October 2013 edition

Living the tropical dream It is spring and change is in the air...so it's time to spruce up your garden and give the place a new coat of paint before the wet season rolls in. I am here to help with all your real estate needs and believe in "Trust, honesty and integrity…always!" Is it a good time to sell? Do you own a house worth about $400,000? If you want to sell quickly, new research indicates now could be the perfect time. A RealestateVIEW survey suggests first home buyers (FHBs) and investors are looking to get into the market around the $400,000 price point, with a preference for houses. The most likely beneficiaries are likely to be houses within 10 to 15 kilometres of cities where transport links and local amenities are mature. While houses are more popular, townhouses and units are also likely to pick up in this range. 66.9% are keen to invest in houses whereas 15.4% show a preference for townhouses & 8.9% want units.   Cairns landmark home sold One of Cairns landmark historical homes, pitched as "international embassy standard", has been snapped up by a Chinese buyer. The four-bedroom mansion Whitfield House has been purchased by a Chinese company for an undisclosed amount. Whitfield House dates back to 1925 and has hosted numerous politicians within its glamorous function rooms and countless weddings and jazz concerts in the manicured gardens. While admitting the property would be sold with a heavy heart, Mrs Glennie said it was time for a less hectic life. What's in this issue - Is it a good time to sell? - Cairns landmark home sold - Buy and sell in a balanced market - Competition time! - Hot tips when renovating your home - Market update Cairns North - Cairns North property data trends - Local business profile - Your local guy in real estate Facebook Google Plus Website Email Recently listed BUNGALOW 255 Little Spence St 8Bed 2Bath 2Car House $450,000 BRINSMEAD 8 The Peak Road 4 Bed 3 Bath 2 Car House OFFERS MOOROOBOOL  67 Carnation Drive 3 Bed 1 Bath 2 Car      House $389,000 KEWARRA BEACH 32 Jasmine st 6 Bed 7 Bath 3 Car   House $950,000 WESTCOURT 240 Buchan st 2 bed 2 bath 1 car   Unit $325,000 Recently sold KEWARRA BEACH 19 Stream st 4Bed 2Bath 2Car SOLD CAIRNS NORTH 348 Sheridan st 4 Bed 1 Bath 2 Car  SOLD Buying and selling in a balanced property market As property markets across the country become more balanced, and spring is off to a good start, both buyers and sellers are set to be winners if they follow some simple rules of engagement says First National Real Estate Chief Executive, Mr Ray Ellis. “The latest industry figures show the number of homes for sale is now more aligned with buyer demand, creating a balanced market in most states of Australia,” Mr Ellis said. “Naturally, for those wanting to sell a home or purchase one, they will still be seeking the best deal they can get. “While a balanced market heralds good news for sellers, as competition increases somewhat amongst home buyers, it also means there is less room to negotiate on price.” Mr Ellis says this increased competition means information becomes king in the negotiation process.m “Home buyers need to arm themselves with as much research and information as they can, so they are fully informed of local trends and similar property sales in the areas where they want to buy,” Mr Ellis said. “It’s also advantageous to get advice from their local real estate agent, especially one they feel comfortable with and trust. “We are there to help our clients achieve the best possible outcome, whether they are buying or selling a home.” Mr Ellis advises that home buyers should also set themselves a clear budget, secure conditional pre-approval financing and monitor wider market intelligence. “Combining these factors will keep them ahead of competing buyers by giving them the confidence to act decisively when they find the home of their dreams,” Mr Ellis said. For sellers, Mr Ellis says the key is meeting market expectations by setting realistic prices. “Too often, sellers see headlines about rising prices but don’t take account of what the local market is doing. They then set a price way above what buyers will pay, which only serves to frighten them away,” Mr Ellis said. “While supply is still relatively short, and will continue to be so for some time, there is still strong competition for quality properties that come onto the market.” Mr Ellis says the best advice for home sellers is to secure the services of a reputable, trustworthy real estate agent who will guide them through the process, including what price to set and how best to prepare their property for sale. “A common mistake for sellers is to not prepare their property effectively.  Sometimes it’s simply a case of decluttering your home and giving it a spring clean, or it may involve repainting and fixing cracks in walls, ceilings, pathways and driveways. “It rarely involves a complete makeover, but if that is what it takes to maximise value, then sellers should do it as it may add thousands of dollars to the eventual sale price by generating greater competition amongst prospective buyers.” Competition time! If you can tell me the name of the company i work for you will go in the draw to win a dinner for 2 valued at $100 at our local Dunwoody’s Tavern. All you have to do send an email with the following details to: chris.eustace@fncairnscentral.com The Answer: First Name: Last Name: Address: Email: Dunwoody's - The home of flaming good steaks and pizza. 317 Sheridan Street Ph. 07 4051 6822 Hotel Opening Hours Mon - Sun 10am til 2am Restaurant hours Sunday - Friday : 11.30am to 2.30pm   and   5.30pm to 9.00pm Saturday all day dining : 11.30am to 9.00pm Entry will be drawn of the (1st November 2013) Prize winner will be notified by email. Hot tips when renovating your home When you’re planning to sell, it’s crucial to put together a list of potential improvements that will maximise your sale price. But how do you make sure you’re not investing money in areas where your costs won’t be recouped? The most popular improvements right now in Australia are: Add a veranda. Instantly boost kerb-appeal with this low cost addition to the front or rear of your home. Clean & paint. Relatively inexpensive, a fresh coat of paint is a sure-fire way to achieve maximum return on investment. Stay neutral though. Choose current colours. Earth tones are in, pastels and pinks are out. Remove any colour schemes that don’t contribute to a tonal flow throughout your home. Improve light & flow. OK, adding new windows is pricey, but introducing more light or even a view to a room appeals to absolutely every buyer. Remove walls. Wherever possible, combine rooms to increase the sense of space, as long as you don’t reduce the total bedroom count in the process. Update Kitchen. Good quality kitchen appliances instantly make a home more saleable, as long as other other important features have not been forgotten. Don’t make a bold statement with colour and think twice about steam-ovens or built-in coffee machines unless you’re offering a premier property. Update bathroom. Here’s where you can make a big difference with minimal cost. Major bathroom renos don’t typically influence price as much as kitchens so save money here by making just small changes. Just changing the vanity, a mirror, taps, the sink, or lighting fixtures can quickly and cheaply boost appeal. Be timeless. Traditional choices offer broadest buyer appeal. Choose timber over polished concrete, carpet over tiles in bedrooms, stone over Formica, plain fabrics over floral, and simple rather than elaborate with lighting. Market Update - Cairns North Cairns North profile summary In the 2011, the population of Cairns North was 4,444. This number is comprised of 47.6% females and 52.4% males. The median/average age of the Cairns North population is 35 years of age, 2 years below the Australian average. 52.8% of people living in Cairns North were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were England 5.2%, New Zealand 4.7%, India 2.7%, Japan 2.5%, Papua New Guinea 1.7%. 65.5% of people speak English as their first language 2.8% Japanese, 1.3% Mandarin, 1.1% German, 0.9% Korean, 0.8% French. As you can see a great demographic of people share Cairns North and there is something for everyone. Properties range from beautiful city-view apartments overlooking the ocean to elaborate original houses built in this area back when the rapid residential development occurred in the 1970s. There are many commercial properties in Cairns North providing a thriving suburban hub and a real estate 'hot-spot'. The suburb of Cairns North is a highly sort after area for buyers as many owners have renovated and restored their homes to their former 'Queenslander' beauty. This has in turn increased the value of entire streets as they become 'boutique streets'. Cairns North property data trends Local business profile Ocean World Seafood Market operates 7 Days a week, offering fresh seafood to the retail sector and supplying some of Cairns leading restaurants. We also operate a busy take-away fish and chip department cooking from 9am to 7pm every day. In 2007 Peter and Mende Adams purchased the already established Ocean Wild Seafood Market, originally started by local prawn fishing identities, the Corbett family, with a commitment to providing LOCAL and Australian seafood. Changing the name to Ocean World Seafood Market put their own identity on the business. With 20 years experience in the hospitality and retail industry Peter and Mende are renowned service specialists and instilled their knowledge of the food industry into providing an excellent product both in fresh seafood and quality cooked product. The business has a strong local customer base that enjoy the fresh local produce all year round Ocean World Seafood Market 379 Sheridan St Ph, 07 4041 0242 Trading hours 9am - 7pm 7 days Your local guy in real estate Born and raised in Cairns, Chris has a great relationship with this town and its people. He believes Cairns is an ever growing, conscientious and innovative community, a great place to live and raise a family. Cairns provides many great opportunities and a lifestyle that is the envy of almost anywhere else in the world. It is no accident that Chris has well refined professional skills in customer service, negotiation and great attention to detail as he learnt these skills in the highly demanding hospitality industry. Chris learnt his communication skills, persistence and high level of customer service both domestically and internationally specialising in the very intense special events sector of the hospitality industry. Chris's experience includes two years working and running prestigious events in the United Kingdom, including Bloomberg's annual staff party (4500 guests), Buckingham Palace (8000 guests), Scottish Open Golf at Loch Lomond, Wembley Stadium for Princess Diana Memorial Concert and the Brit Awards. It is this type of experience that has taken his organisational and negotiation skills to a new level. After years in the world of events, he decided it was time to follow his passion into real estate and apply the lessons learnt. Chris feels that this has been a natural progression and now allows him to help many of his friends buy and sell property. Buying or selling a property can be stressful as you are dealing with one of the biggest investments of your life, and Chris believes that it is his job to take the stress out of the equation and turn it into a positive life changing experience. Chris's interests away from real estate include spending time with his fiancée, fishing, mountain bike riding and just being out in the Queensland sun. Contact me for a no-obligation appraisal and receive a book that will teach you how to sell your home for more (valued at $24.95 RRP), absolutely FREE! Copyright © 2014 First National Cairns Central, All rights reserved.