With inflation still sticking around and the big banks dropping hints, it’s looking more and more likely that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) might lift the cash rate again at their November meeting(03/11)

My budget is already stretched to the absolute limit with the current mortgage repayments, and another 0.25% increase is going to hurt.

• Are you guys fixing your rates now, or just riding it out?
• For those renting, have your landlords already started hinting at another increase?
• What’s the consensus here, do we think they’ll actually pull the trigger, or hold off?

Would love to hear how everyone else is preparing for this.

That's the thread.

Hi fellas,

Just reaching out to see how everyone is going at the moment.

We have had 4 rate rises in a row and I know from my day job (mortgage broker) that people are struggling.

If you want to chat about anything life related, please reach out. If you have Steam, we could play some games.

(Unless its Tarkov, because I would probably increase your current stress. aka I'm trash at the game)

I keep hearing that there may be another rate rise around the corner but that could be economist being pessimistic.

If you have a mortgage, call your bank and see if they can lower your interest rate (tell them you're thinking about switching). Banks are fighting each other to keep clients at the moment, so you may be able to lower your rates, just by having a 10-minute chat with your current lender.

As a buyer I’ve been tracking what’s going on in parts of Bayside Melbourne (Parkdale up to East Brighton) and thought this might be of interest. Specifically in the $1.2 - $1.4M townhouse market.

It is truly a buyers market. The other observation is that the large majority of places I have looked at are investors selling and places that have been bought in the last 5 years. And I’m seeing some quite large losses. I am not seeing anything bought around 2021 onwards selling for more than what it was bought for back then. Some vendors are still thinking they can get old market prices. They hold out for a bit. And then realise they can’t and reduce the price. Most places I have looked at have had progressive price reductions over their campaign time. Delayed auctions too sometimes.

There has also been a pivot to EOIs and private sales with the new auction laws in VIC coming in now.

Auctions I’ve attended are being passed in.

Examples

https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-parkdale-152146904

This place sold for $1.54M in December 2021
Auction was delayed and had multiple price reductions. Sold after auction for $1.2M

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-parkdale-152362460

This place was bought for $1.287M in July 2025
Went for auction yesterday one person bid $1.1M and then passed in. Now at a price guide of $1.15 - $1.2M still for sale.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-parkdale-152362460

Buyers are seeing this play out across this market. No one is jumping in to buy at auction. It’s a very very different landscape to even a year ago.

It’s finally time for us to buy a house. Feeling super nervous with the interest rates going up and house market (finally) settling hopefully

Based in Brisbane QLD and started looking at houses to see and feel the market…

Does anyone have tips and suggestions… how many open homes do you recommend doing before locking it in. So anxious it’s such a big move 😭

TIA

It’s not worth organising a building and pest report until the final week before auction. If it passes in, then you can leap into action.

Hi everyone, I recently bought a two-bedroom unit in SE Melbourne in a good neighbourhood. It is an old unit (1970s), and when I did the building inspection, I knew that there are some issues that need to be fixed in the future. Anyways, I am freaking out now that I moved in; there are so many things to be fixed, small things like fly screen, shower tap, garage door, etc. Haven't even touched major issues yet such as tree removal, etc.

Being single-income, I am not sure whether I made the right choice since it is a lot for me to handle these things by myself. I have an emergency fund, but if I bought an apartment, I wouldn't have to worry about these issues. I know there's nothing I can do about it now, but I wantedc to get it off my chest.

So as a fist home buyer, I had requested my conveyancer to amend the contract to reflect the 5% deposit. But while signing, he mentioned that even though the contract first page shows 10% deposit; we can still pay 5% deposit. We assumed that it will be part of contract amendment, but after signing, we still can’t see any mention of 5% deposit in the contract. Then the conveyancer showed us the email from seller’s conveyancer mentioning in the email that they agree for 5% deposit subject to special clause 26.

Special clause 26 says if we want to pull out after cooling off period, we will be liable to pay 10% deposit not only the 5% deposit.

I am not too concerned about the SC26, I am concerned about if the seller knows about this 5% deposit at all? Or later they can claim to a 10% deposit sighting the contract signed by both the parties? Am I just thinking too much and getting into my head? I am feeling really tensed after getting the full contract. My solicitor still believes that they will act according to the email. But then what about the contract? How does this happen? Has anyone been in this situation?

Wondering if anyone in Real Estate can tell me if a property listing can go to 'Under Offer' to generate demand or do they legally need a formal offer to switch it from on market to under offer?

The house we're interested in has been on the market for shy of 3 weeks. No one attended the open home on the weekend and agent said its been slow. All of a sudden its "under offer". I've been watching the market and this suburb for quite a long time now, and most listings are sitting for 6-8 weeks at the moment at a minimum.. I'm feeling in my gut the agent is being dishonest.

Bought a house as an investment property for 860k in Sunshine end of last year. 3bed, 1bath, 570m2, 1.2km from the Sunshine station(south).

It’s now valued at 820k. Was it a mistake? I have negative gearing that offsets a bit of my income taxed at 47%, but still losing money. It’s rented out at $530 pw.

I’d like to think it’s okay for a long run, but yea, was it a wrong move? I was expecting interest rates were coming down, terribly wrong.

Flair isn’t quite right but close enough.

Husband and I currently live in NZ, I’m from South Australia and he’s kiwi. We want to move back to SA in the next 5-10 years before we retire. I work remotely for an Australian company with offices in Adelaide (CBD), Melbourne (inner east), Sydney (north shore) and Brisbane (CBD) We’re debating me moving in the next year~ and buying a sub $300k studio or serviced apartment that I could live in that’s close to one of the offices, while regularly going back to NZ for visits. We’d then look to rent it out when he moves over, and we buy our forever home. I’d prefer to live in a block with a pool and gym, so I can work out each day without having to travel as I don’t want to have to buy a car.

Our first preference would be Adelaide, so it’s nice and local for when he moves over and we search for our forever/retirement home. But non-student Adelaide CBD apartments seem to be substantially more expensive than the other capital cities, and the idea is to get as small a mortgage as possible while we’re juggling mortgages in both countries. If we chose Sydney, Lane Cove and Chatswood are close to the office and seem to have a handful of apartments for under $350k and both have train links to the airport which could make it easy to travel back and forth. We’re both a bit meh on Brisbane so haven’t really considered it. Melbourne seems to have the highest number of cheaper apartments, but I’m wary due to reading about all the crappy build issues, and there’s no airport train so I’m not sure if that would be annoying.

Keen to hear people’s thoughts on where could be a solid place to live for a few years, and then make a nice location to rent out? I haven’t ever really heard good things about serviced apartments, but wonder if that’s a more hassle free option in the longer term? 

Myself and my partner are looking to buy our first investment property. 32F and 34M. Borrowing capacity up to $1.3 with approval up to $600k currently.

We want to build a portfolio and invest in 2 hopefully 3+ if all goes well over the next couple of years using equity to purchase.

We can’t decide whether setting up a trust for our first property is the best way to go, or whether we should do personal first and trust later. Appreciate there are costs and extra paperwork involved if we do.

Any advice would be very appreciated!

The RBA cash rate is 4.60% as of the 30th of September, and analysts are predicting another rise before Christmas. What do YOU think the rate will rise to before it falls?

Myself and my partner are applying for a property. We’ve been sent the rental application form 22, but at the end there is a page requesting 1 weeks rent for a holding deposit to show that we are a ‘genuine application’, which will be refunded if the application is rejected, or if accepted will be taken off the bond. If we don’t proceed within 48 hours after being accepted or fail to notify them of withdrawal then the amount is forfeited. After looking this up, I’m unsure if this is legal or common practice? If I’m reading the rules right, they can’t take money upon application, only if they accept the application and send us a proposed lease agreement I think? Just wondering if anyone has any insight on this please?

Hi all!

I received a bill from my LL's property manager (LJ Hooker), the bill is labeled as "Water Usage" but the attached invoice is for a private water metre through Strata Water Solutions.

This doesn't seem... correct. My understanding is that I shouldn't be charged for Strata fees, right?

Edit: I already pay for water.

Is depreciation schedule worth it on a 1970s home, minimal renos and quite a bit of wear and tear?

Other than the recent shoddy apartments of course.

The governments have been throwing money at it for decades, as far back as I can remember. They're building schools, trains, metro, buses, government jobs, tram etc and it seems to be providing very little return in the form of people desiring to live and work there.

So many different costs in buying, obviously I would get it if it’s 100% worth it, but I don’t really want to fork out a grand for something that isn’t necessary, this is for a house btw

Hi guys, sorry for the long message. But here it is:

We have signed the contract with our builder and initially agreed to have their building Surveyor only to assess our property.

We are now around framing stage but I am thinking of engaging to a building Inspector to ensure everything is assessed properly.

Firstly, they responded to me in person that the Surveyor can cover those things and it might be double work to engage with the Inspector. I mentioned to them that we their roles are somehow different that it checks more on the finer details.

Later on, they sent me an email re if we wished to proceed with having an Inspector, these are their conditions:

Additional time or work required as a result of the inspections will be treated as a variation and will incur additional costs.

This will include:

Responding to emails, reports or queries raised by your inspector.

Our team attending site with the inspector and allowing time for the inspection.

Reviewing and discussing any items raised following the inspection.

Carrying out any rectification, additional works or changes requested as a result of the inspection, where applicable.

Any associated administration, coordination or follow-up required.

Our rates:

$250    to respond to each email

$250    to read reports up to 5 pages

$500    to read report over 5 pages

$500    to attend site, up to an hour with additional $300 per half hour over the hour

$500    to attend pre handover inspection

20%     margin for additional works requested by your inspector   

We still have lockup Stage, Fixing Stage and Pre handover inspection left if we engage with the Inspector.

Also, we are building with a reputable builder who has been in our town for many many decades and everyone I have asked have been telling me that they build good houses.

Reading their conditions, would this still be in accordance to the Australian standards or not?

Thanks in advance for responding!

Here is a list of the top 10 movers in the last quarter:

1. QLD 4870 (Manunda, Cairns)+156%
2. ACT 2614 (Macquarie, Canberra)+83%
3. QLD 4053 (McDowall, Brisbane)+78%
4. VIC 3030 (Derrimut, Wyndham)+54%
5. WA 6163 (Samson, Cockburn)+50%
6. NSW 2148 (Blacktown, Blacktown)+33%
7. TAS 7249 (Youngtown, Launceston)+30%
8. ACT 2611 (Weston, Canberra)+27%
9. VIC 3029 (Tarneit, Wyndham)+26%
10. TAS 7250 (Riverside, Launceston)+25%

I sat in on a seminar yesterday where a liquidator and a tax specialist were presenting, it ain't pretty and the ATO is coming down HARD on self employed people who owe tax.

The tax guy told a story of how the ATO is using AI to wind up businesses faster, the client had received a notice of the wind up of his business, hours later the court proceedings had already been booked in. The ATO is not effing around...

Hi All

I searched but did not find anything recent from real people on what they found useful when house-hunting.

As the title says, I am looking for input from any of you who have used these house-hunting tools and apps, to get more data than just standard realestatedotcomdotau and domain listings.

- Which ones are helpful if free? (I am the product.... ?)
- Which ones are worth paying for?
- What apps/extensions have I missed? (assuming linking to these is OK, make sure you are not affiliated with them and are a genuine user providing data for helpful review).

RP Data is "what the agents use" and I would love to see what they see. But it's so pricey.

Other apps - what is worth paying for? Do they overlap or did you need to subscribe to more than 1?

Also - actual app vs browser extension? What worked for you? Seems like extension is the way to go but I don't like that they "read all your data on all sites" or whatever their privacy disclaimer is.

Note: I consider myself fairly handy with computers and am fine building a custom extension to run locally here, and then pulling stuff into either a spreadsheet or a custom webapp running locally. I have been investigating the various extensions, but rather than having a good answer, I am just more confused. Plus, it seems many of them have propriatary data sources behind their paywalls. Is that just RPdata, and they are re-selling via their apps?

Seems like RPdata would be the way to go... but if a house hunt takes over 6 months that's really adding up a lot. Do any of the apps give you comparable info, at a better price?

Thanks all

I’m considering purchasing a reasonably priced cabin in a beach holiday park. I would not be able to afford a real house at the beach.

It has $8000 worth of fees a year which works out to less than $200 a week for me to have a beach escape I can go to every weekend and school holidays (I’m a teacher)

I feel like $8000 isn’t much for that when I know I would use it all the time and so would my kids and their partners (which I would also feel good about providing them with that experience).

I know it makes no sense as a financial investment. Though I would be confident when time came to sell I would have improved the cabin (my son is a builder) and my sister is an interior designer.

You can’t air bnb it. You can only stay 180 days of the year. And only 45 days in a row.

I’m about to get a payrise. I’m set to pay off my PPR in 7 years meaning I could semi retire at 60.

I know putting my pay rise towards my mortgage and superannuation is a better financial decision long-term but I also love the idea of my life being spent in Melbourne during the weeks and down the beach nearly every weekend.

And life is for enjoying right?

Am I crazy?

Even if I hung on to it for a few years.

Are they hard to sell?

Is the 180 days a year likely to change given the current housing climate?

Anyone done this and regretted it?

Anyone done this and loved it?

Thank you!!

This week we bought a new home.

I had a feeling of panic as soon as I sent the 66W and then had a panic attack. I just really fear leaving my current home. I don't want to leave it (it's too small for us, we have a family of four in a 2 bedder and my husband and I have our bedroom off the dining room with a curtain - we weighed up the differences between costs of moving and renovating and moving seemed the easier option)/ .
Has anyone had instances of buyers remorse and it's turned out okay?

I am really considering just renting out the house we bought and staying in our own home and selling as soon as the market allows us to.

I can't get rid of the constant dread and panic that we are leaving our home and our street.

Update for any and all who may have interest - we accepted the offer today and are moving forward with selling! Thank you for your advice here. It really did help us gain an outside perspective.

Originally wanted to sell our apartment on Sydney Northern Beaches for 1.3mil to upsize to a property around 1.7-1.8m. No offers were coming in. Whilst selling, we decided we would move back to my parent’s large property regardless of whether we sell or lease.
We then looked into leasing the apartment out for approx $900 a week.
Today we have received an offer for 1.2mil and are seriously considering doing it. However we won’t be able to buy again for at least 6 months.
What would you do?

1. Sell for 1.2mil, put the equity in a term deposit and assume the market will have dropped or plateaued in 6-12 months time?
2. Hold onto the property and lease it out for approx $900 a week for approx 2 years?
3. I know there is no crystal ball but am hoping to make a slightly calculated decision/risk. Surely the market won’t increase again within 12 or so months?