Burnie Property Outlook 2012

January 15, 2012 1 Comment

The Burnie property market will be bolstered by renewed interest in 2012, as home buyers stop marking time, after waiting through 2011 for prime buying conditions to arrive.

In the last six months, the market has been falling due to a lack of confidence in the economy and with state government policies, but this is expected to steady in 2012.

With current economic uncertainty, state budget cuts and rising unemployment dampening confidence, house sales and new housing construction will remain slow, with prices generally remaining flat.

It is expected that extended selling periods will be seen and that values will remain under pressure until the region’s economic prospects improve.

The key challenges facing the region’s property market in 2012 will be ongoing low consumer confidence due to State Government budget cuts to health, education and police.  Stamp duty concessions for first homebuyers ceased in the middle of 2011 and this will continue to impact on first homebuyers entering the market, as they will need to save a larger deposit.

The government also announced in the budget, that spikes in property land taxes will be smoothed out with a reduction in the valuation cycle from 6 years to 3 years.  Cost of living increases, such as rising water/sewerage charges and electricity prices, will continue to negate any gains made from high affordability levels.

Market Conditions

Buyer confidence will improve in 2012 on the back of decreasing sentiment in the last half of 2011.  Confidence has been at the mercy of local market conditions and into 2012, interest rates will be more of a key influencing factor.

Residential Market

Property Prices

Property prices in Burnie are expected to remain relatively flat across all sectors although there is potential for some upward movement of below 1 per cent, depending on what happens with interest rates.

A large choice of available properties for purchase in the local Burnie area will continue to ease pressure on prices.

Land prices may be sensitive to any decline in building approvals and an oversupply of land in some areas.

Rental Market

2012 could see an easing in rental vacancies, of up to 1 per cent, and moderating rental growth.

Rental markets in areas where job losses are being experienced may experience further easing of rental prices and some price drops in weekly rents will be due to people leaving areas in search of employment. This could lead to an oversupply of rental properties.

So, weekly rental prices will remain relatively flat in those regions, with the potential of some decreases of up to 1 per cent. 

Growth

Any increases in investor activity are expected to be up to 5 per cent in the main, as economic uncertainty continues to play a role in investment behaviour and purchase decisions.  Any potential increases will only be if investors are able to purchase positively geared properties.

The upgrader segment is expected to produce the strongest growth in 2012, as buyers seize the opportunity to capitalise on greater affordability and the possibility of lower interest rates, which are expected to further decrease by between 0.5 and 0.75 per cent.

While interest rate cuts may increase activity slightly in Burnie, the real benefit will be any relief it provides to home owners who are facing large increases in their day-to-day living expenses.

Changing Market Conditions

The introduction of the carbon tax is expected to further reduce confidence in the state economy and the government that runs it.

Commercial Property Market

Tasmania is currently outperforming all other major office markets and it will continue to set the pace until at least the first half of 2012.

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Seven Habits of Highly Effective Home Buyers

January 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

If you find the prospect of buying your first property a little intimidating, don’t worry. Doing some basic research is easier than most people think. It increases your confidence and reduces the chance of making a mistake.

Buying a home is about the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever have to make. However, it’s also going to be an exciting turning point – one that will almost certainly make the most impact on your lifestyle. For many it will be something never done before. Selecting the right home in the right area, organising finance and negotiating the sale – it all sounds a little daunting. Yet it isn’t as complicated as you may think! Turning the home of your dreams into a reality is easier if you’re prepared.

Why seven habits of effective home buyers? Because over the years we’ve seen some traits (habits) the our successful buyers share. What is a “successful buyer”? Let’s just define it as someone who finds the home they want, and gets through the often home buying process without killing themselves, a loved one, the seller, or their real estate agent.

Effective Habit #1: Get pre-approved for a loan

Don’t miss out on a ‘hot’ property, do everything you can to be able to push the ‘GO’ button. It is wise to seek “approval in principle” from your Lender, meaning the Lender has given you approval to borrow up to a certain figure.  This step will save you the grief of looking at homes you can’t afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right one.

Buying a home is not a task undertaken everyday. It’s important to understand the process of real estate, what you can comfortably afford and the type of loan product best suited to

Choosing the right home loan from the many products available can be daunting. It’s important to understand all the alternatives before making your choice.

It is crucial to work with a good lender throughout the home buying process. Talking to several brokers as well as a finance adviser will definitely help you sort the wheat from the chaff. There are two options available to you when organising finance. You can apply directly to a finance institution or you can use a mortgage broker to help you through the process.

A lending institution will apply a “Qualifying Ratio” which is the percentage of a home buyer’s gross income that can be prudently allocated for debt, based on personal income.

As a general guide, lenders limit the total sum of monthly mortgage principal, interest, tax and insurance payments to 28 per cent of the borrower’s gross monthly income. Furthermore, they may limit the total of all long-term debt payments to 36 per cent of the borrower’s gross monthly income.

Effective Habit #2: Define your must haves, like to haves, and cannot haves

Shopping for a property should be an exciting adventure. If you have a clear picture of what you want and how much you can afford, it can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Face it — when working within a budget, sometimes you have to make some compromises. Knowing what you really need can help narrow your home options and also make decisions easier when it comes to making an offer.

The first step is to decide what kind of home will suit your tastes, your lifestyle and your budget. Start an all-family member housing priority discussion before beginning to look at your options. Determine what you MUST have in a home. Then determine what you would LIKE to have in a home. Talk to your agent about these things. Don’t forget to include what you CAN’T have in a home — that will often be more important than anything else.

Aside from basics such as the suburb, number of bedrooms and price range, there are other important things to consider, depending on your circumstances. Take your time and consider things like proximity to schools, transport and amenities, and the condition of the property. Does it need major repairs?

Don’t know exactly what you must/like/can’t have in a home? That’s OK, it happens ALL the time. Your agent can help you by showing you different homes in your price range with different features to help you get a better understanding of what you’d like in a home.

But at some point you are going to have to make decisions and not wander aimlessly through every home that may possibly fit some undefined set of criteria. That would be a waste of your time, the time of your agent, the home sellers, and everyone else that is involved in a real estate transaction.

Effective Habit #3: Be realistic

Naturally everyone wants to get the most home they can for the least amount of money. Which is, of course, in opposition to the home seller, who wants the most money for their home.

Think about what your expectations are, and work with your agent to see if they are realistic. There’s no point looking for a mansion if you can only afford a cottage. You’re not going to get everything a $300K+ home has to offer for say $160K – it just doesn’t work that way. Once you’ve set your price range, identify the suburbs that have properties in that range – it will save you a lot of legwork. Work closely with your agent, ask them for recent sale prices of similar properties in the area, build that trust and get out there and find that perfect home!

Being realistic also applies to things besides the home itself. Buying a home in a low price bracket and expecting no repairs or maintenance? Good luck with that. Buying a home and thinking if the building inspector finds anything wrong with it (other than major structural problems), I’m not buying the house? Well you might as well stop right now because I can assure your there aren’t any homes where the building inspector finds nothing to report.

Don’t wait for the perfect market conditions – they will never appear and you’ll miss out on significant capital growth. Just be realistic. It will greatly reduce your stress levels.

Effective Habit #4: Be flexible

As a home buyer, it is important to be flexible. Unless you are having a home built to your exact specifications, it’s very unlikely that you will find the absolutely perfect home for you. Maybe you find a home that has everything except the perfect kind of flooring, colours, kitchen, whatever. If you have some flexibility built into your must haves and likes, you will find the entire process much less painful.

Don’t be tempted to make a very low offer in an attempt to grab a bargain as others may also be making offers and you could miss out. If you really want the property make sure your offer is realistic. The more attractive you can make your offer in terms of price and conditions, the more likely your offer will be accepted.

Effective Habit #5: Understand the home buying process

You don’t need to understand every step of the home buying process — that is your agent’s job. But the more you do understand, the less stressful and mystifying the process will be. Buying a home is a stressful event. Anything you can do to reduce that stress will go a long way not just toward saving your sanity but in helping ensure the transaction moves to settlement.

So, you have found a place you’d love to call home? Once you’ve considered other comparable nearby properties, take a deep breath and make an offer – IN WRITING!

There are two ways to do this:

Unconditional offer:

An unconditional offer is when you offer an amount to buy the house as listed (with or without drapes, fixtures, etc.) without adding or negotiating any other conditions.

Conditional offer:

A conditional offer is when you offer to buy the property only if certain conditions are accepted by the vendor. These must be listed on the Contract of Sale. For example, your offer may be conditional on arranging finance. If finance cannot be arranged within a certain period of time, the offer becomes void. For your own protection, you should nominate a specific lender as your source of finance. Leaving out a nominated lender or having open-ended finance conditions on your Contract of Sale may force you to take up finance at substantially higher rates, perhaps shorter terms, and from a lender you would not prefer to deal with. Another condition might be an extension of the settlement period. If the seller does not accept the conditions, further negotiation may take place or the offer may simply be declined.

Also be aware that if making an offer, never assume that your agent or the property owner will come back and forth to you – and you should take the approach that your first offer may be the only opportunity you get to obtain the property. A willing seller may not wish to wait around and may accept a reasonable offer from another buyer.

Do not be afraid to ask your agent questions. Lots of questions. Be advised that everyone in the process tends to toss about terms and jargon that only those dealing with real estate on a daily basis understand. Sometimes we forget we’re speaking in a different language. Don’t be shy. If there’s a term you don’t understand, ask.

Effective Habit #6: Be responsible

When you are looking at potential homes, be responsible and respectful that you are in someone else’s home. It’s OK to look in their cupboards, to flick light switches, to turn on the stove. But be responsible and leave the home in exactly the same condition you found it in.

Much of this habit really boils down to two things: 1) use common sense; and 2) treat others how you expect to be treated.

As a home buyer, you are going to have to work with a lot of different people in order to make sure your transaction progresses and ultimately settle.  Once an offer has been negotiated you’ll pay the deposit to the real estate agent who places it in a trust account. This is also the time when you should

  • Organise your solicitor/conveyancer
  • Arrange the balance of the purchase price—that is finalise the finance and sign the mortgage documents.
  • Organise any inspections
  • Insure the property

Effective Habit #7: Have fun!

We already mentioned that buying a home is a big step – both financially and emotionally. Take a look around at lists of “life’s most stressful events” and you’ll see things like taking on new debt, financial change, moving — that’s buying a house. You are about to enter into one of the single largest financial transactions of your life. Stress is a given.

But buying a home is also an exciting time! There isn’t a law that requires you to mope around, dreading every moment. There’s nothing wrong with having fun during the process. Hopefully you are working with an agent that you enjoy working with. That doesn’t mean you all need to participate in group hugs or go camping together. But it’s OK to laugh, to enjoy yourself, to have a little fun in the process.

The Bottom Line

Buying a home doesn’t have to be torture. If you understand the process, work with the right people and try to have a little fun along the way there is no question that you can find a great home and get to move into your new home. Think about the habits shown here, do a little online research, have open dialogs with your agent and lender and you too can make it through a home purchase.

Preparation is the key. Understand your rights and have everything in place. And no, applying seven habits, or even one hundred habits is going to ensure you have a successful home buying experience. Nothing can guarantee that. But you can certainly increase the likelihood of a less stressful and successful transaction by applying some of the habits listed here along with advice from your solicitor/conveyance and your agent.

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Seven Habits of Highly Effective Home Sellers

January 8, 2012 Leave a Comment

Your property will possibly be the most valuable asset you will ever sell so it’s important to heed professional advice in order to maximise its sale price.

Selling your property is not a task undertaken everyday. When you’re selling, it’s important to be fully informed and plan each step carefully.

There is something to be learned from how home sellers have approached the often complex task of putting their home on the market, and more importantly, closing the deal.

Effective Habit #1: Be Realistic

Property is one of those rate things with no recommended retail price. What your neighbour sold their home for last year, or even last month, doesn’t matter. What you “lost” because you didn’t sell your home at the peak of the market doesn’t matter. The enemy is any other property for sale within your area and price range.

Selling a home ranks WAY up the list of “life’s most stressful moments”. But you have to understand and be realistic about your home’s value, your neighbourhood, and the real estate market you’re in. There are many factors that impact the potential sale of your home. You do not have control over current market dynamics (economy, interest rates, outlook, consumer sentiment, employment, wages) or local supply versus demand. But there are things you can control (presentation, cleanliness, street appeal, availability). Address what you can control, and understand the impact of what you can’t. Realistically.

Effective Habit #2: Be Open to Suggestions

You’ve selected a real estate agent to help you, trust their advice. After all, you wouldn’t visit a doctor and then tell them how you should be treated. Your real estate agent will be able to add real value to the process and is an essential component in selling for more. Sure, you may not be able to do everything they suggest, but at least listen and consider suggestions your agent may have for the best way to present, market and sell your home.

Effective Habit #3: Be Available

YOU don’t necessarily have to be available to buyers interested in your home, but you do need to be flexible with inspection times. In fact, you should avoid staying inside the house while a buyer inspections. Buyer’s sometimes feel they cannot openly discuss concerns with your agent in your presence. Golden opportunities may there be lost. Should it be necessary for you to remain at home, be courteous but don’t force conversation with a potential buyer. The buyer wants to inspect your home – not pay a social call. However, should you be asked questions about the home, the neighbours or the area answer them.

At times you need to be able to vacate the premises with reasonable notice – and occasionally with unreasonable notice. Your home can not be sold if potential buyers can’t view it. “No inspections on weekends” or “Inspections only between 11:00am and 1:00pm on Thursdays and Fridays” won’t cut it.

Effective Habit #4: Be Smart

Understand the local real estate market. Understand the home selling process. Understand the buyers’ cycle (you may not be buying, but you want to understand what your potential buyers are dealing with).

Why understand all this? KNOWELDGE IS POWER!

How do you understand all this? Let your agent help you understand it. That’s what you’re paying them for.

Effective Habit #5: Invest in a Marketing Campaign

Choosing a marketing plan that ensures your home is exposed to the maximum number of buyers is critical to achieving the best price.

YOU CAN’T SELL A SECRET! This is a well-known saying in the real estate industry. In other words, a property may be immaculate, fresh and supremely interesting but if you don’t tell ‘the world’ you will struggle to sell for more.

Let’s now look at an effective marketing campaign.

  1. It attracts buyers with increased chance of attracting offers, resulting in a great sale!
  2. It encourages competition between buyers resulting in top prices being paid!
  3. It is an insurance policy against underselling. Every suitable buyer in the market will see the advertising and will make the decision whether or not to inspect further. Those buyers who do view and want to the property will vie for the chance to buy!

Think about it…would you like the first buyer or the best buyer.

Effective Habit #6: Balance Emotion with Logic

Selling your home and all the things involved with the transaction can be very exciting, but many times it is an extremely stressful event.

Home sellers not only have to worry about their home remaining clean and available to buyers on a daily basis but they often have other important things that they could be doing to ready themselves for their move. It is also true that most Sellers have a tremendous amount of pride in their home and want to make certain that the marketing and eventual sale price are reflective of that pride.

The moment you list your home for sale, it just becomes a house on a shelf – 1 of many. You may not like what the market tells you but it will never lie to you. If you don’t have inspections you will very likely not receive any offers. If you have inspections and still don’t get any offers you must be prepared to adjust the price. Don’t take it personally.

The best homes remain unsold due to price!

Effective Habit #7: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

This is YOUR home you are trying to sell. You need to be comfortable with what is going on. If there is anything you don’t understand, ask your Real Estate Agent for clarification. Don’t be embarrassed about things you don’t know. You don’t sell a home every day. Most real estate terms and jargon aren’t important to you 99.9% of the time. But they are important now, and often agents tend to forget we frequently speak in a foreign language. There are no stupid questions. Ask.

The Bottom Line

These “seven habits” can help you through the home selling process. There is every chance your efforts will be rewarded with more buyers and the potential for buyers competing for your home, a faster sale and a better price. You will also be able to take comfort in the knowledge that you did your absolute best to influence the value of your home and your stress levels may be greatly reduced.  It may also greatly reduce the stress levels of your real estate agent as well. That’s not a bad thing. People don’t like stress so anything that can be done to alleviate a stressful situation is a good thing.

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Top End Challenging

December 21, 2011 Leave a Comment

Buyers are cautious & certainly price-sensitive

Times are good for buyers at the top end.

This is where prices have fallen further and faster than the wider market. However, owners with high price expectations are reducing their expectations significantly in order to make a sale and move on.

Instead of traditional high exposure marketing campaigns, a trend towards properties being listed quietly has recently emerged in capital city markets.

Owners fearing that a ‘no sale’ campaign might injure their chances of achieving the dream price have been reluctant to promote widely. However, despite weak auction clearance rates, properties in the upper ranges are still selling strongly post-auction, their marketing ultimately having generated the necessary enquiry.

While buyers are cautious and certainly price-sensitive, it’s tough selling a secret and statistics show that properties marketed by auction continue to achieve a sale in fewer days on the market.

With interest rates falling and the outlook positive, activity levels are anticipated to improve in 2012, although the very high prices of the past are unlikely to return quickly.

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Safe Decisions Can Make the Most of Your Holiday

December 16, 2011 Leave a Comment

Stay safe this holiday season

People heading off on holidays should make sure homes are left safe and secure and to think carefully, if considering a holiday home purchase.

Holidays are great times for criminals to get to work if they believe a home is empty and it’s also a time when vacationers ponder their existence as they sit back and enjoy the relaxing lifestyle on offer in popular holiday spots.

But careful planning and forward thinking is required during the holidays to ensure they make the right decisions.

Anyone considering heading off for a well-deserved rest should start now to put some simple, cost effective measures in place for while they are away such as turning on security lights or alarm systems, asking the assistance of a trusted friend, neighbour or family member to collect the mail each day, putting out bins at collection times, parking a car in the driveway or adjusting curtains and blinds for that lived in look that deters unfriendly and unwelcome visitors.

A common trend for people on vacation is to fall in love with the holiday spot and look at purchasing in the area to either move into, or retire to, at some later stage in their lives.

But, purchasing a holiday home should only be done after careful planning and consideration of all the factors, beyond the pleasant experience.

Financial considerations need to be taken into account as they have potential long-term impacts and tax implications such as attracting capital gains tax on the difference between the purchase price and the later sale price, should the decision to sell ever arise.

Holiday home owners need to expand their purchase cost base by adding the expenses involved with holding the property, including council rates and water bills, major extensions or repairs, strata levies, garden maintenance and interest on mortgage repayments to reduce the taxable component of the sale, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

A holiday home can also double as an investment property, given it is vacant for most of the year, so it is important to ensure it is close to transport or employment opportunities, especially if it is in regional areas, otherwise it will be less desirable as an accommodation option for renters.

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Every Reason for Christmas Cheer

December 15, 2011 Leave a Comment

We really are the land of opportunity

Although 2011 was a year in which Australians felt considerable gloom and uncertainty about the future, we really do have much to be grateful for.

While interest rate movements, property price statistics and auction clearance rates are reported in excruciating detail, then analysed in depth by the 24 hour media cycle, home owners have much to be satisfied with when it comes to their property holdings and their performance.

Credit Suisse’s Global Wealth Report recently ranked Australians as the wealthiest people in the world. The reason? Our average wealth now rests at $403,000 and our median at $225,000.

The median measure tells us how the middle class is travelling, and, as we have comparatively high levels of home ownership on the world stage, our wealth distribution is relatively equitable.

In the United States, by comparison, median wealth is only $53,000.

Coincidentally, the median wealth of an Australian rental household is pretty close to that of the US – $55,265.

So, the encouragement is certainly there to buy and pay off your own home.

Australians who own their home outright are worth an average $737,394 and there have never been more government incentives and bonuses to help you buy your first.

Plus, with historically low interest rates and enviably low unemployment rates, we really are the land of opportunity. It puts all our worry about small movements in interest rates and slight reductions in house prices in perspective doesn’t it?

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Have You Unlocked Your Investment’s Hidden Cash ?

December 12, 2011 1 Comment

Claiming depreciation tax benefits can assist your cash flow

You’ve worked hard to buy an investment property but have you made sure that you’re maximising the cash flow your property is producing?

The more efficiently you manage your portfolio, the sooner you’ll be buying your next investment.

Did you know that any property built after 18 July 1985 is eligible for depreciation benefits on its historic construction costs?

No matter whether your investment is new or old, it will have depreciable assets that can be claimed such as air-conditioners, whitegoods, floor and window treatments, renovations and furniture, just to mention a few items.

80% of Australian investors do not claim these legitimate taxation benefits which is a bit like not claiming the weekly rent from your investment property.  This can equate to thousands of dollars in unclaimed benefits each year.

Claiming depreciation tax benefits can assist your cash flow to pay off your principal place of residence, increase equity in your property portfolio, and increase your cash flow or take home pay.

The Australian Tax Office allows you to amend your previous four taxation returns to claim depreciation benefits so if you have been missing out, it’s not too late to do something about it.

The fee for a Depreciation Schedule is fully tax deductible and your First National property manager can point you towards an expert Tax Depreciation specialist.

What are you waiting for?

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Welcome Kim Button to the Sale Team

December 9, 2011 Leave a Comment

Kim Button

Resilient and empathetic, with great enthusiasm, Kim has a natural affinity for people. Kim’s strong sales background over the years has enabled her to build strong relationships with many local residents. But beyond her professional skills, its Kim’s personal qualities that make a big impression.

Kim is ambitious; results orientated and prides herself on exceeding client expectations. Possessing excellent follow through skills with a straightforward, professional and personalised approach ensures that she is the sort of property consultant you want to have in your corner when selling or buying a home.

Excited by the marketing power, extensive database of buyers and services First National Burnie enables her to offer, Kim is committed to exceeding clients’ expectations and setting new benchmarks.

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Confidence At Six Month High

December 7, 2011 Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas & have a safe holiday

As the property market moves toward its summer hiatus, First National would like to wish you a happy and safe holiday as well as a Merry Christmas.

With the housing market correction having slowed in September and interest rates fallen, Australian confidence has risen to a six-month high.

Capital city dwelling values have fallen just 0.2%, the smallest decline since February, and economists are tipping rates could fall further yet.

So what’s next for 2012?

We’re working on our 2012 Property Market Outlook right now, so ask us for a copy in January and we’ll give you the views of over 450 agents Australia-wide.

Swim between the flags!

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Renting Versus Buying – The Housing Dilemma

December 6, 2011 Leave a Comment

Is now the right time to rent or buy?
Is now the right time to rent or buy?

Current market conditions coupled with increasing housing affordability, has many renters questioning if now is the time to stretch their budgets and commit to buying their own home.

But serious consideration needs to be given to the person’s individual and financial situation to ensure they make the right decision.

The advantages of each housing option should be weighed against the drawbacks to find the one that best suits specific needs and individual situations.

Renting offers great flexibility with the option to relocate from home to home and area to area, as the need arises, is often a cheaper alternative to buying, with monthly rental payments usually less than a mortgage repayment for a comparable property and without the other incidental costs which can be incurred as a home owner.

One of the greatest financial and stress-free advantages of renting is that property maintenance costs, repairs, rates and insurance bills are the responsibility of the owner, and not the renter.

Despite these many advantages of renting a property, there are some disadvantages which will make buying preferable, particularly in light of escalating monthly rentals.  The most obvious one being the difficulty renters face placing their own personal stamp on a rental property.

There is also the fact landlords can inspect their property whenever they wish, with sufficient notice, potentially disturbing the renter’s privacy.

But the biggest disadvantage of renting is that the property can never be paid off by the tenant, making the money lost for good, without any chance of recovering it in a sale of the property.

This is where First National can really help.  We offer advice and assistance based on the necessary knowledge, experience and skills to understand the market, its trends and its weaknesses and opportunities to ensure home buyers and renters make the most of their finances over the long term by considering the impact on personal net wealth and cash flow over a lifetime.

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