What’s Driving Property Prices in Regional Hubs Like Geelong, Ballarat & Bendigo? Over the past few years, regional Victoria has transformed from a quieter alternative to Melbourne into a booming property market of its own. Suburbs across Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo are seeing steady price growth and it’s not by chance. Several key forces are driving this momentum, reshaping how investors and...
First Home Buyer Tips: Why Off the Plan Can Help You Break into the Market For many Australians, saving a deposit and entering the property market feels like an uphill battle, especially with rising property prices and the cost of living continuing to climb. But there’s a path that’s often overlooked by first home buyers: buying off the plan. At Crest Property Investments, we’ve seen first hand how...
Will 2026 be the Year of the Investor? After several years of rising interest rates, construction delays, and cautious market sentiment, the Australian property landscape is showing signs of shifting once again. As we move closer to 2026, confidence is quietly rebuilding and all indicators suggest that property investors could make a strong return to the market. So, will 2026 be the year of the investor?...
Is the Rental Crisis Easing or Just Beginning? Over the past few years, headlines about Australia’s rental crisis have dominated the property conversation and for good reason.Vacancy rates remain near record lows, rental prices continue to climb, and the gap between demand and available homes shows little sign of closing. But as new projects are announced and government housing targets are set, many...
How to Read and Understand Floor Plans When Buying Off the Plan When buying off-the-plan, one of the most important documents you'll receive is the floor plan. For many buyers, especially first-timers, interpreting floor plans can be overwhelming - there’s a lot of detail packed into a black-and-white drawing. But understanding a floor plan is critical. It’s the key to knowing exactly what...
Leverage Your Equity to Grow a Property Portfolio If you've owned your home or an investment property for a few years, there's a good chance you've built up equity. If you have, that's great news! What many homeowners don’t realise is that this equity can be used as a powerful financial tool to grow a property portfolio without needing to save another large deposit. At Crest Property Investments, we...
Current Rental Market Trends – September Quarter 2025 Melbourne’s rental market remains highly competitive, with low vacancy rates continuing to underscore the imbalance between supply and demand. Despite a softer property sales environment and broader cost-of-living pressures, rental demand has shown no signs of easing—particularly across inner and middle-ring suburbs close to major employment,...
Spring Property Maintenance: Why Investors Shouldn’t Overlook This Season While spring is often associated with sunshine and growth, it can also bring a range of seasonal risks for investment properties. From post-winter wear and tear to unpredictable storms and bushfire risks, this time of year calls for property investors to take a proactive approach to maintenance. A well-maintained property not...
What is Capital Growth? Capital growth refers to the increase in a property’s value over time. This is where long-term wealth is typically built - through equity. For example, if you buy a property for $700,000 and it increases to $850,000 over several years, that’s $150,000 in capital growth. Capital growth tends to occur in: Areas with long-term population and infrastructure growth...
Buying off the plan vs Established property: Which Is Better for Today’s Market Conditions? In today’s evolving property market, buyers and investors are facing a key decision - should you be buying off the plan vs established property? Which is better? What suits me best? At Crest Property Investments, we work closely with clients to help them weigh the pros and cons of each option based on their...