Demand still high for niche properties
FIND YOUR DREAM HOME IN SATURDAY’S REAL ESTATE LIFTOUT
THE Top End’s premier real estate market is still going strong with little impact from the coronavirus pandemic.
First National O’Donoghues residential sales agent Tim Mackenzie said the pandemic restrictions suited the high-end, niche market, which already focused on private inspections, but was also driving more serious buyers to make inquiries.
“From a point that Saturday is traditionally the day for real estate, that has changed considerably since the auctions and the open houses have been banned for the time being,” he said.
“What we’re finding is that people are back picking up the phone because they’d use to come along to the open. They’d read it in the paper or see it online, and say that’s open at 10am, I’ll go at 10am. Now they’re ringing to say ‘hey we want to have a look at this place, how do we get in’?”
In recent weeks he sold 7 Notley Pl, Parap for $1.07 million and this week put 55
Ruddick Cct, Stuart Park on the market, which has already attracted buyer attention.
“There’s not a great deal of choice for those buyers that want something less than 10 years old in one of the central areas like Stuart Park and Fannie Bay,” he said.
“There’s certainly always good inquiry level on good houses. If they’re older ones, if they’ve been renovated and they’re up to scratch then we’re certainly getting good inquiry on them.
“We certainly haven’t seen a big drop-off in inquiry but there’s certainly less stock out there as well so obviously that’s giving us a bit of supply and demand.”
Mr Mackenzie said despite border closures, interstate buyers were still keen to purchase in the Territory, with his listing attracting two interstate inquiries and one local.
“We’re getting interstate inquiries but the work’s on the ground at the moment,” he said.
“Because of the border shutdown and all that, we’re really dealing with the buyers local at the moment, but still getting interstate inquiries who are ready to go.
“I believe once everything settles down – and they can travel – they will visit again.”
Mr Mackenzie urged Territorians to explore the property market.
“We’re mainly dealing with the locals who are here in the Territory now so it’s a good time to buy for them because they don’t have the interstate competition, so if they’re ready to buy, it’s a good time to buy,” he said.