December 2016

All year, it has been my pleasure to share insights with you from the McGrath Real Estate team.

We have covered how to prepare, list and sell your home, how to manage your investment property, and how to think about the big, financial questions that relate to real estate.

As we approach a fresh, new year, I thought it would be helpful to share with you, our five most read and most shared real estate articles from 2016.

Interestingly, when read as a group, this batch of articles does cover most of the important bases from our perspective of being trusted real estate agents in Adelaide's western and coastal suburbs.

So, find a hammock, apply sunscreen and feed your brain with some material to help you tackle your big plans and decisions for 2017.

With Christmas upon us and the season of holiday spending ahead, it is possible some home owners will ponder whether they should "sell my house to get out of debt," when the credit card bills start arriving.

For all of us but the tycoon types, our house is likely to be the most valuable asset we ever own and the mortgage on it will—we hope—be the biggest debt we’ll ever have to service. Which is why we sometimes look to its credit facility for extra "help".

Be that as it may, the rate of home ownership in Australia has remained stable at around 70 percent for the past half century.

However, for some, paying for the great Australian dream brings stress and heartache, whether or not situations are made worse by excessive festive spending.

Should I sell my house before buying again, you ask?

Yes, unless you have loads of spare cash or enormous emotional and mental strength.

Even though you probably knew the answer to your question, when the itch strikes to move to a greener pasture, the urge to scratch it can be so strong that you can lose sight of your priorities—and your budget.

If you’ve been out every weekend looking at all the fabulous homes on offer, even though yours has not yet sold, you’ve probably convinced yourself that you’re doing research, merely window-shopping.

The danger of window-shopping is that sometimes you end up with new windows!

Before you make an impulsive decision to sign a contract on a new house, ponder the following points on why it makes sense not to do so.

When the time comes to sell, you might think to yourself, ‘I didn’t come down in the last shower, I never miss an open home or auction in my area, I have business acumen and sales skills—so I can sell can sell my house myself, right?’

Yes, if you want to lose money and spend years wondering what could have been, like the Ghost Of Christmas Past in this image!

So, why shouldn’t you save money on real estate agent’s fees by selling your home yourself?

Abraham Lincoln had some words of wisdom on a topic with parallels, ‘He who represents himself has a fool for a client.’

Let’s look at what professional real estate agents bring to the table.

Should I sell my house by auction, is not a question to ponder lightly.

If you think that selling your house by auction might be right for you, please consider the following tips on the whys and wherefores and what to expect.