Real Estate News

It can be hard to know where to invest your money when you’re looking at property. On the one hand you may want to buy in the city or town you’re most familiar with, however with property prices the way they are, it wouldn’t hurt to look further afield. The Sunshine Coast is still reasonably priced with properties selling for an average of just over $500k – and that’s at the high end of town. You can still get a property for under $400,000, depending of course on the suburb in which you live.

The Sunshine Coast has so many drawcards, and reasons why you should seriously consider moving there. I wrote about this in a previous blog, however today’s blog will focus on other aspects that will appeal to those considering a shift to the Coast.

The Sunshine Coast mayor has announced a jobs plan to bring employment to the region which will create opportunities for existing residents and those who are new to the area. It’s important though that you have a work life balance and the Sunshine Coast is also getting some major sporting events, which are sure to keep people entertained when they’re not working.

Of course, with an increased population comes an increased demand for property. Luckily, there are several new developments, mostly on the outskirts of the Sunshine Coast, which means property prices should remain stable without too much of an increase.
There’s never been a better time to move to the Sunshine Coast or buy property.

Selling your home can be a huge decision and require a lot of work. When you are selling your house you’re probably worried about whether or not you’re going to get the price you want for it. There are some huge advantages to selling at auction.

One of the major things to know when you sell your house at auction is that selling at auction gives prospective buyers an end date. That can create a sense of urgency, which ultimately leads to a fear of missing out. When there’s a limited time that the product – in this case your home, is going to be on sale, the interest is likely to be greater. It’s basic economics of supply and demand.

Selling at auction means the price is more in your court. Only you know what you want to get for the property. There’s more chance of getting a higher rate at auction because like all sales techniques, you haven’t revealed your bottom line. Consumers are left to offer what they personally believe your property is worth. You do of course have the choice of whether or not you sell at private treaty however auction creates enthusiasm and makes the process more transparent. When you’re at an auction you know everyone else’s offers. You don’t with a private treaty.

Unlike with private treaty, you can be sure that the finance will be organised prior to the auction. Most auction bids are unconditional, so it would be rather embarrassing and costly, if anyone turned up to the auction and bid without having the funds available to purchase your home.

These are just a few of the reasons why you should sell your property at auction. There are of course many, many more. One of the biggest drawcards is that you know that you are getting the best price on the day and that everyone interested in buying your property, with the means to do so, is at the auction. There will be no wondering if you could have sold your property for more.

When you’re deciding where to buy a home it pays to check out what the location you’re looking at has to offer. Luckily for you we’ve decided to do that for you, so you can just focus on the home hunting process.

There are so many fantastic things to do on the Sunshine Coast and here they are listed below:

The weather in the Sunshine Coast is fantastic all year round so you’ll never have to worry about being stuck in doors because you can spend the time outside doing whatever you want. You could go to the beach or you could spend the time walking around all of the national parks. It’s a great way to get some much needed Vitamin D, and you’ll also get to know the local area much faster by exploring it.

The Sunshine Coast is extremely popular amongst tourists and with its fantastic lifestyle it’s no wonder. There are all the beaches for starters, which you can enjoy thanks to the glorious weather as already mentioned. It has a relaxed lifestyle, so the pace is somewhere between that of a large city and that of a small town. It’s the ideal balance for those who don’t want to live in an extremely fast paced city like Sydney or Melbourne.

The Sunshine Coast has so many theme parks and tourist attractions providing opportunities for people young and old alike. It is absolutely beautiful.

These theme parks and increased sunlight make the residents happy and with happiness comes friendliness so you’ll never feel alone in the Sunshine Coast. There’s always someone to go to the beach with or go for coffee or a juice with.

These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider a move to the Sunshine Coast.

When you’re looking for a real estate agent you need to find an agent that has the skills necessary to get the best possible price for you.

Communication is essential. You’re selling or buying the most valuable asset you’ll ever buy or sell so you’ll need one that can communicate effectively. You’ll want them to communicate on the same level that you do. Communication isn’t just about explaining things clearly. It’s also about ensuring that they keep in constant contact with them and inform you about everything you need to know in relation to property.

A good agent is proactive and will seeking buyers or sellers for you when they’re representing you. They work for you and they need to remember this. You don’t want a real estate agent who doesn’t do what they need to do. You want one who is proactive in their approach.

A proactive agent will also listen to you. They’ll find out what you want and then do what it takes to ensure your satisfaction at all times. That’s because they’re client focused and don’t just want to make money. They genuinely care about the result and as a result they’re adaptable. When an agent has a good relationship with their client, you, they will adapt to your needs and try to meet your needs.

A good agent will still have positive relationships with their previous clients and will have plenty of positive references. This will show they’re the real deal and know what they’re doing.

Outside of your wedding, buying a home is a massive decision, and will quite possibly be the biggest decision you make in your life. It is also the largest purchase you will ever make. You will be signing up to a 20 – 30 year mortgage, so it’s really important you know what happens when you’re buying or selling.

We’ll be running a two part series, with the first part focusing on what you can expect as a buyer on settlement day. Then next week, we’ll run part two which focuses on the sellers.

1 – It probably seems rather arbitrary and a given, however it does need to be said, because with so much going on during the home buying process it’s easy to forget the simple things. You need to choose a settlement agent who will help you out with your property settlement.

2 – When you’ve received the contract, have a read through it and if you’re happy with it then send it through to your agent with an “authority” form so that they can act on your behalf and sign the agreement. This will speed up the process.

3 – It’s really important that other documentation like the Transfer of Land Title Deed is processed so that you can move quickly on the settlement. If any other terms need changing, now is the time to do so. Be sure to receive the statement with any changes that there are.

4 – In Australia there is stamp duty, and it often varies from state to state, so be sure to check with your conveyancer that all your duties are paid and nothing is left in arrears. You want to make sure that the process is undertaken correctly.

5 – It should go without saying, and it really should have been part one of the process, but please, please, please, organise the funds way before settlement so that they are available. If your funds are not available for settlement date this can potentially lead to fees and charges. If you’re unsure at any point if your funds will be available, then opt for a long settlement. That will give you flexibility to sort out the funds.

Most people who have bought a property at some point will be aware that settlement can take anywhere from 30 – 90 days. Use this time wisely to sign and prepare all documentation related so that you can take ownership of your new purchase on settlement date.