The NSW Property Show with Svetlana Thorpe Svetlana Thorpe

Understanding real estate terminology is crucial for first home buyers. Empower yourself with the knowledge you need to confidently navigate the real estate market as a first home buyer! From deciphering property listings to navigating legal documents and financing options, here's a breakdown of key concepts:
·       Simplifying real estate language: I break down common terms used in property listings and advertisements, making it easier to understand property features and amenities.
·       Legal and contractual clarity: Gain insights into legal and contractual terms encountered during property transactions, ensuring you're well-informed throughout the process.
·       Financing made simple: Learn about mortgage and financing jargon, empowering you to make informed decisions about your home loan.
·       Property inspections: Learn about common terms used in property inspections, ensuring you're aware of any issues with the property's condition.
·       Strata and special levy insights: Understand the terminology related to strata-titled properties, including strata levies and special levies.
·       Effective communication tips: Discover tips for communicating effectively with real estate professionals, ensuring a smooth and transparent process.
·       Building your vocabulary: Empower yourself with knowledge by expanding your real estate vocabulary, helping you make informed decisions throughout your home-buying journey.
By decoding property jargon, you can navigate the real estate market with confidence and make informed decisions as a first home buyer.
The NSW Property Show with Svetlana Thorpe is dedicated to empowering first home buyers with knowledge and resources to navigate the real estate market.

When you are deciding on who to appoint as your conveyancer, first you need to understand the conveyancer's role in the whole process.
Not all conveyancers are created equal. You want someone who pays attention to detail, who can spot potential issues before they become problems. 
It is also important that you ask the right questions. Enquire about stuff like their experience – have they handled property deal like yours? Check their license, look up online testimonials and ask about affiliations with professional groups.
And lastly, don’t forget to ask about the fees. Request a detailed quote that breaks down all the costs. And don't be shy – ask about any extra charges that might sneak up on you.
If they're dodging questions, taking forever to get back to you or dancing around fees, consider these to be warning signs. Trust your gut – if something feels off, there's probably a reason.
In this episode, I'm talking about all of ths. 
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From phishing attempts to fraudulent emails, cyber criminals are out there trying to catch you off guard. Understanding the risks is the first step to keeping your property transaction secure.
In this week’s podcast episode, I share practical tips that anyone can implement immediately. When you are transferring money for a deposit or for settlement purposes, you need to protect your hard-earned money.  Start by verifying bank account details over the phone before initiating any funds transfers.  Never blindly trust email addresses—hover your mouse over the address to ensure its legitimacy. If you don’t know the sender of the email, resist the temptation to click on hyperlinks.  Simple actions like these can go a long way in protecting your money and personal information.
A crucial piece of advice, never conduct online transactions when you are busy or distracted. Online predators are opportunistic, preying on your vulnerability and waiting for the precise moment when your guard is down.  Unfortunately, I’ve heard of too many cases where clients inadvertently transferred money to the wrong account because they failed to verify the bank account details. The consequences are always horrendous for everyone involved. 
When you adopt basic security practices, you take control of your digital transactions. Always verify, double-check and stay vigilant—these habits can make a significant difference in keeping cyber threats at bay.
In a world where digital transactions shape our financial landscape, proactive security measures are your best defence.

Are you feeling overwhelmed when trying to make sense of a strata inspection report?
In this podcast episode, I'll be your guide through the maze of information in a strata inspection report. I want you to feel confident and empowered, so here's a sneak peek of what you'll learn:
Understanding the Purpose of the report: Let's start by uncovering the true significance of a strata inspection report and why it is crucial in your property-buying journey.
Decoding the Report: Even if the report seems as thick as a novel, I'll help you dive into its depths and find the key elements that truly matter. That way, you can save time and focus on what's important.
What to consider when reading the report:
1.     Administrative Fund: This fund takes care of day-to-day expenses like electricity bills, water usage bills, cleaning, gardening, building insurance premiums, etc. Make sure there are sufficient savings in this fund.
2.     Capital Works Fund: Also known as a sinking fund, it covers major repairs and expenses. Look out for planned or unexpected expenditures and check if the fund has enough money to handle future repairs.
3.     Special Levies: Keep an eye out for any history of or proposed special levies. They might indicate future expenses if the funds are insufficient. Consider the amount and instalment plans for the special levies.
4.     10-Year Capital Works Fund Budget: This report predicts expenses for the next decade. Ensure the building has enough funds for upcoming repairs and maintenance. Take into account the current funding level and levies.
5.     Compliance: It's essential to verify if the building meets regulations. Look for strata building insurance, public liability coverage, fire safety certificate and child window safety devices certificate. Non-compliance can lead to costly rectifications.
6.     Disharmony and Changes: Pay attention to any signs of disharmony within the building, such as noisy neighbours or ongoing litigations. Frequent changes in strata managers may indicate underlying issues. Review the minutes for insights into building decisions.
7.     Obtaining the Report: Ideally, you should get your own independent report if you have enough time. If that's not possible, at least pay for the report provided by the agent. Don't hesitate to contact the inspector for clarification.
By staying informed and prepared, you'll be well-equipped when purchasing a strata unit. The strata inspection report holds vital details that can greatly impact your decision-making process and financial plans.

In this week's episode of The NSW Property Show, I'll be sharing some tips on what to do when your settlement is cancelled. Nobody likes to hear those dreaded words, “I'm sorry, but your settlement was cancelled.” However, the reality is that settlements do get cancelled from time to time. So it's good to know what your options are.
First and foremost, it's important to be flexible with your arrangements. Don't schedule your removalist for the same day as settlement. Consider arranging short-term storage or accommodation to allow for the gap between settlement and moving in and out. Trust me, it's worth the extra cost to avoid having to cancel your removalists and incur even more expenses.
If you must move in on the same day as settlement, discuss cancellation and re-booking fees with your removalist in advance. Try to pre-negotiate for them to be waived if the worst comes to worst. And if you're leasing a property, make sure your notice expires at least a week or two after the scheduled settlement date to avoid any potential conflicts. The last thing you want to worry about is where you're going to sleep that night.
You can also ask your conveyancer to negotiate whether you could occupy your new property prior to settlement to allow you to move your things in early. Lastly, it's important to be prepared that things may not go ahead as planned. Buying a property is an emotional event but it helps to approach it with a flexible mindset.
If you're currently in the process of buying a property, make sure to tune in to this episode of The NSW Property Show to learn more about what to do when settlement is cancelled. You can listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or click the link in my bio. Happy listening!

Have you ever wondered what changes can be made to a property contract?
In today’s episode, I am talking about the 5 most requested changes to property contracts in NSW and what you need to know before agreeing to them.
From a 5% deposit request, release of deposit, land tax adjustment to changing the settlement date, you'll get all the details and tips to make an informed decision.
Tune in now and let me know your thoughts in the comments! And if you love what you hear, please show me some love by leaving a review.