Safe Decisions Can Make the Most of Your Holiday

December 16, 2011 Leave a comment

Stay safe this holiday season

People heading off on holidays should make sure homes are left safe and secure and to think carefully, if considering a holiday home purchase.

Holidays are great times for criminals to get to work if they believe a home is empty and it’s also a time when vacationers ponder their existence as they sit back and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle on offer in popular holiday spots.

But careful planning and forward thinking is required during the holidays to ensure they make the right decisions.

Anyone considering heading off for a well-deserved rest should start now to put some simple, cost effective measures in place for while they are away such as turning on security lights or alarm systems, asking the assistance of a trusted friend, neighbour or family member to collect the mail each day, putting out bins at collection times, parking a car in the driveway or adjusting curtains and blinds for that lived in look that deters unfriendly and unwelcome visitors.

A common trend for people on vacation is to fall in love with the holiday spot and look at purchasing in the area to either move into, or retire to, at some later stage in their lives.

But, purchasing a holiday home should only be done after careful planning and consideration of all the factors, beyond the pleasant experience.

Financial considerations need to be taken into account as they have potential long-term impacts and tax implications such as attracting capital gains tax on the difference between the purchase price and the later sale price, should the decision to sell ever arise.

Holiday home owners need to expand their purchase cost base by adding the expenses involved with holding the property, including council rates and water bills, major extensions or repairs, strata levies, garden maintenance and interest on mortgage repayments to reduce the taxable component of the sale, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

A holiday home can also double as an investment property, given it is vacant for most of the year, so it is important to ensure it is close to transport or employment opportunities, especially if it is in regional areas, otherwise it will be less desirable as an accommodation option for renters.

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Renting Versus Buying – The Housing Dilemma

December 6, 2011 Leave a comment

Is now the right time to rent or buy?
Is now the right time to rent or buy?

Current market conditions coupled with increasing housing affordability, has many renters questioning if now is the time to stretch their budgets and commit to buying their own home.

But serious consideration needs to be given to the person’s individual and financial situation to ensure they make the right decision.

The advantages of each housing option should be weighed against the drawbacks to find the one that best suits specific needs and individual situations.

Renting offers great flexibility with the option to relocate from home to home and area to area, as the need arises, is often a cheaper alternative to buying, with monthly rental payments usually less than a mortgage repayment for a comparable property and without the other incidental costs which can be incurred as a home owner.

One of the greatest financial and stress-free advantages of renting is that property maintenance costs, repairs, rates and insurance bills are the responsibility of the owner, and not the renter.

Despite these many advantages of renting a property, there are some disadvantages which will make buying preferable, particularly in light of escalating monthly rentals.  The most obvious one being the difficulty renters face placing their own personal stamp on a rental property.

There is also the fact landlords can inspect their property whenever they wish, with sufficient notice, potentially disturbing the renter’s privacy.

But the biggest disadvantage of renting is that the property can never be paid off by the tenant, making the money lost for good, without any chance of recovering it in a sale of the property.

This is where First National can really help.  We offer advice and assistance based on the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to understand the market, its trends and its weaknesses and opportunities to ensure home buyers and renters make the most of their finances over the long term by considering the impact on personal net wealth and cash flow over a lifetime.

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Lend A Hand For Renters

November 28, 2011 Leave a comment

Is NRAS is losing its edge as affordability improves?

While the network supports NRAS in principle, it is no longer effectively impacting on rising rents, leaving those most in need of assistance flailing in their efforts to make ends meet.

First National is calling on the government to look at changing NRAS so it has more relevance and achieves what it set out to do, or consider other forms of assistance such as bringing back some of the grants and other incentives that were obviously phased out too soon.

First National says while it is good news for the property market to get first home buyer activity increasing as a result of the market conditions, it is not good when it is done at the expense of those renters who can least afford it.

Struggling renters need access to assistance schemes that meet their circumstances and offer real assistance, which NRAS initially did, but has since failed to recognise the growing demand of assistance required, making it obsolete.

We don’t see property market conditions altering too dramatically in the near future, and certainly not to the extent that they will improve the situation soon enough.

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Do I really need Landlord insurance?

November 18, 2011 Leave a comment

Not all tenantsare bad, but you do need to make sure you are covered
Guard against this sort of nightmare...
Guard against this sort of nightmare…

should something go wrong.

While most tenants take good care of the proper they are leasing, those that don’t may intentionally cause extensive damage. Intentional damage is not covered by many standard home insurance policies nor is the failure to pay rent.

The valuable common features of a Landlord Insurance policy include:

  • Malicious or intentional damage to the property by the tenant or their guests
  • Theft by the tenant or their guests
  • Loss of rent if the tenant defaults on their payments
  • Liability, including for a claim against you by the tenant, and
  • Legal expenses incurred in taking action against a tenant.

It’s important to remember that not all landlord protection policies are the same. Some, for instance, are designed to be used in addition to a typical home and contents or strata title policy while others are more comprehensive.

Some policies allow cover for the contents of the property. This is particularly important if you rent a partially or fully furnished property. Speak to your First National Property Manager and they will be able to help you find the right policy.

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What’s the best way to combat mould in your home?

November 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Unsightly, unhealthy and unwelcome...
Unsightly, unhealthy and unwelcome…

Mould spores are always present in the air around us which is why it is so important to keep your home properly ventilated.

As simple plants belonging to the fungi group, these tiny aviators need moisture in the air and are always on the lookout for a nice enclosed area in your home where ventilation is poor. That’s why cupboards and wardrobes often present the ideal moisture and temperature combination for mould and mildew to thrive.

To combat mould, you need to reduce moisture levels, consider insulation and increase ventilation.

Ideally, start by opening the windows to create cross ventilation regularly. This is the most energy efficient and inexpensive approach. Too cold? Alright, but open the windows just a little. Remember, the important thing is to keep air moving.

Next, check what’s going on with insulation. Insulation prevents heat loss from walls and ceilings, thereby keeping a room warmer. When the walls and ceiling are warmer, moisture is less likely to condense on these surfaces, so your home is kept dryer.

Alternatively, another common method is to use an electric dehumidifyer. Most hardware and department stores can recommend the appropriately sized unit for your affected room.

Other areas that mould and mildew really enjoy are closets and the clothes they contain. As moulds grow they cause considerable damage. Mildew secretes an enzyme that decomposes organic matter and uses it for growth and reproduction. It often leaves a musty odour in clothes and causes unsightly black stains and rot.

One well-tested and successful method is to place a small low wattage electric light globe, say between 40 and 60 watts. The dry heat prevents mildew and mould growth although this can be expensive.

Many people prefer to buy chemical dehumidifyers such as ‘Damp Rid’ and ‘Closet Camel’ at the supermarket or hardware store. These small plastic buckets contain refillable mineral salts that absorb moisture, collecting it below in a small reservoir that you need to empty periodically.

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Real Estate Rumble for iPhone

October 31, 2011 Leave a comment

First National Real Estate has created an iPhone application titled Real Estate Rumble, through long-term advertising agency Spinach.

The object of the game is to build your dream home. However, an evil nemesis seeks to destroy the fruits of your labour and will stop at nothing until your lovely new home has toppled into rack and ruin. You have a diverse range of
materials to build with while trying to defend your precious structure against a ruthless backyard onslaught!

The game is free to download, simple enough for everyone to enjoy, but complex enough to keep gamers coming back time and time again. Customers can download their free game from Apple’s iTunes Store or the App Store; just search

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Agents Should Rate In Energy Scheme

October 20, 2011 Leave a comment

First National Real Estate believes real estate agents have a role to play in any national mandatory disclosure energy efficient rating scheme, so long as it is the right role.

The proper policy and regulations need to be in place, and the appropriate people prescribed the role they are best suited to play.

A national and consistent approach is crucial to any future success of a scheme of this nature.  Current state-based schemes already produce inconsistent ratings and results due to software flaws or subjective interpretation of results often compounded by a lack of correlation between actual energy performance of houses and their star ratings.

The real solution to the mandatory disclosure issue lays with government and industry working together.

Government needs to get the scheme right and put it in place with appropriate support strategies, both in terms of financial resources and implementation, which means getting the regulations and policies passed, educating the general public on the benefits of energy efficiency ratings and funding ongoing research and development.

It then falls to real estate agents to promote the ratings through the marketing of the properties they have on their books to buyers and lessors.

The real question is how assessors are selected and trained and accredited.  It is important that they are independent of the real estate profession so no potential conflict of interest is perceived by consumers.

The First National Real Estate network is committed to environmentally efficient principles and prides itself on its green initiatives – it fully supports a national mandatory disclosure of energy efficient ratings scheme, as long as all players act in the interest of the environment.

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Get the job done! Win one of five $5,000 hardware vouchers

October 1, 2011 Leave a comment

First National Burnie has launched a competition where homeowners or home hunters have five chances to win $5,000 in gift vouchers from Bunnings hardware in October.

Australians love do it yourself projects so there’s always huge interest in our competitions where the prize helps get another home improvement finished.

Whether you own your own home or rent, there’s a lot of useful equipment or even home furnishings that you can buy with $5,000 worth of hardware gift vouchers.

During the competition, we’ll also be offering a free iPhone game called Real Estate Rumble.

Real Estate Rumble is just for fun. You don’t have to play the game for a chance to win one of the five competition prizes but, like building up a real estate portfolio, the game is addictive.

Download your free version from Apple’s iTunes Store; just search ‘real estate rumble’.

Enter our competition by visiting www.burniefirstnational.com.au and follow the prompts to register between 1 October 2011 and 11.59 pm AEDST on 31 October 2011.

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Welcome Kurt Nayler to the Sale Team

July 14, 2011 Leave a comment

A professional and energetic young property consultant, Kurt Nayler brings a fresh perspective to the market. Friendly and approachable with an open and genuine manner, Kurt has a firm commitment to providing clients with a positive sales experience.

Kurt’s greatest motivation is ensuring a fantastic end result for clients and has immersed himself in training and skills development that will contribute to his success and outstanding results. He believes First National Burnie can offer more to his vendors through its innovative marketing strategies, industry leading technology, and comprehensive buyer database.

Kurt is driven by integrity, knowledge and results. He believes that clear, open communication, local knowledge and the right energy will guarantee premium results every time.

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Step Up The Property Ladder Sooner

July 14, 2011 1 Comment

First National Real Estate says first home buyers could be staking out their own patch of turf sooner than they imagined, despite spiraling weekly rents, rising living costs and home prices that have begun gently rising again in parts of the country. 

The first step is to get together a deposit. This can be made easier by starting with simple things like cutting back on luxury habits, cooking more meals at home and taking lunch to work rather than eating out.  Doing that five days a week, will really get the piggy bank started.

Cutting back on other socialising activities so that a night out is enjoyed once a fortnight, instead of weekly or more frequently can also save money. 

With both established homes and greenfield properties in new suburbs on the city fringes becoming out of reach, first home buyers need to start being a bit more strategic in their thinking and look at things in a different light.  They should consider staying at home longer where much lower rents could be paid and parents might even consider saving the rent to help them get their deposit together.

But, the best thing to do is to seek the services of a financial planner and adviser as they have the expertise and knowledge to assist with your financial needs in the way that best suits the income and lifestyle of the individual.

First home buyers are an important segment of the Australian property market and it is incumbent upon governments and the industry to ensure there are affordable housing options for all sectors.

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