Kahn May Real Estate - Wellington, New Zealand

Bang for buck guide to adding to property value

It’s an age-old debate and the main conversation topic in many appraisals over the years. Owners want to spend a proportion of money on their home to get it ready for market, but understandably not too much, and even more pertinent is not wanting to put money into a black hole. Every house is different and contains its own nuances, meaning that they all have different needs in terms of what will add value but hopefully, this blog starts the wheels turning in your gray matter.

Should I sell my investment property?

Lets cut to the chase – I don’t believe you should be selling a good investment property unless you absolutely have to. Most properties will be looking after your money and future a lot better than a bank right now. You probably brought your investment property for the long-term goal of making capital gain and providing yourself an income of sorts which hopefully it is doing (if not an income yet than hopefully capital gain). We are adamant that property is an excellent vehicle to assist in financial security.

Don’t wait for that perfect home before offering!

Put that offer in, even if it isn’t your dream home. That is my advice for those anxious first home buyers or those who have been searching for that ‘perfect’ home. It usually takes at least a couple of offers before you are successful and I believe it is an important learning curve to throw yourself in and put your offer out there.

Anti-money laundering (AML): Don’t be offended if we ask for ID

You may or may not have heard of the new AML (anti-money laundering) regulations that have come into play for the real estate industry from the 1^st of January 2019. These regulations give agents obligations around information gathering and reporting suspicious activity.

Buy smart to avoid property pains – yield vs capital growth

Congratulations, you are in a financial position to consider an investment property. Let’s talk about what makes a good investment. The two main factors property investors seem to concentrate on are yield and capital growth.

Real estate isn’t all nice cars and hot coffee

It’s not an easy ride. I can attest to that. I have had many friends and family say over the years how easy making a healthy living in real estate must be. My reply is usually something along the lines of “obtain the necessary qualifications and go for it”.

5 ways to help predict what a home will sell for?

A common question posed to me by those looking to buy is “what is the asking price for this property” or “what are the owners looking for”. I realise that trying to come to a decision on what price to offer is one of the hardest, if not the hardest thing to do after deciding you have found “the one”.

Back to basics: What is a real estate “cycle”?

I am not going to claim to be Nostradamus when it comes to predicting the market perfectly, the first house I brought over 10 years ago, I sold a few years later for a grand loss of $36,000 (I am sure that wasn’t a chapter in the real estate investing 101 handbook haha.)

I want half! What happens when couples part?

I think we would be lying if we said we didn’t think about what would happen with the assets if you split up with your partner after you had been together for some time…. Especially if you initially brought more to the table financially than your partner did. As someone who is getting married, as much as I love my partner and know that we will be together forever and a day, these things still have crossed my mind.

Who to list with? Is it smart to list with a #1 agent in your area?

So, the time has come, your home may be too small, you may be moving cities, whatever the reason you have decided to up sticks and sell your most prized possession. Who do you choose to sell your property? How do you make sure that the agent you employ will achieve the best result…?