Real estate tips, advice and market commentary brought to you by Andrew Duncan, with some off-topic ranting occasionally thrown in for good measure. I love working with nice people, enjoying plant-based food, CrossFit, NFL and living in Wellington, where I help run Relatable, an independent real estate agency where we help buyers and sellers make smart property decisions.
property@andrewduncan.co.nz
+64 27 428 6686
“The coolest thing about Taiwan is that we were usually the only foreigners everywhere we went but no one treats you like a tourist. And while the locals were always lovely and nice to us, they didn’t expect anything from us since their economy isn’t built on tourism. Not one single person hit us up for money or tried to sell us a selfie-stick…” We…
In this article, you will find straight-forward tips and advice on what to do if you have a home that is taking a long time to sell. If a house stays on the market a long time, does that mean there is something wrong with it? Not always. It is true that some properties are harder to sell. If there is unconsented building work that…
Sam Harris is a human I have unbridled admiration for. I love the way he thinks. When he talks I feel my anxiety washing away, seeping out of my pores. His podcast interviews have altered my perceptions and changed my thinking of many aspects of my life. I certainly don’t agree with everything he says, however. Some of his views on immigration are too strong…
I am an investment property owner. I am just the kind of person the Tax Working Group intends to target in their capital gains tax recommendations. This policy is likely going to cost my family a lot of money in the future. But I understand why it needs to be done and I agree with it. Here are 5 reasons I agree with a Capital…
I recently interviewed top Wellington mortgage broker Jenny Cheevers to get her thoughts on a few topical real estate finance questions, including: – What’s happening with interest rates? – Should I fix for 1 year or 2 years? – Should I switch banks for one offering 3.95%? – Can I buy a home with only a 10% deposit? – Should I pay off my student…
Letting fees are a cost which have historically been charged to tenants by property managers when they move into a property. It is usually equivalent to one week’s rent. It is a large cost for a tenant to bear, especially if they are only going to live in the property for 3 – 12months. While taking a sabbatical in Auckland in 2017, we rented a…
First up, if you are unsure what we mean by the words conditional vs unconditional, check out this article for a bit of background. Needless to say, making an unconditional offer on a property takes serious effort and investment. The process of making an unconditional offer could (and should) involve: Speaking with your lawyer (asking them to review the title, LIM and offer document). Arranging…
I often get asked about cross-lease properties. It can be a confusing form of ownership, especially if you are new to the process of buying a home. The purpose of this article is to provide you with an understanding of whether cross-lease properties will provide a good real estate investment and/or whether you should avoid them at all costs. Thinking of selling a cross-lease property?…
If you are buying a home for the first time, or if you haven’t made an offer in a while, the whole question of conditional vs unconditional offers can get confusing. This article explains how each type of offer works. When you make an offer on a property it will either be: UNCONDITIONAL Meaning the offer is not subject to any checks or due diligence….
This article will give you tips on how to avoid paying too much when buying a home. It focusses on the emotional side of the decision-making process. Why do some people end up paying too much? FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is an immensely powerful emotion and it can drive us to do crazy things in the heat of the moment. It is so easy…
