BARGAINS GALORE
WHAT does a beachside house near Townsville, a “twofor-one” deal in Mount Isa, a luxury home on Hamilton Island and an apartment in an award-winning resort in Port Douglas have in common?
Each one is among Queensland’s top 10 longest-listed properties of 2020.
The data gurus from realestate.com.au crunched the numbers to reveal which properties have been on the market the longest this year, and it is a diverse mix – from outback retreats and acreage properties to luxury homes and even a two-for-the-price of one deal.
REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the regional domination of the list was not surprising.
But she said that with borders now open and the market picking up, some of the listed properties could soon see an uptick in interest, especially now that interstate hard lockdowns were over and buyers could now visit Queensland.
“Some of those markets are already strong,” she said.
“For longer listings, it might be worth buyers reaching out, but sellers may also be holding off for a better offer, given the pandemic.
“We are already seeing very high interest in Queensland.”
Raine & Horne agent David Cotton is selling an apartment in an award-winning resort in the luxury tourism mecca of Port Douglas.
He said he had received some interest in the property, but the closed borders had made selling a tough ask. “We are a tourism town and the biggest hurdle has been the lack of tourist numbers,” he said.
On Hamilton Island, in the spectacular celebrity haven of the Whitsundays, there are two jawdropping houses still on the market.
Hamilton Island Real Estate agent Lynn Milsom is marketing Uisce, a stunning designer home with 270-degree views. It was listed in
January, before the pandemic. “The travel restrictions have been the biggest issue,” she said. “Most of our buyers are from Victoria and NSW.”
Ms Milsom said that during the border closures they saw interest from a “different demographic”, namely Queenslanders holidaying at home.
She said that since the border announcement, she had already fielded calls from buyers looking to fly up in December and January to view property. “It is a mix (of buyers),” she said. “Queenslanders who hadn’t travelled to Hamilton Island before and fell in love with the island, and buyers looking for a holiday home to replace international travel.”
Closer to Townsville, there is a three-bedroom house just a short stroll to Balgal Beach that remains on the market.
It is listed with Page & Pearce for just $239,000 – an almost unheard of price tag for a property close to the water. And out west, Vivid Realty agent Leesa Fanti is marketing the Mount Isa “two-for-one” property, which is for sale for $380,000 negotiable – significantly less than the median house sales price in the major capitals.
“Not only does it have the three-bedroom home but there’s a separate two-bedroom unit at the rear of the property,” the listing says.
“Investors also take note,
there is an enticing return to be had.”
Ms Fanti said that while the property had been slow to move, she had some new interest last week.
She said those buyers were looking for a property that would provide enough room to move in their grandparents.
“That would be ideal but you could also live in one and rent the other,” she said. “The rental market is very tight in Mount Isa.”