October 2006 Newsletter

REAL ESTATE MARKET

Well apparently the last Gold Coast boom was in 2003, to us it seems like just last year and as you have heard, there has been very little sign of a downturn in prices. Most price ranges appear to be in a sustain mode with statistics even showing annual increases over the last two years.

At Gold Coast Homes our Fine Homes Division, which is anchored by Simon Short and Telly Karadimos, is producing some amazing prices around the $800,000 range. A very strong demand persists, providing excellent results in short periods of days on market. The buyers are mostly upgrading with a few senior sellers downgrading.

The general homes division is extremely busy with many market appraisals but not enough owners making the move to place their home on the market. There are many first home buyers in the market and an increasing number of investors. And why not; the Government is not providing rental accommodation as required, we are not building enough houses to meet the South East Queensland demand, and rents continue to increase due to the increasing demand. The region is Australia’s fastest growing, if this does not impact on you, please take a cheap flight to the Gold Coast and see for yourself. BUY NOW!

RENTAL MARKET

Well, the seasonal downturn of Winter came and went so fast. The demand is very strong and we are very short of mainstream rental properties already. This effect is normally not felt until December-January. The migration from the South still continues but I should also mention the increasing demand from tertiary education students as well as overseas students.

Please come and buy some more investment properties, we can guarantee great tenants.

BABIES BOOMING

A great year for babies at Gold Coast Homes. First it was one of our lovely receptionists, Kate Rigg, who took maternity leave in December 2005 and now boasts two lovely children and sincerely enjoys being a Mum. Then came one of our star property consultants, Janelle Smith who started maternity leave in August and now boasts three lovely children. Janelle advises that she will be back at her desk working in partnership with Senior Property Consultant, Trevor Griesbach in another few months. Then as you will remember our daughter Amanda gave birth to our first grandchild this month, and Jack Robert is gaining weight and blossoming on a great diet. Father Todd Issel has taken two weeks leave from his family business and is obviously enjoying all facets of fatherhood and husband except the midnight ‘hallway baby pacifying’. Then of course our youngest daughter Penny is due to deliver us our second grandchild just after Christmas day. Although I’m having my money on Christmas day, husband Carl is not a betting man.

In the meantime, Debbie is settling into her role as Executive Property Manager and taking up the reigns of control in a manner which highlights her professionalism and skills learnt from fifteen years of Property Investment Management. We are very pleased to have Debbie at the helm with Penny.

EVERYDAY PHRASES AND THEIR ORIGINS

Bob’s Your Uncle is often used to describe something that is resolved in your favour without much effort, such as ‘Just send the form in and Bob’s your uncle’. The phrase was in regular use in Britain from the 1890s and comes from the promotion in 1886 of Arthur Balfour to Secretary State for Ireland. Balfour was a surprise choice for the position and few regarded him as qualified for the post. But when it became known he was the nephew of Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Third Marquis of Salisbury, the joke circulated that, if Robert was your uncle, a deed was as good as done.

SOURCE: RED HERRINGS & WHITE ELEPHANTS

ANIMALTASTIC

Why don’t spiders get caught in their own web? After all, such is a web’s strength that catching a fly in it is the equivalent of snaring a Concorde in a trawler net. The reason: they cover themselves in a greasy anti-silk film.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

Maintaining your property in peak condition has economic advantages.

Firstly a property kept in mint condition will obtain maximum return when eventually sold and secondly it will enhance prospects of using the equity to buy further property.

It’s worth the effort if, like most Australians, you buy and sell homes several times during your lifetime.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

We highlight some of the testimonials received from our very happy clients:

Having lived in Ashmore for 21 years, I have been to many Auctions and Open Homes. Your company has stood out with your professional approach. Mike Magurie was all of the above and a little bit more.

Thanks once again

Alvin Adams, Ashmore

Thank you to Ian Johnston for a quick and easy sale, we would also like to thank all the Property Management staff for their friendly and helpful manner at all times over the past five years.

Roger & Pauline Smith, Salisbury SA

Regards

Joe and Elizabeth Green