Posts by Cate Bakos

We always talk about the importance of holding property for a long tenure. An ideal tenure is greater than ten years, but what does it look like when that tenure is twenty years? Or even thirty years? I was reminded of this only yesterday, when a dear past client sent me an email out of…

I am often asked this question by prospective purchasers. For whatever reason, $650,000 seems to be a popular first-time investor budget. Even for those who could borrow a higher amount, a more cautious approach is often pursued. Many assume that a house in the fringe locations of our capital city is the best approach. There…

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had many prospective clients reaching out to ask about our services. Some have been happy to commence their search in 2026, yet others have been quite motivated to complete their acquisition in 2025. The last of the auction campaign launches dropped last week. For those vendors who decided to…

When it comes to Victorian real estate, water-related overlays are one of the most commonly misunderstood planning controls. These overlays can dictate where and how a home can be built, limit future improvements, and influence long-term capital growth. For buyers, overlooking them can create both financial and resale headaches. But panicking about every overlay and…

Jade and I made the most of our day out yesterday. Between our auction and our final inspection, we spent a couple of hours observing some auctions in Melbourne’s north. Of the three auctions we tracked, two passed in following highly competitive bidding. What does that mean? Anyone who’s spent enough Saturdays out at auctions…

I remember a year twelve maths exam I sat back in 1992. We were armed with a stack of weather data and we were asked to determine whether there is a relationship between Adelaide’s and Melbourne’s weather patterns. After all, many of us would be familiar with the idea that a heat spell in South…

Last night my nineteen year old daughter and I went to a fabulous 21st birthday party. My childhood friend’s daughter is now 21, and her special evening was buzzing with chatter, music, beautiful speeches and friendly folks. Gab and I had a great time. Gab made a new friend and the pair sat together talking…

Car spaces on title can seem a ridiculous debate for anyone who lives in the outer suburbs or in the country. But where land is at a premium, this conversation often pops up. Any good buyer’s agent will steer their clients away from a unit that doesn’t offer parking on title. But when it comes…

On Thursday 23 October 2025, something quite magical happened for one, committed young man’s early career. But something more magical happened for an industry association that has spanned 89 years, (founded as the Real Estate and Stock Institute in 1936). Christopher Sybenga is an enthusiastic nineteen year old who is no stranger to many real…

Renovating can be one of the most rewarding and stressful experiences a homeowner can undertake. Whether it’s transforming an old, character home or updating a tired investment property, a renovation can impact both lifestyle and value. But before diving in, it’s essential to pause and ask yourself some hard questions. A well-planned renovation starts long…