Resources to help you along your property journey.

 Ingredients500g Pasta of your choice3 tbsp butter500 g/1lb shrimp/prawns deveined and shelled4 garlic cloves crushed1 cup/250ml cream2-3 tbsp fresh lemon juicehandful fresh parsley finely choppedSalt and pepper to tasteYou can also serve with pesto!InstructionsCook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water. In the meantime, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large…

 Is there anything more thrilling than the countdown to Christmas? The suspense is almost enough to rival the actual day – almost. This DIY advent calendar adds to the fun, so get your little ones involved and let them design the house exterior. Fill the inside shelves with little gifts, which when opened reveal fun…

Ingredients 1 Whole large egg2 Egg yolks (large)115g Caster sugar2 tbsp Cornflour400ml Full fat milk2 tsp Vanilla extract1 Sheet ready-rolled puff pastry Method Lightly grease a 12 hole muffin tin and pre-heat oven to 200C/180C fan.Put egg, yolks, caster sugar, and cornflour in a pan and mix well together then gradually add the milk until mixture is well…

 You would be forgiven for thinking that all real estate agents essentially appear the same.Real estate professionals collectively tend to dress the same way, drive the same kind of cars, talk the same way on the phone. It's almost like they are trying not to stand out from each other.And the job itself - how…

 It’s not just media hype. We are in a full-blown housing crisis.What’s driving our out-of-control real estate market?Historically low interest rates. Never before has it been so cheap to borrow money to buy houses (or keep them as investments).Ridiculous amount of red-tape involved in building or development. 50-60%+ of a residential building development budget can be spent…

 It is completely understandable to be tempted by the idea of selling your home yourself, without the help of a real estate agent.Real estate agency fees are a sizeable amount of money no matter what the value of your property might be. And at the start of the process, the only number you have that…

When buying a home, coming to an agreement with the owners on price is just the first hurdle.The second, and the often biggest barrier to progress is the builder's report.The 'builder's report' is an inspection, usually commissioned by the buyer, where a qualified inspector goes through the property with a fine-tooth comb. They look for…

 Every buyer wants to avoid a multiple offer situation if possible.We prefer to negotiate directly with the owner, one on one. It’s programmed into our genes to want to start off low, see what the seller comes back with, and maybe meet in the middle if it works for us.In a busy market though, a…

 Ingredients 1 Tablespoon oil50g chopped bacon1/2 onion, chopped finely100g cooked chicken, shredded(one chicken breast is sufficient, or you can use more if you want)1-2 carrots, cooked and sliced1 kumara, cooked and cubed500ml chicken stock1 Tablespoon cornflour1/2 Tablespoon waterCobbler Topping:150g self-raising flourpinch of mixed herbs75g buttersalt to tastecold water to mixMethod Preheat oven to 210 degrees. Heat the…

 This article will provide you with a quick, easy home valuation process to help you decide what any property is worth to you.Step 1. Consult online home valuation websites.Visit homes.co.nz (NZ), zillow.com (US), or realestate.com.au (AUS).Start by finding out what the online value estimators have to say. Their algorithms are getting better and better all the time. Take each number with…

 If you have found a home you love but you’re not sure what the next steps are, this post will help you find out the information you need to move forward. Every single property is different, but there are some standard rules here which you can follow that will help you make smart, informed decisions. Let’s…

 So often, what is good for your wallet is also good for the planet.When you make changes to your home to make it more energy-efficient, it reduces the amount of power required to heat it. Saving you money and saving energy. And since energy prices appear likely to keep increasing in the future, making these…