T.E.T.

Just when it seemed time to start thinking about shutting up the shop, boom. Last week, four tennis courts changed hands (some with humble abodes attached). Three off-market, one with six hands a-waving. All suggesting that there’s still serious money looking for somewhere to sleep. Where, exactly? Can’t say. Can’t even leak (unlike some agents). […]

Did the overseas buyers do all their heard-earned at Flemington? Or, on Saturday, were they all still at the track working on recovering their losses? Either way, they left a clear field for the locals. Some winners. Some still running. The (Unlikely) Winner People, how many times must we tell you that trying to auction your house and expecting over

Those with $8-10m are increasingly looking across the river. Hawthorn, Kew and Canterbury are suddenly in their sights. At least they are this Spring. More schools, more choice and greater temptation to trade up where Toorak and South Yarra are more and more the hunting grounds of the downsizers. No Time To Wait A new

October. MEL’s windiest, wettest, month. And so … some observations and forecasts. Ob 1: The end-of-year-rush is underway … with an influx of new entries — but still little choice over $8m. (Behind closed doors? Different story.) Ob 2: Land is still the litmus test Toorak land moreso. Saturday’s result at Tahara Rd — $4.9m/$700/ft. — is enough

OK. This is real estate. It’s never NOT the silly season. But right now is sillier than … forever? Choke On Wheaties Time? 47 Lansell Road $20m. Really. And Those Who Are Supposed To Know had it at $16.5m. Riots In The Dress Circle The lack of choice a few rungs down in the school belt

How many would you like? Every time we look, there’s another. Help yourself. Spring. Sprung. (Keep it quiet.) Things are happening at the top but no-one is talking. Keep that to yourself. Expats Rule. Not. Some seriously large transactions at the top. Locals. Not a passport in sight. Plunging $ = Foreign Raid. Not. You

People, the underquoting thing is now beyond ridiculous. Way past misleading and manipulative, it’s seriously stupid. One example, all too typical: “James*” (a disproportionate number of estate agents are called James) quotes “Around $1.5 million” and the reserve turns out to be over $2.2 million. James explains: “We didn’t want to exclude anyone.” Oh, James, what world

Listening to the real estate pundits is doing nothing for our nation’s sanity. Sydney prices go up 20%, most homes there are selling for $1m+ and that’s just the start? “China! China! China!” Hmmm. “It’s all out of whack. The average income cannot afford the average home.” Yet somehow … What the papers say It’s

Bubble, bubble. Is it all toil and trouble? (Sorry, Will.) The word of the week, of the month, of the year is bubble. Bubble or bust? Bubble or the new normal? At the top it’s now sounding more like pfft. There’s not a heap of choice, but that’s what happens when winter shows up. Everywhere

We’re living in the most upwardly-mobile real estate market since the late 80’s. Those who sold just six months ago are now in therapy—no-one saw this coming. And, now, there’s just one certainty: It has to calm down. That’s easy. The harder questions are when? And at what level? Our suspicion is that this isn’t