Posts by Cate Bakos

There is a difference between a valuation and an appraisal. It is defined by the qualification held by the person conducting the task, and whether their report can be relied upon in a court of law. An appraisal is the opinion of someone who is experienced and familiar enough with the local area and it…

We all know of and understand lender interest rates. They come in a combination of formats depending on whether we are paying principal and interest, interest only, a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate. Our interest component within our loan repayments schedules is the cost of borrowing the money. The interest portion all…

First home buyers certainly have their challenges and it’s a well-worn path of any property journalist’s when it comes to documenting the tough plight of the firstie. Beyond the task of saving an adequate deposit, or that of managing a fun lifestyle on a tight savings regime, the less spoken-of challenge relates to their broad…

As our treasured January hybrid-break comes to a close, this Sunday blog reflects on the most used, most valuable, and, (at times) the most overlooked formulae. Property investing is not always black and white, in fact it requires a blend of science and emotion, but when it comes to reliable formulas, here are my top…

A really delightful time exploring some of our gorgeous Victorian regions is how I best describe my summer holidays. It’s a work in progress, because I’m accompanied by my laptop and, well, real estate never really stops. I consider each stay a hybrid rest/field trip. We’ve enjoyed little stays in varied locations and each have…

There are plenty of reasons why aspiring property investors and home buyers don’t get their plans off the ground. From analysis paralysis to falling prey to negative bias, the list is long. But one of the most common reasons isn’t what people imagine it could be. Not being on the same page as your partner…

The Penny Challenge is an old quiz that highlights the power of compounding growth. What would you choose? A magic penny that doubles in value every day for a whole month, or a million dollars cash immediately? Studies found that most people who aren’t familiar with the quiz will choose the million dollars. With smartphones…

As the real estate year comes to a close, I circle in on the Victorian property market and ponder the highlights, lowlights, surprising trends and I ask myself what could be in store for our capital city and regional markets next year. Melbourne, along with Sydney and Canberra had a challenging year with protracted lockdowns,…

According to the media, yes…. but I think not. There is much more to measuring the peak of the market than auction clearance rates. We are experiencing a tiny window of eased buying conditions, and when we take a careful look at the data, the story becomes quite clear…. The planets have aligned perfectly this…