Street Talk

If you’d like to learn more about a local Melbourne or Victorian suburb, our Street Talk suburb snapshots explore the schools, parks, restaurants, cafes, general entertainment options and liveability options available in various areas.

Hedging Your Bets When You Face an Auction

By Cate Bakos on 6 Nov 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

Recently I had an exciting adventure with a delightful couple who were determined to secure their dream home in Melbourne's inner west. Their criteria was very specific, their budget was sensible and their approach was grounded. I only encountered one issue. The property that caught their attention was an auction property ...

When To Sell Prior to Auction

By Cate Bakos on 29 Oct 2013 1 Comment

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely couple who were looking to upgrade to their next family home. Like many families in this position, they were worried about buying before selling, merging settlement dates, finding deposits, and the time-pressure to sell. However, they were able to get their home on the market just in time ...

Where is Mount Clear and Why is it Special?

By Cate Bakos on 22 Oct 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

This week I secured an investment property for two very special first-time investors. Like many first-time investors, they have a young family, busy lifestyles, a potential home upgrade on the horizon and a focus on family time with their two boys. They made a sensible decision to target a property that didn't exceed out-of-pocket costs ...

Know Your Market When Buying in Bentleigh

By Catherine Cashmore on 16 Oct 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

Over the weekend, I attended an auction in Bentleigh at 29 McArthur Street. The house was marketed as a knock down or ideal for a complete renovation, so its main value was the land and its position. Bentleigh predominately attracts family buyers. The suburb, which can be found 13km from the CBD ...

Finding a Home in Amazing Armadale

By Cate Bakos on 15 Oct 2013 1 Comment

A wonderful client of mine spent five weeks searching for her home before she inspected 43 Llaneast Street in Armadale ten days ago. I knew she'd found a house that could become her home when I got an excited phone call after her inspection. I didn't waste any time; in this buyer-fuelled environment I can't afford to let one minute pass by ...

The Power of Off-Market Purchases

By Cate Bakos on 8 Oct 2013 No Comments yet, your thoughts are very welcome

Just last week a special client of mine settled on a property that I sourced for him 'off-market'. Off-market is an expression buyer's agents use frequently. It involves either getting access to properties that are not going to be publicly advertised for sale, or getting access to properties before sale photographs are taken and circulated ...