Cate Bakos

Chair, Property Investment Professionals of Australia

Cate Bakos is a Melbourne buyer’s agent and Chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), the professional body for property investment advisers and buyer’s agents.

She has been a buyer’s agent since 2011, after working in real estate sales and mortgage broking. She founded Cate Bakos Property in 2014, has twice been named National Buyer’s Agent of the Year, and co-hosts The Property Trio podcast.

For Unreserved, Cate explains how buyers and their advocates see private sellers: what they notice first, how they test an asking price, and what makes them pay more.

Chair, PIPADirector, Cate Bakos PropertyBuyer's agent since 2011Melbourne, VIC

Articles with Cate

Cate on Unreserved.

Expert contributor · 7 min

Overpriced in a falling market? A buyer’s advocate explains why she calls on day one

Advertised prices on Unreserved fell 5% on average within four weeks of launch. PIPA Chair Cate Bakos on how buyers test your price in week one and what makes them pay more.

Ben Williams · 5 November 2026

Expert contributor · 9 min

Ask a buyer’s advocate: what private sellers get wrong, from the other side of the table

Phone photos, hard-to-book inspections and who does the negotiating. PIPA Chair Cate Bakos on what private sellers get wrong, seen from the buyer's side.

Ben Williams · 5 November 2026

Cate's comments on Unreserved are general information, not financial advice. Articles on Unreserved are written by Ben Williams with input from expert contributors.