NEWS Archives - McGrath Central West - Orange, Bathurst, Molong - Real Estate

Jul 19

buy

John McGrath – Buying and selling in a cooling market

By NEWS

Weekends have always been a busy time for real estate agents, with auctions as well as open homes for prospective buyers and tenants. At the same time, we have been experiencing not only a traditionally quieter Winter season but also a market correction and auction clearance rate declines, which have impacted…

Jul 13

John McGrath – A property correction to be expected not feared

By NEWS

Real estate has always been a favourite topic of conversation around the dinner table or at coffee catch ups. With so much property noise out there now, these discussions have become even more intense. Wherever you are in the property cycle, you should know one thing: real estate changes invariably…

Jul 05

market

John McGrath – End of financial year market review

By appraise.works NEWS

As we enter a new financial year, it’s a good time to reflect on what the property market has experienced in the past 12 months, and especially in the first half of 2026. Real estate conditions have undoubtedly softened, with this slowdown beginning in late 2025. Key to this change…

Jun 28

Millennial

John McGrath – Top tips for Millennial family buyers

By NEWS

Depending on where you live, Winter school holidays are either fast approaching, or have already begun. With our young families now able to relax for the next few weeks, I want to explore their position in our property market. This especially applies to the Millennials generation – or 30 to…

Jun 22

Gold coast

John McGrath – Gold Coast apartment market flourishes

By NEWS

The prospect of living on the Gold Coast usually brings to mind the possibility of enjoying a relaxed lifestyle, close to the beach. But the Gold Coast also presents an extraordinary opportunity for property growth, especially when it comes to the apartment market. Driving this area’s popularity even higher is the…

Jun 15

renovations

John McGrath – High demand for home renovations continues

By NEWS

For the fifth year in a row, we’re seeing a strong appetite for home renovations, with property owners clearly prepared to wear the cost of shifting construction costs, including labour and materials. NAB data released this month shows the demand for renovation loans rose 16% in the year to April 30.…

Jun 08

winter

John McGrath – No need to freeze your plans this Winter

By NEWS

Winter has now officially begun and with the new and chillier season comes a traditionally slower time for real estate overall. But this doesn’t mean you should wait until Spring to sell your home. In fact, contrary to what many people believe, Winter is the ideal time for property vendors. It’s…

Jun 01

market

John McGrath – What to expect in our changing market

By NEWS

As I’ve noted several times recently, Australia’s property market is shifting. But this isn’t bad news, and nor should it cause you to panic. I say this for one key reason: the bricks and mortar you live in, or rent out, is one of the greatest wealth-building assets you’ll ever own. This…

May 25

regional

John McGrath – Regional Market Update: country homes continue to attract city buyers

By NEWS

As I’ve noted several times recently, Australia’s regional and rural areas are enjoying an extended moment in the sun. By extended, I mean six years of continued popularity, after the appeal of such locations first began to thrive in the COVID years. The latest Regional Movers Index found the number…

May 17

homeowners

John McGrath – Homeowners’ strong position will help in softer conditions

By NEWS

When you’ve been in real estate for as long as I have, the latest Cotality data isn’t surprising. After all, property is a long-term game where the market is subject to several cycles along the way. That being said, I empathise with property owners’ uneasy time right now. Not only has…

May 12

orange

The Federal Budget 2026: What does it mean for Orange investors?

By appraise.works INVESTORS, NEWS

For investors in Orange, NSW, the key takeaway is that property remains a strong long-term asset class, however strategy and timing will become increasingly important.

May 11

melbourne

John McGrath – Melbourne: delving beyond the data

By NEWS

I have previously talked about Melbourne and what it offers to our country’s many eager buyers. As I said then, this capital city can give buyers key opportunities that other, more popular, cities can’t, such as a strong property supply. At the same time, Melbourne has experienced far slower price growth in…

May 04

homeowner

What is driving the modern Australian homeowner? – John McGrath

By NEWS

Today’s property market presents a great divide between us and our grandparents. But are the reasons and motivations for buying property today still the same as they were 10, 20, or 30 years ago? While Cotality’s Women and Property 2026 report shows that today’s potential property buyers are a mixed…

Apr 27

Investor

The importance of being a disciplined investor – John McGrath

By NEWS

It’s not surprising that for several years now, renter and investor issues have been a popular conversation at dinner tables and get-togethers. After all, one in five Australians now own an investment property, according to the latest data from Westpac. In other promising news for investors, this year’s PropTrack Westpac…

Apr 19

Auction

Auction or private treaty: what’s the better option for you? – John McGrath

By NEWS

If you’re planning to sell this Autumn, you and your agent will need to decide whether you’ll sell via auction or private treaty. Some agents will advise you that an auction’s competitive atmosphere guarantees the best price. Others will say a private treaty sale is the more effective way to…

Apr 13

new

John McGrath – Why buyers are choosing new builds over existing homes

By NEWS

The new housing market continues to attract home buyers, especially those buying for the first time. There’s good reasons for this, including government assistance programs. Buying brand new can also mean less stress and gives buyers the option of moving into “turn key” or ready-built properties, often in rapidly growing…

Apr 06

co-owners buy

John McGrath – Buying property with friends or family

By NEWS

Co-owning a home with a relative or friend is becoming increasingly popular, particularly for first-home buyers and younger people, with this option offering a swifter, smoother journey to homeownership. And, I’m not talking about financial help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. The latest data from NAB shows that joint…

Mar 30

Autumn

John McGrath – Don’t cool your property plans this Autumn

By NEWS

Another Autumn and I expect healthy buyer numbers at open homes and auctions, following a very active Spring and Summer, John McGrath, Chief Executive Officer of McGrath Estate Agents. Cotality’s latest Home Value Index found mid-sized capitals Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, continue to achieve excellent month-on-month growth of more than 1%. Perth’s…

Mar 22

regional

John McGrath – Regional property values out-perform capitals once more

By NEWS

I’ve closely observed Australia’s regional property markets for years, and it looks like 2026 will bring some more big changes to these areas. It’s been pretty interesting to see how our regions have become the one and only place to be for hundreds of city buyers recently. The latest Regional Movers…

Mar 15

Gen z

John McGrath – Gen Z buyers increasingly focus on investment possibilities

By NEWS

I’ve talked recently about 46-60-year-old Generation X (Gen X) or the “sandwich generation”, and how this group is shaping current and future housing, including government policies. But following close behind Gen X is the very different Gen Z group, who are also significant, albeit for dissimilar reasons. For a start,…

Mar 08

Apartment

John McGrath – Apartments vs detached houses: which one should you buy?

By NEWS

Easter is now only a month away, and the real estate market is well into another strong stride for this year, with Cotality highlighting the last week of February was the nation’s busiest period of auctions since late March, 2025. Some of these auction buyers are likely to be entry-level renters…

Mar 02

energy

Compact, energy efficient, flexible: the new Australian home – John McGrath

By NEWS

Australia’s property market is changing fast, with strong housing gains and values across the nation generally being the norm. Yet our properties themselves have also undergone major transformations in recent decades. The typical Australian home is no longer large, brick veneer and freestanding, on a generous block. Instead, we’re increasingly…

Feb 22

regional

John McGrath – Why regional areas continue to be popular

By NEWS

Regional locations’ low property prices along with their strong infrastructure and amenities continue to ensure they’re a worthwhile prospect for sea and tree changers. The latest Regional Movers Index found the number of people relocating from capital cities to rural Australia rose by 2.5% in the September 2025 quarter. The Sunshine Coast and Greater Geelong on Victoria’s scenic Surf Coast again attracted the largest net migration figures from capital cities to regional areas.…

Feb 15

sandwich generation

John McGrath – How the “Sandwich Generation” is shaping current and future housing

By NEWS

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)’s 0.25% rate rise two weeks ago was largely expected by industry experts and lenders. But our first increase since November 2023 was unsurprisingly, not welcome news for home owners and buyers. Cotality believes that while the lift to 3.85% won’t alter the immediate housing market…

Feb 08

pets

John McGrath – How pets are transforming the property market

By LATEST STORY, NEWS

As someone who has always loved dogs, I’ve been watching with keen interest how our furry friends have impacted our housing decisions recently, as they were definitely a catalyst for my own property decisions. It’s pretty clear that I’m not the only one whose favourite part of the day is…

Feb 02

Tasmania

John McGrath – Confidence returns to Tasmania’s property market

By LATEST STORY, NEWS

Hobart’s property market, along with those of Launceston and Devonport, should finally experience some real recovery in 2026, following three difficult years. This recovery first began in 2025 and although moderate, will grow stronger this year, as confidence returns to the Apple Isle’s overall economy. We take a good look…

Jan 27

Brisbane

John McGrath – Brisbane’s property market continues to shine in 2026

By LATEST STORY, NEWS

It’s no secret that Brisbane is by far the most the attractive capital city in Australia, with property values experiencing impressive growth in recent years. This growth is expected to continue in 2026, although it may moderate in the second half of the year as affordability bites. At $1,131,329, Brisbane’s…

Jan 18

2026

John McGrath – What’s ahead for 2026 market

By LATEST STORY, NEWS

With a new year comes new possibilities and opportunities for the property market. Will the Reserve Bank hand out more interest rate cuts? Will high values continue? Will lagging markets finally enjoy some growth? While anything is possible in a new year, I expect to see an increase in buyers’ resilience,…

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