Recent content by bram.hart

How large is your sample, and which Oslo neighbourhoods does it cover? A handful of serviced apartments could distort the result, especially if several are similar units. There is also a timing issue: deals shown as completed in April may reflect marketing and bidding from earlier months, and...

Small disagreement on deducting refurbishment costs directly. Buyers do not always price dated finishes rand for rand: some will renovate regardless, while others demand an additional discount for inconvenience and uncertainty. I would use the renovation estimate as a starting point, then test...

Posting from Dublin about my search for a detached home around Cape Town. SeLoger gave me useful coverage, and school-catchment information was its strongest feature. However, duplicate adverts, stale statuses and inconsistent floor-area figures made side-by-side comparisons difficult. I also...

A workable comparison would have three columns: predictable monthly costs, annual maintenance, and low-frequency shocks. Put vacancy in a separate cash-flow scenario rather than hiding it inside maintenance. For the shared building, ask about outstanding owner contributions, upcoming projects...

I wouldn’t allocate the whole amount until the inspection is back. First ring-fence the emergency fund, first mortgage payment, insurance excess and any known service charges. Then price the move and only the repairs needed for safety, weatherproofing or preventing further damage. Furniture can...

If the choice has to be made before every cost is confirmed, I would not assume the villa provides greater control. A home in an estate may still be subject to shared charges and decisions; a freestanding villa gives you autonomy by transferring every repair choice and invoice to you. I would...

Don’t let the comparison become only a contest for the lowest lifetime cost. The payment at 5.96% still has to leave room for the other costs of owning the property and for an unexpected income or repair shock. A cheaper 20-year loan can have a tougher monthly payment than a longer alternative...

One addition: note the first price cut, not just the current asking price. A reduction after a long quiet period says something different from a property launched at a realistic figure. You could also ask agents whether units were withdrawn, sold or simply paused, while treating those answers as...

For practical next steps, shortlist five flats you would genuinely consider and five stale ones you would reject. Record the exact reasons: price, condition, layout, location, completion status or something else. If the rejected group shares obvious defects, financing is probably not the main...