Southerners eye property prize

SOUTHERNERS’ appetite for Gold Coast property continues to prove insatiable in 2022, with the country’s biggest auction – the Event – attracting waves of interest from interstate.

Andrew Bell, chief executive of Ray White Surfers Group, which holds The Event each year, said a desire to make a sea or tree-change, which came about at the onset of Covid, was still driving strong inquiry from Melburnians and Sydneysiders.

“It’s not difficult to understand. Those states have endured long lockdowns and economic losses. This, combined with the changing way in which people can work, has led them to re-evaluate what they want their life to look like,” Mr Bell said.

“The Gold Coast has long represented the dream life for many people, and they are now seeing that they can make that dream a reality.”

Mr Bell said the Gold Coast was also still viewed as good value for money by interstate buyers.

“Their dollar will certainly go further on the Gold Coast,” he said.

With more than 140 properties going under the hammer on Sunday in what is believed to be the biggest auction event in the southern hemisphere, diversity has been the key to attracting buyers to The Event this year.

“From young couples looking for their first home, to families looking for more room, to downsizers and retirees looking for a sea change, we have received interest from a huge cross section of buyers,” Mr Bell said.

“There has in particular been much interest in suburbs such as Surfers Paradise and Southport, but also acreage areas such as Gilston and Canungra, where you can own a lovely farm-like property, and still be only 30 minutes from the beach,” he said.

“Coomera too, is generating a lot of interest for families looking for more space, while still being close to everything.”

January has always been the most significant month of the year for the Gold Coast property market, with realestate.com.au reporting that the average monthly number of people searching for property in QLD increases by over 300,000 during the month.

Since Covid-19, that interest has supercharged, with the number increasing 173 per cent compared to the same time two years ago.

Interest in The Event, specifically, has been high, which Mr Bell puts down to the convenience of having so many properties available in the one location.

“The beauty of an auction is it tends to weed out unrealistic sellers, or those who are just testing the market,” he said.

He said auctions in general, and The Event in particular, gave buyers a good deal and a “fair go”.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of frustration from buyers recently with the non-auction process,” Mr Bell said.

“They feel like it all happens behind the scenes before they even get a chance, and they don’t feel like it’s a fair market or an even playing field.”

THE EVENT WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY AT THE RACV ROYAL PINES RESORT FROM 10AM. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO VIEW THE PROPERTIES ON OFFER, VISIT THEAUCTIONEVENT.COM.AU