There’s been plenty of attention on this week’s Federal Budget after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg put a clear focus on creating jobs and lifting the economy out of recession. However, was there enough in the budget to help property markets?

Statement by Philip Lowe, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision

September marked a striking turn in housing market sentiment; consumer confidence increased, new listings rose, and six of the eight capital cities recorded a rise in home values over the month, according to the Core Logic Home Value Index.

In the current climate, we are starting to see a big push away from CBDs, with both investors and homebuyers looking to regional areas and even interstate to find properties. With the low level of stock on the market, it is causing a number of buyers to put in offers on properties without ever seeing them. For many people, the idea of buying property sight unseen could be a scary proposition, however, there are a number of things you can do to make sure you’re mitigating any risks.

To own, or to rent? That's the question many investors and home owners ask themselves. So how do you know which option is better for your hip pocket, now and for your future?  The location of your property can help determine which avenue is smarter. This infographic shows the top three suburbs in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales that make more sense to purchase than to rent. 

All the focus at the moment remains on how COVID will impact the economy and house prices in the weeks and months ahead. As has been the case for some time now, the forecast of large scale falls in property prices doesn’t appear to be happening. And in certain segments of the market, property prices are remaining very strong underpinned by low stock levels and high demand.

Despite the fears for 30 per cent price falls, property markets across the country are remaining resilient.

Early in the year, 2020 was shaping up as another very strong one for property investors. On the back of a big end to 2019, where house prices in Sydney and Melbourne in particular, started to rebound strongly, there was a lot of positivity in the air. Then come mid-March, COVID hit and the ensuing lock-downs across the country ground real estate activity to a halt. As the saying goes, ‘crisis breeds opportunity’ and the current market is now offering up a range of possibilities for investors that weren’t present only months ago. Here are a few ways to take advantage of the current market conditions in 2020.

The discount property investment strategy involves purchasing investment property below valuation, not below the vendor’s asking price. 

Being able to review the growth trends of a suburb over a long period of time can help you identify suburbs that will provide potential long-term growth. Past growth isn't an indicator of guaranteed future growth but it does provide an indication that there has been demand in the area.

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Understanding the level of vendor discounting in an area is important as it can help you determine the level of demand for property in the area.

New CoreLogic research has identified the best performing locations for average annual capital growth in every city over the past decade. 

  Property investors and property professionals are always asking us how we differ from CoreLogic RP Data and APM Pricefinder. We partner with both platforms giving you access to two of the very best property research and property data tools available in Australia. Pair your preferred property data and research tool with Real Estate Investar's powerful search and analysis tools. Our property investment platform enables property investors to replace emotional decision making with data-driven property investing, with access to the same tools the property professionals use. Both RP Data and PriceFinder provide the latest property research and property data tools for desktop valuations and reports, verified and obtained direct from the Valuer General's Office. Read more for a brief overview of some of the key differences between RP Data and Pricefinder and our special Real Estate Investar pricing options.

One of the areas of research to help property investors determine the demand for an area is the average days on market (DOM). This statistic will help you determine the level of demand for property in the area as it is a measure on how long it takes property to sell. Real Estate Investar provides data on this statistic to help property investors understand how quickly a property will sell.