Sydney Property Insider Podcast

This week, we take an impromptu look at the fallout from the Banking Royal Commission and what it may mean for your home loan and lending going forward. As mentioned, Marcus is a mortgage broker, so he is explaining his opinion based on his understanding and experience in the industry. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Some of the examples of misconduct in the sector by big banks; Recommendations to certain sectors of the industry; Paying your broker for advice and adding to the bank’s bottom line; The finding that 96.5% of consumers wouldn’t pay even a break-even fee for a mortgage broker; Will consumers pay for pre-approval after pre-approval; The question as to whether or not banks are mandated to reduce their fees; How brokers have helped banks’ net interest margin reduce from 5% to 2.2% over the past 20 years; Why smaller non-big 4 banks may exit the industry and thereby reduce competition; This trail commission being $33.75 a month on a $300k loan, a far deviation from the number of $50

This week, Michelle has a fascinating interview with property manager Jo Natoli from The Rental Specialists. Jo discusses rental reforms in the new year and what you need to know. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   How Jo got started as a property manager and her experiences in real estate since 1993; What the Rental Specialists do and how they’re different; Changes in 2019 to the rental market; Time needed to notify tenants of rent adjustments; Penalties that apply if you don’t get it right; Changes when breaking leases; Jo’s contention with one aspect of the changes and how it relates to a lack of incentives for long term leases; An amendment with specific notice around issues of domestic violence; Consent around tenants personal possessions when taking photos for a listing; And Much more     SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE   Michelle May - Buyer's Agent Jo Natoli - Rental Specialists   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money question you want us to answer? ask@sydneypropertyinsider.com.au   FOLLOW U

We switch things up this week to answer a common question that we are asked from time to time “what on earth do all these different types of insurance do??”   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Our most exciting topic yet; Home insurance, why it’s necessary and why banks love to make it an approval condition if you’re not purchasing a strata property; What to look for when reviewing strata prior to purchase with regards to the insurance held for the property; Contents insurance – not just for replacing the tv; The differences between total replacement cover and sum insured cover; Why it’s not just set and forget, and more a bi-annual review; Does contents insurance cover certain items on your person; Renters’ insurance and landlords’ insurances; Mortgage protection insurance vs lenders’ mortgage insurance; Title insurance; Personal insurances such as life and income protection; And Much more     SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker    

A very delayed closing off 2018 episode now that we’re in to the 2nd week of January, 2019! Our apologies as we were on holiday ourselves.   Michelle and I talk through what to do to be ready for the February and March months when the market heats back up. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Less competition in the December and January months; Why you might snag a bargain during the holiday season; Why agents might be focussing on new listings for February and March; How important it is to get on an agent’s database and make clear you’re serious about finding something to beat the competition when the market heats up; Why settlement periods can be extended during this time; Banks slowing down or going on skeleton staff hours. Why you need to check with your bank or broker when putting in offers; Think about hiring a professional buyers’ agent to help you out if you’ve missed out on a few listings; And Much more   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE   Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker Michelle May - Buy

This week we take a look at the property climate in late 2018, and Michelle shares a couple of anecdotes from her past 3 months. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Slowdown in the credit (lending) environment over the past few months; How the slowdown has affected all credit, not just investment lending; Home price changes over the past 12 months; Why you need to look at individual suburbs rather than Sydney as a whole; Premiums still paid for the right properties in the current market; Why premium properties are still being found on market rather than via off market transactions; When the typical slowdown occurs between late December and Australia Day; Longer financing approval times, and why it’s more important than ever to have a pre-approval in place prior to house hunting; A recent transaction in the Inner West that Michelle was surprised by; And Much more     SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE   Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker Michelle May - Buyer's Agent   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money qu

This week, we continue our suburb deep dive series on the Sydney Property Insider Podcast via our Suburb Spotlight! Today, we’re focussing on the lovely suburb and surrounds of Potts Point. We discuss the history of the suburb, the demographics, upcoming development work, as well as the day-to-day specifics like local cafes, schools and transport   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The history of Potts Point; The original residents of the suburb; Famous locals; Entry level prices; Price data over past few years; How tightly held property in the suburb is; Transport links to the CBD; Walkability; School zoning; Necessities in proximity; And Dog friendly parks nearby   LINKS OR ARTICLES WE MENTIONED:   School Finder Wylde Street property Jason Boon   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money question you want us to answer? ask@sydneypropertyinsider.com.au   FOLLOW US: Facebook   ENJOY THE SHOW? Don’

We are thrilled to have Jared Pearson, a partner at Mitchell & Partners, with us this week for an introduction to the world of tax deductions and negative gearing. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The accounting services that Mitchell & Partners specialises in; Why interest is tax deductible, yet principal repayments are not; What capital costs and expense costs are, and differences between the two; Other tax deductions available that investors can offset rental income against; When travel expenses were removed as a deduction for most investors; Depreciation and depreciation schedules for fixtures and structural items; AirBnB as a source of revenue for owner/occupiers; How the ATO determines whether you are making genuine attempts to find a tenant; Negative gearing, and how it isn’t the only thing or first thing to go for when determining property; The difference between offset accounts and redraw facilities in the ATO’s eyes; And Much more     SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE   Marcus R

Welcome to another episode, and this week we are introducing you to the world of rentvesting, a fairly new phenomenon in Australia.     HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   What rentvesting is and how it’s changing the property landscape for many people; How generational shift has changed attitudes towards property purchases; Today’s demographics and the effect they play in first property buyers’ minds; Pros and cons of rentvesting; How rentvesting can let you continue to live the lifestyle you want; Purchasing vs continuing to save; Renting as a long term solution to affordability; Costs associated with transactions and capital gains if selling your investment property to purchase a home in a few years’ time; Statistics on the rentvesting community; Purchasing existing vs off the plan; Using local experts to assist if buying remotely; And Much more     ARTICLES OR SOURCES MENTIONED   LJ Hooker Study   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Brok

This week, we’re thrilled to bring you our conversation with Adrian Oddi of Bresic Whitney. We talk about the Balmain and Rozelle markets in 2018, the changes in marketing and campaigns to sell your property in today’s climate, and some anecdotes along the way. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Adrian’s background and how he began his career in real estate; How he feels the Balmain and Rozelle markets have changed over the past few years, and even the 16 years since he started; Median price fluctuations from 2015 through today; Which subsection of properties are still attracting large amounts of interest from buyers; What the term “passive buyers” means; The media’s influence on property prices this past 12 months, and whether their data could be behind by a few months; Why qualified buyers in this market can be the most important part of choosing an agent to partner with; Questions to ask when choosing an agent; Why observing some current campaigns may help your research; An interesting anec

Welcome to another episode, and this week we’re focussing on the RBA and its role in affecting the interest rate you pay on your home loans. We touch on inflation bands, the cash rate, how its changed, and what the RBA focusses on.   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   What interest rates are and how they work; How interest rates are set by your bank; Where your bank gets its target and guidance from in relation to the RBA; How the RBA decides on the target cash rate; What inflation is and an example of it in action; How the RBA’s actions affect inflation; The past 20 years plus of the RBA’s target rate and what the future might hold; What to factor in to your decision making when looking at repayments; Why banks have increased their home loan rates recently even though the RBA has stayed on hold; How you can get on top of your potential repayments; How and why are fixed and variable rates different; Is there a right answer on the best type of loan at present.   ARTICLES OR SOURCES MENTIONED  

In this week’s episode, we take a look at the rise of women in real estate and the property market. Emerging trends, pay gaps, and how to give you that extra boost for your search.     HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   How recently it was that a man was required to co-sign on mortgage documents; ABS figures on investment property ownership; The rise in women purchasing; The continued pay gap between men and women; The Confidence Code; Getting experts on board to provide you the best opportunities; Negotiation tactics; Putting all the various experts and pieces together; Views on property as financial security; Being assertive in an often aggressive marketplace; And Finding the right options for you.   LINKS OR ARTICLES WE MENTIONED:   Confidence Code – Claire Shipman and Katty Kay Westpac Homeowner data     SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money question you want us to answer? ask@sydneypropertyinsid

This week, we continue our suburb deep dive series on the Sydney Property Insider Podcast via our Suburb Spotlight! Today, we’re focussing on the harbourside suburb of Balmain We discuss the history of the suburb, the demographics, upcoming development work, as well as the day-to-day specifics like local cafes, schools and transport   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The history of Balmain; The original residents of the suburb; Working class roots; Entry level prices; Price data over past few years; How tightly held property in the suburb is; Transport links to the CBD; The WestConnex and its impact; Famous residents; School zoning; Necessities in proximity; Using the ferry; And Dog friendly parks nearby   LINKS OR ARTICLES WE MENTIONED:   WestConnex Balmain Lodge School Finder   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money question you want us to answer? ask@sydneypropertyinsider.com.au   FOLLOW US: F

This week, we talk about a more recent phenomenon in the Sydney property market, the fear of overpaying (or FOOP!). Michelle gives a brief history lesson on the change from the fear of missing out (FOMO) a few years ago to the complete pendulum swing to where we are today.   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The dramatic change from a vendor’s market to a buyer’s market; How properties that aren’t absolute stars are being left on the market for longer; Buyers taking the blinkers off and realising they hold more power; How constant media articles and news are changing expectations; Why an experienced real estate agent is essential to manage vendors and what they can achieve; Why off-market properties seem to be popping up more and more; The width between buyers and sellers expectations; Continuing to look at comparables, square metre-age cost; Why it can still be right to purchase now rather than rent for an additional 12 months; Cost in vs value out; Why it’s important not to use the selling

This week, we continue our suburb deep dive series on the Sydney Property Insider Podcast via our Suburb Spotlight! Today, we’re focussing on the affluent suburb of Paddington. We discuss the history of the suburb, the demographics, upcoming development work, as well as the day-to-day specifics like local cafes, schools and transport   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The history of Paddington; The original residents of the suburb; The most common industry of employment for residents; Entry level prices; Price data over past few years; How tightly held property in the suburb is; Transport links to the CBD; Proximity to St Vincents Hospital; How nice it would be to have a driver; Necessities in proximity; And Dog friendly parks nearby   LINKS OR ARTICLES WE MENTIONED: Further Information edu.au School Finder   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker   ASK US ANYTHING!   Have a money question you want us to answer? ask@sydneypropertyi

This week, we’re thrilled to bring you our conversation with Natalie Fryer of M2 Property Presentation. We talk about the value that a styled property can bring when looking to sell, some quick things you can do to increase the desirability of your home for inspection, and things to look for when viewing inspections. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Natalie’s background, and how M2 came about; How styling isn’t just making the property more visually appealing, but also strategically setting up each room for best purpose; How a stylist can help in a competitive market; Collecting clutter and why it’s so important; How to choose a stylist, and why it’s worth seeing some comparable properties to get an idea of what can be done; How a styling campaign works; What a partial styling is; How to make the property stand out from others for those important photos to list; How colour dramatically changes a room; Making the property for purpose to the target audience; Making an emotional connection with

This week, we sit down with Steve Koelewyn of Aus Inspect for a conversation about building and pest inspections. Steve shares his views on the industry, what’s important to take in to consideration when looking to purchase, and how to keep your property in great shape. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Steve’s background, and how he started in his early years; What he has learned from undertaking over 10,000 inspections; Why it may be important to get an independent report, rather than a subsidised or free copy at an inspection prepared by the vendor; Why a full inspection will take up to three hours, and can’t be done just by going through the property at an open; The code relating to inspections and why the base model may not be sufficient to get an understanding of what you’re purchasing; How to see through the façade and touch-ups made for inspection; Termite issues and ongoing maintenance; Moisture, both how to look for issues with it, as well as preventing them in your own home; How mu

This week, we sit down with Lola Digby-Diercks of Nightingale Housing. Nightingale Housing is leading a housing revolution in our major cities by constructing multi-residential buildings that are financially, socially, and environmentally sustainable. HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Some background on the Nightingale Model; What it means to develop driven by social, environmental, and financial sustainability; The Baugruppen Model and how it’s been used in Europe to date; How the group buys in to the project; Why it’s focussing on providing affordable housing for owner-occupiers; Complementing businesses such as not for profit cafes in the commercial spaces; Ensuring that commercial tenants share similar core values; Using a balloting system for each apartment; Providing housing for key service workers; Getting buy-in from designers and architects to have their own space in the project; Why Nightingale has focussed to date on Melbourne; Plans for the future; And How and where to find out mo

This week, we dive in to the housing affordability issue in Sydney. Michelle shares some survey results and contrasts the way Sydney is tackling the issue to the way Singapore has looked to provide solutions to their own problems. Marcus provides an example of borrowing power and how to potentially increase it with some quick fixes.   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   Population growth through 2050; How all five major cities in Australia ranked in the Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey; How many developments are built as a speculative financial asset rather than purpose built housing; Housing affordability relative to wages and other expenses over the past 30 years; Social and health impacts that lack of affordability has caused; How Singapore has tackled its own problems with affordability; How the first home buyer concessions may artificially inflate prices for first home buyers; The public’s attitude to affordability and how that has changed over the past decade; A bank’

This week, we continue our suburb deep dive series on the Sydney Property Insider Podcast via our Suburb Spotlight! Today, we’re focussing on the leafy suburb of Naremburn. We discuss the history of the suburb, the demographics, upcoming development work, as well as the day-to-day specifics like local cafes, schools and transport   HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The history of Naremburn; The original residents of the suburb; Tram and ferry access through the 1930’s; Entry level prices; Price data over past few years; How tightly held property in the suburb is; Transport links to the CBD; Public transport on the way for the area; Proximity to Royal North Shore Hospital; School zoning; Necessities in proximity; Why parking is particular important when looking to purchase in this area; And Dog friendly parks nearby   LINKS OR ARTICLES WE MENTIONED:   Naremburn Progress org edu.au School Finder   SPEAKERS IN TODAY’S EPISODE Michelle May - Sydney Buyers Agent Marcus Roberts - Mortgage Broker

This week, Michelle takes us through her property inspection tips and tricks, giving you time-saving hacks to zoom in on the right property for you, and freeing up your Saturdays to see, well, other properties.     HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL LEARN FROM TODAY’S EPISODE:   The first step in your selection process, and why Google Maps can be your best friend; Yellow roads, and why they’re important; Public transport links, and when close can be too close; What to look out for when next to a commercial property; Using street view to get an idea of the property and surrounds before inspection; History of sales for the property and warning signs; Infrastructure plans that may affect the property; The minimum width that Michelle looks at for a terrace house interior; Bedrooms without windows; Think about living in the property and simple things like the distance of the bathroom from the bedroom; Outdoor vs indoor space; Bringing a tape measure to judge your own furniture in the space; Rising damp, and how to look out for i