Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • REAL ESTATE

Agent’s view

Nicholas Slayter Principal/
Director at Belle Property Cairns
Our market continues to be very difficult
to read. On and off like a switch. June
and July were pretty busy in terms of
contract numbers and August stopped on
us a bit. I can’t put my finger on any local
factors that have changed but once again
the news is filled with plenty of stories
that would make a buyer sit back and 1
watch… the United States-China trade $1.4-$1.5 million and a fourth one under
war, sluggish Australian economy, Brexit, contract. I suspected that the product
and the list goes on… would be well-received, but it was pretty
Having said that, every now and then gratifying to see the plan come together. 1. 61 Old Smithfield Rd, Freshwater
we see a property really hit the mark. A A real credit to the developers. 2. 22 Turpentine St, Redlynch
property that just has a set of attributes I’ve said it a lot of times before and it
that buyers know won’t come along again continues to be accurate - signing a
quickly. We saw it a few months back buyer’s lawyer emailed us that there had
when we sold 22 Turpentine St, Redlynch been an error in the finance application
for $1.2 million (a record for non-acreage and the buyer was approved for $1.3
property) and it happened again at 61 Old Cheap property, lots of million not $1.35 million and would we
Smithfield Rd, Freshwater. My colleague accept $1.3 million to just get on with it…
Vanessa Robinson did an excellent job infrastructure close by The answer to that would be “no thanks,
getting the property ready for sale and and beautiful beaches please go back to the bank and fix it”. End
achieved great exposure through social result was that a week later they got the
media (video reaching over 4000 people), $1.35 million approval. Who wouldn’t wait
online and local advertising. We had 60 a week for $50k!
groups of people through in three days contract is less than half the job done I know the weather is a very boring
and secured a contract at $1.225 million for us. Navigating building and pest subject to bring up but how amazing is
in under a week on the market. inspections and finance is a challenge it this time of year? I recently had an old
One of the most satisfying things I have that can really test us. Sometimes it feels friend come to Cairns from London for
done professionally for the last 10 years like there are a lot of forces working a couple of weeks to finish a thesis and I
is be involved in the sales and marketing against getting the contract to actually got to see the region through his eyes. He
of the Shara project in Palm Cove. Shara proceed (even with a willing buyer and stayed on the beachfront at Clifton and
is the first off-plan development to be seller). This month we had a contract was just in awe of it. Cheap property, lots
marketed in Palm Cove (and Cairns signed at $1.35 million. Finance was of infrastructure (restaurants, shopping
City) since the GFC and we have met the extended a few times (which is pretty centres, gyms all close by) and beautiful
pre-sale target with three out of the six normal) and at 4:50pm on the Friday it beaches. He just couldn’t believe that we
units unconditionally sold for between was due to become unconditional, the lived and worked in paradise. It was a
great reminder to not take it for granted.
As always, if you ever want to discuss the
market or a particular property do not
hesitate to contact me on 0409 00 22 33
at any time.

Kind regards,
Nicholas

MORE: belleproperty.com/cairns
2

19 • tropicnow.com.au