Hot Property – March
Olivia Newton-John home on the market Two years after Olivia Newton-John shot to fame on the back of the 1978 film, Grease, she flew to Ballina to look for refuge. She bought a property north of the township of…
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My Love Affair With A Dead Sri Lankan Architect
I have a love affair with a dead architect called Geoffrey Bawa. This love affair goes hand in hand with my passion for Sri Lanka, since Bawa is Sri Lanka’s pre-eminent architect. He died in 2003, and his work has…
10 Touch-up Tips To Help Sell Your Home
As a vendor’s advocate, I often have to advise a seller on how to best present their home. Many owners are just about to do the most expensive and least beneficial things. 9 out 10 times it is best not…
Around The Traps – March
Brunswick Heads Set For Sea Change #2 The popular TV series from the 90s, Sea Change, is getting a reboot and will be filmed in Brunswick Heads. Local producer, Deb Cox, and production company, Every Cloud Productions, will once again…
Hot Property – February
Jonson St. Byron Bay The main street of Byron Bay will be seeing some changes over the next few years. A lot of this transformation will be driven by the Byron Masterplan process, which began a few years ago. But…
When is a good time to buy?
Where, not when. Terry Ryder from Hotspotting: Here’s the dumbest question an investor can ask: is this a good time to buy real estate? The question shows a fundamental and dangerous lack of understanding about property. A much smarter question…
Market Watch – 2019
There is lots of chatter in the media about a property crash. Property prices are either booming or busting – both scenarios are good for selling papers and creating click bait. Our local property market has certainly cooled from last…
Around the traps
Unique Estates Principal Fronts Court Nicolette Van Wijngaarden appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney last Thursday. The former principal of luxury real estate agency, Unique Estates, is facing 10 charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception,…
Build-to-Rent – The Next Big Thing
Infrastructure delivery The Victorian Government achieved a stunning success at the recent state elections. The Andrew’s Labour Government proclaim themselves to be Australia’s most progressive government and are being rewarded for delivering on that agenda. One area where they are…
Financial Planning Advice – Without (Royal) Commission
What should a good financial planner/adviser be doing in this present market/environment to assist a client. An adviser needs to be genuinely empathetic to listen well; have experience with all phases of life; and clarify any issues and opportunities with…
Byron Bay Hot Property – December
Such variety of Byron Bay hot properties for December/January… Kooringal, Federal This magnificent estate (pictured) is on 26 acres just outside of Federal. The home is much more than just the four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms that is listed. It has…
Let’s Make Byron Great Again!
Change is gonna come “The only constant is change itself” – apparently. When I first settled here in the mid 80’s, dole and dope were at the centre of the economy. Many lived from dole cheque to dole cheque and…
Around the Traps
Mercato on Byron Many of you will have noticed the progress of the new structure in Byron on Jonson Street in Woolworth’s south plaza. The ‘Mercato on Byron’ is taking shape and aiming to open in March 2019. The complex…
Nicolette and Unique Estates
The founder of Unique Estates, Nicolette van Wijngaarden, could go to jail for up to 10 years if found guilty. Fifteen charges of fraud have been made against the previously successful real estate agent who ran the luxury brand….
Byron Bay Hot Property – November
Blackwood House, 78 Owenia Way, Broken Head This property is in the feature shot heading this article. It was recently sold by Frank Mlikota and Tim Miller from Parkinson’s for $3.8M. Tim Miller is now with Parkinson’s after a long stint…
Around the Traps – November
Market Watch Generally, the national market is trending down. Melbourne and Sydney are in the doldrums. Sydney median house prices have come down around 8% and Melbourne is off by 5.2%. A prime market indicator is the auction clearance rate….
In The Future… the death of the internal combustion engine and much more
A gasoline engine has 20,000 individual parts. An electric motor has 20. Electric cars are sold with lifetime guarantees and are only repaired by dealers. It takes only 10 minutes to remove and replace an electric motor. Faulty electric…
Short Term Holiday Let Legislation
The short-term holiday letting debate (STHL) has done yet another circuit around the ring. This time the NSW gov have done their best to bed the problem down. Only time will tell whether this new piece of legislation will be…
Around The Traps – October 2018
Market watch The national media continue to misrepresent the property market. It is true that Sydney and Melbourne are in decline and have seen a reduction in median price since this time last year (6% Sydney, 3.5% Melbourne). But as…
Byron Bay Hot Property – October 2018
Monster landed on Seven Mile Beach Hollywood actor, Chris Hemsworth and Spanish wife Elsa Pataky, are spending close to $9M on their massive beach house. The property is on Seven Mile Beach just south of Broken Head. Some locals are…
What Should You Be Told Before Buying A House?
WHAT SHOULD A VENDOR TELL YOU? Buying a house is probably one of the most important purchases a person will make. Many people think the vendor is required to disclose matters that affect the property value, particularly if the buyer…
Problems You Can’t See Searching Online
NEW TECHNOLOGY With new technology making it easier than ever before for home buyers and investors to research property, buyer’s advocates say there are hidden flaws that require an experienced eye and an expert inspection to avoid costly mistakes. Real…
Council Shenanigans
Byron Shire Council loves to be different. We are the rebels in the pack who like to do things our way. Whether it is changing Australia Day or clocking up the biggest legal bills at the Land and Environment Court,…
Around The Traps
Byron Bay real estate – market watch So far, the Byron Bay real estate remains firm. There is still a deep demand for good property and buyers are prepared to pay over market value for good stock. This includes anything…
Melbourne No Longer Most Livable City
WHAT IS A MOST LIVEABLE CITY? Melbourne lost its “most liveable city” title and is confronting being runner-up to Vienna after seven years at the top. These rankings are based on The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index, which “assesses…
Byron Bay Hot Property – September 2018
168 Tandy’s Lane Tyagarah This is the stand out Byron Bay Hot Property for this month. The Cape Retreat is one of the most beautiful properties in the bay. It sits at the end of Tandys Lane, Tyagarah looking over…
How to Win at Auction
There is no simple auction strategy that will guarantee a win. Basically, its the last person standing. But there are a lot of little tips and tactics that can be employed to assist a win at an auction. The best…
Make the Tourists Pay!
Tourism Contribution Lots of issues animate our local residents. One of them is the Byron Bay bed tax – or how to get tourists contribute to the upkeep of the place. Byron Bay gets over two million visitors every year….
Market Watch, Interest Rates, Banks, etc.
Byron Bay Property Market Watch I will be watching our local market over the next couple of months with great interest. We had a slight blimp over the end of the financial year period, but generally property here is remaining…
Fixing Migration Growth with Medium Density: will it work?
Two unrelated stories hit my in-tray this week. It did not take much imagination to see how they are connected. Migration growth and the medium density zoning. Join the dots. The first story outlined how the new state gov planning…
Stories From the Property Front Lines
I find working with people and their journeys through real estate endlessly fascinating. I know many people think it would be a boring industry to be in but thats not true! Dealing with people, their homes and large amounts of…
Byron Bay Hot Property – August 2018
A selection of interesting Hot Property listings on the market in August. 18 Tincogan St Mullumbimby This is one of the grand old homes of Mullumbimby. Built in the 1890s, this stately old home has 12 foot, pressed metal ceilings…
Around The Traps
Unique Estates Update Bankrupted real estate agent, Nicolette van Wijngaarden, principal of the luxury agency, Unique Estates, recently surfaced in Melbourne. It seems Ms Wijngaarden took a job with Melbourne agency Dingle Partners, selling units through five agencies in inner-city Melbourne….
Traveller’s Tales and the Art of the Side Hustle
Most of last month I was on the road in Sri Lanka. These days you can be anywhere with an internet connection and still run a business. I moved into a new hotel every other day, set up my laptop,…
Byron Bay Hot Property – July
Byron Bay real estate news: Barebones Gallery, Bangalow Barebones art gallery and residence in Bangalow has been sold. It’s on 304 square metres at 44 Byron Street. Barebones Gallery was run by Ruth Ryan, and her daughter Karen, and became a…
Wrapping Up Unique
The liquidator is part way through the long process of wrapping up the Unique Estate mess. The ATO is the biggest creditor after the collapse of the leading Australian boutique estate agency. It ceased trading earlier this year with PPB recently appointed…
Around The Traps – July
July Byron Bay Real Estate News: Byron winter festival season, Council’s new general manager, Mullumbimby gateway revitalisation, South Byron sewerage, more industrial estates, and Byron wedding issues. Byron Council Biz: New General Manager The Byron Council GM Ken Grainger, retired…
Don’t Make Home Buying Mistakes
When it comes to home buying mistakes, I’ve observed just about every one there is. Some examples are; letting a great home slip through your fingers because of indecision; putting agents and vendors offside; getting emotional; being too influenced by a…
Byron Property Market Watch
Such an interesting property market at the moment it needs a whole article on its own. Sydney and Melbourne trend In Australia, there is currently no single market but a patchwork-quilt of different areas. One area can be in high demand,…
Byron Bay Hot Property – June 2018
Coorabell Springs, Keyes Road, Coorabell Keyes Road, Coorabell is seeing a bit of rural development. Firstly the site of Rocking Horse Music Studios has had a facelift and is getting bookings for music recording with accommodation attached. Its great the…
Short-Term Holiday Letting Hits the Wall
Dramatic developments in the ongoing Short-Term Holiday Letting (STHL) saga came to the fore last month. Just when NSW state government was about to introduce their brand new policy, everything went pear-shaped and the excrement hit the air circulation device….
Mythbusters: Buyers Agents
If you are familiar with the television program MythBusters, you know their goal is to put to test myths and urban legends that have been going around for donkey’s years and prove whether they are right or just that –…
Around The Traps – June
WHO’S CREATIVE? WE ARE. New research from the Regional Australia Institute has shown that Byron Bay is the most creative region in Australia outside of the capital cities. Duh! I hope they didn’t pay a heap of consultants lots of…
Byron Bay Hot Property – May 2018
Luxury, barefoot elegance, and the ultimate in clean living: Byron Bay hot property continues to offer opportunities for chilled-out lifestyles. Here’s our local knowledge on how you can get into your happy place, and other possibilities in the Byron Bay…
Finding The Right Listing Price
Pricing your home for sale Pricing your home for sale is tricky and requires finding the right balance. A low price point will encourage a quick sale but you could walk away with a sum below true market value. Listing…
Around The Traps
Market Update The Byron Bay real estate market is steady as she goes. There is still ongoing demand for good property in good locations. The expected rise in product and new listings as we move into winter did not eventuate…
Hot tips to help sell your home
The Byron Bay real estate market is increasingly competitive; buyers are savvy and often not prepared to compromise. Spending extra time in styling, presentation and marketing could be worth it at the end of the day. Here are 10 hot…
The Council Quagmire: To Develop, or Not to Develop?
I often go on about how good we have it here, but Byron Shire is not without issues and problems. It may be a first world problem as it is difficult being so popular? How do we protect what we…
Byron Bay Hot Property – April 2018
Byron Bay Hot Property Picks 104 Yagers Lane, Skinners Shoot This is a truly remarkable property and a dream home for the lucky new owner. If you leave Byron Bay town along Skinners Shoot Road and turn left near the…
Will There Be A Crash?
Despite mainly overseas commentators continuing to predict that the “bubble is about to burst” for Australian property, and in the absence of an international trigger event, Australia seems well placed in a macro sense. As we have said many times…
Around The Traps
Winning destinations Domain just released the nine best holiday homes to stay in for a long weekend. Byron Shire, of course, won the two top spots: #1 was The Chalet in Kingsley Street, Byron. It is billed as Palm Springs…
Sri Lanka Tour Update
What do Byron Bay, Sri Lanka, Amalfi Coast have in common? They are the three most beautiful places in the world – in my opinion. Every year I have been travelling to Sri Lanka for business and pleasure. This year,…
Let’s Build a Studio or Granny Flat
I occasionally get asked whether it’s a good idea to build a studio or a granny flat. It depends a lot on your individual circumstances but in this article I give some info that may help with the decision-making process….
Byron Bay Hot Property – March 18
Belongil Dreaming Byron Bay hot property includes ten vacant blocks of land on Belongil Beach Byron are back on the market. The valuable parcel of land was being offered up in one piece for a while with a price tag…
No Longer Unique
Upmarket real estate agency Unique Estates has bitten the dust. The principal, Nicolette Van Wijngaarden, founded the agency in Byron Bay in 2009 and it grew to seven offices including Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Hong Kong. The agency concentrated…
Handy Tips for Auctions
Sydney based buyer’s agent, Patrick Bright from EPS Property Search, has written a book giving excellent tips on buying or selling at an auction. This is an excerpt from “An Insiders Guide to Saving Thousands at Auctions: and available online….
Around the Traps
Byron Hospital site Jury may be still out on whether the Mullumbimby hospital site is worth a dollar. But the Byron Bay Hospital may have an interesting future and will certainly be worth more than a dollar. NSW Health Minister…
Death By Tourism
Byron Bay is not the only place having a problem with popularity. Other tourist destinations in the world have a similar predicament where demand is out pacing the capacity to cope. Increasing density, cheap airfares, and people’s desire for an…
Around the Traps
News and updates on everything thats happening with Byron Bay property, real estate, council and gossip: 2016 census; koala study; celebrity visits; Elements and Habitat; Rail Trail; New Democracy movement. 2016 Census The results from the 2016 census gives some…
Housing Regulation Fears Unfounded
Fears Australia’s housing market would suffer if landlords faced increased regulation are unfounded, an international review has found. In countries with similar incentives for mum and dad investors, stronger regulations protecting tenants did not lead to a big drop-off in investors or subsequent house price…
No Let Up for Holiday Let
No let up for holiday let For those new to the shire, or been living under a rock, one of our major battle lines has been over holiday letting. The quick uptake of AirBNB and other accommodation sharing sites…
Hot Property – February
41 Marine Parade, Wategos Beach A new listing will break the previous price record in Byron. 41 Marine Parade, Wategos Beach, known as “Whale Watchers”, is looking for offers over $18.5 million. 41 Marine Parade is the most easterly house…
Go Surfing with the NRCF
The Northern Rivers Community Foundation had its grants recipient event last month. The NRCF gives away over $200,000 to worthy community groups every year. One of the recipients for 2017 was the Disabled Surfing Association who got nifty beach wheelchairs….
Hot Property – December
25 Friday Hut Road, Tintenbar This modern contemporary home On Friday Hut Road Tintenbar just sold for $2.18 million in March. It made the Homely.com.au list of most spectacular Aussie Homes sold in 2017. Boasting countryside vistas, an infinity edge…
The Art of Spending Other People’s Money
As a property buyer’s agent for nearly 20 years, I get to spend a lot of OPM – that means other people’s money. That may sound like fun, but it comes with responsibilities and obligations. It also requires a degree…
Around the Traps – December 2017
Debunking the Supply Side Argument Finally the old mantra politicians have been sprouting for years has been disproved. It did seem like common sense that house price rises must be due to lack of supply. Thats what made it possible…
Rail Trail
Why did this American donate $17k to the rail trail? The Northern Rivers Rail Trail has been given a boost with a $17,500 donation from a cycling enthusiast. Brian Hodges moved to the area one year ago from Santa Barbara…
Why Australia’s Population Growth Only Tells Half The Story
Australia’s population is closing in on 24.7 million following its biggest quarterly jump in nine years, but the counters presenting that impressive figure have a hefty blind spot. In fact, it’s really only half the story. The Bureau of Statistics reports…
Byron Shire Becoming Unaffordable For Buyers Too
An Ocean Shores auction last Saturday. Photo Jeff Dawson The boom in the local housing market has spread to the fringes of Byron shire and beyond, with new figures suggesting house prices in our outer suburbs and towns have jumped dramatically in…
Hot Property – November
Byron Central As mentioned in Round the Traps, the hot market has settled a little in Byron Bay town. Especially what is know as the Golden Grid. These are the blocks east of the CBD bordered by Marvel, Ruskin and…
Things You Need To Know About Auctions
Auction or Private Treaty I often get asked what’s better, auction or private treaty? There is no set answer, of course, as it really depends on the house and the current market. An auction is certainly better if you have…
Around The Traps – November
Around The Traps – November Round Up As always, the local property market is not uniform. Byron Bay is probably overcooked and is slowing just like Sydney. Towns like Brunswick, Bangalow and Mullumbimby are still hot and there are multiple…
Adding Value Prior To Listing
As a vendors advocate I enjoy advising a seller on how best to present their property. I then work closely with the chosen listing agent to get the best result for the seller. Part of that process is making sure…
Around the Traps – October
Beach Hotel Sold Byron Bay’s iconic Beach Hotel has sold for $70M. It has been purchased by the Liberman family backed Impact Investment Group. The beachfront property is leased to Melbourne pub industry identity John van Haandel on a 10-year lease with a…
Best Sustainable Homes Recognised
The Sustainable House Expo went off well on the weekend of the 16th. A private house in Brushbox Drive, Mullumbimby, opened its doors to visitors to promote their passive solar design. The expo itself was well attended at Seagulls Club…
It’s All About The Regions
With the southern capital cities about to come off their recent highs, many people are predicting a resurgence of interest in regional areas. Both Domain.com and Realestate.com.au ran articles promoting both the affordability and liveability of regional towns and villages….
What’s New in September?
What’s New In September: Auction News The auction clearance rate in Sydney has now fallen below 70%. The clearance rate is a good thermometer on the temperature of the market. It has been around 80% for most of this year….
Why We Need to Re-invent Housing
New emerging housing models are challenging property developers and financiers to completely rethink the current real estate paradigm. The rising demand is for affordable homes, greater connection, shared spaces and community. Think of it as a new style commune. The…
Should We Get Off The Grid?
by Giles Parkinson of reneweconomy.com.au Australian consumers might as well start planning on leaving the grid – at least those who can. There seems no clear line of view that the gouging of consumers by networks, generators, and retailers will…
Share Housing Back in Vogue for Oldies
Share houses are often seen as the exclusive domain of those in their 20s, and something people move on from, but the increasing number of people choosing to return to share-house living is being seen in the older demographic. Marie...
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News Around the Traps
Are You Living in a Heritage Home? Many people in the shire do not know they may be living in a heritage-listed property. All of Bangalow and Mullumbimby central is a heritage area. In Mullum, if you live west of...
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Byron Good Food Guide
Byron Good Food Guide There is a new development on the corner of Fletcher and Lawson where the old council chamber once was. It’s the expansion of the old Byron Bay Beach Hostel and includes four or five new restaurants....
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Action on Affordable Housing
Mayor Simon Richardson has recognised that the affordable housing problem is an ongoing crisis in this shire. It is a nutty problem that is not easily remedied. The mayor has called for any interested parties to come forward and offer...
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Hot Property – July
Roundhouse site for sale The Roundhouse site in Ocean Shores is certainly the saga that keeps on giving. Council copped a serious degree of flack for selling off this site that was once going to be community land. The sale...
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Changes to First Home Owner Grants
In the recent New South Wales budget, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced her housing affordability package. From last Saturday July 1, first home buyers will receive a number of exemptions. First home buyers wont have to pay stamp duty on homes up to...
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Getting the Rail Trail on Track
Readers would be forgiven for not understanding where, what or when is happening with the Rail Trail proposal. For those not up to speed, the Rail Trail is part of the ongoing debate on how to best use the 130...
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Will Prices Come Off?
After any period of strong property growth, the next question is usually: are we going to see a downturn? Potential new buyers are wary to buy at the top of the curve, that’s understandable. But mainly if you are an...
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Lights Camera Action
Lights Camera Action! Byron Bay is about be used as a backdrop as a film set. Local production company Every Cloud Productions is about to shoot Deadlock starting in July. Every Cloud principals are Deb Cox and Fionna Eagger, the...
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Monthly Round Up
Brunswick Eco Village Many of you are aware of the Brunswick Eco Village project on Saddle Road near Brunswick Heads. Kelvin Daly and his family have purchased a large 100-acre rural property and want to turn it into an affordable...
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Mullumbimby Still Strong
Valuation firm Herron Todd White and Property Observer, the online property industry newsletter, did a report on Mullumbimby in May. It said that even though traditional places like Ballina and Byron Bay are still in demand, previously overlooked towns like...
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June Hot Property
Wategos There is Byron Bay.... then there is Wategos. Marine Parade is the premium strip in the premium town in the premium part of the world. 23 Marine Parade is a two-bedroom renovated cottage on 796 M2. Its for sale...
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Who Wants to Live in Byron Bay?
Its winter, but the warm sunlight is coming through the north facing deck. You get up and take the dog for a walk on the beach. The sun is up so the water is just warm enough to take a...
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Hot Property – May
Interest rates on hold The Reserve Bank has again decided to leave official interest rates steady over May. The last change was last August. Many of the banks have still raised rates slightly themselves, outside of the RBA rate. Retail...
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Agents underquoting….again!
Agency Underquoting is in the news again. The NSW government recently conducted a crackdown on unethical agents underquoting a listing in order to get more action around a sale. It inspected 124 real estate businesses checking documents to ensure the...
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Local Round Up
Busy Calendar for May: Get out your diaries and get involved. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink - at Billinudgel pub This is a family friendly event and held at the iconic Billinudgel Pub. The Cunning Stunts team are a group who...
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Adding Value Prior To Listing
Adding Value Prior to Listing One of the things I enjoy in my work is advising a seller on how best to present their property. As a vendors advocate I work with the chosen listing agent to get the best...
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Buyers Advocates in the Spotlight
The role of a buyers agent is yet to be fully understood by the general public. The internet is changing the way we buy and sell property and many people think that has made it easy. Buyers agents and advocates...
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Burringbar and a Biblical Blog
I braved the inclement weather last Saturday and went to an open house in Burringbar, just west of Ocean Shores. Regular readers know that I like Burringbar and believe its one of the few places still giving good value for...
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Byron Bay Hot Property – April
What’s happening with the Byron Woolies site? The new construction at the south end of Woolworths Plaza site has gone dead and people are asking what’s happening. It seems there has been a hitch with a major underground power cable....
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What To Do With a Booming Property Market
No one wants to see a boom and bust cycle in the housing market. It is obviously a difficult balancing maintaining gradual positive growth while limiting speculation, encouraging First-Home-Buyers and affordable rentals. Unfortunately, this is just one of the many...
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Demand Keeps Market Buoyant
The following article is from the Northern Star writer, Suni Golightly Low stock levels and high demand are keeping house and unit prices keen in the Northern Rivers. CoreLogic RP Data's latest Market Trends report shows that has translated to...
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Housing Affordability Crisis In Our Region
Most of us assume that housing affordability is a city problem only. This article, from Andrew Beer, Dean of Research and Innovation at University of South Australia, says not. Who would think that lazy, low cost regional towns like Tweed...
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Hot Property – March
Hot Property Byron Bay Who wants a home in Byron Bay for under $300K? A manufactured home in the Discovery Park on Ewingsdale Road, Byron has come on the market for $259,000. I site rental charge if $200 PW is...
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Bad Rental Experiences
Generally I am on the side of renters at the moment and think they get a bad deal. The odds are stacked against them in this country with both prices and regulation. But occasionally the boot is on the other...
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Money Matters – Is a debt ceiling important?
MONEY MATTERS is the debt ceiling a problem? Few people in Australia know that we have a “debt ceiling”. This is when the government has a self imposed limit to borrowing. Many of you would be familiar with the controversy...
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Council Wrap
Last week, the Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce held an information breakfast for the council to update whats been happening inside the Tucker Box. The GM Ken Grainger went through a number of recent activities of interest to the community....
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Crazy Ways to Sell a House
Ever thought about selling your house on Facebook or gumtree? These days there are a myriad of ways to put your biggest asset on the block and DIY a house sale. Lots of people cant stand the idea of giving...
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Hot Property for February
Town for sale Sick of the overblown prices for houses you have to pay in Byron Shire? Maybe you need to look further afield – like central Queensland. How about a whole town with 16 houses, a school hall, three...
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Yes Minister, affordable housing. No problem!
Yet again, affordable housing is a hot topic. Anybody would think that something will be done soon but I doubt it. This would involve people actually making a decision that is going to upset people. We can’t have that! Every...
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Market Wrap
It is still a very strong property market in the Northern Rivers - especially the postcodes 2479 to 2483. I see no let up on the strong demand that we were experiencing in the last two quarters of last year....
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Know your property’s “Energy Score”
A leap ahead for energy efficient homes in Australia Last month REA Group—the global online real estate advertising company and owner of realestate.com.au—launched Energy Scores on its popular real estate platform in partnership with U.S.-based Tendril to provide an instant snapshot...
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Big Brother books into AirBNB
Will the Taxman come after you if you AirBNB? This is a good question for many here in the Byron Bay who have warmly embraced the sharing economy. I have pasted this whole article below from Property Observer. It is...
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Melbourne man thinks affordable housing is rubbish
“Inevitably, if you are trying to do something for free, you’ve got to use rubbish, I guess.” Once complete, the next step as an enterprising and emerging property innovator was to list it on Airbnb — for the princely sum...
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Hot Property for December
Our local market has gone past a normal description like hot. It is hard to find the correct term: overheated, feverish, boiling, Over The Top. Just believe me that I have seen things I have never seen or heard about...
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Can the Byron bubble survive Trump?
Everyone has an opinion about the election of "the Donald", so I can have one too. Will it affect life in the bubble? Should we stock up on canned foods and dig a shelter? Will our chakras become so disturbed...
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What’s the BPS secret?
How can Byron Property Search save you time, money and lots of hassle? I get frustrated property buyers calling me all the time, just when they are about to give up the search. It looks easy at first. They know...
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Strata laws to change
Anyone who has owned an apartment with a dysfunctional body corporate or a difficult co-owner will know how frustrating that can be. New strata laws just introduced by the NSW state government may change all that. It may even create...
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Irate about rising rates?
If you a ratepayer, you are probably be aware Byron Shire Council is planning on increasing our rates. Under the guise of community consultation they are softening the blow by pretending we have a say in the matter. Public comment...
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Your Choice: A Home or Smashed Avocado
Love this! For those who missed the house price controversy doing the rounds last month, here’s a catch up. Demographer and columnist in The Australian, Bernard Salt, came out lambasting millennials and Gen Y hipsters. He said if they want...
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Be a better negotiator: 5 simple tips
When I first started as a property buyer’s agent over 15 years ago, I thought I would have to learn how to be a tough negotiator. I imagined I would be standing up to those pushy agents and getting a...
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Hot Property – November
Possum Creek - top end This property is built on a high spot in magical Possum Creek with great northerly rural views. EOI stands for Expression Of Interest and it is looking for someone to express an interest that starts...
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Hilarious take on the modern auction
If you’re walking down a suburban street on a weekend, you may spot a large group of people standing outside a property, with another person standing in front of them yelling out stuff – in which case, you’ve probably stumbled...
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Hot property for October
Around the traps Auctions: This month I attended an auction for local clients who got a new home at Lofts Road Coorabel. There were three strong bidders on the day so it went to the top of where I was...
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Why use a Landscape Architect?
Why use a Landscape Architect? Many people buying or building a new house are unaware of the extra value a landscape architect can bring to a project. Landscape architects can be the bridesmaids but never the bride when a new...
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Solar Power Update
Solar Power Update At the stroke of midnight on 31st December this year the very generous NSW feed-in tariff will come to an abrupt halt. Created to spur the installation of solar PV systems and interest in renewable energy the...
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Talking to a local: Paul Spooner on Affordable Housing
Talking with a local – Paul Spooner on Affordable housing The recent election bought up a lot of chatter about affordable housing in the shire. BPS loves a complicated situation so what’s the fuss? Is affordable housing a lost dream...
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Fear and Loathing in Los Byron
Fear and Loathing in Las Byron Has it really been 4 years since we last had a council election? Yes, and Saturday 10th we do it all again. The BPS scribe has attended a few of the “Meet the Candidate”...
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Brunswick Eco Village
Image: To place the site, the two roundabouts in the attached map are the roundabouts at the Mullum/Bruns Pacific Highway exit. The Bruns Eco Village (BEV) crew had two open information days during August. A few people asked me my...
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Talking to a Local: Mayor Simon Richardson
1. If you were re-elected, what would be the top three big-ticket items you want to accomplish? 10-year Action Plans in place and investment and action flowing and being monitored as part of the “Zero Emissions Byron” project-across waste, building, energy,...
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Why Interest Rates Will Stay Low for Some Time.
Lately I have been chatting with people who were wondering what the fuss about interest rates is all about. Not being an economist I can't claim to be an expert, but in this era of social media everyone is an...
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Talking to a Local: Chris Hanley
Five Questions for a local The BPS newsletter will now have regular section called “Talking to a local”. First off the block is Chris Hanley who is the principal of Byron Bay First National. Chris is a long term local and...
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Let’s Talk About Auctions
Auctions are funny things. Many buyers and clients find them stressful and hard to read, mainly due to unfamiliarity. In reality, the beauty and advantage of an auction is it's simplicity and transparency. Whoever is prepared to pay the most...
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Market Wrap Up – August 2016
Market update No sign of winter doldrums with the weather, or the property market, in Byron Shire this month. Most properties going to auction are selling beforehand and there is a high demand for new stock. I have no stats...
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Byron Area Wrap-up – July
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bypass and Masterplan Byron council is often the cause of much controversy and angst. But in relation to these two issues I think the majority of shire residents have cause to be happy. The bypass...
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Property Too Dear? – Try a Small House
Written by Michael Murray My articles on cheap and affordable housing always get interest and feedback. Seems to be a big topic. Recent polling with younger people showed that it was their top issue and unfortunately did not become an...
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5 Tips for Choosing a Good Real Estate Agent
5 tips for choosing a good real estate agent Starting out 15 years ago as a buyers agent, I thought one of my main roles would be to protect my clients from pushy agents. At that time, the property industry...
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Why Use A Buyers Agent?
Written by Michael Murray Why should I pay a buyers agent extra when I can do it myself? Anyone trying to purchase a property on a limited budget is justified in asking this question. Engaging a buyers agent may, at...
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Tune in and Drop out – Again?
Written by Michael Murray Credit to ABC Radio National Blue print for Living: Hippie baby boomer idealism or increasingly relevant form of living? Annie Hastwell heads to a NSW commune set up in the heady 1970s to see how it has lasted...
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Lismore and Port Macquarie
Written by Michael Murray Lismore The recent flash flooding and wild storms would not be comfortable for residents in those affected areas. The suburbs in North and South Lismore (which is actually the western side) have been at the mercy...
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Cheer up, slow down, chill out.
Written by Michael Murray As you enter Byron along Ewingsdale Road, you see this sign on your left. To me it is emblematic of Byron Bay not just for the sentiment but for the history of the sign itself. The...
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Mortgage Rates and Stuff about Money
Written by Michael Murray The bank cash rate of 2% has been on hold for a year. Today the RBA decided to reduce the cash rate again to a record low of 1.75%. The RBA were in a quandary over...
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If you think Sydney prices were mad – have a look at Byron Bay.
Written by Michael Murray Property prices in some places have been rocketing and Sydney gets a lot of the media attention. People have ignored the fact that the Byron Bay median price has often outstripped Sydney and maintained itself for...
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Cardboard box for rent! $500 and get in line.
Written by Michael Murray Every time there is a property boom or strong price rise, the next topic is home affordability. I have seen this cycle so many times it is predictable. Some would think that working in the real...
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Byron Council Update for May
Written by Michael Murray Lots of things going on in our fun-filled Byron Shire Council (BSC) chambers. Every now and then it is worthwhile to keep abreast of what is going on in the Tucker Box. Before launching into the...
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The 3 most important things to remember when house hunting
Written by Michael Murray When I start working with a new client, I want to find out first what is important and what is not. Handling compromises is part of what I do. It is rare that I can show...
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Do You Pay More With or Without a Buyers Agent?
Written by Michael Murray This article is supplied by REBAA - the Real Estate Buyers Agency Association of Australia. It gives an outline of fees charged by BAs and why to use one. When you engage a sales agent to...
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Death, Taxes and Holiday Letting
Written by Michael Murray It was Benjamin Franklin who told us that nothing is certain in this world except death and taxes. The Australian Tax Office agrees and has now decided to go after property owners using sharing sites like...
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David Bowie’s Mustique Home
Written by Michael Murray The hideaway holiday retreat on the tiny Carribean island of Mustique built by legendery performer David Bowie has been sold. The property was built in the late 1980s, just prior to when the star married supermodel Iman....
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Byron Bay Master Plan
Written by Michael Murray This March will see the Byron Bay Master Plan go on public display at council. At the same time, the long awaited Butler Street Bypass will be open for public submission until April 1. This means...
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Byron Buzz: local news and gossip
Written by Michael Murray Interest Rates The RBA has left interest rates on hold at 2% for another month. This is the 10th month in row. Economists are predicting the most likely movement in the future will still be down...
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New Regulations to stop underquoting
Written by Michael Murray New rules for real estate agents NSW Fair Trading introduced new real estate agency regulations on January 1st, 2016. These reforms are to stop the common practice of agents underquoting on a property, especially for an...
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Negativity about negative gearing?
Written by Michael Murray With such a big debate going on about negative gearing, I thought it would be a good time to weigh in with my two cents worth. Negative gearing was originally set up as a way for...
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I’m a Celebrity! Get me to Byron.
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bay is a long way from the sleepy rural town with a meatworks and some surf. It is not unusual to see famous people blend in to the local scene. One of the attractions may...
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Think Local When Researching Property
Written by Michael Murray A major problem for people researching or studying property is getting good information. Most national media publications provide generic data for the country as a whole. Good to fill column inches but useless at giving the...
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The World’s Most Unaffordable Cities
Written by Michael Murray Who can guess which city beats Sydney as the most unaffordable in the world? The International Demographia Survey just released its 12th annual report. It charts the cities with the highest wage to home price ratio....
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BYRON BUZZ: Market Wrap, Hot Properties, Finance News
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bay Real Estate As we wound down out of 2015, there was interest on whether the strong buyer demand would be sustained into the new year. It is a bit early to be definitive, but...
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It’s a Chocolate Bathroom
Written by Michael Murray Apparently one of the most mispelled words in real estate search is "en-suite". Most people have it in their heads as "sweet" and spell it that way. It is the third most common spelling mistake. English...
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Does the Stock Market Turbulence Influence Our Local Property Market?
Written by Michael Murray Recent extreme fluctuations on international stock markets created a lot of media. It is often asked whether turbulence like this affects the local real estate market and it is a good question. The answer appears to...
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Property Titbits From Near and Far
Written by Michael Murray Does Property Double Every 9 Years? The answer is yes and no. It depends on what figures, graphs and dates you use. Using the median price graph of Australia in the last 50 years or so,...
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A Day in the Life of a Buyers Agent
Written by Michael Murray The Christmas drop off has come early this year. Other agents have noticed the downturn in buyer interest slowing over the last two weeks. People's attention has shifted to other matters, so big decisions like property...
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Holiday Letting Update
Written by Michael Murray Byron Council finally has a plan it hopes will resolve the Holiday Letting problem. For those not familiar with the history of HL here is a quick synopsis. Byron Bay gets 1.3 million annual visitors and...
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Byron Bay: Highly Valued or Overvalued?
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bay had a very strong twelve months to June 2015. Property research company, RP Data, say the median stand-alone house price increase for the year was 21.6%. Suffolk Park increased 17.3%. Sydney had a median price rise of 22.9%...
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Sneak Peak at Habitat and Elements
Written by Michael Murray Bayshore Drive in Byron Bay is close to being transformed: the Elements of Byron resort is nearing completion and the creative industry mixed-use development, Habitat, is under construction. Long disused Byron Bay resort property opening for...
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Sydney Stories – What’s Happening in the Big Smoke?
Written by Michael Murray Various business activities took me to Sydney last week. It is currently experiencing a growth spurt - in housing, infrastructure, prices and confidence. There are lots of new infrastructure projects on the go as well as...
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Cabarita – the Next Byron Bay?
Written by Michael Murray Lots of buzz at the moment about Cabarita. Just 25 minutes north of Byron Bay, its getting the kind of interest that turns a place into the next "hot spot". After dropping the clunky name of...
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Local Innovations: Green Frog Bus, Enova Energy, Flow Hive.
Written by Michael Murray Unlike mainstream media that concentrate on the negative, I like to tell everyone about good local stories. Here are some interesting titbits happening in the bay. We live in a place that celebrates innovation, diversity and...
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Byron Around the Traps: Things of Interest in Our Town.
Written by Michael Murray Instead of doing Hot Property this month, I wanted to do a round up of interesting things happening around the Northern Rivers. There are plenty of properties going on the market, recently sold or under discussion....
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Boom To Bust in a Week! Who to Believe?
Written by Michael Murray This month saw lots of property commentary but very little of it had any substance. First, the Sydney auction clearance rate dropped from over 90% to almost 70%. Then a Macquarie Bank research paper was released...
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Reinventing Multiple Occupancy – or letting it die?
Written by Michael Murray Long-term residents of the Byron shire will have an opinion one way or another on Multiple Occupancies, Community Title or any of the other “rural land sharing” structures. The humble MO has played a major role...
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Non bank lender offers rates under 3%
Written by Michael Murray Non-bank lender Mortgage Ezy has unveiled a new discount home loan product which will offer owner-occupied loans with rates under 3%. The new product range will offer consumers rates as low as 2.5% on owner-occupied loans...
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The Property Clock – where does your region sit?
Written by Michael Murray The valuation firm Herron Todd White has issued its latest property clock, predicting trends and movement in the national property market. The clock puts Far North Coast at the "Bottom of the Cycle" suggesting its growth is...
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Styling for Sale
Written by Michael Murray As a Vendor’s Advocate, part of my job is to help prepare a client’s property for sale. I have also noticed that professional styling is growing in demand to best present a home for inspections. An...
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New Rules To Save You Money When Looking for Real Estate
Written by Michael Murray Searching for a new home can be a frustrating experience. A few cycles of searching, inspecting, negotiating and then missing out is enough to make the most patient person agitated. Multiple legal and inspection charges make...
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Does property increase inequality?
Written by Michael Murray Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few years, you will be aware of the discussion on inequality. A recent book by the French economist Thomas Piketty called “Capitalism in the Twenty-First...
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Luxury Property Round up
Written by Michael Murray As if in counterpoint (or emphasis) to my previous article, lets talk about recent luxury and celebrity sales. If you think Byron Bay, or eastern suburbs of Sydney, has a staggering median property price, look no...
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How To Negotiate Your Interest Rate
Written by Michael Murray Do you know your Credit Score? No? Well your bank manager does, and countless other agencies who deal with your bank finance, credit cards and other personal debt. Knowing your credit score can help navigate your...
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Byron Shire Hot Spots
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bay town centre continues with it’s strong buyer demand. Agents are competing over new stock and good listings are getting unprecedented online click through numbers. Sydney at 16% capital gain for the 2015 financial year...
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How To Negotiate Your Home Loan Rate
Written by Michael Murray All indications are the next interest rate hike will be up. It may be a good time to do some maintenance on your home loan. It’s a very competitive finance market at the moment. You may...
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Buying Property? DIY Pest and Building Inspection Checklist
Written by Michael Murray Let me talk about property inspections. Usually, at the second inspection of a property of interest, I tend to get past the 3 P’s of Price, Presentation and Position. By this stage my client and I...
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Spot the Spruiker: Be aware of property buyer scams
Written by Michael Murray As regular as mould in the wet season, property spruikers are coming out again in a rising market. ASIC is again warning anyone to be aware of get-rich-quick schemes involving property. You always know they are...
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Single Mum Builds Home for $100K
Written by Michael Murray Emma Hohnen, mother of two, was recently separated and needed a home. With a background as a yoga teacher and marketer she upped her skills as renovator and builder in order to make a home for...
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Future Trends and Predictions
Written by Michael Murray I recently attended the REBAA (Real Estate Buyers Agent Association) conference in Sydney. Tim Lawless, of Core Logic/RP Data, presented trends and directions for the national real estate market. Core logic is the main property data...
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Greetings From the Amalfi Coast!
Written by Michael Murray This newsletter comes to you from Amalfi Coast, Italy. We are here for a family wedding. This is such a beautiful place it easily makes my list of great destinations worth visiting. Since beauty is such...
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Amalfi Real Estate Gossip
Written by Michael Murray Amalfi has long been a mecca for the well to do and famous and I can understand why. Many people come here to get married and honeymoon as romance is in the air. In fact, the...
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So You Think You Can Sell Your Own Home?
Written by Michael Murray Over the years I have been a real estate consultant, I have watched with interest the growth in DIY or owner-seller websites. These are businesses that provide a property vendor with marketing materials and access to...
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Is Negative Gearing a Positive Thing?
Written by Michael Murray The pros and cons of negative gearing are in the headlines again. The topic generates lots of heat in the mainstream media, but very little light. Once again it is an indication of how opposing ideologies...
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Time for Byron Biz to Go Solar
Written by Michael Murray The 100 Go Solar campaign is a new Byron Bay venture set up to encourage 100 local businesses to switch to solar energy. Byron Bay real estate has had a massive transference to solar for residential properties...
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Good Things Going On in the Bay
Written by Michael Murray Behind all the bluff and bluster of Byron Bay there are many good things going on as well. We have a lot of passionate community members here that love to share their feelings and debate the...
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What Does a Vendor’s Advocate Actually Do?
Written by Michael Murray As a buyer’s agent for 15 years, it has been fascinating to watch the industry grow and mature. I did not know there was such a thing as a buyer’s agent when I first started. I...
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5 Tips From the Coalface of Property Negotiation
Written by Michael Murray As a buyer's agent in the Byron Bay real estate market I have been in the middle of hundreds of property sales. There may be no right way to do it but over the years I...
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Byron is Hot in the Middle of Winter!
Written by Michael Murray As we head into winter I can’t believe the heat, the heat, the heat! Regular readers will know I am not one to pump the market, but Byron Bay real estate is experiencing a serious surge....
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Vendor’s Advocate. What’s that?
Written by Michael Murray As a practicing buyer’s agent for the last 15 years, it has been fascinating to watch the industry grow and mature. I did not know there was such a thing as a buyer’s agent when I...
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Foreign Buyers
Written by Michael Murray The story of Chinese buyers pushing out local families from the market is a commonly accepted misconception, and this topic still comes up in conversations about property investment. While real estate in the Byron Bay area...
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Interview with me in Echonet Daily
The Echo is our local independent weekly paper. The have a daily online version and they ran this article from an interview with me talking about the recent news that Byron Bay now has a higher median house price than...
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Byron Bay median house price higher than Sydney
Written by Michael Murray Byron Bay, post code 2481, now has a higher median house price than Sydney. An average Sydney house will now cost you over $900,000 and is expected to reach the million dollar mark by the end...
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Don’t forget the regions!
Written by Michael Murray As a buyer's agent in a regional area, the investor market is not what pays my bills. Lifestyle property for Tree Changers and Sea Changers is what has traditionally kept my boat afloat. But the Northern Rivers...
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Fixed Interest deserted for Variable Rates
Written by Michael Murray Even though home mortgaging has never been cheaper, all is not calm inside the banking world. Global financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank may soon require local banks to adopt stricter policies, and higher...
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Arts Factory house for saleArts Factory house for sale
Written by Michael Murray The Bali inspired property built by Arts Factory owner Bob Lowry is on the market. The site was purchased in 2002 at 19 Gordon St which is beside the family business of the Arts Factory Backpacker...
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Upside-Down House
Written by Michael Murray Some homeowners build their houses to be a statement, perhaps about their wealth or standing in the community. Polish businessman and philanthropist Daniel Czapiewski, however, built his house upside down as a comment on the Communist...
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Byron units tipped for growth
Written by Michael Murray Property commentator website onthehouse.com.au has tipped Byron Bay units as one of the top ten price growth locations. The ten locations are expected to attain a price growth of 13% or better this coming year. Byron...
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MEET
The Byron Property Search Team
MICHAEL MURRAY
BUYER'S AGENT
MAURA DAWES
ADMINISTRATION
SUSANNA CARMAN
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT