movetoperth

   For many, the pressure is on as soon as they step off the plane - furniture is arriving off the boat soon, the kids need to get into school, the dog gets out of quarantine in a few weeks etc.etc. Tip: CHILL OUT... Don't rush into a decision you may later regret.

Rent or buy? It's a dilemma faced by all new families arriving in Perth. Finding good long-term rentals can be difficult - even more so if you want one with a pool.

However, buying a house upon arrival has risks:

• You don't know the suburbs, so risk buying in a dodgy area (some suburbs have good parts and parts to avoid).
• You don't know the market and could end up paying over-the-odds.
• You don't know about living in Australian houses (e.g the importance of an outdoor shaded area, retic, air conditioning, hoons, installing a pool etc.)
• You don't know about the cost of living in Perth, so you may risk over-extending yourselves financially if you buy a house that is too expensive.

On the flip side, currently house prices in Perth are stagnant, or dropping - and have been for a couple of years. Bargains are there to be had for savvy buyers with cash.

So, How Does the Buying Process Work?

Like in most countries, the Real Estate Agent gets paid a fee by the seller (3-4% normally). Agents can sell properties that they are not listing - but they only get a very small fee for their trouble - so it is in the Agent's own interest to sell you one of their listings.