Posts by Cate Bakos

We’re all familiar with the various ways that lockdowns and COVID-19 shaped our preferences and criteria when it comes to selecting real estate. Some of those changes have been hallmarks of the era, while others are more permanent. But 2022 is different for various reasons. We have conflict in Ukraine, supply chain woes, inflationary pressures…

For ten days now, I’ve been asked this question. I’ve reflected on the stark contrast between this month’s consumer reaction to a 0.25% rate increase, versus our reaction to such an increase in the years that consecutive rate increases were applied. For owner occupiers and investors alike, as much as we didn’t like the rate…

This week I met a lovely new industry friend who was introduced to me by a mutual connection. We chatted all things real estate and I was intrigued by his adaptation to his role, on so many levels. He left his former industry to pursue real estate but also managed a complete relocation from Turkey…

It’s an important question, and one that no bidder really wants to test. Occasionally, we witness this, but rarely has it happened when I’ve held the final bid. Yesterday, however was an interesting day for the attendees at the auction of this property in Geelong West. Standing in the crowd were our clients, three other…

Amidst doom and gloom media stories, speculation about interest rate increases weakening our market, and a general feeling of malaise for about the outlook for our local property market, the market continues to challenge such claims. Even on a public holiday long weekend, (which has followed a previous school holiday long weekend) our auction clearance…

We’re all hearing news of interest rate rises… and speculation about capital growth contraction. But we do have to wade through headlines and negative news stories in order to see what is really happening. COVID challenged every forecast and every lending economist’s predictions, and our selection criteria for property altered somewhat also. Some of these…

On Wednesday night, I experienced one of the quirkiest auction experiences ever. I secured a property for two very dear clients, and with a mere one dollar bid. That certainly wasn’t my initial strategy, but like all auctions, we have to take stock of the situation, try to understand our opponent’s approach, and think quickly…

We’ve been working in the Ballarat market consistently now for over a decade. Our reasons for selecting Ballarat were always that of balanced growth and yield…. not extreme capital growth. I’ve maintained consistent advisory position when it comes to Ballarat; “it has offered fantastic growth of late, but long term, it isn’t meant to out-perform…

An interesting observation to share relates to the increased rate of auction properties passing in. We have come out of a very heated period of growth and currently, Melbourne’s capital growth rate is quite static. This is unsurprising, given the global unrest, looming federal election and interest rate rise speculation. Each, in their own right…