The Blog

Spring is traditionally the selling season when “buyers are out in droves” and sellers reap “higher returns”. But according to PropTrack, the start of the calendar year’s selling season – over February and March – also “corresponds to seasonally higher prices”. This month alone, more than 30 properties in Mackay have sold, according to realestate.com.au. […]

It comes as no surprise that in Queensland, electricity use is at its highest in summer. Air conditioning, fans, pool pumps – these energy-hungry appliances get more of a workout during the hot summer months – pushing up our energy consumption and ultimately, our electricity bills. Therefore, February is the perfect time to conduct a […]

Cyclone season is here and if you haven’t already, now is the ideal time to make sure your property is prepared. The Mackay region has a high risk of being impacted by cyclones during the wet season or cyclone season, which officially runs from November 1 to May, says the Mackay Regional Council.  In Mackay, […]

With the end of the year drawing near and the festive season just around the corner, businesses are getting ready to pack down and switch off for some well-deserved R&R over the Christmas break. So what does this mean for real estate? Properties are still for sale, buyers are still looking to buy and sellers […]

Spring is traditionally a prime time to sell a property. After the cooler weather, buyers are keen to embrace the warmth and inspect homes, gardens are literally blooming and a spring purchase likely means they will be in their new home for the Christmas period. As more homes come onto the market and with the […]

With a new financial year upon us, for landlords, it is good to learn what expenses you can claim as a deduction for your rental property. By maximising your tax deductions you can save a lot of money but it is important to fully understand what expenses you can claim – and what you can’t. […]

Following the delivery of the 2023-24 Budget, more Australians will be helped into home ownership sooner with the expansion of criteria for the Home Guarantee Scheme. Here we take a look at the scheme, who is eligible, how it works and how to apply. >>READ MORE: HOW TO REDUCE RISING MORTGAGE RATE COSTS What is […]

Mortgage holders received a reprieve from interest rate rises in April after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the cash rate target unchanged at 3.60 per cent. Governor Philip Lowe said this decision follows a cumulative increase in interest rates of 3½ percentage points since May last year. “The Board recognises that […]

Rooming accommodation tenancy agreements accounted for over 18,000 of all Queensland tenancies in the 2021–22 financial year, according to the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). Rooming accommodation is residential accommodation where each resident can only occupy one or more rooms on the premises as agreed, rather than the whole premises. >> READ MORE: CHANGES TO ROOMING […]

The top design trends for autumn are out but before we get into them, let’s look at why we seasonally decorate. The changing of the seasons makes us feel different ways and new colours and textures in our homes have a similar effect. Colours can impact mood so introducing new colours into your home is […]

Summer is one of Queensland’s peak natural disaster seasons. From October to April cyclones and severe storms with hail, lightning, damaging winds and flooding are more likely to impact the state. But what should a tenant do if their rental property is impacted by a natural disaster? The Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA) has published a […]

Christmas is the time for giving but Mackay Regional Council is reminding Mackay residents not to give pets as a Christmas present unless the recipient has been consulted first. Mayor Greg Williamson said pets are a lifetime commitment that requires responsibility. “You need to ensure that the pet you are planning to give to a […]

Christmas is just around the corner and when it comes to decorating or gift wrapping, there are ways to be eco-friendly this Christmas without losing the shine on the baubles. Trees, decorations, wrapping paper, crackers, food…so much waste that ultimately ends up in landfill. But it doesn’t have to, not by making a few, better, […]

Summer is just around the corner and if you have a swimming pool, spa or wading pool either inflatable and/or portable, now is the time to check it is safe and compliant. In Queensland, it is mandatory that all pools, including spas and portable pools, comply with the pool safety standard. To ensure your pool […]

CHANGES to Queensland’s tenancy laws are coming into effect on October 1. These changes are designed to give tenants, property owners and managers more certainty and transparency around tenancy arrangements and decisions. If you’re a tenant or a property owner, for this month’s monthly tip, here’s how these changes affect you… >> READ MORE: ESSENTIAL […]

WITH spring just around the corner and the price of veggies through the roof, now is the ideal time to consider growing your own veggies. But what if you are in a rental? Or you live in an apartment and don’t have a backyard? You can still grow your own food! Here are three ways […]

APRIL is Easter and whether you observe the holiday or not, it’s a great opportunity to eat chocolate. Therefore, for this month’s monthly tip, we have all your chocolate needs covered with a delicious Easter egg rocky road recipe from Good Food and some interesting chocolate facts. >> READ MORE: ESSENTIAL TO-DOS BEFORE BUYING A […]

ARE you thinking of renting out a property? Before you can even enlist a real estate agency to start the process of finding ideal tenants for your property, here are five things you must do by law to make your house safe and secure for tenants. >> READ MORE: ESSENTIAL TO-DOS BEFORE BUYING A HOME […]

BUYING a property at auction has its advantages. It is often a faster process than buying a property via a private treaty. It is a transparent process, as you can witness all the other bids in real-time. It is highly regulated with potential buyers required to formally register beforehand and there is the possibility to […]

EVERY year, Aussies spend a whopping amount on Christmas with new research finding the average person is expected to spend more than $1200 this year. That’s a lot of money – and a lot of stuff. One in 10 unwanted gifts are expected to end up in landfill, according to Mackay business, Healthy, Clean and […]