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Aussies spent more on home renovations last year than in any other period since records began in the 1970s, but soaring costs are beginning to dent DIY dreams. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics building approvals data, the value of alterations and additions approved hit a staggering $12.49 billion in 2021, surging 35% compared to the year before. Another tricky thing to consider is today the fourth local builder was announced as going broke.  It is important that your builder can see your project through to completion. How do you choose a builder? Renovations requiring approval typically include changes to the structure of the building. Usually, a simple kitchen or bathroom uplift doesn’t include those types of changes so wouldn’t be included in the building approvals data. That means the actual value of all renovations is likely to have well surpassed even the record levels shown. Renovation activity surged last year to reco...

In July, Australian home values were -2.0% lower than the peak in April 2022. On top of price declines, many other data points suggest a slowing in market conditions. Properties are taking longer to sell, vendors are gradually lowering their prices, and reduced appetite for finance means there is less buyer competition amid a larger number of properties available for sale. For those considering purchasing their first home, does this mean it is a good time to buy? While buyers may aspire to purchase at the bottom of the cycle and then sell at the top, ultimately, it’s notoriously difficult to time the market perfectly. Further to this, most buyers and sellers will generally work towards a more practical timetable based on their personal situation and housing requirements or investment strategy. Even when prices fall, it’s not a straightforward decision to get into the market. Here I explore some of the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ associated with buying pr...

Anyone that has been driving around Brisbane’s northside over the past few year will recognise that the volume of traffic on our roads is increasing all the time. We have seen some changes that have had a positive impact, like the Everton Park link road from Stafford Rd to South Pine Rd.  Hasn’t that been a good move! However the problem of increasing road user still exists and research by the Brisbane City Council identified:- It found northern Brisbane’s annual congestion and public transport crowding was costing $312 million per year. That would rise to $538.5m by 2031 and $859m by 2041. The North West Transport Corridor has been set aside now for many years by the State government for a future main transport corridor.  It is set to run through the middle of Everton Park, McDowall and Bridgeman Downs. Stretching from Carseldine to Alderley and including the Chermside Hills Reserve, the land was a “significant ...