Cooling Temps ...

What are the three things that we’re told not to talk about?  Religion, politics and sex!  Religion and sex, well we’ll leave those well alone, but politics, nothing has changed much over the years.  Obviously, we never learn as we keep going back for more, and with the state election just around the corner, it’s the topic on everyone’s lips.  It puts a smile on my face to think that something we’re told never to discuss can also be the hottest topic around?  All I can say is good luck and may the best person win!

If we were to describe the property market in the same terms as we would a weather report, we’d say we’re experiencing ‘cooling temperatures with slow winds keeping the lows around, but there could be a change coming along’. 

It’s not all doom and gloom as the prediction for 2015 is a positive one.  We are experiencing the normal lull we predicted for January but the expected momentum is picking up for the remainder of the year.  There are times that we seem to be overlooked by the market trends, but don’t despair as Brisbane’s best kept secret will prosper.  We have everything!

Bring It On ...

Some look at real estate agents and say they don’t know what they’re talking about and they only want one thing!  We’ve heard it a million times and to be honest, there are some agents out there that do follow this mentality.  However, to change this mindset, there had to be changes made to the industry and the first of these came into effect in December 2014 when the Property and Motor Dealers Act (PAMDA) was abolished and the new Property Occupations Act introduced.   This was a good start as it enabled car dealers to have their own legislation regulations.  The REIQ and other interested industry bodies are continuing to work hard to improve the real estate industry but there is still a long way to go to alter consumer’s perception of us.

To the average person these legislative changes will be irrelevant until they need to buy, sell or have a property managed and require a property specialist.  However, to us, they signify the start to the positive future of our industry.  The next welcome change will be the regulation of ongoing accreditation and training to ensure that agents are kept up to date on all aspects of property dealings, and so the consumer can feel confident in the knowledge that they have an informed specialist working for them.  Haven’t they got a task on their hands!

All this can only mean is a refreshing start to 2015 and the future.