PropertyGo @PropertyGoAU

@StreetNewsAU Useful for buyers as clearance rates lift: in Victoria there's no cooling-off on a home bought at auction, or on a deal signed within 3 clear business days either side of an advertised auction (Consumer Affairs Victoria). Line up finance and building checks first.

Before you fall for a property, check the council's flood, bushfire and contamination overlays. They affect your insurance premium, what you can build, and whether you can insure the home at all. Councils publish the mapping. Look it up before you make an offer, not after.

@DrCameronMurray Handy for buyers looking at land: zoning sets what can be built. In NSW the Planning Portal's free Spatial Viewer shows a lot's zoning, and the contract for sale must include a council planning certificate (section 10.7) that confirms it.

@apimagazine @SMATS_Group Worth knowing before taking in a tenant: the ATO bases the taxable share on the floor area they use, plus a share of common rooms, and the days it was rented. Keeping a record of both from day one makes the numbers much easier at sale time.

@StreetNewsAU Handy number for buyers weighing a possible move: on a $600k, 30-year principal and interest loan at around 5.5%, each 0.25 point rise adds roughly $95 a month. Worth running your own figure before setting an auction limit.

@IFM_Economist Useful context for buyers: lenders must already test new loans at a rate at least 3 percentage points above the actual rate (APRA's serviceability buffer, confirmed May 2026). Worth checking your repayments at that higher rate before setting an auction limit.

Either way, base your price on recent comparable sales nearby, not the asking price or the quoted range.

Auction: a winning bid is binding. There's no cooling-off anywhere in Australia, and the deposit is due on the day, so finance and inspections need to be sorted before you bid.

With fewer homes selling under the hammer, more buyers are choosing between an auction and a private offer. What actually differs:

How GoMatch works: 1. Tell us where and what you're buying, and your budget 2. See the up to 3 agents your brief will go to 3. Confirm your email. Nothing is sent before that 4. Talk to them, engage one, or none Free for buyers. propertygo.com.au/buyer-agent-ma…

@peter_tulip For buyers tracking supply, the 1.2 million target counts new homes built over five years from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council reports progress each quarter, a handy reference when weighing new-build suburbs.

@REBAustralia Worth adding for buyers: read the lease before exchange. Check the remaining term, any renewal options and who pays outgoings, because while a commercial property sits vacant the owner covers council rates, insurance and strata with no rent coming in.

Myth: a building and pest inspection is required by law. Fact: it isn't compulsory, but it's the standard way to find problems a walk-through won't show. Buying at auction: book it before auction day. A winning bid is binding and there's no cooling-off period.

Buyer tip: the price isn't the budget. Add stamp duty, conveyancing or solicitor fees, building and pest, loan application and valuation fees, title transfer and registration fees, and LMI if your deposit is under 20%. Stamp duty is usually the biggest, and your state sets it.

@couriermail For buyers in South East Queensland, checking a property's zoning and any nearby development applications on the local council website before signing can show what might be built next door. It's a quick step that helps avoid surprises after settlement.

@theheraldsun Forecasts like this are a useful starting point, but for buyers the recent sales of similar homes on the same street usually say more about value today. Comparing the last few nearby sales helps set a realistic budget before bidding.

@HSunRealestate For Melbourne couples still searching, a fresh pre-approval at current rates is the best starting point, since borrowing capacity rather than list price usually decides which suburbs are realistic. Lenders also test repayments at a buffer above the actual rate.

Wait for Saturday only if your due diligence isn't ready. Walking in cold to an auction with unfinished checks is the expensive option.

Worked take: finish building and pest first, then make a clean, time-limited offer at a price you'd still accept if someone else appeared. Soft conditions buy you time; the right home still draws competition.

You've found the one. Auction is Saturday. The agent says the vendor would consider offers before auction, and clearance rates have been soft this spring.