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Hello Clifton Waters Purchasers,

Well it’s been an exciting year @ mrd this year as we have seen many clients begin on their journey to wealth through property or add to their portfolio another “windmill” ready and in place for when the wind blows. For those of us that have staked our claim in Cairns, the winds have already begun to blow. This year has seen the median average growth for units and townhouses in Cairns increase by 16%, and as a result, prices for purchasing Clifton Views (across the road from Clifton Waters) were lifted by $20,000 in October… and the first bricks had only just hit the ground!

Read more…

Hello Clifton Views Purchasers,

Well it’s been an exciting year @ mrd this year as we have seen many clients begin on their journey to wealth through property or add to their portfolio another “windmill” ready and in place for when the wind blows. For those of us that have staked our claim in Cairns, the winds have already begun to blow. This year has seen the median average growth for units and townhouses in Cairns increase by 16%, and as a result, prices for purchasing Clifton Views were lifted by $20,000 in October… and the first bricks had only just hit the ground!

Read more…

Foreign buyers are spending more on residential property on the Gold Coast than anywhere else in Queensland, according to research conducted by Lynda Campbellof Colliers International.Compiled by Colliers’ Gold Coast office, the report indicates that of the $547.7 million spent in Queensland by foreigners in the last financial year, the Gold Coast represented $269.2 million, or 49% of the total. Brisbane City followed in second place, receiving $111.8 million,while Cairns replaced Noosa for third place.

Source: ITP – Matusik Report, www.apr.com.au, 17 December 2007

Cairns and Townsville are two of Queensland’s highest growth areas, according to an analysis of the 2006 Census which was released today by the state government.

Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said Queensland had continued to lead Australia, with unprecedented population growth, particularly in the South-East, regional cities and the resources corridor.

Brisbane, with 19,100 new people every year and the Gold Coast with 16,700, recorded the largest annual average growth of any local government area in the nation from 2001- 2006.

Source: The Courier Mail

FEARS of Australia suffering fallout from the US mortgage upheaval have not deterred investors from north Queensland’s residential market. Figures from the latest Midwood Queensland Investment Report show a record 693 houses were approved for construction in Cairns in the six months to June this year.

In the same period last year 456 houses were approved. Midwood report author Bill Morris said the growth rate of approvals in Cairns was now equal to that of the Gold Coast. “Cairns has been going along like a powerhouse for the past couple of years, particularly on the North Shore and around Palm Cove and also Yorkeys Knob and Clifton Beach,” Mr Morris said.

Source: Courier Mail

The Cairns property market has finally moved beyond it’s old boom and bust habits. The metropolitan area has a residential population of 130,000 plus around 14,000 Australian visitors and another 11,000 international tourists at any given time. Unemployment is just 2.6% and the median price of land grew 45% last year… “The market is now on a steady upward path”… “We just cannot put up housing fast enough to cater for the population growth”.

Source: Australian Financial Review

When Peter Beattie said last week that if Australia’s capital was chosen now Brisbane would be the winner, plenty of Sydneysiders probably sniggered.

After all, Sydney snobbery still leads us to think of Brisbane as just a big country town. But those who know something about property investing share the Queensland Premier’s enthusiasm.PRDnationwide Research says south-east Queensland’s population growth – about 55,000 new arrivals a year – has led to a shortage of houses in inner-city Brisbane that should see prices continue to rise.

“Since January 1 this year, house prices have risen about 10 per cent across the board,” says Kyle Woodbine, principal of Ray White Wynnum-Manly in the bayside suburb east of the city. “We are in a mini-boom.”
According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, the housing shortage is good news. “Investors are returning to the market because, with upward pressure on rent they have expectations of a better return compared to what was achievable in the past,” says the institute’s managing director, Dan Molloy.

Capital growth has been strong all along the Gold Coast, with several suburbs topping 10 per cent a year for the past five years and Beenleigh and Eagleby bettering 20 per cent.

But according to the institute, north Queensland had the strongest growth last year, due to a mining boom led by high international prices for resources. House prices at Mt Isa leapt 34.2 per cent, Rockhampton was up 32.6 per cent, Emerald rose 30 per cent, Mackay increased 19.4 per cent and Cairns 13.6 per cent.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Strong growth is leading to an under supply of homes in Queensland and reports suggest the problem is escalating. Queensland’s ‘dwelling stock deficiency’ – the number of units, villas, townhouses and homes needed to supply demand – is increasing, according to BIS Shrapnel’s recent report on industry prospects.

“We are in a position of under supply, and construction isn’t occurring despite the strong underlying demand.” says BIS Shrapnel’s Jason Anderson.

He also said “ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) data shows that Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich and Cairns were rated 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in Australia for population increase.” As net overseas and interstate migration continues to flow into Queensland supply problems can be expected to deteriorate.

Source: BIS Shrapnel report

MORE and more people are finding out what locals have always known – Cairns is a great place to live. Australian Bureau of Statistics research released yesterday reveals that in the 12 months from June 2005, the population increased 3.2 per cent from 128,666 to 132,765 people.

The city experienced the fourth largest growth in the state behind Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich.

“Cairns is a desirable place to live,” Mayor Kevin Byrne said. “We have a good quality of living, an international airport 12 minutes from the city, growing education sector, wonderful public facilities and a tourism industry that shows steady growth.

The ABS figures show more than 76,000 people moved to the Sunshine State in the 12 months to June 2006. Of them, 25,800 moved from interstate, 21,400 from overseas and 29,200 due to a natural increase. More than 20.6 million people now call Australia home, up by 265,700 people on the previous year.

Cr Byrne forecast more people would continue to discover the lifestyle Cairns offers.

“My word. There is no indication that any time soon development growth will slow down,” he said.”Cairns will keep growing.”

See our property listings in Cairns