Make the most of the long weekend...

We all look forward to some time off and next weekend provides the perfect opportunity to have a look at some great properties in the Hawkesbury whilst enjoying this fabulous spring weather.

We know that it can be difficult to get around and look at everything so why not make the most of the extra day off and come to the open homes we have scheduled. Go to www.irisproperty.com.au for details.

Whether you are in the market for land, rural properties, townhouses, family homes or investment properties we have it.

Call today to see how we can help you find the perfect place.

Call        02 45677254
Email     info@irisproperty.com.au

Selling in spring time.

Spring is here and with the warming of the weather comes a rise in real estate activity.

People are happier to be out and about looking at property when the sun is shining and homes are looking their best so if you're in the market to sell your home why not look at our handy tips to getting your home primped and ready for action.

1. Give everything a good spring clean - make sure windows are sparkling and your home is clutter free.

2. This is the perfect time to spruce up the garden. Clean garden paths and outdoor entertaining areas. Mulch garden beds and mow lawns. Think about planting some annuals for spring/summer colour and appeal.

3. Talk to us about a market appraisal and free consultation where we can guide you about ways to improve the saleability of your home. Small improvements can make all the difference and mean extra dollars in your pocket. Invest an hour with us and reap the benefits.

Happy days at iRIS Property

It's been a busy day at iRIS Property. Plenty of enquiries, some fantastic new listings - watch out for upcoming newsletters to be the first to hear of these great homes on offer - and one of the most enjoyable parts of our job ... settlements !

We are heading out this afternoon to deliver keys and champagne to our excited purchasers. It's fantastic to have been able to help people secure a home, increase their wealth and security and to watch them start out on a new leg of their journey. We wish them all well and hope that they enjoy their new homes.

Another great aspect of today is knowing that our vendors, who have been caught up in the often challenging task of having a home on the market, can now bank their cheques and get moving on finding their next home, hopefully after having a well earned rest for a little while.

We thank you for trusting us to help you with these life changing transactions and look forward to working with you again soon.

iRIS Property   www.irisproperty.com.au
tel 02 45677254

Celebrating the launch of our new website !!!!

New iRIS Property Website ! We are very happy to announce the arrival of our latest website upgrade to provide an easier and more pleasant browsing experience. Just launched about an hour ago, we have added great new functionality and feature items such as mapping, clients can now access directions to a property directly from their smartphone or tablet, we have new improved image carousels,- improved ,easier and more comprehensive search functions, plus -social media share functions , and lots more detail improvements and changes ! Naturally we have retained the sleek and refined general look that we get so much great feedback about ! Jump on the new site and have a look- www.irisproperty.com.au

Tips for getting it right in property investment.

     Get your finances in order.

Before you even begin to look at investment opportunities it is important to determine how much you are able to borrow, how much it's going to cost and if you can afford it. This may seem like basic information but it's important to get your ducks in a row so you know what is in your price range and you don't waste time looking at properties you simply cant afford.

This process usually starts by speaking to a mortgage broker. Not only are they typically best placed to suggest how much debt you have access to, they can often also secure you the best terms for your finance and structure the debt in a way which saves you money in the long run and optimises your tax breaks.

       Get us involved from the start.

Real estate agents 'live and breathe' property - building and maintaining a relationship with an expert agent can often be of more benefit to you than you first thought. We have been doing this for a long time and we want you to take advantage of our expertise.

Once we know what you're looking for we can act on that information and let you know about great properties as they arise. This process often sees investors snap up investments efficiently and at competitive prices.

       Get while the getting's good

Just like any sort of investment, property investors try to secure assets while markets are down in order to make great returns as markets recover.

We have plenty of well priced, good quality properties available and investors are currently in a good position to secure relatively cheap finance with more interest rate cuts likely. 

These factors combined with Australia's strong economic situation and "ready to lend" banks provide for fantastic opportunities for financial growth and security.

       Location, Location, Location

While a landlord can renovate a house to make it more attractive to tenants, the house itself can never be moved  - making the 'location, location, location' adage as true today as it ever was.

Proximity to schools, transport  and shopping centers are all key factors to consider when chosing your investment property.  

Call us today to see how we can help you create a secure and strong financial future.

iRIS Property - www.irisproperty.com.au

Tel : 02 45677254

Straight talking

Do you value honesty ?  Would you rather someone tell you what you need to know or what you want to hear ?

At iRIS Property we take honesty seriously. There will never be any shortage of real estate agents willing to tell you what you want to hear in order to get your business. That's why we are different.

When it comes to making astute financial decisions you need to know the facts. We pride ourselves on our straight talking including giving you an accurate assessment of your property. We are proud of our ability to accurately gauge the market value of your investments and of our proven track record in getting the numbers right.

It's human nature to always hope for more. It's also difficult sometimes to hear the truth - especially when this means potentially hearing that your property may be worth less than you think or have been told.

We all know the story of getting a few agents to provide market appraisals and being amazed by the widely varying differences in values. This happens for a couple of reasons :

* Some less than honest operators are simply trying to garner your business when they know the price they have set is not achievable.
* Some simply don't have the knowlege base or skills to accurately assess your property.

When you are told that your property is worth a lot more than is realistically achievable we call this the 'feel good price". Even though it makes you happy in the short term the long term outlook isn't great. At over inflated prices you can expect your property to take longer to sell and to lose the advantage of those first few crucial weeks of interest when your property is new to the market. In the end you will almost certainly sell at the more realistic price we originally gave you.

If you want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth call us.

Putting the real back in real estate.

iRIS Property - for accuracy and integrity.


www.irisproperty.com.au

Tel : 02 45677254

First home buyers savings accounts.

Buying your first home is a big step. Want some help getting a deposit together ?

Did you know that most banks, credit unions and financial institutions have accounts designed to help you save. These first home owners savings accounts offer generous incentives and are a great way to grow your savings.

There are many benefits which you can make the most of including :

* The government makes a 17% contribution on the first $5500 you deposit each year, this means an extra $935 for you.

* Any interest you earn is tax free.

Some of the conditions of these accounts are :

* You need to save a minimum of $1000 per year for 4 years before you can withdraw the money.

* The maximum amount you can deposit in these accounts is $85000.

*The money must be used for the purchase of a home. If you don't use it for real estate the deposit is added to your superannuation.

For more information see the Australian Taxation Office website :
http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/content.aspx?menuid=0&doc=/content/00250962.htm&page=1&H1


Call us for help in purchasing your first home. iRIS Property  02 45677254 www.irisproperty.com.au

Looking at lots of properties ???

Searching for the perfect property ??? We all wish for that beautiful home to appear quickly and for some this happens but for the most part we need to be diligent and look at lots of homes before we find the right one.

When you have spent a few weekends looking at lots of different properties it's easy to lose track of things and this is where it can come in handy to have a checklist. Check out this useful home buyers checklist - 

http://advice.realestateview.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Open-For-Inspection-Checklist.pdf

This simple tool can help you compare properties and serve as a way to narrow down the homes which may be suitable for you. 

Need help finding your next home ? Call iRIS Property 02 45677254

www.irisproperty.com.au

Renovating for sale

When renovating for the sale of your property it is important to consider the costs and benefits of any work you plan to do. The last thing you want is to spend a lot of money which you may not be able to recoup in the sale of your property.

The aim of renovation should be to ensure that your property is well maintained and beautifully presented.  These kinds of improvements will always trump the market. Focus on freshness and street appeal rather than major works.

When deciding on the type of renovations you will do consider the following :

* Renovate to give your home a facelift - concentrate on paint, cleaning and freshening the general feel of your home.

* Consider areas which may become points of negotiation for potential purchasers and aim to minimise these eg. chipped tiles, tired kitchen or bathroom.

* Focus on key areas such as the front entrance, gardens, bathroom and kitchen.

* Ensure that you spread your renovation budget so that you can effectively distribute repairs and improvements around your property. The last thing you want is a brand new kitchen drawing attention to a tired bathroom. Improvements in one area can make others areas of your house look worse so aim to generally improve the whole property.

* Keep clours and tones neutral to appeal to the broadest number of prospective buyers.

* Make sure you make use of our skills ! Talk to us before embarking on your improvements. We can advise you on what NEEDS to be done and what is cosmetic only.  We can also help you to avoid overspending and overcapitalising on your property.

Call us today iRIS Property 02 45677254
www.irisproperty.com.au

iRIS Property - Who are we ????

iRIS Property was founded in 2007 by Martin Schoeddert and his wife and business partner, Jeanette.
Canadian born Martin studied a Bachelor of Commerce before embarking on a career in real estate in 1988.

Martin specialises in rural and residential properties and has extensive knowledge of the Hawkesbury and surrounding areas. He is always happy to provide advice and assistance.

Martin and Jeanette founded iRIS Property with the aim of providing fantastic service and getting great results for their clients and have achieved that goal. Many of their clients are people who have bought or sold with them in the past who wouldn't think of dealing with any other agent.

Steven Body of Kurrajong Heights " Martin has helped us with all of our property transactions - if you want someone who will answer your questions honestly, give you reliable information you need to make good choices and get results then iRIS is it "

"We understand what a responsibility it is to look after people's largest assets " Martin Schoeddert - "We aim to help you maximise sales results and returns on your investments"

iRIS Property also provides property management services so can help you find the perfect investment property and then take care of the tenancy details for you.

Martin says that developing open and professional relationships with his clients is what he loves most about his job. Add to that his passion for sharing knowledge and helping people achieve their financial goals and you have the perfect agent.

Contact iRIS Property - 02 45677254   info@irisproperty.com.au   www.irisproperty.com.au

Tax tips for property investors

The end of the financial year looms near and it's time to start thinking about getting the most out of your investment property. 
There are many things you may be able to claim so get those receipts organised and check out some of the ways you can minimise tax this year. 


You may be able to claim  :


• Advertising for a tenant
• Body Corporate fees
• Council rates
• Depreciation on plant and equipment
• Interest on a loan to purchase the property
• Insurance
• Land tax
• Property agents’ fees
• Repairs and maintenance (fully deductible)
• Capital works deductions/special building write-off
• Stationery, postage and telephone
• Travel expenses
• Water rates


Speak to your tax agent or accountant for more information. 

The basics of auctions

When to consider selling by auction

* Sale by auction is often the best way to go for unique and unusual properties.

* It is a great method of marketing generating a competitive interest around your property.

* This form of sale allows the selling price to be dictated by the market rather than by setting a cap or figure for sale which is useful when there are few comparable properties in your area.

*It's helpful for people who want a good chance of selling their home on a given day for at least the minimum price you have determined with your agent.

How it works

Once you have decided to go to auction we can guide you through the whole process.
The process of  marketing your property is similar to other sale types in that we will contact potential buyers, devise an advertising campaign and arrange open homes for people to inspect your property.

The date for auction is set and advertised and the minimum sale price (reserve) is determined near the end of the marketing campaign. You are always protected by the reserve price.

On auction day Martin and your auctioneer will guide you through the process. The relevant documentation is displayed for potential purchasers and the ground rules for the auction are set eg, acceptable bid increments.

The auctioneer will ask for a starting bid and once the reserve is met the property is said to be 'on the market' and the highest bidder on the day is the purchaser. If the reserve is not met during the auction we still have the opportunity to sell under auction conditions until midnight of that same day.

The purchaser is required to pay a 10% deposit on the fall of the hammerand sign the contract.   Settlement generally occurs 42 days later or as negotiated between the parties.

For more information about auctions or selling your property call us at iRIS Property 02 45677254.

Building wealth

Property investment is a fantastic way to build wealth whether you're looking at long or short term goals. We can help you to find the right property to meet your criteria. Some types of investments can be difficult to understand if you don't have a degree in economics - let's look at some great reasons to get into the investment market.

So why should you think about property for investment ?

* Solid, proven capital growth
* The safety of bricks and mortar
* Regular rental income to support you or your loan
* Tax incentives such as negative gearing- almost un-heard of anywhere else in the world !
* The ability to increase the value of your asset through improvements such as painting, renovations, landscaping - often a small investment of cash or time can significantly increase the value of your property and the income you receive from it.

If you are ready to build a more secure financial future and are looking for investment opportunities call us  today.