We've all heard the age-old advice you should buy the worst house on the best street - but is that still the case?

The divide between what's considered a 'good' or 'bad' street seems to be less obvious than what it once was, and the cost of building or renovating has skyrocketed in recent years.

It's just not as easy these days to throw a little bit of cash and a few weekends of hard work at a run down house to bring it up to the level of neighbours.

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Buyer's agents. They're projected to grow in popularity in the coming years, so what are they and who really needs one?

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So you want a loan to buy a property.

The bank sifts through all the money that's gone in and out of your accounts going back an uncomfortable amount of time, and give you a number they're willing to lend you.

You think to yourself, the process is so long and gruelling, and they require so much of your usually private documents, that surely you can afford to meet those repayments - right?

Wrong.

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The tide has well and truly turned.

We've had analysts forecasting a plateau for much of this year, with rates starting to turn upwards near the end of the year.

One thing is for sure - we're not too likely to see the OCR go any lower than where it already stands.

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Have you ever walked into a home and thought - there was so much potential and it's all been lost.

A room with limited natural light, painted in dark shades and made to look smaller than it is. A poorly shaped couch that throws off the whole room. Or one that we see all too often - old, outdated lighting that can make a gorgeous home immediately look neglected.

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For a long time, the kiwi dream has been to do whatever it takes to get onto the property ladder and work your way up from there, but some investors are moving away from that advice - instead suggesting that it might be a better idea to rent and put your money elsewhere.

It's not just the cost of the property and the mortgage repayments. You're paying to maintain the property in a way you wouldn't be if it were a rental, you're covering rates, insurance, and all the other little costs that add up pretty quickly.

That's money that some investors argue could be spent on investments, or on a rental of your own that would at least bring some return.

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It's pretty common these days when buying a house to throw in a couple conditions with your offer.

You're going to want a building report, your bank may want a property valuation before they agree to insure the property, and most commonly - you may need to sell your home first before your able to settle on the next one.

But for a seller, any one of these could be a deal breaker - and could mean a lower offer is accepted over yours just because it's unconditional.

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Who hasn't at some stage in their life been a landlord or tenant?

For many people, it's the first time they have to think about contracts and legal obligations - but are there red flags which should have you as a landlord rejectying a particuolar tenant - and like wise as a tenant that have you looking for somewhere else to live.

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