Strategic Buyers Agent Sydney
Everything you need to know about using a buyers agent in Australia’s largest capital city.
SYDNEY FOCUSED BUYERS AGENTS
- ‘Sydney-only’ buyers agents – We stay within 20kms of the Sydney CBD. No Australian property market has matched it for capital gains, and over the long run, we don’t believe any will.
- Area X-Ray™ property analysis scores each suburb’s investment potential against specific criteria like developments, infrastructure, transport, vacancy rates, rental yield and more.
INVESTOR FOCUSED BUYER’S AGENTS
- Stringent Property Assessment – We stringently assess every prospective investment to find the right property for you — in fact, only one in 20 make the cut.
- 53Invest™ objectively compares the suitability of properties across 53 key indicators, including macro and micro demand factors, supply-side drivers and financial ratios.
A BUYERS AGENCY, NOT AN AGENT
- An Entire Team on Your Side – Unlike other agents, we bring together a complete team of dedicated researchers, valuers and real estate agents with negotiation expertise.
- A Wealth of Sydney Connections that help us uncover over 60 off-market properties for our clients every month.
- Weekly 360 Roundtable discussion across the Group ensures we’re all across with the bigger picture in property.
Sydney’s Favourite Buyers Agent?
We tirelessly pursue the best property for our clients. We are uniquely qualified to ensure your success. Our Sydney buyers agency offers you:
- A complimentary strategy session with a financial adviser to establish your goals without any further obligation
- Access to our proprietary tools like Area X-Ray™ to help you select from the best performing suburbs in Sydney
- Direct access to off-market properties through our network of seller agency contacts
- Comprehensive market analysis and purchase price recommendations giving you clear insight into what you should be offering for your ideal property
As the nation’s most competitive performing property market, buying an investment or residential property in Sydney is no easy task. With enormous competition for the best properties from many savvy investors, and ruthless sales agents representing demanding vendors, getting what you want can take some serious preparation and support.
That’s where we can help. Our Sydney buyers agents are deeply versed in the local property market, and understand the strategies, nuances, legal framework, and negotiation tactics that can grant you the greatest chance of success.
Our Sydney Buyers Share Their Success
What is a buyers agent?
A buyers agent (also known as a buyers advocate) is a licensed real estate professional who works exclusively for the buyer. This means they they can assist a property buyer in:
- Searching for and identifying a suitable sale property (or properties) based on the buyer’s needs and a comprehensive market analysis
- Purchasing that property at the best possible price
- Negotiating the sale contract to create the most favourable conditions of sale for the buyer
- Protecting the buyer from unfair business practices or pressure tactics from the selling agent or vendor, or any unfavourable sale clauses in the contract of sale
- Assisting the buyer to complete the sale process successfully, and see it through to settlement
Buyers agents typically have many years of experience in real estate sales, and therefore know the pitfalls, legal concerns, idiosyncrasies, and quirks of the sale process. They therefore provide an all-important “protective screen” when dealing with sales agents, who are often skilled at bringing about the best possible outcome for their vendor (sometimes, it must be said, by using unscrupulous tactics).
In short, buyers agents help you, the buyer, to make the best possible property decisions, whether purchasing as an investment or for owner-occupation.
How is a buyers agent different from a selling (or sales) agent?
A selling agent is engaged by the vendor to sell a property at the highest possible price and most favourable terms for the vendor. This means that they are, in a sense, in competition with you as a buyer. You want the most affordable price, they want the highest price – so be warned, they are not there to serve you in the sales process. They are there to act in the best interests of the vendor.
On the other hand, a buyers agent does not sell real estate and is engaged by the buyer to purchase a property at the lowest possible price and most favourable terms for the buyer. They work solely for you.
Why use a buyers agent in Sydney?
For most people, buying a property is the largest financial decision they will ever make. This decision can have enormous impact on the buyer’s financial position, quality of life, family situation, and indeed their peace of mind.
Moreover, Sydney’s property market is highly complex. Opportunities abound, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to be careless or ignorant. Indeed, it’s just as easy to go wrong with your purchase in Sydney as it is anywhere else, and Sydney’s higher prices when compared to most other cities in Australia can mean that a bad property decision here can be even more costly than elsewhere.
Purchasers in Sydney’s market, above all property markets in Australia, can benefit from using a buyers agent simply because the stakes are often so much higher here. Paying for a little bit of professional expertise can save you a great deal of time, money, and stress, and help to protect you from disappointment in the high-stakes game that is the Sydney property market.
More Satisfied Property Buyers
More on the benefits of using a buyers agent
- Save time – it is not unreasonable to take up to 100 hours to properly research and find the right property to buy. Why not free up your weekends and outsource this to somebody else working in your best interest?
- Save money – have you ever wasted money on an unnecessary building and pest inspection report, or felt you paid too much for a property, or been caught in a rising market? A buyers agent uses their market knowledge and negotiation experience to save you money which often more than compensates for their fees.
- Save stress – for every successful purchaser, there are dozens of frustrated and stressed under-bidders. Why not save yourself this stress and frustration and leave it in the hands of someone who does it for a living?
Access to more properties – a buyers agent often gets earlier access to a wider range of properties, including silent and pre-market listings, which can allow a property to be secured before it’s even seen by the general public.
Are selling agents happy to deal with buyers agents?
Yes, absolutely. Selling agents like dealing with buyers agents because they represent qualified buyers who are serious about purchasing a property and are usually prepared to decide and act quickly. Buyers agents understand the process, know what’s happening in the market, and are more experienced in evaluating a property and assessing its fair value. This generally makes them easier to deal with for selling agents, not to mention a repeat source of business for them.
What about conflict of interest?
There is no conflict of interest. This is because buyers agents work exclusively for the buyer in representing their best interests in negotiating and securing a property. They do not sell property or represent any vendors, nor do they receive any financial benefit relating to the purchase of a property other than the single fee paid by their client.
How do I choose the right buyers agent for me?
To start with, we recommend you meet as many buyers agents as you can. You are going to be working with this person and their team potentially for several months. They need to fully understand your needs and what you are looking for.
We recommend you make sure your chosen buyers agent has at least 5 years of buying experience, and that they specialise in the particular area you are looking in. If they don’t have deep relationships with the agents selling in that particular area, then find one that does. You want to be sure that your buyers agent really knows the Sydney property market, and especially their particular patch, like the back of their hand.
Want to know more?
Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you think you’re ready to get started with a buyers agent, we also offer a free, no-obligation property consultation to discuss your specific requirements.
More about Strategic Investor Group – your Sydney buyers agency
What areas do you cover?
Whilst we specialise in the Sydney market, we also have a strong referral network in most capital cities in Australia. Nevertheless, most clients that work with us are looking for a Sydney-based property buyers agent.
Within Sydney, we specialise in properties that are within 20 km of the CBD. Historically, this region is the strongest performer when it comes to property investment, and affords an enormous range of superb property investment choices throughout the area’s 189 suburbs.
What types of properties do you purchase?
Our extraordinary range of property purchasing experience means we can look at all types of property, throughout all of Sydney, and know precisely what we are dealing with. The only limitations are your criteria and your imagination.
However, our buyers agency has a core focus on residential property for both owner-occupiers and investors. We also have a specialist commercial property buyers agent as part of our team who can support all of your business property purchasing needs.
How long does the purchasing process take?
Once you have your finances in order and we start our search, it will typically take your Sydney buyers agent between 1–3 months to secure a property.
However, we do note that factors such as market conditions and an individual client’s requirements can influence this timeframe and make the process either longer or shorter.
We Love Helping Our Clients Buy Property
Our purchasing process for Sydney property
What process do your Sydney buyers agents follow?
We always start with strategy. Our buyers agents are assisted by our in-house property strategist, who is also a licensed financial adviser.
We feel it is essential to spend sufficient time ensuring your strategy will deliver upon your longer term goals and objectives. We strongly recommend all our property buyers participate in one of our tailored strategy sessions before committing to a plan – all at no cost or obligation to you.
How do you recommend where to search for properties?
Our Sydney buyers agents utilise our proprietary investment tool known as Area X-Ray™ to assist you in identifying which specific suburbs to buy in.
Area X-Ray™ analyses each of the 189 suburbs within 20 km of Sydney’s CBD against 16 purchasing criteria, and divides this list of suburbs into distinct zones which we have labeled Red, Blue and Green. In short, Red areas are not recommended for investment, Blue areas are acceptable (but not preferred), and Green areas are your strongest options for Sydney property investment success.
Utilising key tools such as Area X-Ray™, as well as our many years of property purchasing experience, our area experts will advise you on what the best purchasing options are for your chosen budget.
Our recommended properties
Once your search has commenced, your buyers agent will be inspecting properties both on and off the market, as well as pre-market opportunities that meet your specific brief. Your buyers agent will inspect all properties that meet your brief, updating you of any they feel are worth inspecting. Your buyers agent will only recommend the best possible properties that meet your objectives.
How we evaluate properties
When it comes to selecting the best property, it’s true that “the devil is in the detail”.
As is standard with our approach, your buyers agent will complete full due diligence on the subject property. As necessary, we will arrange a pest/building/strata report and ensure all aspects are thoroughly considered and investigated.
Your buyers agent will also complete a comparative market analysis to establish an estimate of value, and advise you of what we believe the property is actually worth. Anyone can pay the top price, but a buyers agent who specialises in the specific area you are searching in will help ensure you pay the right price.
Negotiation and purchase
Your buyers agent will ensure you are fully ready to purchase the selected property before continuing. Once our due diligence process is complete, your buyers agent will advise and assist your solicitor/conveyancer regarding any recommended changes and amendments to be made to the contract. All our buyers agents are highly trained, expert negotiators – this is what we do.
Once a price is agreed upon, we will proceed and exchange on your behalf. Alternatively we will bid on your behalf should the property go to auction.
Post-purchase
Our partnership does not end upon purchase. Your buyers agent will attend the pre-settlement inspection to ensure the property is in the same condition it was in at exchange, and will continue to protect your interest.
Our Clients Property Buying Testimonials
NORMANHURST – 5 bedroom House
“My Buyers Agent did an outstanding job on auction day. The strategies he employed, his reading of body language and the execution of the bidding itself left us with full confidence of a successful outcome, which indeed there was. There is absolutely no doubt that he ended up saving us a lot of money. I would never recommend people do their own bidding after watching him!”
Matthew Gee
WOLLSTONECRAFT – 1 bedroom Unit
“My husband and I had used Strategic Investor Group services for previous property purchases and couldn’t be happier with the level of above and beyond service we had received. When we heard that they had expanded their offerings to include a Buyers Agency we were ecstatic! Paul and I have been searching for an investment property for many months and the challenges we faced in buying a property were due to being – time poor, lack of desire to spend each weekend trekking from one open house to the next (“we’ve had our fair share of that over many years for our previous properties”) and of course we dreaded competition with others during auctions. We turned to Buyers Agency, they met with us under no obligation to discuss our circumstances, their services and how we could align ourselves into a mutually beneficial arrangement. Within a matter of weeks we were able to find ourselves a property in Wollstonecraft on Saturday, contract of sale reviewed Monday, pre-approval finalised and our offer accepted by 5pm on the Tuesday. It was the most painless and expedited experience I’ve ever had when purchasing a property in Sydney. Our Research Manager was with us every step of the way providing us with up to date information on the progress on how we should proceed to ensure we secure the property. We are delighted to recommend Strategic Investor Group to anyone who’s looking to increase their portfolio or just wanting to break into the Sydney Market.”
Paul and Paula Dunn
CHIPPENDALE – 2 bedroom warehouse apartment
“We never felt like we were in the dark throughout the entire process. The team did such a good job at listening to our needs, answering all our questions honestly and explaining the strategy to us whenever we felt unsure. The face-to-face meetings at the beginning of the process gave us a good insight into the team’s work ethic and their dedication to help find the best property for us. The team provided us with regular updates at every stage, from finances, to recommended properties, acquisitions and settlement. We always found the team to be responsive and proactive, when unforeseen issues arose (as they do), we were able to reach a resolution quickly.
Although we were very impressed with the entire team’s performance from start to finish, the highlight of our experience was definitely on auction day. We knew market conditions were competitive (we lost to a few auctions when we were looking to buy on our own) and we knew we would be gutted if we lost another one. Our Buyers Agents, who had previous experience being on both sides of the purchase, were very confident and in control the entire day though. They knew what the property was worth and they knew what strategy to use, resulting in us purchasing for $50,000 under budget.”
Jason and April Pethybridge
BONDI – 1 bedroom apartment
“Gina and I would like to express our eternal gratitude to the entire Team at Strategic Investor Group for assisting and supporting us with the acquisition of our amazing property in Bondi. Everything from our initial consultation, to clarifying our specific needs, being guided through the loan process through to winning the final bid at Auction, amazing!
The relief of handing over all responsibility to expert hands was well worth the reasonable fee charged. To attain a property in today’s market is a challenge. To secure the right loan, locate a property without hidden costs, fall in love with a property and then acquire it all without stress in a 5-day period, after 4 months of nightmares, is an experience everyone should be aware is possible.
Our Buyers Agent was amazing, Our Client Services Managers were so caring and supported by a complete team behind the scenes.
Thank you to all.”
Gina and Sue Brescianini
WOOLLAHRA – 4 bedroom terrace
“The professional manner in which the team performed during every hiccup they ran into. The team took it in their stride to look for the best possible solution for us as the client. There was never a shortcut or easy option taken without careful consideration as to the effect on the final product delivered.”
Rory O’Brien
EASTWOOD – 3 bedroom Villa
“I spent 9 months searching for a property in Sydney in vain. At the end of this time period, I was exhausted and completely disillusioned. In desperation I rang my financial advisor who recommended I use a Buyer’s Agent. At our first meeting I was very impressed with the Buyer’s Agents ability to articulate my precise requirements, explain the three service options available and felt reassured that there would be a team of people consistently working towards finding my property. Once the search began my agents tertiary qualifications in Building and Construction Management assisted with extensive feedback on each property considered. 3 weeks later I secured a property (which was better than any I had found during my 9 month search) for a whopping $113,000 under my budget! The whole process was stress free the team arranged all legal, financial and building services. I would heartedly recommend the Strategic team to family and friends.”
Gillian Sear
VAUCLUSE – 3 bedroom duplex (EOI)
“I have been a client of Strategic Investor Group for over 4 years and I have never received a service like it in Australia. They are always on time and on top of all my issues, and I never have to worry again about opening bank accounts, insurance renewal, mortgage management etc. The service is fully customized for the client. I do my job and don’t have to think about anything else.”
Joel Kligman
FAQ – More questions about buyers agents
Who pays the buyers agent?
We work for you, the buyer, and only you. (This means that you are the one who pays our fee, and not the seller or anyone else.)
What are your fees?
We work on a fixed-fee basis only. This means that, unlike many other Sydney buyers agents, we do not charge a percentage commission based on the value of your property purchase, or anything else.
We prefer this fixed-fee method as it means you will know exactly what you will pay before you purchase a property. This leads to greater peace of mind throughout your property purchasing process, avoiding any surprises along the way.
We will agree on this fixed fee before we do any work for you and before you sign our buyers agency agreement.
For more information on our fees, please just get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to explain them in depth.
Are your services expensive?
No – we don’t believe so! Our fixed fee represents only a very small percentage of the property purchase price. Furthermore, we typically save our clients significantly more than the value of our fee through negotiating the property to a much lower price than our client could have achieved alone.
Additionally, when our fee is weighed up against the cost of missing out on properties in a rising market, the costs of paying for building/pest reports, the value of your time looking each weekend, and the risk of overpaying or not correctly evaluating a property, we believe the value and benefits of having a professional do this for you becomes abundantly clear.
What else can you help me with?
We can do as little or as much as you need assistance with. Here are some of our services you might not be aware of:
- Half-day personal consultations: If you’re intent on going it alone, we offer half-day personal consultations on how to effectively search for and invest in properties yourself. We’ll equip you with as much of our expertise as we can so that you are fully prepared when the time comes to sign.
- Auction bidding: Found the right property but nervous about the auction? Possibly you have never bid at an auction previously or may have bought only a few times before. We can step in and bid for you. With experience in buying over 500 properties, why not let one of our buyers agents bid on your behalf?
- Expert negotiations: Found the perfect property and need help closing the deal? For a fixed fee we can take over and do all of your negotiations.
Are buyers agents’ fees tax deductible?
Yes – provided you are buying a property for investment purposes, you can add the cost of using a buyers agent to your “cost base”, meaning it is tax deductible. When you go to sell, this cost will come off the value of your capital gain. Please seek advice from your accountant to see how this may apply to you. (Unfortunately buyers agents’ fees for an owner-occupier purchase are not tax deductible.)
Can you help me if I live or work interstate or overseas?
Whether you are local, interstate or overseas, we are able to help you purchase a property. With the right authorities in place, we can undertake all aspects of the property search and acquisition on your behalf.
Though you may be unable to physically inspect a property yourself, we will inspect, assess and provide our recommendations to you along with any photos, floorplans and virtual tours.
We always ensure that you have all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision. Our Sydney buyers agents have assisted hundreds of clients living in other states and many other countries.
What happens if I find a property myself after engaging you for a full search?
Once you have engaged our services, we undertake an extensive search on your behalf including local market analysis, physical inspections and contacting of many agents to uncover opportunities which have not yet hit the market. As such, our full fees are nevertheless payable even if you find a property on your own.
If you do happen to identify a property that we haven’t seen, then we request you let us know so that we can use our skills and experience to provide a full assessment of the property to determine its real market value and raise any potential issues.
Are you fully licensed and insured?
Strategic Property Buyers Pty Ltd holds a corporation licence and our buyers agents each hold a full real estate licence. Our professional indemnity insurance covers up to $6 million in aggregate. For more information visit the Real Estate Institute of Australia https://reia.asn.au/
What are off-market properties?
Off-market properties are properties not listed to the public and therefore not advertised on any online property portals such as realestate.com.au or domain.com.au. These may include properties known only to real estate sales agents, with instructions to sell only via their personal database of contacts (thereby saving the vendor advertising fees).
Do your buyers agents get access to off-market properties?
Each of our buyers agents is an expert in their particular part of Sydney, and maintains very close relationships with the selling agents in that patch. We therefore enjoy access to hundreds of off-market properties presented directly to us each year, with an opportunity to inspect these properties typically before anyone else has seen them.
Using our Sydney buyers agents can therefore assist you in finding an opportunity to purchase when so many other properties are being snapped up in advance. If you’ve ever missed out on a property you loved, this can be key to making sure it does not happen again.
Can I cancel my agreement with you?
Yes, you can. Unlike most buyers agents, we won’t lock you in for a specified minimum term. If you feel we don’t deserve your business, fire us. You can terminate any agreement with us with only 7 days notice.
If you cancel and you don’t purchase a property during our agreement period, you pay nothing further.
Do you represent vendors selling their property?
Never. We do not sell property. Our buyers agents work exclusively for the buyer.
Do you buy for owner-occupiers or for investors?
Both. Our buyers agents can purchase property for owner-occupiers as well as for investors. We understand that these can be two very different searches with distinct motivations and objectives. So, whether you are buying an investment property, or you are an owner-occupier looking for your dream home, we can assist you to make sure you purchase for the right price and avoid overpaying.
Is your buyers agency part of any professional associations?
Yes. Our Agency is a full member of the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA). See https://rebaa.com.au/members/strategic-investor-group/.
What is the Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA)?
REBAA is an alliance of professional buyers agents formed to establish the highest standards and accreditation in the real estate industry and facilitate professional development for its members. See https://rebaa.com.au/.
Do your buyers agents complete ongoing training?
All our buyers agents are licensed real estate agents. The Department of Fair Trade requires all licensed real estate agents to complete a minimum of 9 hours of professional development training every year. Our buyers agents also complete various other ongoing training and development work each year. For more information about our ongoing training requirements visit: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/property-professionals/recent-law-reforms/real-estate-agents-licence
Ready to get started?
If you’re ready to use one of our buyers agents as your unfair property advantage, just get in touch with us to arrange your free, no-obligation property consultation. We’ll discuss your unique requirements in-depth and tailor your property search plan to your specific needs.
What People Are Saying About Strategic Property Buyers
5 more reasons to use our Sydney buyers agency
1. We help you realise your goals
While we are focused on your current property investment, we are always working towards fulfilling your broader wealth strategy. We can advise you on how to integrate your property investments in a way that strategically aligns with your wealth development goals.
2. We help you invest in the right place
Most people don’t know what’s really out there in the wide world of property investment, so it’s no surprise that most buy within 5 km of their own home! But close to home doesn’t always mean best. With our extensive purchasing experience, market data and proprietary tools, we will determine the suburbs that best match your preferences, your investment purposes, and your budget.
3. Access our network and proprietary tools
We’ll uncover off-market opportunities through our network of 3,000+ sales agents. Combined with our proprietary tools Area X-Ray™ and 53Invest™, we’ll find you the best investment available for your property wealth strategy.
4. Property experts in your corner
We’ll negotiate, facilitate your purchase, and help you navigate the pitfalls even many seasoned investors miss. It’s what we do every day and it’s what we do best.
5. Reinvest your time
We’ll help you assess every opportunity — without you lifting a finger. We’ll rigorously shortlist and inspect the best properties for you so you’ll have more time for the things you really want to do.
We believe property is the key to creating your long-term wealth.
We believe buying “okay” property is deceptively simple, but buying “great” property is anything but.
We believe the devil is in the detail – and most people miss it.We believe in taking a different approach — one that considers your bigger picture.
“More wealth has been created investing in property than any other strategy. Bricks and mortar – nothing is more certain”