Posts by Cate Bakos

Understanding Victoria’s Housing Choice and Transport Zone & Built Form Overlays in Activity Centres When buying property in Melbourne—especially in inner or middle-ring suburbs—planning zones and overlays can make or break a purchase. Whether we are assisting a seasoned investor or a first homebuyer, understanding the implications of Activity Centres, and specifically the Housing Choice…

Last night’s landslide Labour win doesn’t really alter property buyer sentiment. Despite the fact that Labour was tipped to win, buyers did what they always do. They sat back, ready to make their move only once the election was behind us. The shock of the Victorian land tax changes have washed away and investors have…

I’m often asked by investors whether apartments perform well. History has certainly shown that some don’t. Melbourne has been quite saturated with new apartments, particularly in locations such as South Yarra, Docklands, Footscray and Brunswick, (to name a few). During the ten year period from 2012 to 2022, apartment growth was subdued in Melbourne, but…

When it comes to buying or selling property in Melbourne, timing isn’t just a throwaway line — it’s an essential part of the strategy. Listing activity ebbs and flows with the seasons, and understanding this rhythm can make a world of difference, whether you’re a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, an upgrader, down-sizer, or a…

We often see underquoting stories emerging in the media. This has been happening for over thirty years. Underquoting is a pricing methodology that is sometimes adopted by agents and/or agencies. The premise of underquoting is quoting a price range that is below the vendor’s expected price. The intent of underquoting is to attract buyers with…

I wish I’d written this article fifteen years ago when I started working as a buyers agent. There are so many misconceptions about renovations and upgrades, and what legal documentation is required. Of all of the misconceptions though, the most common one relates to permits and the contract of sale. I often see updates in…

I often talk about the cost/benefit analysis of a holiday house, but what do the numbers really say? This week, I’ve modelled two similarly priced properties that have recently sold for around the mid-$700,000’s. One is a coastal holiday house on the Mornington Peninsula. The other is a house in the northern suburbs of Melbourne,…

Melbourne’s property market has a different air to it this year. Last year, many agents talked about the limited buyer numbers, and the associated challenges with managing sales campaigns. Anecdotally, buyers were hard to pin down and campaign visibility was tougher for agents. Auctions were often unpredictable, and higher numbers of auction pass-ins were a…

When markets correct, it is often the highest priced quartiles that can experience the toughest losses. Depending on the drivers for the market correction, when economic pain or uncertainty arises, affordability constraints can favour the cheaper markets. However, when markets recover, particularly when credit availability isn’t hampered, higher priced markets can really soar. Melbourne’s property…

In a recent Sunday trip across town, my uber driver asked me what many do. “Cate, what do you do for work?” So, I explained. Being a buyer’s advocate is an exciting role, but it’s not well-understood by everyone. Once my driver realised I had real estate expertise and I consulted my clients with strategic…