A Few Tip for Success

House prices decline for second year

Despite home values falling overall in 2012, the rate of decline has improved dramatically from the year before.

According to RP Data figures, capital city dwelling values fell by 0.3 per cent over the month of December, which recorded an aggregate decline of 0.4 per cent over the 2012 calendar year.

However, according to RP Data senior research analyst Cameron Kusher, the results are pleasing when compared to the 3.8 per cent drop in home value witnessed in 2011.

“Capital city home values remain 5.7 per cent lower than their historic highs of November 2010, however, dwelling values are up 1.8 per cent from their low of late May 2012,” he said.

“It is important to note that despite the fact that standard variable mortgage rates have fallen by an average of 85 basis points over the past year and by 135 basis points since October of last year, the housing market has still been unable to record growth in values over the year.

“Home values remain below their historic highs across each capital city and have increased at an average annual rate of just 1.9 per cent over the past five years; it is clear that the previous strong value growth conditions to which many home owners became accustomed of recent years are well and truly behind us.

“Home values in Brisbane, Perth and Hobart remain below where they were five years ago, whereas the other mainland cities have all recorded significantly lower rates of growth in home values over the past five years than they did over the preceding five year period,” Mr Kusher said.

Source: www.rebonline.com.au

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Holiday Security Checklist

Is yours one of the few houses in the street with an alarm, a dog or well-secured doors and windows or where the occupants come and go at irregular times? Then give yourself a big tick for offering the least opportunity to aspiring thieves. But if you are going on holiday this Christmas you might want to make your home even less attractive to thieves by following this holiday security checklist.

Firstly, try to think the way the thieves do. Does your home look neglected, abandoned, unused? if so, try the following ideas to make it look occupied:

• Leave a light on inside if you intend returning home after dark. The light should be visible from the street and give the impression that the house is occupied. Consider using an automatic lighting timer.
• Never leave notes on your door. Thieves can read too.
• Keep blinds and curtains partly open to give the house a “lived in” appearance if you are going away for some length of time.
• Cancel all regular deliveries, e.g. milk, newspapers so the stockpile doesn’t give the game away.
• Ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your home and collect any other items which may arrive during your absence.
• Ask the Post Office to hold your mail.
• Ask a friend or neighbour to park a car in your driveway from time to time.

It is also a good idea to make things tough for aspiring burglars:

• Lock away all portable garden equipment, tools, ladders or anything that could be used to break into your house.
• Securely lock your garage; most breaking-in implements are found there.
• Lock all doors and windows
• Take your keys or leave them with a friend. Do not hide them around the property.
• Remove all money and valuables to a safe place such as your bank.
• Notify your local Police of your absence.

Have a great holiday.

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