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The Block’s Shelley Craft offers property advice to first home buyers

''Property is Australia's greatest passion, our greatest pastime, our greatest conversation starter.''
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The Block is up to season 19 and it wouldn’t have made it this far without TV personality Shelley Craft!

Did you know she’s a trained real estate agent, just like in Luxe Listings Sydney?

If you can’t wait for the next episode of The Block, you should watch Shelley’s Pacifico House series, where she helps different rooms transform from rough-in to completion. ⁠

Or if you’re looking for building advice, you should watch Simonds: The Home Building Journey, where Shelley holds your hand through every step of your house-building journey. Including:

  1. Do I build or do I buy?

  2. How to choose a builder I trust?

  3. Finding the complete package

  4. Crafting a home with stunning appeal

  5. Top tips for your gallery appointment

  6. Slab down, frame up

  7. Gain a lifetime of confidence in your new home

  8. Get ready to move in

Shelley Craft series on The Home Building Journey with Simonds.

(Image: Simonds)

Shelley Craft has even offered some advice to first-home buyers looking to climb the property ladder for themselves.

Speaking to Now to Love in 2022, Australia’s real estate queen said those looking to snag their share of the ”great Aussie dream” needed to be in it for the ”long haul.”

”There’s a whole generation that has given up on owning their own home but the only advice that I can give is don’t go out there searching for your dream home, just get in the market and then you can always build on it from there.

”I bought my first home at 23 and it certainly wasn’t my dream home. I’ve then sold and renovated and flipped for the last few decades and now, finally am I getting towards my dream home.

”It’s a long process, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul. Just get in whenever you can, it’ll never be the perfect time, you just need to make sacrifices.”

”If you are buying in a boom, sell in a boom and you’ve made your money!”

(Image: Supplied)

Speaking on the challenges that first home buyers face, Shelley said that ”you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

”As far as real estate goes, don’t wait for the slump, don’t wait for the boom!” Shelley shares.

”If you are buying in a slump, you are probably selling in a slump, so the prices average out.

”If you are buying in a boom, sell in a boom and you’ve made your money!”

And on the property market post covid?

”The property prices coming out of covid have had a dip but I think that they will hold tight,” says Shelley.

”Interest rates are going up and obviously that’s going to impact a lot of families throughout the country but we’ve all just got to be better at budgeting, and not living day to day.”

WATCH NOW: Shelley Craft gives a tour of her coastal home. Article continues after video.

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According to Shelley, her property prediction for the year ahead is Australia’s seeking a ”tree change”, also the namesake of this years season of The Block which was filmed in Gisborne, rural Victoria.

”Ultimately this year there was that real desire just to get out of the city, people looking for that tree change and sea change to just enjoy some more space.

”I think in the last decade we have really focused on open plan living in our spaces until covid hit and we realised the importance of personal space.

”I live in a regional town so I absolutely appreciate and understand what a wonderful lifestyle it gives in comparison to city living.”

Watch The Block Monday to Wednesday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 7:00pm on Channel Nine and 9 Now.

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