Sunday Blog - Expert property investment insights

RECHARGE & RELOAD YOUR PROPERTY GAME.

Will This Spring Bring More Choice for Victorian Buyers?

By Cate Bakos | July 19, 2026

Every winter, Victorian buyers begin asking the same question: When will more homes come onto the market? It’s a fair question. Throughout much of winter, the biggest frustration for buyers is the a lack of quality listings. Across Melbourne’s established suburbs, well-positioned homes continue to attract strong enquiry and competitive bidding, yet buyers often find…

Negative gearing on established property still exists, it’s just different

By Cate Bakos | July 12, 2026

Investing in established property as we knew it has completely changed. On 12 May 2026, the Labour government announced some proposed changes to both negative gearing and capital gains discounts, and since then the proposed changes have been legislated. Negative gearing benefits for those who either owned, (or had entered into a contract) before 7.30pm…

Why Investment-Grade Fundamentals Matter When Buying a Home

By Cate Bakos | July 5, 2026

For many Australians, buying a home is both an emotional milestone and the largest financial decision they will ever make. It is the place where memories are made, families grow and life unfolds. However, while lifestyle considerations naturally influence purchasing decisions, it is equally important to recognise that a home is often the cornerstone of…

Some good auction stories from the vault

By Cate Bakos | June 28, 2026

Yesterday I caught up with a good friend of mine, Max. We met almost two decades ago, when I assisted Max and his partner with a property acquisition. As a lawyer who saw the paperwork side of property transactions, Max was ntrigued by the auction process., In fact, he was so intrigued that he asked…

Kingsville is one of the Inner-West’s Best-Kept Secrets

By Cate Bakos | June 21, 2026

If you’ve spent any time house-hunting in Melbourne’s inner-west, you’ll know the usual suspects by heart. Yarraville has the gorgeous village, restaurants, parklands and the Sun Theatre. Seddon also offers the cafes and restaurants, and superb Victorian cottages. Footscray boasts the food scene, with plenty of bars, restaurants and incredible Indian, African and Vietnamese food,…

Why Buyers Overlook Great Homes: The Visualisation Challenge Explained

By Cate Bakos | June 14, 2026

Some of the greatest challenges buyers face when inspecting established homes is an inability to visualise simple changes. From paint colour, to a different arrangement of furniture. Not every buyer is able to visualise what the property could become. In fact, staging companies have made a living out of furnishing property to showcase each one…

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Should You Buy Now in a Softening Melbourne Market, or Wait?

By Cate Bakos | June 7, 2026

It’s the question I’m getting asked almost every day right now. And I understand completely why. In just a matter of weeks, Melbourne’s property market has shifted gear. We started 2026 with genuine momentum; strong investor enquiry, first home buyer activity, and a sense that the city was finally turning a corner after some lean…

Front Door

In 2012, I found the house that I’d never want to leave

By Cate Bakos | May 31, 2026

I popped up a post the other day on socials and I got a lot of responses. Some people reached out, and it made me appreciate that what I have is very special. Not only that, many people wish they could have this kind of affinity with their own home. When people think about buying…

Melbourne Square With Circle Blue

The Next Phase for Melbourne Rents: Forecasting 20% Growth in Established Suburbs

By Cate Bakos | May 24, 2026

When policy settings shift, behaviour follows. In property markets, that behavioural change can ripple through entire segments and reshape outcomes in ways that aren’t always initially obvious to those who reshape policy. The proposed removal of negative gearing and changes to capital gains tax for established property are significant policy levers. While much of the…

Star Wars Square

The Federal Budget and its Uneven Impact Across Property Segments

By Cate Bakos | May 17, 2026

On Tuesday 12th of May, at 7.30pm, our Federal Treasurer announced some significant tax change proposals. Two in particular, negative gearing and capital gains tax, will have an impact on our property markets. Last week, I wrote a blog about both of these tax arrangements. The proposed changes are significant. And they will absolutely skew…

Negative Gearing And CGT

Capital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing: What Property Investors Need to Understand Right Now

By Cate Bakos | May 10, 2026

Many people don’t properly understand what Capital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing actually mean, or how each are formulated. With budget night rumour flying, it’s prudent to assume that both are going to change soon. The Albanese government may have entered their second term with a promise that “negative gearing changes were ‘off the table’”,…

Cate Phone

Underbidder to Buyer: The Eight-Hour Twist in a Passed-In Auction

By Cate Bakos | May 3, 2026

There’s a common misconception that auctions end when the hammer falls. In reality, some of the most important moments begin after the crowd disperses. Yesterday was a perfect example. We attended an auction where we were not the highest bidders. We competed against two other buyers, but the property was passed in to another party…

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