RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

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CREATING WEALTH AND LIFESTYLE THROUGH by Grant & Christina Penrose Issue 20 Would You Welcome a Better Fortnightly Cash Flow? How to Hang On To Your Home When Money’s Tight! Finally – the National Housing Market is Starting to Stabilise Five Fast Ways to Add Value to Your Property Have You Selected Your Property Manager Wisely? Helping you understand Real Estate PROFILE REAL ESTATE

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RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Transcript of RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Page 1: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

CREATING WEALTH AND LIFESTYLE THROUGH

by Grant & Christina Penrose

Issue 20

Would YouWelcome a Better

FortnightlyCash Flow?

How to HangOn To Your

Home WhenMoney’s Tight!

Finally – the National HousingMarket is Starting to Stabilise

Five Fast Waysto Add Value toYour Property

Have YouSelectedYour PropertyManager Wisely?

Helping you understand Real Estate

PROFILE REAL ESTATE

Page 2: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Wow, we certainly seem to have been all over the place since Ilast wrote, literally!

Kayaking on Wivenhoe Dam, a fleeting visit to Stanthorpe tovisit my 98 year-old Grandfather and - yeah yeah I know it'stough but I'm having to write this from the beach...

It's seriously heaven, all calm as Alexander has his siesta andthe big boys enjoy a walk with Dad. Just the waves crashing, awonderful sound, so soothing and therapeutic.

We've been blessed to enjoy glorious golden days and, forthose few times of scattered rain, trusty Mum (yep that's me!)had the foresight to pack the Lego, an endless source ofentertainment for all the boys.

The day trip to Grandad's also worked out beautifully. The boyswent straight towork in his gardens,weeding anddigging for hours.Then a visit to myuncle and aunt -where a long rideon the four-wheelerhad all four kidsgrinning from ear toear.

Okay, before I start to sound way too relaxed - I want toreassure you that it hasn't been all play - this year has beenextremely busy, with every month getting better and better.Sales and rentals are up substantially from last year and thebeginning of April promises a bumper month.

Maybe the change of government has been a contributor to theconfidence shown?

From our perspective, we are definitely looking forward to thepromised simplification of real estate paperwork and hopefullywe can save some trees in the process!

There are also many eagerly anticipating the reintroduction ofthe stamp duty discounts.

We hope you also enjoyed some rest and relaxation (and lots ofchocolate!) over Easter.

Christina Penrose

In this edition� Easter Pleasures: Chocolate Eggs and Purchased

Properties!

� Finally – the National Housing Market is Starting toStabilise…

� Would You Welcome a Better Fortnightly Cash Flow?

� Five Fast Ways to Add Value to Your Property

� How to Hang On To Your Home When Money’s Tight!

� Cut Your Mortgage Loan Term in Half! 10 Tips forPaying it Off Sooner…

� Property Investment Is Not A Get Rich Quick Scheme

� Have You Selected Your Property Manager Wisely?

� Simple Steps to Stop Balcony Falls!

� Investors Have Eyes on the Qld Property Market!

� Are You Covered for a Disaster?

2 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

Easter Pleasures: Chocolate Eggs and PurchasedProperties!

Hours of fun with Lego

Working in Grandads garden.

Out to dinner with Jade

Uncle Trevor and the boys doing laps

Page 3: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Australia’s housing market is showing signs ofstabilising after home values rose 0.2 per cent inMarch.

Not only has the market remained unchanged for the quarterending 31 March 2012, it is also level with the 30 November2011 home values across the combined capital cities. The flatresult over the quarter is the strongest result since March 2011when values increased by 0.7 per cent.

RP Data’s research director, Tim Lawless, points out that whilethe quarterly result was an improvement on recent quarters, theSydney housing market has been the primary growth driver.

“Looking at the quarterly results on a more granular basis, theimproved conditions over the March quarter can largely beattributed to the performance of Australia’s largest housingmarket, Sydney, where values rose 1.1 per cent over thequarter. Values were down across many of the other capitalcities over the quarter with the most significant drop recorded inAdelaide where dwelling values were down 1.5 per cent,” MrLawless said.

According to the managing director of Rismark International,Ben Skilbeck, “While the housing market remains soft, the zeroper cent change over the first quarter of 2012 demonstratesthat it is consolidating its position following the decline seen incalendar year 2011. This month it was the resource rich stateswhich delivered the strongest gains with Perth, Darwin andBrisbane up 1.4 per cent, 1.1 per cent and 0.8 per centrespectively.”

Over the twelve months ending March 31, capital city homevalues are down 4.4 per cent with the largest falls beingrecorded in Hobart (-7.3 per cent), Brisbane (-6.1 per cent),Adelaide (-5.7 per cent) and Melbourne (-5.4 per cent). Despitethe fall in Melbourne home values they are still up 45.5 per centsince the start of 2007. At the other end of the spectrum,Canberra continues to show the most resilience with valuesdown just -0.3 per cent over the year.

According to Mr Skilbeck there are a number of factors pointingtowards an improvement in housing market conditions overrecent months.

“The ratio of national house prices to household disposableincomes is currently below the decade average. Additionally,according to the ABS housing finance data, both the value andnumber of loan approvals for the purchase of establisheddwellings are at levels not seen since November 2009. Firsthome buyers as a proportion of all home loans approved areback to levels not seen for 2 years,” Mr Skilbeck said.

Yields are also showing modest improvements. According toMr Skilbeck, “Rental yields for houses across the combinedcapital cities have moved from just 3.6 per cent eighteenmonths ago to 4.1 per cent and gross yields on unit dwellingshave improved from a recent low of 4.4 per cent to 4.8 percent. The most significant rental yield improvements have beenrecorded in Darwin, Perth and Brisbane where yields haveincreased by 22 per cent, 21 per cent and 18 per centrespectively from their recent lows.”

Other market metrics are also showing some improvement.“The number of properties available for sale is continuing tomoderate from the historic highs which peaked late last yearand auction clearance rates have been holding above 50 percent for most of 2012,” Mr Lawless said.

“Additionally, we have recently seen the Reserve Bank reportingthat the rate of mortgage arrears has fallen from a peak of 0.7per cent to 0.6 per cent, a default rate which is comparably lowby international standards. The latest Financial Stability Reviewfrom the RBA also highlighted that most mortgage holders arepaying down more of their mortgage debt than they arecontractually obliged to, a sure sign that Australians are copingwith their mortgage debt,” Mr Lawless said.

Source RP DATA 2 April 2012

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 3Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Finally – the National Housing Marketis Starting to Stabilise…

Page 4: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Five Fast Ways to Add Value to Your PropertyEverybody would like to add value to their property andenhance its sale price.

Leading agents believe everyproperty can be improved andevery owner should try to obtainmaximum sale prices. Addingvalue to property isn’t necessarilythat difficult. It takes planning andvision and, of course, sticking to abudget!

Five fast ways to add value are:

1. Add a bedroom: preferably under the same roofline,convert a garage or dining area. Valuers generally begintheir assessment of property by looking at comparablesales in line with the number of bedrooms. Immediatelyyou can boost your property to a higher value bracket.

2. First impressions: improve the front yard and facade ofthe home to offer “street appeal”.

3. Add a bathroom: this is particularly important if you gofrom 3 to 4 bedrooms and can often be achieved byconverting an existing laundry.

4. Use similar features and finishes to those in a moreexpensive property.

5. Add a WOW factor: incorporate finishes or factors thatpeople remember. Perhaps a double-sized shower, Frenchdoors or an outstanding entertainingarea.

If you are thinking of buying or selling,please contact us for a FREE copy ofour book “How to sell your home for adream price in record time” for all thetips you need.

4 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

Would You Welcome a BetterFortnightly Cash Flow?What would you do with extra cash each fortnight?

Save on interest costs by paying your current mortgage offfaster? Save more swiftly for the next investment propertydeposit? Go on that dream holiday? There are so manypossibilities…

Why not consider a Pay As You Go (PAYG) variation?

Often overlooked by investors, the PAYG system is a great wayto increase fortnightly cash flow throughout the year. The PAYGmethod of tax collection was introduced in July 2000 to replaceprevious versions of the same system, such as pay as you earn(PAYE). The system gives the option of claiming back taxregularly, rather than in one lump sum at the end of the financialyear. A PAYG variation means that the property owner’semployer will reduce the amount of tax withheld to reflect setdeductions like depreciation on a rental property. In essence,it’s a way of decreasing the amount of tax paid by the investoreach pay period.

It is important to note that submitting the PAYG variation doesnot replace a normal tax return. A tax return still needs to befiled at the end of the year to calculate the actual amount of taxliability. Your PAYG instalments for the year are credited againstyour assessment.

A Quantity Surveyor can provide all current and futuredepreciation values for investment properties in a detailed taxdepreciation report. Obtaining the report immediately after thepurchase of a property will allow the maximum return from aPAYG variation, as the precise figures will make the instalmentsaccurate.

The flexibility providedto the Investor througha PAYG variation,combined withdepreciationdeductions identifiedby a QuantitySurveyor, can be ofgreat help in managing the fortnightly cash flow of aninvestment property.

Let’s consider a hypothetical situation:

A typical $400,000 investment property would show an averageannual loss (or deduction) of $35,000 and an average incomeof $20,000 for the first 5 years. The deductions include costssuch as interest on a $350,000 mortgage, management fees,maintenance, and property depreciation. The total loss (incomeminus expenses) will result in a deduction for the owner of$15,000. In the 37% tax bracket the $15,000 deduction couldgenerate a tax return (or credit) of $5,550. Under a PAYGvariation, the investment property owner can adjust theirfortnightly pay to anticipate this return, adding $213 to their paypacket each fortnight.

BMT Tax Depreciation are specialists at maximising taxdeductions for investment properties. Talk to an accountantabout a PAYG variation to increase fortnightly cash flow.

Article Provided by BMT Tax Depreciation. Bradley Beer (B. Con. Mgt, AAIQS, MRICS) is a Director of BMT TaxDepreciation. Please contact 1300 728 726 or visit www.bmtqs.com.au foran Australia wide service

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not

act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Seduce yourBUYER with thehome of theirdreams!

record time!

sell

BY GRANT & CHRISTINA PENROSE

How to

your home for adream price in

Page 5: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

Anyone who has ever had to pay off a mortgage will tellyou they would love to pay it off before the term, butmost people will continue to chip away at their loan onautopilot.

A proactive strategy can cut your loan term from 30 years toless than half in some cases.

Robert Projeski of Australian Mortgage Options offers 10 wayson how to own your home sooner...

1. Pay your mortgage as you receive your income - forexample, fortnightly. This cuts down on interest payable andcan save you a lot of money over the course of your homeloan. As there are 26 fornights in a year, but only 12 months,you effectively end up paying one month extra annually,reducing both time and interest on your home loan.

2. Set up an automated recurring payment for your mortgagepayments. This is usually free of charge and means that youare always on time and can't overspend on other things,leaving you short to meet your payment obligations.

3. Park a large lump sum into your mortgage account. Forexample, if you get $2000 back from your tax return, receivedividends from other investments, sell a car, boat or caravanor get bonus payments from your job, make a large paymenttowards your mortgage. These large lump sums can cutyears worth of interest off the loan. You'll need a re-draw orline of credit facility in order to have access to these fundswhen you need to.

4. List your regular expenses and you'll find one or two itemsthat you can do without. Whether it's buying your magazinesas subscriptions rather than at the newsagent or poolingyour family's mobile phones and home phone on one plan,often giving you free calls in between all your numbers -these can present a considerable saving. This will make abig difference to your cash flow, freeing up disposableincome to put into your mortgage account.

5. Make a habit of using only your bank's ATMs. The charges(usually $1 to $2.50 per transaction or account enquiry) caneasily add up to a nice little amount ($60 to $120 per month)that can remain in your pocket or go towards your loan.Another way to save on transactions is to get cash out onEFTPOS purchases rather than using ATMs.

6. Increase your repayments. You can cut up to two years offthe lifespan of your loan by paying an extra $30 to $50 oneach payment. This may just mean cutting out an extra cupof coffee here or there or occasionally taking lunch to workrather than buying it.

7. Have your wages paid directly into your home loan account,but you'll need a loan with re-draw or line of credit typefacility so you can have unlimited access to the funds forliving expenses etc. This will greatly reduce the interest thatyou pay as the interest is debited at the end of the monthand usually calculated daily.

8. Offset your loans with a savings account. This is calledmortgage offsetting, whereas the amount in your savingsaccount (earning interest) is calculated/subtracted againstthe actual interest charge against the loan amount, then theinterest is calculated only on the balance. For an example, ifyour loan is $400,000 and you have $100,000 in savings,this equates to $300,000 on which you actually pay interest.This of course greatly reduces the amount of interest youeffectively pay and will save you years on your home loan.

9. Perform a mortgage health check. Sometimes you just haveto admit your loan might not be the best for you anymore. Itmay have been superseded as a product or interest ratesmay have changed drastically, leaving you better off with avariable rate than a fixed one. In that case, look atrefinancing.

10.When refinancing, consider pooling or consolidating anyother loans (such as a car or personal loan) and credit cards(with a much higher interest rate) into the one loan as thesavings often will outweigh the slightly higher loan amount.And if your repayments end up being lower than they were,consider keeping the same amount going. The extra on eachpayment can really slice some cost/time off your loan.

Extra tip: If you're refinancing, consider making a lumppayment at the start. Most loans are set out that you pay moreinterest in the earlier stages. So if you pay only $100 at thestart, this can add up to about $1,600 in interest savings overthe life of the loan. Ideally throw a lump sum against your loan,which instantly reduces the premium and hence the interestpayable.Source : Australian Property Investor (3 February 2012)

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 5Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

How to Hang On To Your Home When Money’s Tight!With today’s ever-changing economy, home owners areunder increasing pressure and especially when interestrates increases are combined with the rapidly risingcost of living.

We believe that many households are under enormousfinancial pressure. Times are uncertain. Job security, interestrates, electricity increases and the general cost of living areputting families under more and more pressure. Whateverhappens, it is important to attempt to hang onto the familyhome by riding out the storm.

Tips on balancing the budget to keep the home:• If mortgage payments are too difficult, try and switch to aninterest-only loan

• Shop for a better mortgage deal• Rent a bedroom or granny flat• Enjoy a great night in – regularly!

Understand that property is a long-termappreciating asset. Hang onto it at allcosts if you can; over a period of time thegain outweighs the pain.

Cut Your Mortgage Loan Term in Half!10 Tips for Paying it Off Sooner…

Page 6: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

So, you have bought your investment property andare looking to secure quality tenants. How do youchoose your property manager and what do you lookfor?

Peace of mind plays a big part in property investment. Theright property manager can save investors a whole host ofheadaches and sleepless nights, so choosing the right one isvital.

Tips on what to ask potential property managersinclude:

• How many properties do you manage and how large isyour management team? An effective propertymanagement department should operate on around 100properties per manager.

• Will you be the actual property manager looking after myinvestment?

• How much experience do you have in this industry?

A good property manager will offer the following:

• An annual rent review

• Timely processing of rent increases

• Regular routine inspections

• Minimise vacancy by planning re-letting.

We would love to assist you with your property. Pleasecontact us today on 3510 5222.

Have You Selected Your Property Manager Wisely?

Four children fall from Queensland balconies everyweek, but property managers and lessors can takesteps to minimise this risk.

Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit (QISU) Director, Dr RuthBarker, said falls usually happen when a child climbs over orfalls through a balustrade. Children can also topple fromfurniture placed on balconies.

Building codes have been changed over the years to reducethis risk. While the changes are not retrospective, olderbuildings can be altered to lower the risk of severe injury.

There are simple solutions, such as fitting materials to reducebalustrade gaps to 12.5cm and minimising opportunities forsmall children to climb or fall through balcony railings.

Dr Barker said that a two year-old boy nearly fell from theeighth floor balcony of a rented riverside apartment recently.The one-metre high balustrade had a concrete ledge 30cm offthe ground.

“The child was being supervised on the balcony but hemanaged to get a foot up onto the ledge,” Dr Barker said.

“Thankfully, the child’sfather caught him justin time.”

Dr Barker said therewere three sliding doorsfrom the apartmentonto the balcony. Nonehad child-resistantlocks, so it was difficultfor the parents torestrict child access.

In this case theproperty manageror lessor could fitmaterials to cover thelower part of thebalustrade and child-resistant locks could be added to thesliding doors.

Source : RTA Newsletter (December 2011/January 2012)

Simple Steps to Stop Balcony Falls!

Some may describe the market as “sluggish”, others describe it as “normalreal estate conditions”. Whatever the case, property investment has neverbeen a get rich quick scheme.

Property is a great investment over long periods of time.

Too often people get excited when the market booms and fast gains can be made. Thistype of market is rare and generally lasts for short periods. The current climate is typicalof a normal real estate market where one can make steady long-term gains over time.

History shows that property has proven to be a great investment averaging annualgrowth of upwards of 7% per annum over 10 year periods. This provides theopportunity for property values to double every 7 – 10 years.

There are riches to be made through property investment but a sound strategy and patience are the keys.

Please feel free to contact us for free expert advice on all your property investment needs.

Property Investment Is Not A Get Rich Quick Scheme

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not

act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.6 RE/MAX PROFILE REAL ESTATE creating wealth and lifestyle through property

Page 7: RE/MAX Profile Newsletter Issue 20

So far, it’s been a wild year, with January offering upbushfires in the west and flooding in the east. Whenwas the last time you checked your insurance policy,to make sure it’s up-to-date and be 100% certain ofexactly what it covers?

ASIC’s Senior Executive LeaderFinancial Literacy, Delia Rickard,suggests checking your policy orcontacting your insurer andasking them exactly what eventsyou’re covered for and what’sexcluded, for example: damagefrom flooding!

"Some home and contents policies may not cover damagefrom floods, or may have caps on how much you can claimfor flooding and other events," says Ms Rickard.

“Make sure you have enough home insurance cover by usingonline calculators on insurance websites to estimate the totalcost of rebuilding your home. Try a couple of calculators tocompare because the results can differ. Be sure to shoparound for appropriate cover and quotes. Phone potentialinsurers, and ask lots of questions,” she advises.

Home insurance policies are usually either ‘sum-insured’,

‘extended replacementcover’ or ‘totalreplacement’ policies.

Sum-insured cover ismore common and willcover you up to a setamount that you choose. Extended replacement coverpolicies have a sum-insured amount, but will provide a limitedamount of extended cover in the event of a total loss. Totalreplacement cover covers the costs to rebuild your home tothe standard it was prior to the event, thus significantlyreducing the risk of being underinsured.

There are a number of variations to these basic models, soread the fine print and ask as many questions as possiblewhen comparing insurers. The key is to be sure your policycovers all the costs of rebuilding your home.

If you are renting, you should consider insuring the valuableitems that you couldn’t afford to replace, such as your car,boat, tools of trade, and expensive home contents.

See the insurance articles at www.moneysmart.gov.au formore details.Source : Quartile Property Network (3 February 2012)

Investors Have Eyes on the Qld Property Market!Investors are turning their interest back to theQueensland property market according to the RealEstate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).

The REIQ have listed attractive property prices, strong demandfrom tenants, and improving confidence as the catalyst formore investors in the property market.

‘‘After being in hibernation for most of 2011, investors arestarting to return to the market with REIQ accredited agenciesalso reporting a more buoyant mood since about November,’’REIQ CEO, Anton Kardash, said.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics housing financefigures for November found the number of investors inQueensland increased by more than 16 per cent over themonth. This return to investor activity, while still slightly belowhistorical averages, is also being driven by the lower interestrate environment that is now in play.

‘‘These tentative signs of recovery, however, can only besustained if confidence levels continue to improve. The key tothis is having an interest rate regime that reflects and supportsthe economic reality of the majority of businesses in Australia,”Mr Kardash said.

There continues to be strong demand from tenants acrossQueensland with the latest REIQ residential rental survey finding

vacancy rates tightening in many areasas at the end of December.

Residential Tenancy Authority (RTA)December median rents were steadyfor most regions although, asexpected, resource centres continue torecord strong rental growth. REIQvacancy rates show Mackay overtakingGladstone as the region with thelowest vacancy rate across the state

with the resources boom continuing to attract families to thearea.

REIQ vacancy rates remained steady for the Brisbane City localgovernment area (LGA) although this was a mix of slightlytighter conditions for the outer suburbs while the inner suburbshave eased since the end of September. Agents from REIQaccredited agencies reported vacancy periods averaging aboutone to two weeks, with up to five applicants per listing. TheBrisbane LGA vacancy rate was 2.3 per cent, while innerBrisbane recorded 1.9 per cent. A vacancy rate of 3 per cent isgenerally considered to be the equilibrium point of demand andsupply.

The Moreton Bay regionfared better than otherGreater Brisbane regions,posting a decrease in itsvacancy rate to 2.7 percent at the end ofDecember, althoughmedian rents remainedunchanged according toREIQ.

However, Gerrie Bowden, principal of Moreton Bay RegionalReal Estate, said she has experienced a slowdown in investorinterest and rental curiosity since the Reserve Bank’s decisionto hold interest rates.

“Earlier this year we were experiencing a slight increase inactivity but since the RBA met and the banks are now puttingup interest rates, it has been very slow,” she told Real EstateBusiness.

“The rental market has quieted a lot as well. This type of thingtends to go in a cycle. Overall our market has been very quietof late.”Source : Real Estate Business Bulletin (13 February 2012)

Are You Covered for a Disaster?

Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurateand reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should notact on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

Grant & Christina Penrose www.propertysalesbrisbane.com 7

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PROFILE REAL ESTATE

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Materials and articles in this publication are general comment, not advice. The information is believed to be accurate and reliable but no responsibility is taken for any opinions expressed or for errors or omissions. Readers should not act on the basis of the material without taking professional advice relating to their particular circumstances.

P: 07 3510 5256 M: 0418 747 997E: [email protected] [email protected]: PO Box 388, Paddington QLD 4064W: www.propertysalesbrisbane.com

Selling? Order a Free Book Today.Call us or SMS “Free Book” with your name and address to 0418 747 997, or go to www.propertysalesbrisbane.com/our-book and we will rush you a copy. Seduce yourBUYER with thehome of theirdreams!

record time!

sell

BY GRANT & CHRISTINA PENROSE

How to

your home for adream price in

We couldn’t have been happier with the result.

From our initial meeting, Grant’s detailed knowledge of current local market trends,advertising strategies and sales options combined with his honest professional adviceallowed us to develop a marketing and sales campaign specifically suited to our needs. Hisfriendly and accommodating nature was reassuring and allowed us to feel at ease duringnegotiations.

Grant’s follow up of potential buyers wasexceptional and we were continuallyupdated on all developments. Throughoutthe whole campaign Grant’s commitmentto securing the best possible result for uswas evident and when the house sold atauction, as planned, we couldn’t havebeen happier with the result.

Peter Searle

JUST

REN

TED

Outlook Crescent, Bardon - $500pw – 2 bed – 1 bath

JUST

RENTE

D

Stuartholme Road, Bardon - $910pw – 4 bed – 2 bath

Can You Sell a Home Under the Hammer With Just One Bidder?Yes, you can - and we do it all the time! I mention this here as invariably people ask if we've held any auctions thisweek and how they went, and they're often shocked to learn we've sold a property that only had one bidder.

Grant is pictured here in action doing just that last week, selling a unit at Clayfield for one of our team. When themarket is tougher this type of auction becomes a more regular event: either having one bidder or a buyer who is clearly

willing to pay a lot more than the others. In this situation many agents pass the property in andnegotiate after auction but as this means the cooling off period and other clauses often come intoplay, we consider this a last resort.

Not every property will have ten bidders like the property we recently sold in Ennever St, Bardon(testimonial included here), though of course we wish they did as they are lots of fun!

We find that people will often question (and rightly so!) why you would auction if you don't have ahigh demand property in a hot market? Going to auction has its own specific advantages. Withthe right agent and an auctioneer who thoroughly understand the process and is confident innegotiating with one bidder, a frequent result will be an unconditional sale. Under the hammer withinless than thirty days on the market is eminently achievable!

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR PROPERTYSOLD OR RENTED?

19 Ennever St, Bardon - $746,000SOLD AT AUCTIO

N