Property Market Review - by Peter Rogozik

Buying into a retirement village

As more Australians reach retirement age many are considering retirement village living. Buying into a retirement village requires specialized advice, there is much to consider before making such an important life changing decision. Many of these considerations are different compared to buying a residential property. In recent times many people have signed retirement living contracts…

Methods of sale

When selling a property choosing the correct method of sale is crucial to a successful outcome. There are many different methods that can be used. Auction, private sale, tender and expressions of interest are the most popular amongst selling agents in Victoria. The state of the market, the property’s location and attributes, likely level of…

When location means everything!

The launch of Yarraville’s new housing development is a good time to revisit the challenges faced by buyers when considering off the plan properties. Known as Bradmill Yarraville the former textile manufacturing plant is currently being redeveloped into a large-scale project that in its first stage over 1,400 dwellings will be built. Both townhouses and…

Property market review

Pre-buying checklist

As the saying goes “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Before starting your property search there are many tasks to carry out. Putting in the necessary preparation will give buyers a higher probability of a successful outcome. It pays to engage my services early in the buying process as I will guide…

Your Buyers Advocate

Home Buyer Fund; friend or foe?

The Victorian Homebuyer Fund (HBF) is an initiative by the Victorian government to financially assist eligible home buyers enter the property market. According to the banks that are administering the scheme it is proving to be extremely popular. On first impressions the scheme appears to be generous as the government provides an interest free loan…

Property market review

The state government commissioned a review into the Victorian property industry. All stakeholders  were invited to participate by making recommendations as to ways of making the property industry better and fairer for everyone. I provided a submission, below are my 12 recommendations. 1. The regulators of the real estate industry in Victoria are Consumer Affairs…

Top ten home maintenance tips

All homes have areas that require maintenance due to normal wear and tear. Even brand new homes have minor defects on completion. Obtaining a pre-purchase building report will identify these maintenance items and defects.If identified early these types of works are not expensive to rectify.  The following are my top ten common maintenance issues found…

Show me the permit!

Before signing on the dotted line buyers should make sure the property owner has obtained all the required building permits for works that have been completed. The new owner becomes responsible for any illegal works, this could mean costly rectification. If the vendor has undertaken works on the property as an owner builder that were…

Owners corporation works

OC ; Oh No!

If you are a member of an owner’s corporation there is a good chance you are paying too much for repairs and maintenance. Being a member of an owner’s corporation I have had to perform the role of project manager to avoid this scenario. Building repair and maintenance quotes that have been provided by the…

Buying brand new – beware!

Before purchasing a brand new property, buyers should always research what materials, products, fixtures and fittings have been used during construction. It is not enough to rely on the building drawings or even the specification document. A case in point is the cladding fiasco that has cast a shadow over the Victorian building industry. After…