News and views

Mortgages, eh. They’re one of life’s bittersweet realities – there’s the immediate relief in securing one … quickly followed by the more sobering reality of servicing the blessed loan.

Of all the methods to buy a property, winning at auction tends to come down to a little luck and a lot of homework – but it can also bring risks for the uninitiated.

With property prices appreciating at record levels, not surprisingly, real estate is piquing the interest of many who haven’t traditionally invested in bricks and mortar.

I’ve had an active interest in property transactions for many years from different vantage points, both as a lawyer and as a bank lender. So I’ve seen property transactions go both good and bad, and everything in between, from a number of perspectives.

The third wave of the Government’s property tax overhaul arrived recently, and it’s already presenting some quirks that can catch out the unwary.

Once upon a time, not so many years back, it would have been rather inconceivable that the mere mention of one particular letter could evoke such concern, distaste and, often, even fear.

The Government is ramping up efforts to address soaring property prices, and, having focused on the “demand” side of the equation, is now moving to focus on “supply”.

Latest stats show building is booming in our neck of the woods. And you don’t need to take too long a Sunday drive to see new homes of all shapes and sizes popping up everywhere – a trend fuelled no doubt in part by the current bargain basement interest rates.