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

What's your idea of a great family home ??

There are lots of factors to consider when looking for the perfect family home.

How many bedrooms do you need? Is there plenty of sun and light ? Do you need an entertaining area? Want a great garden for kids to play in ? Room for guests or extended family ?

We have just the property that ticks all the boxes .

This beautiful home in Bowen Mountain has been stylishly renovated and is on a huge double block in Bowen Mountain. It has four bedrooms with a large landscaped garden. Perfect for kids.
The kitchen is lovely and welcoming and this home also hits the spot with aircon and a slow combustion fire, gorgeous bathrooms, music studio/gym, separate indoor and outdoor entertaining areas.

There is nothing left for you to do except move in and enjoy.

Interested ?  Give us a call - iRIS Property 02 45677254
Here's the link to this property on our website  http://www.irisproperty.com.au/properties/detail/3014

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

What is the 'Cooling Off' period ????

Cooling Off refers to a period of time, usually about five days, after you have exchanged contracts in which the buyer has the opportunity to get pest and building reports done, ensure financing is in order and generally get ready for the purchase and decide if they wish to definitely proceed with the sale.

During this period the purchaser is able to get out of the contract for any reason but it is important to note that if the sale does not proceed a fee of 0.25% of the purchase price ($250 for every $100K) is paid by the purchaser to the vendor.

During the Cooling Off Period the vendor is bound to the sale of the property and cannot sell to anyone else even if a higher offer is made.

It is possible to waive the Cooling Off Period by the purchaser providing the vendor with a Section 66W Certificate. The buyer will need to engage a solicitor or conveyancer to execute this.

The advantages of a Cooling Off Period for the purchaser include securing the purchase and ensuring that the vendor cannot sell to anyone else in this time. It also usually expedites the process of the sale and means less stress and uncertainty for the buyer.

For the vendor a Cooling Off Period provides an expression of genuine interest and provision of some compensation even if the sale does not go ahead (0.25% fee). It also indicates that the purchaser is motivated to go ahead with the sale and has made a financial and psychological investment in the property. It also ensures that the purchaser does their searches, pest and building reports and arranges their finance in a timely manner meaning less wasted time if the property needs to go back on the market.


www.irisproperty.com.au  
info@irisproperty.com.au
Tel : 02 45677254

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.