About
Andrew Winter
Andrew Winter is obsessed with houses. With 20 years experience in the property trade he believes that if you haven’t sold your house within two months then you’re doing something wrong! "In the last 20 years I have seen all different market conditions, met all different types of buyers from the poorest to the richest, met all types of sellers with all different kinds of attitudes, met all different kinds of estate agents, some great, some absolutely awful! Sold luxury homes, dream homes, derelict farm buildings, homes in scary areas, homes burnt down, new homes, 400 year old houses and empty land – That’s why I have the confidence to really say I do know what I am talking about when it comes to houses!”
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Over the last 4 or 5 years I have been approached by numerous companies claiming to be launching the next revolutionary web site for property; it used to be listings based; now it seems to be all about information on what has sold, when and for how much.
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.
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.
After recent announcements by the Federal Government relating to changes to benefits received for higher income earners the question is asked – ‘if it is not so attractive, or less affordable, to buy an investment home – who will continue to supply the rental market with housing stock to keep up with demand from an increasing number of people who cannot afford to get on the housing ladder? Is this a never ending circle that could kill the market?
The answer for home owners, home sellers and people just dreaming about their first home is NO; it will not kill the market.
The answer for home owners, home sellers and people just dreaming about their first home is NO; it will not kill the market.
The million dollar question is also the million times asked question!
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.
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.
This is an age old question and I have actually heard people say, ‘With prices as they are now, (and that was said in 1973, 1988, 1995, 20003 and every other year too) you are better off saving your money, investing it elsewhere and avoid the deposit, lawyers, stamp duty etc!’
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.
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.
I started selling houses, at what seems a mad age now, 17 years old. Apart from a couple of years’ break, one year out in Australia, the other to try something else (that didn’t work), all I have done has been involved with selling houses since 1984. I love residential property of all types, the whole subject fascinates me. The array of different structures, ages, styles, the huge variations in condition and the way people live, the people themselves and the whole process. It is the only job where you get to look in every room of people’s private homes, even the cupboards. Just think how many I have been in. I have tried to work it out – I got to 10,000 and up! Remember that isn’t a quick glimpse in to the entry area or a quick look in the lounge room, that is a full nose around!
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