Be Quick!

How exciting that the Deagon Community Race Day tickets has finally been released, be quick as they sell very fast! This year there’ll be a good number of Corporate Marquees, so be in the know!  Regardless it’s a great day for our Community!

Brrrr…… the cooler temps have finally arrived, but what about the beautiful days!  This not only brings people out of their homes but also gets buyers to attend Open Houses.  Some of our homes had over 10 groups viewing and with two of the homes going Under Contract with Multiple Offers shows confidence is returning.  The upper market while is a different market still had people viewing.

Overall with the number of homes that we’ve listed over the last couple of weeks shows that if sellers list their homes at realistic prices will bring good results.  While the supply is low and demand is at a high, and all indications show that the market should have changed, in reality it has not, so we are patient and buyers have to as well!  

When we look into our crystal ball we see………, we’ll as you know we don’t have one, but we do have a number of listings coming onto the market and if we continue to list homes and sell then just as quick, then we have happy seller/s and happy buyer/s.  If you want to know more then please don’t hesitate, just call!

Heading in the Right Direction

Recent amendments to the Property and Motor Dealers Act will see changes implemented in the coming months.  The Real Estate industry will now come under a number of different Acts but the main one that will affect consumers will be the Property Occupation Bill.  The major change will be the deregulation of commission paid, which will certainly be the hot topic, as it will give consumers and agents alike the ability to negotiate commissions.  The reduction of paper use for the preparation of contracts will cut down on red tape. 

As an overview of our local market for  Brighton, the number of homes currently listed for sale as at 18 June 2014 on realestate.com.au is 104 properties.  When you break this down, there are 29 new home packages in a new sub-division and another 21 under contract.  There is also one or two units and some land registered.  Overall, there are approximately only 75 homes for sale out of 3,800, which is less than 2% of homes in Brighton on the market.  Wow!  As a comparison, between January to June 2013, 188 homes had sold in Brighton.  From January 2014 to date, only 47 have sold (sourced RPData).  For all the other suburbs Shorncliffe for  2013 shows 38 sold and to date 3, Sandgate 82 for 2013 and to date 17, Deagon 86 for 2013 and to date 18 and Bracken Ridge 253 for 2013 and to date 64.  The number of homes sold has definitely slowed, as has the number listed for sale.

It’s not all doom and gloom though as there are signs that homes are coming onto the market.  We appear to be signing new homes up well in advance of them going on the market.  Preparation of the home is so important as sellers only have one    opportunity to show their home to the world and it needs to be right. 

For the last four quarters, from data sourced from www.realestate.com.au, 2nd Avenue Realty were the number one selling agent for three of these quarters.  We are extremely privileged to be helping sellers and buyers alike!

After boasting to the Southerners that we are still wearing t-shirts, the cooler temps have finally arrived. Now Winter is upon us, we look forward to receiving many calls to assist with  prepping homes for the blossoming of Spring.  It’s only around the corner!  Dianne, John and Gai are available to help so call on 3269 1555 and one of us will be in touch. 

Do You Feel It?

How good is it to walk into a home and it just feels right? 

Do you remember the Australian movie the Castle?  They loved the home and everyone recalls the solicitors in court saying, ‘it just had the vibe’.  Well, it is the vibe and homes today still carry the feeling. 

The vibe, or lack thereof, can apply to any home.  We have all felt that feeling when you walk into a home and there is either a coolness about it, or it encases you with loving warmth.  Regardless of the temperature of any property, with a little work, it can still shine.  Having watched our fair share of television shows, makeovers can easily change a cold home to a warm home; it just takes some imagination, obviously money and good presentation and styling.

We’re not builders, landscapers or architects but we do have all these tradespeople at our fingertips to assist with preparing a home.  You only get one chance to show off your home so you need to make it a good one!

With our expertise of market trends, we’re able to assist you with our knowledge, expectation, preparation and hopefully a successful outcome.  Our team at 2^nd Avenue are well aware of the needs of people so if we can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to call us.

Times Are Changing

The roller coaster ride of real estate continues to amaze buyers, sellers and agents alike!  With Easter fast approaching, it’s hard to believe that April is just around the corner.  We’re now moving into the peak selling period, however, a low percentage of homes on the market shows a lack of confidence is still out there.

There is good news though as other states start improving, historically the ripple effect usually ambles up to Queensland.  With these indications, we sit and wait as patience is the key word for all!  If you’re considering up or down sizing in this market then it really doesn’t matter when you sell!

We have over 13,500 homes in the 4017 postcode and there’s currently 252 properties listed for sale/auction (sourced realestate.com.au). The percentage ratio per 100 is widening and buyers, sellers and agents alike are eagerly waiting for the market to shift. 

Current indications show that listings are selling quicker than previously, and multi offers are coming through, so we do have a many happy clients. 

Realistic list prices put SOLD signs on homes; the last thing that anybody wants is a home that sits on the market for a lengthy time. 

Our industry is evolving with major changes that will affect consumers.  Deregulation is on the horizon, the   current Property and Motor Dealers Act (PAMDA) is being split into four bills, the Queensland Government Property Law Review Paper - Sellers Disclosure is under review, amendments to the   Privacy Act were introduced on 12 March 2014 and the Credit Act and the Queensland Water Act were amended, and there’s still more to come!

The future of real estate is exciting with so many changes, new technology and social media, but there is one thing that will never change and that is people. Every one of us has a story to tell and we are very lucky and privileged to be a part of yours.

If you would like some guidance on preparing your home for sale, please don’t hesitate to call either Gai, Dianne or John on 3269 1555.  We’re here to help!

Our February 2014 Quarterly Newsletter is now available.  Check is out now. 

As Time Goes By ...

The last 20 years has seen the introduction of an array of technological advancements and the sky is the limit as to what’s still to come.  What’s in stall for the next 20 years?  Well your guess is as good as ours!

We can never stay ahead of technology but we can go with the flow.  The babies of today are using iPads to interact and I can hear the gasps or sighs!  The TV was introduced in the 40’s but came into vogue in the 50’s.  I recall getting our first TV and watching it in black and white with all our neighbours and remember the excitement!  Then came the 60’s, which some would like to forget, which saw the modern car, first demonstration of the computer mouse and ATM’s all in one decade, and the list goes on …  Advancement is great for us, but with the introduction of all these gismos, one things still stays the same, people!

There are also changes occurring in real estate, which some may not like, but as in all areas of life, there has to be advancement in all industries to stay up-to-date with technology.  Here at 2^nd Avenue Realty we are riding the wave of advancement and we are staying abreast of what’s happening in the market, but our clients are still the most important and valued part of our business.  If you can help you in any way please don’t hesitate to call us.

Price & Presentation Mean Everything!

Every seller has a price in their mind of what they think their home is worth, and when they receive an agent’s view, some are reluctant to say anything.  If the price is not up to expectation, then it’s often assumed the agent doesn’t know what they’re talking about!

We come across this scenario more than you realise.  When we research a property, we take into consideration the attributes of the home, style, potential, location, land size, surrounding properties, transport, schools, local knowledge, previous sales, properties on the market, flood areas, building requirements, zoning, etc, etc, etc, the list goes on!

As much as it may hurt, if you are thinking of selling, you do need to look at all the facts and remove your personal involvement.  You will be passing the property onto someone else who will love it just as much as you have!  Keep in mind that your home will be open to public scrutiny, good and bad.  If you present the property in the best light possible, then that will make it easier for the buyers to give quality feedback!  Feedback doesn’t sell, but if your property is priced correctly and looks good, then you should have a win/win situation. 

Our team at 2^nd Avenue Realty have many years experience in buying and selling real estate, and as your local Helper Agents® and property specialists we (Gai, Dianne and John) are available to help you with the process.  If you need advice, please don’t hesitate to call.