The Weekend Post - Real Estate
MARKET FOR DREAM HOMES SURGING AHEAD
Amid all the disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic, Cairns real estate agents are staying on their feet and still fielding plenty of interest from property buyers close to home as well as further afield
DEEP-POCKETED buyers are making moves in the region’s high-end housing market despite concerns about the widespread impact of the coronavirus on the real estate industry.
Cairns Property Office Redlynch sales executive Oliver Voss sold a 975sq m luxury Whitfield home “for close to asking price” this month, after selling a Redlynch masterpiece for a cool $1.3 million – the highest sale price for the suburb since 2016 – in March.
“There was a property that sold for
$1.5 million in 2016, so this is the record price for the last four years,” he said. “We started advertising in December and we had an offer, but the offer crashed, so I put it back on the market and we got more people interested.
“We had interest nationally and from overseas – I had phone calls from Hong Kong, from Canada, from expats wanting to come back who were looking at properties, plus a lot of inquiries from Sydney.”
He said while the Cairns market was not immune to the widespread effects of the global COVID-19 outbreak, the recent positive results provided an assurance that there were still buyers out there.
“We are experiencing challenges, but there are still buyers around and interest rates are still strong,” he said.
“The phones are still ringing, people are still putting their properties on the market, and people are still wanting to have a look, and by just being smart about it, we’re still chugging along.
“It’s not as strong as it was before, but we’re still moving.”
The experienced agent predominantly deals in high-end properties in the Redlynch area, but said he was also getting interest on other listings.
“I’ve got properties at Trinity Beach and as far away as Innisfail and Atherton, and I’m still getting inquiries on them,” he said.
“The vendors are happy there’s still a bit of movement and it’s comforting for us that I still have a job and that I’m still able to facilitate our vendors’ property and hopefully get them a sale.
“Even with the last few that I’ve got away, people would have thought it’s not going to happen, and with the interest that I’m getting on
some of my properties, I’m confident I’ll have them sold fairly soon as well.”
Voss said maintaining a positive outlook in the face of adversity was half the battle for real estate agents in these trying times.
“That is part of why we’re still managing to get good prices,” he said.
“Because we’re just not going to succumb to the negativity talk surrounding COVID-19.
“Anyone can turn around and say ‘things are getting worse, let’s drop the price’, but we need to stay firm, be professional and keep our own – and it’s working.
“Despite all the doom and gloom, in a place like Cairns, we still manage to hold our own.
“With the GFC, things flatlined a bit and some suburbs did go backwards in terms of median house price, but we still seem to be holding our own and getting good prices from properties at the moment.”
Voss said smaller agencies that lacked experience would be at a greater risk as the coronavirus took it toll on the industry moving forward.
“I think a lot of the younger agents are going to find it difficult, but we’ve kind of been through it before,” he said. “We have faith in what we do and in the Cairns market and we just need to ensure that we keep our heads up.”
Offers over $500,000
@realty, Ben August, 0415 807 546 This private retreat in the heart of the tropical rainforest is grand and proud, yet assimilated with the environment.
Timber floorboards create a golden effect throughout the house, while an expansive kitchen provides room to cook with ease.
Offers over $499,000
Elite Real Estate Services, Shira David Stern, 0428 807 757
Located in a rare position in Smithfield with easy access to shops and the CBD, this property has a certain “acreage feel” without the maintenance that usually goes along with it.
This home is being offered to the market for the first time and has been lovingly maintained by the original owners. $499,000
Cairns Property Office Redlynch, Peter Hanrahan, 0439 320 961
Only 700m to the beach, this well laid-out fourbedroom property ticks all the boxes for the discerning first homebuyer, large or extended family or switched-on investor wanting a great buy close to Bluewater Marina, schools and the shops.
Offers above $500,000
RE/MAX Cairns, Margrit Allen, 0412 508 680
Situated in an elevated location in the soughtafter leafy suburb of Freshwater, this hidden gem offers complete privacy and tranquillity with mountain and treetop panoramic views.
This character home features three bedrooms plus office/studio, two bathrooms and an openplan design with high ceilings. $539,000
RE/MAX Cairns, Mat Foley, 0410 735 854 This renovated and solidly built three-bedroom stunner is well elevated on a quiet street in Whitfield and features spacious open-plan living and dining areas, a central kitchen with plenty of countertop space and storage options, as well as a private rear timber deck and in-ground swimming pool.