Well, spring has now well and truly sprung and the property market is feeling a little more confidence, particularly for first homebuyers.

The Reserve Bank met in the first week of the month and official rates are currently sitting unchanged at 1.50 per cent.

Please enjoy this month’s issue. We take a look at the latest property price growth data from the ABS and offer a few smart tricks to keep your home looking spring cleaned all year round.

If you’re considering dipping your toe in the housing market this spring, let me know. I can answer all your questions and find you the home loan that is best suited to your circumstances, whether you’re a first homebuyer or looking to invest in property.

Call me now on: 0402 408944

 Does Australian property have a new property price growth king?

According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, Melbourne’s property price growth has outpaced Sydney’s for the third quarter in a row. Real estate prices in Melbourne rose 3 per cent over the three months to June, while Sydney had an increase of 2.3 per cent.

The two cities are now tied for annual price growth at 13.8 per cent. They’re followed by Hobart, where prices rose 1.8 per cent in the year to June. Canberra followed close behind Hobart with a rise of 1.3 per cent. The data shows Australia’s leading two cities for property are now moving in opposite directions. The Sydney market is declining while Melbourne prices are still on the rise.

Sydney’s loss of momentum may be due to the new lending measures for investors. Price rises in Melbourne and Sydney were partially offset by falls in Perth (-0.8 per cent) and Darwin (-1.4 per cent). Brisbane and Adelaide had smaller rises at 0.6 and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

According to Bruce Hockman, Chief Economist at ABS, these results highlight the diversity of Australia’s capital cities when it comes to housing markets and economic conditions.

The total value of Australia's 9.9 million residential dwellings increased $145.9 billion to $6.7 trillion. The mean price of dwellings in Australia rose by $12,100 over the quarter to $679,100.

Need some help sorting through the fine print of the latest low, low fixed rate deals? Call me now to talk through all your options and I may be able to save you time and money on your current loan.

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How to spring clean like a boss

We all know spring’s the season of doing all those cleaning jobs we’ve neglected all year – the sun is out, the wind is warmer and we feel compelled to throw open the doors and dust off the cobwebs.

But there’s a few easy spring cleaning hacks to keep your home bright, breezy and clean all year round.

1. Make those bathroom doors shine. Rub a teaspoon of lemon oil on your glass shower doors twice a month – and watch the water just bead up and roll off. Or try applying a car-care product designed to keep rainwater off your windshield, twice a year.

2. Make your bed. Before leaving the house each day, pull your bedding together. It’s amazing how a made bed can instantly make your bedroom look clean, even if the rest of the room isn’t picture-perfect.

3. Soda pop. The best refrigerator cleaner is a combination of salt and soda water. The bubbling action of the soda water combines with the abrasive texture of the salt to make a great cleaner.

4. Baby wipe the bathroom. With a container of wipes nearby, it’s a snap to give the sink a quick clean after use. No more toothpaste dribbles!

5. One-minute countdown. A great way to disinfect your sponges is to microwave them on high for 1 minute. And an added benefit to this hack? The water in the sponge is released and moistens the dried food on the sides of your microwave.

6. Add a teaspoon of… cornstarch to a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water for shiny and crystal clear window glass. The cornstarch is the magic ingredient—it’s a very fine natural abrasive that helps work away grime and leave behind a streak-free shine.

Looking to make your next big move? I can help. Ask me to find you the most attractive mortgage rates to save you money this spring auction season.