Hi guys

Topic as above. The committee (including myself) have been told a sewer pipe sandwiched between two council trees has burst and requires urgent attention. The tradesman on the job has informally told us it was one of the council trees that caused the rupture but we have no photo evidence (we are currently asking for this).

Since sewerage was literally about to overflow onto the pathway, the committee (including myself) approved $10k to be spent so rectification work can start straight away. Work has since started. The total quote we got was for $33k.

A few days in and we've been contacted by the tradesman saying that there are further issues with the piping and 6 additional metres need to be replaced. We've been quoted a further $20k for this work but haven't even been told what the actual defect is.

In terms of steps - what are reasonable next steps to take? I would want to at least understand whether (i) we can seek reimbursement from Council for the initial rupture and (ii) what the actual defect necessitating the revised quote is. From a layperson's perspective, $53k seems to be a lot for fixing one sewer pipe.

Any thoughts or advice most welcome.

With inflation still sticking around and the big banks dropping hints, it’s looking more and more likely that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) might lift the cash rate again at their November meeting(03/11)

My budget is already stretched to the absolute limit with the current mortgage repayments, and another 0.25% increase is going to hurt.

• Are you guys fixing your rates now, or just riding it out?
• For those renting, have your landlords already started hinting at another increase?
• What’s the consensus here, do we think they’ll actually pull the trigger, or hold off?

Would love to hear how everyone else is preparing for this.

That's the thread.

Hello everyone.

With rates going up, I was considered refinancing to a more favourable lender. Every .01% matters more than ever now with the cost of everything else going up too.

I was on the border of 80% LVR (came just under during the last refinance application) previously. Say if I've knocked off 30K off the principal over the past year but the property market value has come down say 60K, wouldn't that mean my LVR has taken a hit?

Sorry if this is a silly Q. Rates are higher for LVRs above 80% so just wondering if i should even bother kicking off the process or if it'll be a complete waste of time. TIA

Am still trying to figure our where we went wrong as we were seriously interested in a property that was under our budget but someone else bought it even before our solicitor got a chance to review the strata documents.

We had gone for an open day inspection and was informed of the price guide. We got the contract from the agent on the same day (Saturday) and had forwarded both the contract and strata document to the solicitor on Monday. Got a call from the agent on Monday to inquire if we were interested and there is one other party who is also doing the document review and quoted $50k more than the price guide . Told him our solicitor is reviewing both the documents. He acknowledged we were serious buyers and even took down the name of our solicitor as he had an inking he had worked with them before.

Fast forward to Thursday, we are still waiting for the feedback on strate report and had some concerns regarding the contract like deposit release clause to the vendor without waiting for settlement and a fixed hard settlement date. We were planning to do the B&P inspection after the solicitor feedback for both the documents and come today, the property is shown as sold!

Feeling a little bad as my wife was a bit emotionally involved with the property and the agent did not even bother to give us a call back asking what was our final offering!

As a FHB who is doing this for the first time, am a bit lost where we went wrong. I am aware we could have pushed the solicitor to be a bit fast with the review but thought that was a selling tactic from the agent to push the price mentioning there is another buyer. Had sent a couple of texts to agent asking what happened but got no reply.

Would be humbled to hear from the brain trusts regarding what can we do better next time? As this is the first time we were doing this, we found the entire process to be a bit overwhelming too.

Hi fellas,

Just reaching out to see how everyone is going at the moment.

We have had 4 rate rises in a row and I know from my day job (mortgage broker) that people are struggling.

If you want to chat about anything life related, please reach out. If you have Steam, we could play some games.

(Unless its Tarkov, because I would probably increase your current stress. aka I'm trash at the game)

I keep hearing that there may be another rate rise around the corner but that could be economist being pessimistic.

If you have a mortgage, call your bank and see if they can lower your interest rate (tell them you're thinking about switching). Banks are fighting each other to keep clients at the moment, so you may be able to lower your rates, just by having a 10-minute chat with your current lender.

I have recently submitted my application through 2apply for an apartment in Sydney. The portal already took all of my data, including bank statements and ID details. A day later, I received a call from the property manager to verify my details, but he also asked me what visa I was on and when it would expire (it expires in 03/2028). He took note of these and passed my application to the owner. I got rejected the same day. I was wondering if this is considered excessive collection of information under Fair Trading as I couldn't really find information on the internet.

Hi - I currently live in suburban melbourne and am considering a move to Yarrambat for a more rural lifestyle whilst not being too far removed from family in the northern suburbs of melbourne. Has anyone grown up in the area or currently/recently living there that can provide thoughts on twisting to Yarrambat? I have two young children and would ideally look at Yarrambat primary school also.

So as a fist home buyer, I had requested my conveyancer to amend the contract to reflect the 5% deposit. But while signing, he mentioned that even though the contract first page shows 10% deposit; we can still pay 5% deposit. We assumed that it will be part of contract amendment, but after signing, we still can’t see any mention of 5% deposit in the contract. Then the conveyancer showed us the email from seller’s conveyancer mentioning in the email that they agree for 5% deposit subject to special clause 26.

Special clause 26 says if we want to pull out after cooling off period, we will be liable to pay 10% deposit not only the 5% deposit.

I am not too concerned about the SC26, I am concerned about if the seller knows about this 5% deposit at all? Or later they can claim to a 10% deposit sighting the contract signed by both the parties? Am I just thinking too much and getting into my head? I am feeling really tensed after getting the full contract. My solicitor still believes that they will act according to the email. But then what about the contract? How does this happen? Has anyone been in this situation?

It’s finally time for us to buy a house. Feeling super nervous with the interest rates going up and house market (finally) settling hopefully

Based in Brisbane QLD and started looking at houses to see and feel the market…

Does anyone have tips and suggestions… how many open homes do you recommend doing before locking it in. So anxious it’s such a big move 😭

TIA

Hi everyone,

As many of you know, the Cook Labor Government in WA is moving forward with its Tranche 2 reforms, which include a ban on "no-grounds" terminations for rented out properties.

There is a huge concern among local WA investors that removing this right will significantly increase the risk of managing a tenancy. Instead of protecting renters, it's highly likely to drive "mum and dad" investors to sell up or move their properties to the short-stay market, further damaging Perth's rental supply making many people homeless.

 A formal petition has been set up to oppose these amendments, If you are a WA landlord or an investor who wants to support keeping rental supply stable, please take a moment to read and sign the petition below. Also please share this message with others.

https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/($All)/6A4BEBCFD7A9308848258E8F0048A211?opendocument/6A4BEBCFD7A9308848258E8F0048A211?opendocument)

As a buyer I’ve been tracking what’s going on in parts of Bayside Melbourne (Parkdale up to East Brighton) and thought this might be of interest. Specifically in the $1.2 - $1.4M townhouse market.

It is truly a buyers market. The other observation is that the large majority of places I have looked at are investors selling and places that have been bought in the last 5 years. And I’m seeing some quite large losses. I am not seeing anything bought around 2021 onwards selling for more than what it was bought for back then. Some vendors are still thinking they can get old market prices. They hold out for a bit. And then realise they can’t and reduce the price. Most places I have looked at have had progressive price reductions over their campaign time. Delayed auctions too sometimes.

There has also been a pivot to EOIs and private sales with the new auction laws in VIC coming in now.

Auctions I’ve attended are being passed in.

Examples

https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-parkdale-152146904

This place sold for $1.54M in December 2021
Auction was delayed and had multiple price reductions. Sold after auction for $1.2M

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-parkdale-152362460

This place was bought for $1.287M in July 2025
Went for auction yesterday one person bid $1.1M and then passed in. Now at a price guide of $1.15 - $1.2M still for sale.

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-parkdale-152362460

Buyers are seeing this play out across this market. No one is jumping in to buy at auction. It’s a very very different landscape to even a year ago.

It’s not worth organising a building and pest report until the final week before auction. If it passes in, then you can leap into action.

Hi everyone, I recently bought a two-bedroom unit in SE Melbourne in a good neighbourhood. It is an old unit (1970s), and when I did the building inspection, I knew that there are some issues that need to be fixed in the future. Anyways, I am freaking out now that I moved in; there are so many things to be fixed, small things like fly screen, shower tap, garage door, etc. Haven't even touched major issues yet such as tree removal, etc.

Being single-income, I am not sure whether I made the right choice since it is a lot for me to handle these things by myself. I have an emergency fund, but if I bought an apartment, I wouldn't have to worry about these issues. I know there's nothing I can do about it now, but I wantedc to get it off my chest.

Wondering if anyone in Real Estate can tell me if a property listing can go to 'Under Offer' to generate demand or do they legally need a formal offer to switch it from on market to under offer?

The house we're interested in has been on the market for shy of 3 weeks. No one attended the open home on the weekend and agent said its been slow. All of a sudden its "under offer". I've been watching the market and this suburb for quite a long time now, and most listings are sitting for 6-8 weeks at the moment at a minimum.. I'm feeling in my gut the agent is being dishonest.

Bought a house as an investment property for 860k in Sunshine end of last year. 3bed, 1bath, 570m2, 1.2km from the Sunshine station(south).

It’s now valued at 820k. Was it a mistake? I have negative gearing that offsets a bit of my income taxed at 47%, but still losing money. It’s rented out at $530 pw.

I’d like to think it’s okay for a long run, but yea, was it a wrong move? I was expecting interest rates were coming down, terribly wrong.

Flair isn’t quite right but close enough.

Husband and I currently live in NZ, I’m from South Australia and he’s kiwi. We want to move back to SA in the next 5-10 years before we retire. I work remotely for an Australian company with offices in Adelaide (CBD), Melbourne (inner east), Sydney (north shore) and Brisbane (CBD) We’re debating me moving in the next year~ and buying a sub $300k studio or serviced apartment that I could live in that’s close to one of the offices, while regularly going back to NZ for visits. We’d then look to rent it out when he moves over, and we buy our forever home. I’d prefer to live in a block with a pool and gym, so I can work out each day without having to travel as I don’t want to have to buy a car.

Our first preference would be Adelaide, so it’s nice and local for when he moves over and we search for our forever/retirement home. But non-student Adelaide CBD apartments seem to be substantially more expensive than the other capital cities, and the idea is to get as small a mortgage as possible while we’re juggling mortgages in both countries. If we chose Sydney, Lane Cove and Chatswood are close to the office and seem to have a handful of apartments for under $350k and both have train links to the airport which could make it easy to travel back and forth. We’re both a bit meh on Brisbane so haven’t really considered it. Melbourne seems to have the highest number of cheaper apartments, but I’m wary due to reading about all the crappy build issues, and there’s no airport train so I’m not sure if that would be annoying.

Keen to hear people’s thoughts on where could be a solid place to live for a few years, and then make a nice location to rent out? I haven’t ever really heard good things about serviced apartments, but wonder if that’s a more hassle free option in the longer term? 

The RBA cash rate is 4.60% as of the 30th of September, and analysts are predicting another rise before Christmas. What do YOU think the rate will rise to before it falls?

Myself and my partner are looking to buy our first investment property. 32F and 34M. Borrowing capacity up to $1.3 with approval up to $600k currently.

We want to build a portfolio and invest in 2 hopefully 3+ if all goes well over the next couple of years using equity to purchase.

We can’t decide whether setting up a trust for our first property is the best way to go, or whether we should do personal first and trust later. Appreciate there are costs and extra paperwork involved if we do.

Any advice would be very appreciated!

Myself and my partner are applying for a property. We’ve been sent the rental application form 22, but at the end there is a page requesting 1 weeks rent for a holding deposit to show that we are a ‘genuine application’, which will be refunded if the application is rejected, or if accepted will be taken off the bond. If we don’t proceed within 48 hours after being accepted or fail to notify them of withdrawal then the amount is forfeited. After looking this up, I’m unsure if this is legal or common practice? If I’m reading the rules right, they can’t take money upon application, only if they accept the application and send us a proposed lease agreement I think? Just wondering if anyone has any insight on this please?

Hi all!

I received a bill from my LL's property manager (LJ Hooker), the bill is labeled as "Water Usage" but the attached invoice is for a private water metre through Strata Water Solutions.

This doesn't seem... correct. My understanding is that I shouldn't be charged for Strata fees, right?

Edit: I already pay for water.

Is depreciation schedule worth it on a 1970s home, minimal renos and quite a bit of wear and tear?

My townhouse is currently on the market in inner-north Brisbane. It’s only been a week so far. I’ve had an offer about 100k below the minimum I was hoping achieve.
How much less do you think I should be expecting to take compared to say a few months ago. Common feedback to the agent is people are aware of the market decline. For reference I was hoping for circa 1.7 but have had a 1.55 offer. Hoping more offers roll in.

Other than the recent shoddy apartments of course.

The governments have been throwing money at it for decades, as far back as I can remember. They're building schools, trains, metro, buses, government jobs, tram etc and it seems to be providing very little return in the form of people desiring to live and work there.