Real Estate News & Information
Keep yourself informed in Real Estate. Discover what agents don't tell you.
Guilty of Fraud
Almost ten years after he began his reign of financial terror, Kovelan Bangaru, 43, was this week found guilty in the Sydney District Court on 13 charges of fraud under…
Flood Victims Need ‘Value’ Compensation
For many years, Queensland solicitor Tim O'Dwyer has warned would-be property buyers about the likelihood of floods in his normally Sunshine State.
Rick Otton Has Been Banned In Australia from Promoting his Schemes
One of Australia’s biggest property spruikers, Rick Otton, has been banned from promoting his get-rich-quick scheme in Western Australia.
REIV Deserves Praise for Wolf Decision
Here is something I never thought I'd say: "The Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) has made a brave and ethical decision." The Institute has chosen not to support an…
Dymphna Boholt Fined For Bogus Claims
A woman who claims she went from "virtually zero to a $3.5 million property portfolio in just 18 months" has been penalised by Queensland Fair Trading regulators over bogus seminar…
If This is How James Robertson Treats His Boss… Be Careful Homesellers
Prior to working for Belle Property, James Robertson worked for another real estate agency in Unley, Walter & Irvine Real Estate, owned by Kevin Walter and his wife Leanne Walter.
Eight Silly Excuses Used by Real Estate Agents
But if it’s bad for agents, it’s also bad for the people who traditionally pay the agents – the property sellers. Tens of thousands of properties are languishing unsold. No…
Kung Fu Spruiker
This is a story about a get-rich-quick (for him) spruiker by the name of Edwin James Goulding (or Ed Goulding as he calls himself when he's trying to come across…
Understanding Under-Quoting
The NSW government has released a statement saying they "want to send a clear message that underquoting won't be tolerated."
Three Days, Three Seminars, and at Least Three Million
How a gang of American spruikers is fleecing Aussies. Here's how an American seminar gang is pulling off a multi-million dollar spruiking heist in Australia.
THE RAT FROM LONG ISLAND
Jordan Belfort stole more than $200 million by devising a sales method 'The Straight-Line System' which he boasted could "persuade anybody to do anything".
REIV Caught Cheating – Again
The motive behind false auction statistics. For many years, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) has misled and deceived real estate consumers.
IF OUR HOME IS NOT SELLING, SHOULD WE WITHDRAW IT?
When a property is not selling and the owners refuse to acknowledge that price is the major problem, some take the property off the market. They intend to re-list later…
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SELL A HOME
Most agents say now is the best time to sell. If you’re a buyer, they say now is the time to buy. It’s always the best time for agents to…
WHAT IS A LOVE LIST – AND DO WE NEED ONE?
A Love List is a list of all that you love about your home and your area. It should include what first attracted you to your home; what you have…
SHOULD WE USEA DISCOUNT AGENT?
Rarely. Well, preferably not.But…. If forced to give a yes or no answer to this question, the answer would be NO.And here’s why…If the main way you choose an agent…
WHAT CAUSES BUYERS TO REJECT OUR HOME?
There are several reasons why buyers will reject homes – either before or after inspecting them.Here are some common reasons buyers reject homes for sale …BEFORE INSPECTING.Being unable to inspect…
ARE AGENT-FINDER SERVICES OR SITES WORTHWHILE?
No, definitely not. The internet is peppered with companies that claim to help home sellers to find the best or the cheapest agents. None of these companies have ethical or…
HOW MANY HOURS’ WORK IS INVOLVED IN THE SALE OF A HOME?
Usually less than 10 hours. Sometimes as little as four hours – if you exclude the time spent at the listing presentation. Even less for an auction sale. Consider four…
SHOULD WE MYSTERY-SHOP AGENTS – IF SO HOW AND WHEN?
There are two reasons to mystery-shop agents. The first is to help you find the best agent to sell your home. The second is to check up on your chosen…
WHAT IS MEANT BY THE TERM ‘A TYPICAL AGENT’?
A typical agent is an agent you should avoid. Most agents are typical agents. As you will see (in answer to further questions) if the only agents you can find…
WHEN SHOULD WE NEGOTIATE THE COMMISSION?
Always negotiate the commission at the point of sale NOT at the point of sign-up. You can’t possibly know how much commission an agent is worth until you see what…
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT PRICE TO ASK FOR MY HOME?
Probably the most common mistake made by home sellers is overestimating the value of their homes.
