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Phone (08)9297 3055

29. June 2015 15:52  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


The following post was taken from LWP – Ellenbrook’s Facebook page.

Woodlake was our first village, launched in 1995. Did you know that all of the street names in Woodlake are named after Australian plants and birds, a nod to the ‘return to nature’ theming of the village?

For example Bronzewing Avenue is named after the Bronzewing Pigeon, which is native to Australia.

26. June 2015 13:34  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (2)


Do you want new skills? Interested in learning something to kick start your career? Maybe change your job? Swan Libraries and Sorcit are currently running employment workshops with topics including Resume Writing, Building Confidence for Women and Computer Skills. These workshops are two hours long and FREE to attend. Registration is required.

Please see the attached flyers for further information about dates, locations and how to register, or visit www.swan.wa.gov.au/library

25. June 2015 10:03  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


Over 55? Love playing games? Having fun? Want to meet people? 
Then come and join the Award winning Ellenbrook Seniors’ Social Space for a social and games afternoon.
When: The last Friday of the month
Where: Woodlake Community centre
Contact: seniorssocialspace@live.com.au
Phone: 0409080824

24. June 2015 11:39  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (1)


The following article is taken from LWP Ellenbrook’s Facebook page.

Did you know that each of our eight villages in Ellenbrook, as well as the name Ellenbrook itself, has a story behind it?

Ellenbrook, for example, is named after Lady Ellen Stirling, the wife of Perth’s Lieutenant Governor, Sir James Stirling.

Ellen was apparently known for her playfulness, youthfulness, a passion for learning, modern thinking, vibrancy, tolerance and acceptance. It is these qualities that were the inspiration behind the design and planning of the Ellenbrook community.

If you look closely, you will notice that throughout the town centre, Ellen’s personality is reflected in the public artwork and landscaping.

One of the key roads in the town centre is named for her (Ellen Stirling Parade) and a major distributor road (Drumpellier Drive) after the Scottish ancestral seat of the Stirling family.

 

23. June 2015 11:31  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


Maggie Dent’s Boys Boys Boys Seminar is coming to Ellenbrook in August. Tickets are now available to be booked online. Her seminars are always popular, so make sure you get in quick.

23. June 2015 11:28  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (1)


Ellenbrook Place is happy to announce it’s July school holiday programme.

Please see the attached flyer showing the events and for more info or to book contact:

Under 12s: Beth Weston on beth.weston@swan.wa.gov.au or 9207 8579

10-17 years: Jimmy Cangy or Yanthe McIntyre on jimmy.cangy@swan.wa.gov.au or Yanthe.McIntyre-Gadsby@swan.gov.au

17. June 2015 11:51  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


The following article is taken from Realestate.com.au website 

Caroline James

 
 

You’ve found a home you like and are waiting at the door. Now what?

A buyer’s first inspection of a prospective property is kind of like going on a blind date. You have almost certainly seen some photos (always showing the home in its most flattering light) but will likely have many unanswered questions.

Will you ‘click’? Will it meet your non-negotiable criteria? What will it look like? Has it had a hard life? Will its internal wall colours make you cringe – or make you smile?

What is the point of a buyer inspection?

Independent buyer’s agent Catherine Cashmore says a property inspection is a golden opportunity to educate yourself about the bricks and mortar before you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars buying it.

She strongly advises all buyers inspect prospective homes or investments more than twice if planning to purchase.

Often a property looks great online or in a glossy brochure but as soon as you pull up at the curb you know it is not ‘the one’. Perhaps it backs a smelly industrial site or is next to a busy, noisy road? Perhaps its bedrooms are too small for your double beds?

You simply cannot know some things unless you have visited the site in person.

Photos can be illusive, so always make time for an inspection.

Period home in Stephen Street ,  Yarraville VIC

 

“Remember, the property is being presented for ‘sale’ so any visible flaws will be covered over,” Cashmore says. “For example, a dab of fresh paint can obscure cracks in the wall or careful placing of furniture can divert your eye away from possible defects.”

Cashmore strongly cautions against buying property without walking through it. “Whether a buyer or investor, do not purchase a property sight unseen,” she says.

“At the least, make sure an independent buyer advocate that you have paid and works for you inspects the home on your behalf. Photos can be illusive and you leave yourself open to the potential of buying a dud that’s impossible to sell on if you buy sight unseen. Don’t do it.”

Inspect and save: Could a property inspection save you thousands?

What should you look for?

Everything that determines if this is somewhere you or future tenants want to live.  But don’t let groovy cushion covers sway you. This is your chance to probe this property, to measure, to push and to pull.

Man standing in kitchen of  Flemington VIC home

 

  • Does everything open and shut?
  • Do lights turn on and off without flickering?
  • Do taps work and is the water flow adequate?
  • Are there signs of water damage (i.e. peeling or bubbled paint work, mould, stained ceilings)?
  • Do doors close smoothly or stick?
  • Walk around the edge of each room and look up as well as down to gauge dimensions
  • Walk around the outside of the property to check fences and the condition of the building’s exterior including gutters and down-pipes

Ignore the furniture and decor – take a tape measure with you and measure the bedrooms.

“Often hired furniture is smaller than real furniture and can obscure a room’s size,” Cashmore reveals. “Bedrooms need to be at least 3m x 3m in size – otherwise the room is a ‘study’ not a bedroom.”

Ignore the furniture and decor – turn your attention to floorspace.

Common missteps: 7 first home buyer mistakes

Ask lots and lots of questions

Buyers should try and arrange a time with the agent to visit the home on a private inspection.

Use this access to find out why the vendor is selling and ask questions that will help you work out the real value of the property.

Questions to ask yourself may include:

  • Can I live with the floor plan?
  • Is the toilet at the rear of the home too far from the bedrooms?
  • Do the bedrooms run off the living area and be affected by television noise at night?
  • Is the home going to adequately cater for my needs over the next seven to 10 years?
  • Can I extend the property if I outgrow the home?

Family of three

 

“When attending an open for inspection, it’s hard to think clearly with crowds of competing buyers squashing in and out of the rooms,” Cashmore says.

Try and visit during the day and turn off the lights to assess natural light.

“Don’t be afraid to open cupboards to assess storage space. When on a private inspection try and visit during the day and turn off the lights to assess natural light. Is it too dark to read a newspaper without putting the light on? Is there anything you can do to improve the situation? i.e. – sky lights for example.

“Concentrate on the things you can’t change (orientation, location) – not those you can.”

 

 

15. June 2015 11:31  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


For it’s 5th annual production this year Holy Cross are presenting a Musical version of CS Lewis’ classic story ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’.  There is something very special about watching children sing and preform. I am really looking forward to taking my children to watch this as the story is also one of our favourites.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/120144 and show dates and times are below:

Thursday 25th June 6:30pm
Friday 26th June 6:30pm
Saturday 27th June 12:00pm
Saturday 27th June 6:30pm

8. June 2015 13:47  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


Computer Skills

How to set-up a computer, how to create documents and emails and how to use the internet. This workshop helps people with the basic operation of a computer and it tailored to people who may never have used a computer before.

Places are limited so bookings are required.

For further information on this session or to place a booking, contact Ellenbrook Community Library on 9207 8787 orbook online.

Days and Times :

Wednesday, June 10
10am – 12noon

Cost :

Free

Suitable for :
All ages
Useful links :
Sorcit logo

 

5. June 2015 11:15  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (0)


The following article is a blog by  Kate Jones that appeared on the realestate.com.au website on 29 MAY 2015

 

Cabramatta

Rates set to remain steady in coming months

Interest rates are tipped to stay on hold for June, and possibly for the rest of the year, as the economy absorbs two earlier rate cuts.

Rates are currently at 2% after they were cut by 0.25% in February and again in May.

Market Economics managing director Stephen Koukoulas says the Reserve Bank will sit tight in June.

“There’ll be no change in June and for quite a few months,” he says.

“We’re at 2% and the economy is ok – it’s not strong, but certainly not any weaker than it was.”

Minutes of the RBA’s Monetary Policy meeting in May echoed this assessment of the economy, stating “forces underpinning developments in the domestic economy were much as they had been for some time”.

The minutes revealed the RBA had considered decreasing rates in either May or June, but opted for May to take advantage of revised growth forecasts by Reserve Bank staff.

RBA data suggests economic growth is expected to continue at a lacklustre pace for the next 12 months before picking up gradually in 2016/17.

Increased consumer confidence, a downward shift in unemployment rates and a cooling property market in Sydney are key to reviving our lagging economy, financial experts say.

Whilst he expects rates to remain on hold this year, Collins House independent financial advisor Dominic Alafaci says the RBA may consider raising rates if Sydney’s overheated real estate prices don’t get under control soon.

“Whilst we expect the Reserve Bank to maintain its easing bias for the medium term, there will be some upward pressure on the overall cost of borrowing especially for investment purposes as regulators attempt to contain a potential property bubble,” he says.

On the flipside, interest rates could be cut even further if the economy needs a boost to speed up growth.

“Rates will remain stable for the near term unless the economy falls away in the third quarter whereby the Reserve Bank may cut rates sooner rather than later to help stimulate the economy and improve employment growth,” he says.

With interest rates now at new record lows, Alafaci says there’s a good case for homeowners to stick to a variable rate or split to lock in fixed rates for part of their loan.

“As a rate rise is not on the cards this calendar year, keeping the bulk of your home loan variable would be worth considering,” he says.

“Although those who prefer to eliminate uncertainty from a cash flow perspective or who are fearful of potential increased borrowing costs for investment purposes, may wish to lock in a fixed rate loan with part of their facility.”

3. June 2015 14:30  /  swanvalleyrealtyblog Comments (3)


What we have all known for a long time is finally official on an international level. Ellenbrook is the best planned community in the world! Previously Ellenbrook has won numerous Australia wide awards for community planning and living – but now Ellenbrook is an International Award winner.

I have posted in the past about how when Ellenbrook was first designed it was through a collaborative approach by Developers, Town Planners and Builders – this collaborative approach accounted for community living with separate townships with a central community gathering place in each, green spaces, walk ways, facilities and street scapes. The planning also very wisely took into account future growth and development so that even over 20 years on it is still a great community to live in.

The following is an article from the LWP property groups web site;

Ellenbrook has been awarded the prestigious FIABCI (International Real Estate Federation) World Prix d’Excellence Award for 2015, being named the best master-planned community in the world.

Managing Director Danny Murphy, said the award win recognised Ellenbrook’s innovations and long-term success.

“From the very start, Ellenbrook has been able to adapt and respond to changes in housing preferences, community, technology and lifestyles. Through its many innovations, particularly in the areas of housing, community development, urban design and environmental management, Ellenbrook has maintained a leadership role and delivered a series of firsts for the West Australian and Australian development industry,” he said

A testament to its success, Ellenbrook stands as Australia’s most awarded urban development project, with the World Prix D’Excellence Award the ‘icing on the cake’, according to Mr Murphy.

“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved here at Ellenbrook.

“Our sustained commitment to delivering the founding project vision and objectives of a return to traditional neighbourhood planning; affordability; environmental sustainability; and community development has ensured we have created a great place to live, work and play,” Mr Murphy said.

Ellenbrook will eventually be home to 35,000 residents and features a thriving town centre, an abundance of community facilities for all ages, 7 primary schools, 4 secondary schools, over 30 community groups and sporting clubs, 30km of walking trails, 10km of cycleways and almost 20 parks.