Posts by Cate Bakos
Should You Buy Now in a Softening Melbourne Market, or Wait?
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…
Read MoreIn 2012, I found the house that I’d never want to leave
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…
Read MoreThe Next Phase for Melbourne Rents: Forecasting 20% Growth in Established Suburbs
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…
Read MoreThe Federal Budget and its Uneven Impact Across Property Segments
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…
Read MoreCapital Gains Tax and Negative Gearing: What Property Investors Need to Understand Right Now
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’”,…
Read MoreUnderbidder to Buyer: The Eight-Hour Twist in a Passed-In Auction
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…
Read MoreHow would I invest one million dollars in Victorian Property?
I get asked this question all the time. It’s not that easy to just list a location though. Property investing should never be a game of picking a hotspot. I’ve learnt my many years of personal property investment what the secret to investment success is. The secret is a wonderful cocktail of many ingredients; One…
Read MoreThe Quiet Strength of Glenroy and the Mid-Tier Market
Over the weekend, we missed out on a superb, family home for an investor client of ours. This result in Glenroy got me thinking, and it is worth unpacking. The home sold under the hammer for $968,000, above a reserve of $935,000. There were four bidders; three of which were owner occupiers and we represented…
Read MoreDo Better Schools Really Mean Higher House Prices? The Evidence from Victoria
I regularly speak with buyers who include this in their key criteria: “We want to be in a top school zone.” Sometimes they have children, sometimes they don’t. And increasingly, investors are adding it to their criteria too. It’s understandable. The idea of securing a strong public education without private school fees is compelling. In…
Read MoreEveryone says they’ll buy in a downturn. Few actually do
In just one month, our market has made a complete shift. January started out strongly in Melbourne, with strong investor enquiry and first home buyer activity defining the start of the year. But throw in two interest rate hikes, a US led Middle Eastern conflict, a pinch of inflation wows, a shake of wallet shock…
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