really need to sell and can’t, it is hell!

Selling Houses in Australia, Europe and the UK – I am always being asked what the differences are. There are the obvious differences- house types, prices, requirements etc. As for the buyers wanting everything for very little and the sellers wanting above market value because their home is the best – well, that is the same worldwide!

By the way, my wife, 3 kids, 2 silly dogs and I love Australia and moving here was a great decision!

Now you know about me, I hope you all enjoy the show! Let me know if you have questions because I am on hand to help. You can e-mail me directly via the "Ask a Question" button at the top of this page.]]>