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Queensland A 'Strong Bet' For Investors?

Queensland is likely to be the top destination for investors this year, as Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast record solid demand, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).Antonia Mercorella, CEO of the REIQ, said Queensland's property market was able to remain "extremely stable" over the past year. In fact, prices in the state have increased by 6.1% over the final three months of...
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What stays and what goes when you buy a property?

You’ve just made an offer on your next investment property and it’s been accepted. That’s great news, but what actually comes with the property when you settle? Is it everything that you saw when you inspected the property?Clearly not – some of the items in the property belonged to the vendor.You didn’t really expect to get that big plasma TV thrown in, d...
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Why Banks Care Where You Eat (And How Often)

With ongoing regulatory changes impacting how lenders have assessed borrowers over the last few years, there’s been another issue bubbling away beneath the surface, which many people haven’t factored in: the impact on borrowers’ privacy.Paying by card has become the norm. Online shopping and hand-held apps that can get us places and serve us meals at the tap of a screen have t...
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Buderim tops the most searched suburbs by home buyers

The COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on property search activity in Australia early in 2020, but since then the health crisis has proven to be a major conduit for homebuyer demand. Director of economic research at realestate.com.au Cameron Kusher said a number of COVID-led conditions have spiked people’s interest in purchasing property over the past year.“Since lockdowns eased an...
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Sunshine Coast renaissance a boon for business

It has been hard to miss the news of the Covid-induced exodus of city-dwellers to Australia’s regions.What may be lesser known though, is that just an hour’s drive north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast has been an emerging economic powerhouse for years.As a result of the exodus the region is now firmly in the spotlight as a destination for businesses to establish, relocate or expand...
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What does a bank valuer look for?

Property stakeholders often feel a little nervous about a bank valuer visiting.Valuers show up, poke around and then send a verdict to the lender about whether the price paid, or estimate made, ‘stacks up to market’. It can feel like there’s bad news pending, particularly in a softer property price cycle – but the discomfort is mostly fuelled by a fear of the unkno...
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Considering a granny flat or duplex on your Sunshine Coast property?

Looking for information on building an additional residence on your property? What is a secondary dwelling? Under the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014, a “secondary dwelling” is included in the use definition of a dwelling house, and is defined in the planning scheme as: “A dwelling used in conjunction with, and subordinate to, a dwelling house on the same lot. A seco...
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New Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme

On 28 January 2021, Council resolved to prepare a new planning scheme for the Sunshine Coast[140KB].A planning scheme is a legal document that is used to shape future land use and development within a local government area. The planning scheme applies to the whole of the Sunshine Coast local government area, except designated priority development areas (PDAs), such as Caloundra South (Aura...
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House prices in Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast reach record heights: Domain House Price Report

An explosive year of growth has spurred property prices on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast to new record heights, with a wafer-thin slice of beachfront paradise now fetching millions.House prices surged in both cities in the December quarter, up 5.1 per cent on the Sunshine Coast and 4.4 per cent on the Gold Coast, the latest Domain House Price Report has revealed. Units rose 2.3 pe...
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Why the banks will be more willing to lend you money this year

There has been a significant fall in deferred loan repayments according to APRA, yet another sign of economic recovery which boosts the ability of banks to extend lending.Last year many borrowers put their loan repayments in deep freeze because of the uncertainty fuelled by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.Our banks offered homeowners and small businesses loan payment ‘holiday...

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