ONE EXTRA LETTER COULD HAVE COST THIS YOUNG MUM $1.2 MILLION

I read an article this week that honestly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A young mum buying her first property was only moments away from transferring $1.2 million when a Westpac banker spotted something that didn't quite feel right.

Thankfully, the banker trusted her instincts because if she hadn't, that money could have disappeared forever.

The scary part?

The scam email looked almost identical to the genuine one.

The only difference was one extra letter in the email address.

That's it.

One tiny letter standing between settlement day and a financial disaster.

These Scams Are Getting Smarter

The young buyer received an email that appeared to come from her settlement agent, instructing her to transfer the funds required for settlement.

Everything looked legitimate.

The email was professional, convincing and timed perfectly.

But the banker noticed the wording was slightly different from previous emails and the urgency didn't quite make sense.

Instead of processing the payment immediately, she did what every professional should do. She stopped and checked.

What they discovered was frightening.

The settlement agent's email account had reportedly been compromised, allowing scammers to send incredibly convincing payment instructions directly to the buyer.

Imagine the stress.

You've found your first home.

You've signed the paperwork.

Settlement day is approaching.

Then someone steals every cent you've saved, plus the money you've borrowed from the bank.

It's heartbreaking to even think about.

I Cannot Stress This Enough

If you are buying or selling property, never transfer money based solely on an email.

Ever.

I don't care how genuine it looks.

I don't care whose name is on it.

I don't care if the email contains information that appears correct.

Pick up the phone.

Call the settlement agent.

Call your conveyancer.

Call your solicitor.

Call your bank.

Verify the bank account details before sending a single dollar.

A two-minute phone call could save your life savings.

Property Buyers Are Being Targeted

According to Westpac, these types of scams are becoming more common and more sophisticated.

Scammers know exactly when to strike.

They target buyers during contract and settlement periods when large amounts of money are changing hands and people are already overwhelmed with paperwork, deadlines and stress.

Unfortunately, they're getting very good at making fake communications look real.

That's why you've got to slow down.

Never rush a transfer because an email tells you to.

Never assume it's genuine because it looks professional.

And never feel embarrassed about double-checking.

Trust Your Gut

One of the things that stood out to me in this story was that the banker simply had a feeling something wasn't right.

The tone of the email felt different.

The request seemed unusual.

Something didn't add up.

In real estate, we rely on experience and instinct every day.

When something feels off, it usually is.

As my Mum used to say:

"If in doubt, check it out."

It's simple advice, but it could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The Bottom Line

Buying a property is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make.

Unfortunately, that also makes it attractive to scammers.

These criminals are clever, patient and becoming increasingly sophisticated.

So please, be careful.

Before transferring any money for a property transaction, make a phone call and verify the account details independently.

Because if a single extra letter can nearly cost someone $1.2 million, it can happen to anyone.

And I'd much rather see you spend two minutes checking than spend years trying to recover money that's gone forever.

Stay vigilant, ask questions and always verify before you transfer.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS & GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

The Real Estate Industry Is Changing. Here's What It Means for You.

If 2026 has taught the real estate industry anything, it's that change is coming faster and from more directions than ever before.

One of the biggest changes we've seen this year was the introduction of Australia's new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms, which came into effect on 1 July 2026.

While it might sound like government jargon, the reality is that these changes affect everyone involved in property transactions, including buyers, sellers and real estate agents.

For real estate businesses, the reforms have required significant changes to systems, processes, training and compliance procedures, all while continuing to help clients achieve their property goals.

At Vivians Real Estate, we've spent a considerable amount of time this year understanding exactly what these changes mean in practice.

As I often say:

"You can design a process on paper, but the real test is how it works for your team and your customers once it goes live."

Like many agencies across Australia, we're continuing to fine-tune our processes to ensure we're meeting our obligations while still providing exceptional service to our clients.

More Changes Could Be On The Way

As agencies adapt to AML requirements, there are also several proposed reforms that could impact the industry further during late 2026 and into 2027.

Some of the changes currently being discussed include:

• Increased transparency around auction reserve prices.
• Earlier preparation of legal documentation.
• Potential changes to how deposits are handled.
• Proposed work-from-home rights and workplace reforms.

Individually, none of these changes may seem overwhelming. However, together they represent a broader shift in how real estate businesses may need to operate in the future.

Preparation Will Become More Important Than Ever

One of the biggest shifts we are likely to see is the need for preparation much earlier in the sales process.

Traditionally, real estate can move quickly. A property is listed, photography is booked, marketing is organised and the campaign is launched within days.

However, future compliance and legal requirements may mean that agencies need to complete more work before a property goes to market.

In simple terms, the industry may need to move from:

"List first, prepare second"

to

"Prepare first, then launch properly."

This means earlier conversations with sellers, stronger onboarding processes and closer collaboration between agents, conveyancers and solicitors.

While that may sound like more work upfront, it should ultimately lead to smoother transactions and fewer last-minute surprises.

Auction Campaigns May Continue To Evolve

Western Australia has traditionally not had the same auction culture as some eastern states.

However, proposed reforms around reserve price transparency could influence how buyers, sellers and agents approach auction campaigns in the future.

Some sellers may welcome greater transparency, while others may prefer alternative methods of sale.

At Vivians Real Estate, we've embraced the Openn Offers platform, which provides an online auction-style process that gives buyers and sellers visibility throughout the campaign.

I don't believe auctions will disappear. What may change is how conversations are managed around pricing expectations, buyer feedback and market conditions.

As agents, we'll need to continue providing clear communication and guidance so that sellers can make informed decisions throughout the sales process.

Why Is All This Happening?

It's important to understand that real estate agencies did not create these new AML requirements.

These reforms have been introduced by the Australian Government as part of a broader effort to combat money laundering, organised crime and financial misconduct.

While most people support the goal of reducing criminal activity, the reality is that implementing these measures comes at a significant cost for small businesses.

New compliance systems, staff training, technology upgrades and ongoing administration all represent additional expenses that many businesses are expected to absorb.

Like many industries, real estate is adapting to meet these requirements while continuing to provide professional service to clients.

What Does This Mean For Buyers And Sellers?

For most buyers and sellers, the process of buying or selling property won't change dramatically.

However, you may notice:

✅ More identity verification requirements.

✅ Additional documentation requests.

✅ Earlier conversations about legal and compliance matters.

✅ More detailed record-keeping throughout the transaction process.

These changes are designed to create greater transparency and protection within the property market.

The Bottom Line

The real estate industry is evolving, and agencies across Australia are working hard to keep pace with regulatory change.

At Vivians Real Estate, our focus remains the same as it has always been: helping our clients navigate the property market with confidence, professionalism and expert advice.

The rules may change, the paperwork may increase, and the processes may evolve, but our commitment to our clients remains unchanged.

Because at the end of the day, real estate is still about people, helping them make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

Have questions about the new AML requirements or how they may affect your property journey? We'd be happy to have a conversation.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

"EVERYONES WAITING FOR THE MARKET TO FALL...SO WHY ARE PROPERTIES STILL SELLING?"

Over the last 4 to 5 weeks, one thing has been consistent: buyers keep telling us they're going to "wait for the market to come down."

But here's the reality...

The market isn't showing signs of a significant drop.

July delivered 8 sales and 8 new listings for us. And we're already off to a strong start in August with 4 sales on the board. Are we seeing the unbelievable, pre-budget prices? No. But we're still achieving healthy prices and getting properties sold.

According to REIWA, Perth recorded 762 sales last week:

• 570 houses
• 122 units
• 70 land sales

At the same time, there are only 6,852 properties currently for sale across Perth:

• 4,707 houses
• 1,562 units
• 583 blocks of land

The average sale price across Perth is sitting around $950,000, with two-bedroom homes averaging $900,000.

What's even more interesting is that sales transactions increased by 3.8% last week, with REIWA members reporting 773 transactions.

What Are We Seeing On The Ground?

To be honest, we're often seeing the market move before the statistics catch up. REIWA data is fantastic, but it naturally takes time for information to filter through. We're dealing with buyers and sellers in real time, every day.

Here's what we're seeing:

✅ Buyers are definitely becoming more cautious.

✅ They're taking longer to make decisions.

✅ They're researching more.

✅ But the savvy buyers? They're still buying.

In fact, some of the smartest buyers are quietly securing property while others sit on the sidelines waiting for a correction that hasn't arrived.

The Under $2 Million Market Is Still Strong

Properties under $2 million continue to perform well.

The higher end of the market has slowed a little, but quality homes are still selling, generally within a couple of months if they're priced correctly.

For Buyers Who Need an Edge

Many buyers simply don't have the time to search, inspect, negotiate and secure property themselves.

That's where our Buyer's Agent Service comes in.

You pay us to work exclusively for you, helping you find and secure the right property while avoiding costly mistakes.

What we can't do is act as both the selling agent and the buyer's agent on the same property. Our sellers pay us to represent their interests, and that's exactly what we do.

The Bottom Line

Every week we're hearing buyers say they're waiting for prices to fall.

Yet properties are still selling.

Good properties are still attracting attention.

And buyers who are prepared to act are still getting deals done.

My job isn't to tell you what you should do.

My job is to tell you what's happening in the market right now.

What you do with that information is entirely up to you.

The market doesn't wait for certainty. The question is... are you waiting for a downturn that may never come? 🏡📈

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK AND THE WESTERN SUBURBS!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

PRIVATE LANDLORD FINED

 Consumer Protection announced on Wednesday (12th August) that a Jane Brook private landlord had been fined $3,300 and ordered to pay the costs of $2,606 after being convicted of breaching the Residential Tenancies Act.

The Perth Magistrates Court heard the landlord received a $2,200 security bond in December 2023 but failed to lodge it with the Bond Administrator within the required 14 days.

At the time of sentencing, more than 900 days had passed and the bond had still not been lodged.

REIWA President Suzanne Brown said the case highlighted the significant responsibilities property investors take on when choosing to manage a rental property themselves.

“Private landlords take on the full responsibility of complying with WA’s tenancy laws when they choose to manage a property themselves, and those laws have changed significantly in recent years,” she said.

“We’ve seen reforms covering rent increases, pets, minor modifications and tenancy processes, and landlords need to understand not only what the law requires, but how those requirements apply throughout a tenancy.

“With further reforms expected over the next 12 months, that responsibility is only becoming more complex.

“There can be significant consequences when obligations aren’t understood or followed, as this case demonstrates.”

Ms Brown said the increasingly complex regulatory environment highlighted the value of professional property management.

“Keeping up with legislative and regulatory change is part of a professional property manager’s job,” she said.

“It requires knowledge, judgement, strong systems and ongoing professional development. Property management is a skilled profession, and that expertise helps protect the interests of both property investors and tenants.

“REIWA members are supported with ongoing training, legislative and regulatory updates, professional resources and practical guidance to help them stay across changes and apply them in their day-to-day work.

“For property investors, choosing a REIWA member means having a professional in their corner who is connected to the state’s peak real estate body and supported to maintain high professional standards.”

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said private landlords had a legal obligation to properly lodge tenants’ bond money and could not treat those funds as their own.

“A security bond is often one of the largest upfront costs a tenant faces when securing a rental property, which is why the law requires those funds to be protected through the Bond Administrator,” Ms Blake said.

There is a reason why there is a Property Management Course and regular updates as they are changing the game all the time and being a private landlord these days can be quite tricky. Sticking your head in the sand won't cut it these days and with the tenants knowing all their legal rights if you don't do the right thing your done for.

If you are considering doing your own rentals please do the PM course at least !!  Call us if you need any help with long term rentals and of course we do short term (air bnb) now and have done that successfully for over a year.

MAKE YOUR DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!! 

RATES ARE HOLDING... SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Well, the RBA has decided to keep rates on hold. As always, these decisions affect every one of us. Personally, I think if government spending was better controlled, we might not be fighting inflation quite so hard, but that's a conversation for another day!

What I really want to talk about is the number of people telling me they're "waiting for the property market to crash."

Seriously... stop waiting.

I hear it every week.

"We're just going to sit back and wait for prices to come down."

The problem is that everyone waiting for a crash is assuming one is actually coming. From what I'm seeing on the ground here in Perth, that's simply not the reality.

Sydney has already had its correction. Melbourne is showing signs of moving upwards again. Adelaide has continued to tick along steadily. Here in Perth, we've experienced a quieter period, particularly through June, but that doesn't mean the market is falling apart.

In fact, much of the hesitation we've seen has come from investors stepping back after months of uncertainty and constant debate around property policies. Many simply put their plans on hold.

The result?

A lot of buyers are now sitting on the sidelines, frozen by uncertainty and wondering whether prices are about to drop further.

Meanwhile, smart buyers are getting on with it.

Perth continues to benefit from strong population growth, ongoing housing demand and limited supply. People are still moving here, and they all need somewhere to live.

The evidence is right in front of us.

Last month our team achieved 8 sales and secured 8 new listings. This month we've already chalked up 3 sales and we're currently working on our fourth.

That doesn't happen in a dead market.

It happens in a market where buyers recognise opportunity and are prepared to act when the right property comes along.

And that's the point.

Over all the years I've been writing this blog, there's one thing I've said repeatedly:

You will never pick the exact top of the market, and you will never pick the exact bottom.

Nobody rings a bell and announces, "Today is the cheapest day you'll ever buy."

If you're looking for a home and you find the property that suits your needs, buy it.

If you're an investor and the numbers stack up, buy it.

If you've been waiting six months, twelve months or even longer for the perfect market conditions, ask yourself how much opportunity you may have already missed.

The people who get ahead aren't the ones endlessly waiting for certainty.

They're the ones who recognise value, make informed decisions and take action when others are hesitating.

Right now, I see far too many people sitting on the fence and not enough taking advantage of what's available.

My message is simple:

Don't wait for a market crash that may never arrive.

Don't let fear stop you from making a good decision.

And don't assume you'll somehow perfectly time the market.

The buyers who look back in a few years and say, "I'm glad I bought when I did," are the buyers who are taking action today.

The opportunity is here. The question is whether you'll grab it or watch someone else do it first.

"A year from now, you'll either be glad you bought today, or you'll still be talking about buying while paying more than you would have.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!

THE SMSF CHANGES & PROPERTY 2026

From the desk of our Mortgage Broker Brandon Ngadino

 brandon@checkmyrate.au

SMSF changes and how they'll affect your clients from 10 August.

 LRBA lending (type of lending for SMSF transactions) is banned from 10 August

SMSFs will no longer be able to borrow to buy residential property. This was one of the last wealth-creation tools left post the negative gearing and CGT changes. Expect a rush of clients wanting to buy before the door closes, as we have seen a big push in the Eastern states. 

 What this means for you: Clients need to exchange (not settle) before 10 August 2026

 How to vet suitable clients: Clients must have an appropriate trust and company established, must have spoken to a broker, accountant or financial advisor. Pre-approval is of course another tick; however, if they are arranging this now, high unlikely a pre-approval will be awarded over the next few days. 

 Questions you may ask..

Have they set up the right trust/company structure? (The big one.)

• Are they engaged with a lender? Major banks won't touch SMSF lending... expect a private or second-tier name. Flick me the details if you want a second opinion.
• Do they have a financial adviser or accountant? If not, they're behind the eight ball.

 Purchasing power: typically, $600K–$800K

Borrowing is based on super contributions plus rental income. The concessional (before-tax) cap is $32,500 per person for 2026/27, which naturally caps purchase prices lower than a standard home loan. Clients can contribute more, but extra amounts are taxed as non-concessional. A superfund of $160k-200k will typically cover a purchase of $500k-$800k. 

Set expectations early - SMSF buyers won't be stretching to $1M+ properties. 

Wise words from Brandon - thank you. It's hard enough to navigate buying property and now they want to screw all transactions on SMSF - doesn't this bloody Government want us to manage our retirement.??

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO

INVESTORS, DONT FORGET THE VALUATION DATE

 If you're a property investor, this is something you need to have on your radar.

From 1 July 2027, investors should be paying close attention to the valuation requirements that may affect the calculation of future capital gains tax obligations on residential investment properties.

As an investor with multiple properties myself, I will be arranging valuations on all of my investment properties and making sure those valuations are stored somewhere safe and accessible.

Why?

Because one day, when the property is eventually sold, that valuation could become an important piece of documentation.

Many investors are thinking, "I'm never selling."

Maybe that's true.

But life has a habit of throwing curveballs.

Health issues, family changes, retirement, business opportunities, financial pressures, or simply a change in direction can all result in a property being sold when you least expect it.

That's why I believe it is better to spend the money on a proper valuation at the relevant time than be scrambling years later trying to obtain retrospective evidence, which is likely to be far more difficult and potentially much more expensive.

A qualified valuer looks at far more than just the property itself.

They consider factors such as views, floor plan functionality, school catchments, location, proximity to amenities, the quality of renovations, land value, and whether the property is situated in a desirable part of town.

All of these elements contribute to the final assessment.

The important thing to understand is that not all valuations are created equal.

A real estate agent's market appraisal is one thing.

A formal valuation prepared by a qualified valuer is another.

Investors should also be realistic. There is no way valuers will be able to complete every valuation in the country on 1 July 2027. The demand would simply be overwhelming.

The likely reality is that valuations completed around that time will reference the relevant date and be documented accordingly.

My advice?

Don't ignore it.

Understand what is required, obtain the appropriate valuation, and keep a copy somewhere secure. It could save you a great deal of time, stress, and money in the future.

Property investing is about planning ahead, not reacting when it is too late.

Sometimes the smartest decisions are the ones you make years before you actually need them.

MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS AND GIVE IT A REAL GO!!

SELLING MOSMAN PARK & THE WESTERN SUBURBS!!

KEEPING IT REAL IS OUR MOTTO!!