Blog by Contrax

This guide for first-time home buyers in Sydney covers critical aspects of the process: location, property type, financing, and inspections. Make informed decisions and find your dream home with these essential insights.

Our client was shocked when they arrived at the property they were purchasing on the morning of settlement. They walked into the kitchen, ready to do their final inspection, only to find that the dishwasher had been unceremoniously yanked from its spot. What happened next will shock you (not really).

Creating a home office environment that truly boosts your productivity is key if you are going to be working from home a lot, especially now that WFH at least for part of the week has become the workplace norm.

The day I learned that double-checking isn’t enough when it comes to contract admin

As a committed conveyancing professional, all the details and numbers you need are probably right there in your brain and, most of the time, quite easy for you to recall on demand.

A warning for all conveyancers: There are weird, wonderful, downright outlandish contract clauses lurking in the fine print

Let's dive into what it's like to live in the Blue Mountains in NSW just west of Sydney. What are the best areas? Is it safe? And much more, including housing prices and the top things to do in each area.

Are you thinking about moving to regional NSW? When we look back on the last two years the world has faced, it’s no wonder we have been seeing an influx of home-buyers vacating the city and moving out into the countryside. Moving to the countryside might be the first thing on your 2022 (and beyond) bucket list. If it is, we have a unique location for you to consider: New South Wales Snowy Monaro Region.

Cities like Sydney are expanding, and the high prices, mainly near the CBD and coastline, are driving buyers to the region’s outskirts and further. But that doesn’t mean fewer options or that having a property outside of the major region is not a good investment. But where to go? Here’s our list of some of the best areas to look outside of Sydney.

Many home decor styles can inspire you, but here are seven used by some recent Contrax buyers that might help you narrow down your frame of reference, including modern, contemporary, minimalist, traditional, bohemian, rustic and beach.

The process of buying your home can be overwhelming. It can be stressful and long, and exhausting. But it doesn’t have to be. We've broken down the not so common things you might want to look at on inspection day before signing on the dotted line. These are the 8 things to look for before buying your home… and we think the list might surprise you.

One of our top tips for saving for your first home is to check whether you're eligible for any government assistance. We’ve broken it down to give you a snapshot of what might be available if you’re looking to purchase a property in NSW. This post covers the four kinds of assistance currently available to NSW first home buyers, including two types of cash grants, transfer duty reductions, and a savings scheme using your super.

If you are just beginning your journey towards purchasing your first home, or even if you are on the path to buying a second, this guide will walk you through some easy tips and tricks to save money for your house deposit and help you turn your dream into a reality.

So, you’ve got your deposit and you’re ready to dive into the property market! We hate to be the bearer of bad news but have you thought about the additional costs involved? Read on to find out more about the total cost of buying a home.

One of the most common questions we get asked about buying property is how deposits work. Read below for our rundown on this very integral part of the property buying process. What is a Deposit? ...

We’ve all heard of them but what actually is a buyer’s agent and what do they do?The basicsA buyer’s agent is a licensed professional who represents, you guessed it! - the buyer. In this case, you. They are perhaps best described as a real estate agent’s opposite. Real estate agents represent the vendor: the person selling the property. In short, a buyer’s agent’s job is to identify potential properties for you to buy and then negotiate the purchase on your behalf.

What is negative gearing?Negative gearing refers to the financial practice where an investor borrows money to invest in a property and the cost of the loan’s interest is greater than the rental income said property generates. So, to break this down into its most simple terms, negative gearing means interest on loan > rental income.