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As Warne prepares to bowl over buyers with a full-blown marketing campaign, images from inside his home have been revealed.

The four-bedroom Italianate mansion is fit for a king, but apparently not quite for the spin king, who is believed to be heading for a luxury manor house in the English countryside.

It’s also an entertainer’s paradise, with an aquarium, theatre, state-of-the-art Gaggenau appliance kitchen, a pool emblazoned with Warne’s playing number “23″ and a waterslide.

There also is a monster entertainment space at the rear that extends into the sprawling backyard.

Then there is the tennis court above the 10-car underground garage.

Yet-to-be-released marketing material for the house reveals it was built about 1885 and named “Kilkerran”.

It also reveals a bedroom that runs the “full depth of the first-floor”, comes with a “spa-quality ensuite” and a large dressing room – plus its own “private skygarden terrace with outdoor fireplace”.

The palatial property is chasing buyers with a $15 million budget – and so is the new owner of Warne’s former home, another Brighton mansion about 400m from his current abode.

Brighton real estate agency J.P. Dixon is selling both houses and Jonathan Dixon said they represented two of Melbourne’s most illustrious properties.

“With notable Victorian detail, including multiple marble fireplaces and lavish leadlights . . . this significant home is a masterpiece of modern family living, with a unique heritage as one of Brighton’s finest historical homes,” Mr Dixon said of Warne’s home.

nathan.mawby@news.com.au

Agents believe good photography not only helps find a buyer, but also helps increase the sale price.

A survey last year found 99 per cent of agents believe photos are the most essential tool for selling property.

Experts suggested vendors should declutter and scrub up their property before the photographer arrives.

They also said it was important to start planning weeks before the photo shoot to make sure the property is at its best.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria spokesman Robert Larocca said good photos were critical.

“Location may be the most important factor for buyers when determining price, but it is the photos that help entice them to the open house,” he said.

“Buyers won’t buy the home on the basis of the photos, and nor should they as you need to see the home itself, but a poor set of photos will ensure it’s the last on the list when they are hunting for the right home.

“Vendors need to think about the context of the sale; they are in competition with the other sellers in their suburb. Photos are a critical part of making their home stand out from among the crowd. In that light it’s well worth investing in great photos taken by professionals.”

The survey by photography company Top Snap found 89 per cent of agents said good photos attract more buyers.

Almost 80 per cent said they increase inquiries and 68 per cent said they increased clicks to online listings.

And half said they helped secure a higher price for the property.

Top Snap general manager Helen Clarke said sellers should be comfortable with the person taking the photographs.

“You want someone who will respect the fact that in many cases you’re putting your most valuable asset on the market and this represents not only a financial but an emotional transaction,” she said.

Property Snaps director Vince DeStefano said many buyers are initially drawn to a property because of the photos.

“You need photos that will `wow’ someone within three seconds of them looking,” he said. “So I think creating a photo that evokes emotion is very important.”

Mr DeStefano uses tools such as elevated poles and helicopters. His company is becoming Civil Aviation Safety Authority accredited to use a remote-controlled quad copter to take aerial photos.

“We also use the home’s features, such as swimming pools or impressive kitchens, to get a dramatic shot.”

ICON Property director Robert Mitchelson treats property photography as a major production.

He is a former TV and film extra, with a handful of commercials under his belt.

He has appeared in about 85 productions – including alongside Anthony LaPaglia in The Bank – and said property photography was like making films, in that they are all about emotion.

He said this was why his listings are only photographed at dawn or dusk.

“We sell on emotion and if you can get that emotional connection on a property the price becomes secondary,” Mr Mitchelson said.

“At dusk there is warmth – it makes a huge difference. Apartments can look pretty ordinary in the cold, hard light of day.”

Mr Mitchelson starts planning photography a week in advance, picking two nice days in a row based on the seven-day weather forecast.

He attends each photography session as well, to ensure the photos don’t make the property look too small – or too big.

“People will see it isn’t the same as in the photos,” he said.

PRE-PHOTOSHOOT CHECKLIST

KITCHEN AND MEALS AREAS

* Clear all benches of clutter

* Remove and hide all appliances (kettle, toaster, etc)

* Remove all fridge magnets and photos

* Clean all appliances (rangehoods, stoves, etc)

* Hide loose electrical leads

* Hide tea towels

* Set table with good cutlery and plates

* Add table centrepiece

LIVING AND FAMILY ROOMS

* Hide all TV revotes

* Turn TVs off

* Remove magazines and newspapers

* Remove gym equipment

* Hide loose home-theatre cables

* Clear clutter from shelves and coffee tables

* Arrange furniture to make the room look larger

BATHROOMS AND ENSUITES

* Remove toothbrushes and shavers

* Remove soap from showers

* Remove kids toys from bath

* Clean mirrors and benches

* Set out best towels and present the room

BEDROOMS

* Remove any clothes and clutter from floors

* Hide personal items

* Make all beds and straighten pillows

* Remove items from bedside tables

* Remove baby cribs if applicable

* Check globes in bedside lamps

OUTSIDE

* Move vehicles from driveway and front

* Remove rubbish

* Mow and edge grass

* Trim trees and bushes

* Sweep cuttings and leaves

* Put away kids toys, bikes, etc

* Make sure outside lights work

FINAL PREPARATIONS

* Turn on lights and lamps

* Open curtains

* Close toilet lids

* Lock pets in the garage

* Park cars in garage or off-site

* Take the family out while photos are taken.

Source: Property Snaps

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/selling/pictures-put-sale-in-focus/story-fndbawks-1226661325092#ixzz2WKpa3WfG

A study conducted by buyers advocate firm Secret Agent found home buyers saved an average $46,500 at auction on days when the heavens opened last year.

With winter officially here and this weekend hosting a near record number of auctions for this time of year, there might be a few prospective buyers considering a rain dance.

The Secret Agent study reviewed auctions from June to August in 2012 and contrasted the average result on a Saturday afternoon with less than 4mm of rain against those with more than 4mm.

On the dry days the average sale at auction was $1,003,300.

But add water and the price fell to $956,800.

It works out to about a five per cent reduction in prices.

“The weather conditions can play a part in the crucial point where someone is working out what they are willing to spend,” Mr Osborne said.

“On a good day, the weather can help people see the property in its best light.”

“On a rainy day a lot of people might pull their budget in.”

But Mr Osborne noted that despite the potential for some loss to the maximum price tag on a rainy day, selling a house in winter could be an advantage.

“There’s less auctions to choose from, which is good for competition,” he said.

But despite showers being predicted today, home sellers need not fear – according to Real Estate Institute of Victoria spokesman Robert Larocca.

“A sunny auction might be a more enjoyable one, but it doesn’t mean you are getting a better result,” Mr Larocca said.

“The result on any given weekend is dependent on the stock as well as the market sentiment.”

Despite predictions of showers this weekend Mr Larocca argued that the research hadn’t ascertained where the rain had fallen and that a bit of weather wasn’t going to stop a buyer who really wants a property from heading out to one of the 790 or so properties listed for auction this weekend.

“It’s the second largest auction weekend after the Queen’s Birthday weekend in our market’s history,” Mr Larocca said.

“It conveys that vendor confidence levels are healthy.”

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/news/research-shows-buying-a-house-in-victoria-on-a-wet-day-could-save-you-thousands-of-dollars/story-fndba8uq-1226663765161#ixzz2WKoW5vS9

A member of the Grollo family is behind the push for a 54-storey office and apartment building at 464 Collins St.

Dubbed by some as the pencil-thin tower, it would feature one continuous structure of reinforced concrete and look like cutting edge buildings in cities such as New York and Hong Kong.

Lorenz Grollo, head of the Equiset-Grollo group and son of construction legend Rino Grollo, said it would be extremely innovative for Australia and its use of concrete was a nod to his family’s business heritage.

“It’s slender but it will make an impact. It’s done in such a sculptural way that is ultimately unique,” he said.

“It’s not just a glass box, it’s a stylish piece of architecture,” he said.

Designed by architects Bates Smart, the tower will house about 150 high-end apartments and 13 levels of premium office space.

The facade of an existing Edwardian-era building will be incorporated.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy confirmed a permit application was before his department and he would make a decision after input from his staff and city council officers.

“It’s a very interesting design and it’s looking at innovative ways to optimise space,” he said.

Mr Guy has approved several highrise towers in the CBD, including plans for the southern hemisphere’s tallest building at 108 storeys at Southbank.

Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/national-news/victoria/grollo-family-proposes-pencilthin-tower-for-cbd/story-fnii5sms-1226663825946#ixzz2WKnhokrq

ECONOMY:

$18b deficit in 2013

Budget to be in balance in 2015/16 with a $6.6b surplus in 2016/17

Unemployment in 2013/14 up to 5½ per cent

GDP growth of just 2½ per cent in 2013

$43b savings identified over the next four years

FAMILIES:

Scrapping the Baby Bonus from March 1, 2014 will save $2.4b over four years

Scrapping an increase to the Family Tax Benefit Part A: will save $2.5b over four years

But Family Tax Benefit A recipients will get payment boost of $2000 for first child and $1000 for subsequent children, to be paid in instalments

The childcare rebate will continue to be capped at a total of $7500 per year for the next four years

HEALTH:

Saving $1.7b by making Australians pay more out-of-pocket Medicare costs

$14b total hospital funding (Federal and States combined)

$12.1m for a national register for prosthetics including breast implants

$226m for cancer initiatives

$691m on new drug listings on the PBS

$10m for an election year Medicare Locals advertising campaign

Tobacco excise to be indexed to CPI pack of 25 cigarettes up 7c in the first half of 2014

EDUCATION:

$9.8b in new school funding (over 6 years)

$1.1b in early childhood education

$97m on Commonwealth-supported university places

DISABILITY:

$19.3b over seven years for Disability Australia

Partially funded by an increase in the Medicare levy from 1.5 to 2 per cent worth $11.6b over four years

460,000 Australians to be eligible by the full roll-out in 2018

PENSIONERS/AGED:

$127m on senior citizen engagement programs

$112.4m on exempting Aged Pension recipients from the means test if they are downsizing the family home

Broadband for Seniors program expanded at cost of $9.9 million

New $4.6 million institute for ageing will investigate challenges and opportunities of ageing population

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS:

$777m on Closing the Gap initiatives

INFRASTRUCTURE:

$24b total spending over four years

Major road projects –

QLD: $4.1b Bruce Highway, $715m Brisbane Cross River Rail

NSW: $1.8b Sydney Motorways

VIC: $3b Melbourne Metro

SA: Adelaide South Road

WA: $418m Swan Valley Bypass Perth

JOBS:

$1b on the Plan for Australian Jobs, including $69m for Alternative pathways to the Trades

Newstart recipients to be able to earn $494 a year from work without losing any benefits

CARBON TAX:

$13.8b write-down in takings from the Carbon Tax and Mining Tax

$3.7b from the Carbon Tax

$10.1b from the Mining Tax

LAW and ORDER:

$40.9m National Crime Prevention Fund, with proceeds of crime takings to fund community outreach programs

DEFENCE:

Defence spending up by an extra $5.4b between now and 2016

1000 civilian jobs to go

$875m for Afghanistan operations post 2013

$25m extra funding for the Anzac Centenary (total of $140m)

$25m more on veterans mental health

REGIONS:

$9b total spending on the regions

$100m drought reform program

$200m Great Barrier Reef rescue program

$1.9b ongoing support for recovery from the Queensland floods

IMMIGRATION:

Bill for asylum seeker management almost $2.9b in 2013-14

Last budget the forecast for 2013-14 was just over $930m

Up to $375m in aid will be diverted to asylum seeker management under a new cap

457 visa war by government to be continued with an application fee increase to net the government $198m

ARTS:

$129m for the ABC to expand its news and current affairs outside the major cities

$21m subsidy to Disney Films for the making of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo

$75.3 million to reformed Australia Council to support the Arts

COMMUNICATIONS:

NBN advertising spend boosted ahead of poll by $5m

Small business and councils to get NBN help

Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme extended to June 2014

SUPERANNUATION:

Super contributions up to 9.25 per cent from July 1

Contribution cap of $35,000 for over 60s brought forward to July 1

3.6m Australians with incomes under $37,000 to pay no tax on their contributions

ALMOST $200 billion of red ink spilled across the nation’s balance sheet looks to be Treasurer Wayne Swan’s legacy, as forecasters predict budget deficits “as far as the eye can see”.

In five previous budgets, the Treasurer has racked up deficits of $173 billion and analysts tip the promised $1.5 billion surplus in last year’s budget papers will be replaced a deficit of between $10.9 billion to $22 billion.

The size of a deficit will come under heavy scrutiny when Mr Swan stands up tonight at 7.30pm, as Treasury forecasts have been exposed as being based on too-optimistic outlooks.

REDUCE the stress – and get the right price – when selling your biggest asset.

Selling your home can be difficult and the costs of making a mistake are high. After years of experience in the industry selling and buying homes, here is my guide to being a smart seller.

Get the right agent
When working out who you might want to interview, choose agents who have a track record in your area and are known for selling similar homes.
Check your local newspaper’s real estate section and see which agents have the most listings online.
Check their profiles on Facebook and Twitter.
Once you have three or four on your list, try to attend their open for inspections to see them in action. Ask their opinion about your home and its value, what sales method they would use, their knowledge of the market and area and – my favourite question – what they think is wrong with your home. Then ask how they would overcome this when selling the property.

Find out what your home is worth
What your home is worth may not be what you want to sell for. Properties that sell for more than their market value are rare.
Remember valuation is an art, not a science. Look at homes for sale near you — are they worth more or less than yours? Are they nicer or uglier than yours? Be honest.
It is a tricky process but do get a rough idea before the agents come in. And when a figure is suggested, ask why and how it was calculated.
Get your own sense or what your property is worth; look in the paper and search online for homes like yours in your area as a start.
If you are really confused, get a valuation done. It costs just a few hundred dollars but can buy you peace of mind and give you an independent benchmark.

Marketing your home
You can’t sell a secret. Every buyer possible needs to know that your home is on the market and you need to reach the broadest number of possible buyers.
Choose the print and online options most buyers are attracted to and that have proven track records.
RP Data research shows the combination of print advertising with online is the most powerful way to sell your home.
Get involved and check every picture and line of text. Demand creativity, not essays. There should be good English with no typos; you and the agent need to proof read the content.
Make sure the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is correct and that the images show your home at its best.

Know and test your motivation
Except for real boom times, which are not that often, it is sellers who stand in the way of a sale, not the property.
If you are not adequately motivated, you won’t put effort into the presentation, will skimp on the marketing and your price expectations will lead to either no sale or a long time on the market.
Motivated sellers get the job done.
They look at what is going on around them.
Ask yourself if there are any negative personal or financial repercussions if you don’t sell soon?
Will you accept that you may not get the sale price you hoped for?
Is waiting not really an option? If you are realistic about these questions, congratulations, you are a motivated vendor. A motivated vendor will be realistic about these questions.

Which sale method is best for you?
Ensure you understand the different sale methods and the rules and protocols of each.
Write a list of the pros and cons of each method for selling your home.
A quick look online or in the newspaper will tell you how most homes in your area are sold.
If you follow the successful crowd, you will give buyers the sale method most common for their market.
Auctions are a good option if most homes in your area are sold in this manner, you need a sale within a defined period or your home is unique.
Many people believe that if a home put to auction does not sell on the day, it is a disaster. But research shows most homes that fail to sell on the day do sell quickly afterwards.
The benefit of the auction process is that it gives you an intense period of market feedback so you can adjust your price expectations. Get your pricing wrong with a private treaty process and your home can languish for months or even years.

Negotiating
No matter how great your home is, how creative and successful your marketing has been or even how strong the market is, negotiation is key.
Even if your negotiator is your agent, you, too, are involved. You need to be in a position of strength. One of the tricks is to put yourself in a buyer’s mindset. Learn what the buyer’s motivation is to buy your home.
Knowledge is power and you need to keep emotions out of it. A buyer often will try a low offer, and that upsets vendors. But see it as part of the game – and in many cases you would do the same. Don’t take things personally and remember that successful negotiating is one of the key reasons you are employing an agent, so let them handle it. If you trust them – you should because you vetted them thoroughly – follow their advice.

ANZ has slashed rates by more than the Reserve Bank to the lowest level among the majors.

In a bid to dethrone National Australia Bank as the cheapest in the market, ANZ has announced it will cut its mortgage rate by 0.27 per cent.

Both NAB and ANZ are offering a standard variable rate on home loans of 6.13 per cent.

ANZ Australian chief executive Philip Chronican said this is good news for customers with the reduction in funding pressures clearing the way for the bigger than expected cut.

“While competition for deposits remains strong, our overall funding cost position has allowed us to reduce variable mortgages by 0.27 per cent,” he said.

“This month we reviewed a range of factors including the Reserve Bank’s decision to decrease the official cash this week, our competitive position and a recent easing in the cost of wholesale funding.”

The ANZ decision is effective from next Friday May 17.

All of the Big Four Banks have passed this week’s RBA cut on in full.

Until the ANZ announcement NAB’s mortgage rate was the lowest offering among the majors in the market for 46 consecutive months.
Bank           Cut                Rate
ANZ           -0.27%           6.13%
CBA           -0.25%           6.15%
NAB           -0.25%           6.13%
Westpac    -0.25%           6.26%

The rising unemployment rate and slow home loan growth has forced the Reserve Bank to cut the official cash rate.

At its board meeting earlier today, the RBA decided it was “prudent” to cut the official cash rate 25 basis points, taking it to the historic low of 2.75 per cent.

RP Data’s national research director Tim Lawless said while the Reserve Bank was likely to be “reasonably comfortable” with the pace of the housing market recovery, there were no doubt a few things playing on the Board’s mind when making this month’s cash rate decision.

“What may have been most concerning to the RBA though is the pace of dwelling construction and consumer appetite for newly constructed homes,” he said.

“Dwelling approvals and commencements remains weak and although new home sales have improved, according to the Housing Industry of Australia, the number sold remains historically low.

”If we are to see the construction sector pick up where the mining boom is leaving off, lower interest rates may be the catalyst that is required.”

Real Estate Institute of NSW CEO Tim McKibbin said the reduction in interest rates was the correct decision given the current state of the economy.

“We have been calling for another cut in interest rates for some time,” he said.

“Through structured incentives, including interest rate reductions, we are seeing the green shoots of growth and we are delighted the RBA has acted to support the economy generally.

“The 25 basis point cut today, combined with the decreases in 2012, will provide the necessary stimulus and confidence to build upon the modest gains in the property market seen towards the latter part of last year and into 2013.

“It is vital the RBA continues to respond to the needs of our economy, in particular the property market,” Mr McKibbin said.

They Giveth… and They Taketh Away
The big news in property this morning is the Victorian Government’s overhual of the First Home Owner’s Grant as of July 1, 2013.

For those looking to build, or purchase a newly built home, you’re in luck. The government has increased your grant from $7,000 to $10,000.

For those looking to buy an established home, you’re out of luck. The government is scrapping your existing $7,000 grant, so you get nothing.

The good news for both camps is the 10% further reduction of stamp duty that was scheduled to take place in January 2014 that has now been moved up to July 1, 2013. So first home buyers, no matter how old the property being purchased, will get a 40% discount on Stamp Duty for purchases up to $600,000.

These new rules apply from the 1st of July 2013. If you want the grant as it is now, you have until the 30th of June to sign a contract. If you want the “new” grant, you need to sign the contract after July 1. Please note, the rules are based on the date you sign the contract, not the settlement date.

Check out the article and video on the ABC Website here.

The City of Casey is an outer Melbourne municipality including suburbs such as Berwick, Cranbourne, Endeavour Hills, and Narre Warren.  The City of Casey is one of Melbourne’s major growth areas with its population increasing by 43 per cent between 2001 and 2011. This was much faster than metropolitan average of 18 per cent over the same period. With a population of 260,400 people in 2011, it is the largest municipality in Victoria.

The median age in the Cit of Casey in 2011 was 33 years which was younger than the metropolitan median of 36 years. This younger demographic is evident in population growth between 2006 and 2011 in which 43 per cent of the growth were under 34 years of age. More recently between 2010 and 2011, this age group comprised an even higher share (54 per cent) of growth.

Demographic Snapshot

Housing Market

Economic Activity

These are some of the innovations experts expect to see in Australian homes by 2021, although there are already fears that, altogether, they’ll require more speed than offered by current National Broadband Network plans.

While the Government and the Opposition disagree on the delivery, timing and cost of the NBN, experts agree that demand for internet speed will grow rapidly – reaching at least 100 megabits per second by 2021 and, for high-end users, a huge one gigabit per second.

Failing to properly account for our growing need for speed was a mistake, according to the CSIRO’s Geof Heydon, as demand for faster connections and more bandwidth had yet to plateau in its 30-year history.

“Back in 1987 in Australia, you could get a 2400 bits-per-second modem,” he said.

“These modems were considered fast enough because you would use them to send text and humans couldn’t read text any faster than that. In the context of the day, 2400bps was considered job done.”

Mr Heydon said demand for 1Gbps speed, or 1024 megabits per second, could easily arrive within eight years as consumers embraced new technology.

Ovum research director David Kennedy agreed, saying downloading entertainment would be the principal driver.

“We’re talking about a lot of video,” he said.

Topping the list of future high-speed downloads is TV content using a format called 4K or Ultra HD. The new technology delivers four times the resolution of current full high-definition footage, at four times the file size, and 4K screens are due to go on sale later this year.

But plans are already underway for 8K television screens, Mr Heydon said, which could require a connection speed as high as 80mbps – 30mbps more than the Coalition’s current minimum standard for 2019.

“We could also see the first holographic TVs in the market, which will require three-dimensional imaging content,” he said.

“No one knows yet what bandwidth will be required to deliver that.”

More appliances are likely to be connected to the internet, with Samsung and LG already showing off whitegoods that deliver recipes, grocery lists and updates on clothes washing.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox also said “teleworking rates may rise by 2020”, creating more demand for reliable speeds to deliver video conferencing and secure remote network access.

Telehealth services were also likely to play a part in future broadband demand, Mr Heydon said, with trials currently underway that monitor the habits of elderly people to keep them in their homes longer, and deliver medical consultations and surgical recovery services by video.

Major business lobby groups have seized on the revelation, calling for the banks to cut their borrowing rates out of step with the RBA.

But a majority of our nine-member expert panel believe the Reserve is done cutting rates.

At 5.65 per cent, the discounted mortgage rate is at its lowest in half a century, excluding the Global Financial Crisis, as the Reserve Bank seeks to engineer a recovery in non-mining parts of the economy.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/buying/honeymoon-over-for-mortgage-holders-says-shadow-reserve-bank-board/story-fndban6l-1226610491096#ixzz2PQkQJuo0

In a heavily digitised world, a click of a button brings up dozens of properties with the same attributes and amenities.

But rather than rely on luck, a handful of enterprising vendors and agents are finding new ways to stand out from the crowd.

Realestate has explored some of the more unusual and often effective methods that may end up changing the face of selling property.

CROWD PLEASING

Thousands of Melbourne properties go under the hammer each month, so just getting buyers to your auction can be a battle, and it’s often difficult for the auctioneer to coax hands out of pockets.

Coffee vans trawl auction sites to warm up bidders in the winter months and ice cream trucks are among the summer sweeteners luring bidders.

But with real estate running second to the AFL as a weekend Melbourne pastime, some agents have turned to the sport to help them kick goals.

Richmond midfielder Brett Deledio managed only the one disposal at an Ormond auction earlier this year, but after signing the football before handing it off to the first bidder to break the $800,000 mark, it was an effective touch, according to Buxton auctioneer Craig Williamson.

“It got the numbers up – we had called $840,000 on it ahead of the auction, but it went for $915,000 . . . and a football,” he said.

Ray White auctioneer Andris Crawford, faced with the challenge of an AFL Grand Final day auction last year, held a raffle immediately afterwards to give away a ticket to the game – bringing in a hefty crowd for the event.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The next best thing to bidders at an auction, is a crowd, says Mr Williamson.

“There’s certainly a correlation between a big crowd and a positive atmosphere and the premium prices being paid for properties,” he said.

Mr Williamson has used local musicians, face-painting, sausage sizzles and balloons to bring out the local community for auctions.

“A lot of local residents have a general interest in real estate anyway – they like to see what’s happening in their suburb out of interest – (but) this was like a carnival. From down the street, you could hear the live music and (people) were drawn to it,” he said.

A Warwick St, Bentleigh East, auction with the treatment sold for $627,000 – $37,000 over its reserve price – while a townhouse in Smith St, Hampton, went for $1.59 million, far above the $1.4 million expected. Both attracted about 200 people.

SELLING SUBURBS

The local community and lifestyle are a major factor in residential sales.

But Hall and Hall director John Richards has furthered the concept, using video interviews with local businesses to let local personality make it seem more like home.

“(It shows) why you would want to live in the suburb, and then you are on your way to selling them a property in the area or nearby,” he said.

“The location would be, say, 70 per cent and the bricks and mortar would be 30 per cent . . . once you have them settled on an area, you start talking to them about their range.”

In theory, the process increases the buyer base for a suburb and buyers get a feel for the locals.

MAKE IT MEMORABLE

Good photography or a video of a property can help it stick in the mind of potential buyers.

Even baking some cookies or making some coffee just before an inspection can help make your home stand out.

But a recently listed Italianate manse on Phillip Island is offering prospective buyers a literal taste of the property, with each receiving a hamper of home-grown cucumbers, lavender, lettuce, rhubarb and zucchini. There’s even a pot of home-made raspberry jam and bottle of olive oil made on site at Villa Fortuna in Cowes.

The four-bedroom villa is tempting buyers in the $4.5 million range and needed an edge, says Mr Richards.

“The idea is that it keeps the memory alive and they go home and they are cooking and they use the olive oil and they see Villa Fortuna on it,” he said.

He believes similar approaches will soon be more common for properties with price tags north of $1 million.
Andrew Thomson, whose Benalla home has been on the market for more than a year, has tried a different tactic and recently offered to fly Queensland flood victims to it.

“I’m hoping to fly a successful bidder down – last time there were bad floods in Queensland, my real estate agent said he was inundated with people looking to move down to Victoria,” Mr Thomson said.

He’s also targeting city-slickers intimidated by the extensive lawn, offering to include a full year of lawn-mowing services for the 93 Grant Drive property.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/selling/playing-up-to-the-market/story-fndbawks-1226610130807#ixzz2PQjK0y9P

HOMEOWNERS can breathe easy for another month after the Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged at 3 per cent at its monthly board meeting.

Most economists had expected the central bank to keep the cash rate steady.

The RBA cut the cash rate four times between May and December in 2012, reducing the rate by 1.25 percentage points.

RBA governor Glenn Stevens said with economic growth expected to be a little below trend over the coming year, it was prudent not to change the cash rate.

However the central bank has room to cut if economic conditions deteriorate.

“The inflation outlook, as assessed at present, would afford scope to ease policy further, should that be necessary to support demand,” he said.

Mr Stevens said the risks to the global economy appeared to have eased in recent months while commodity prices, a key driver of the Australian economy, remained high by historical standards.

The Australian dollar fell by 0.1 of a US cent after the RBA left the cash rate unchanged with the currency at 104.50 US cents at 2.32pm AEDT, down from 104.60 US cents shortly before the bank’s decision was announced.

AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver it appeared the RBA was in “wait and see mode” on interest rates.

The RBA faced the dilemma that while lower interest rates were having some effect on the economy, the Australian dollar remained high and credit growth was weak.

“There’s no indication that they’re about to move next month,” Mr Oliver said.

“To get further the easing, the signs of improvement that we’re currently seeing would have to peter out or there’d have to be some sort of global shock and they certainly don’t seem in any rush to move.”

UBS economist George Tharenou said that although a further interest rate cut was possible, it was looking increasingly likely the RBA would keep the cash rate on hold for the rest of 2013.

Mr Tharenou said said a recent improvement in house prices was a sign that last year’s interest rate cuts were having the desired effect on the economy.

He said the RBA appeared more confident that the non-mining sectors of the economy would pick up in 2013 as the mining investment boom peaked.

“Our view is that, baring some unforeseen risk event, the RBA is going to remain on hold from here,” he said.

Between December 2012 and January 2013, first-home buyer commitments slipped by 11 per cent, sparking concerns that the Australian housing market will continue to face strong headwinds if the trend is not reversed.

The number of first-home buyers as a percentage of total owner-occupied housing commitments remained steady at 14.9 per cent in January, but this has decreased steadily since September, when it sat at 19.4 per cent.

New South Wales and Queensland experienced record lows for first-home buyer commitments in January, with 7 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

Levels have plunged in these states by more than 10 per cent since their governments replaced first-home owner grants with incentives to buy new properties.

These statistics are driving the national average downwards, with Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria all trending up over the same period.

“The bulk of first-home buyers are still buying established dwellings, because they are more affordable,” said Angie Zigomanis, senior manager residential, BIS Shrapnel.

“In states like New South Wales, when the government announces it is putting an end to an incentive and telegraphs it, a lot of home buyers bring their plans forward.”

The result of the rush to get in before October means that many who would have been in the market now, purchased last year instead.

“There are a fixed number of first home buyers out there, people that haven’t bought yet and are considering it” said Mr Zigomanis.

“You can’t create new demand out of thin air; you can only push it forwards or pull it back. The market is quiet now as a result of being pushed forwards.”

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/buying/first-home-buyers-exit-the-housing-market/story-fndban6l-1226597071859#ixzz2Ne9ezYPT

Fortunately, taking this plunge never produced any broken bones, thanks to a spongy lawn.

However, failing to take an investment plunge is a sure-fire way to produce broken dreams.

Turmoil in shares, superannuation and real estate in the past few years has made it easy to become paralysed about making investment decisions.

It’s all too hard, I don’t want to lose my money, I’ll wait until things improve these are common reasons for people doing nothing about becoming an investor.

The problem is that when we wait, we miss opportunities. Shares have surged 18 per cent since November and many people are only now starting to notice them again, while property experts say the real estate market has bottomed and will be boosted by low interest rates.

There will always be doomsayers predicting the end of the financial world, just like it is certain that shares, property and other assets will fall again at some time in the future and lose investors money.

That is why it is important to use a measured approach to investing and avoid a gung-ho mentality that sees you blindly follow the herd.

Take small steps, do loads or research, speak with experts who have succeeded in the field, and for shares and funds buy small parcels at a time that you can build upon as you gain experience and knowledge.
Proceed with caution, but always proceed.

Paralysis is for pansies. Take the plunge, but make sure there’s some spongy lawn to protect you. Flapping your arms is optional.

Anthony Keane is editor of Your Money.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/experts/risk-is-fine-but-have-a-soft-landing/story-fneofxxf-1226595682196#ixzz2NSM1FEV3

The most important room for women when inspecting a property is the kitchen, while men prioritise the living areas, according to a survey by mortgage broker Loan Market.

More interestingly, both men and women agreed that bedrooms are the least signification rooms for them when deciding on whether a home makes the grade.

A poll which asked buyers and owners ‘When inspecting a property, which room is the most important to you?’ found that 49 per cent of the 612 respondents said the kitchen, followed by 38 per cent for the living area.

However, female and male respondents disagreed about which room was the deal clincher; 59 per cent of women chose the kitchen as their first choice while only 37 per cent of men pointed to the kitchen, making it the second most popular option for blokes.

Women found the living area far less important than men with only 24 per cent naming it the key room for an inspection compared to 56 per cent of men.

Loan Market corporate spokesperson Paul Smith said these results indicated that buyers don’t assess a property on its existing fixtures and features but rather its scope for improvement.

“Often when a buyer shows interest in a property it’s because of the potential they see in certain rooms of the house or unit. Today’s buyers have become astute at assessing how much effort and additional money may be required to get the property to that point,” he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/realestate/the-kitchen-rules-when-it-comes-to-buying-a-home/story-fncq3era-1226596232485#ixzz2NSL1fNqF