What is an inescapable fact is the string of multi million dollar developments and massive investments from state and local governments which has transformed Robina from a suburb of vacant land to one of the Gold Coast’s leading hubs.

Developments include the $200 million expansion of Robina Town Centre, the $160 million rugby league stadium, the $75 million extension of the rail line from Robina to Varsity Lakes and the $40 million expansion of Robina Hospital. Then there is an estimated $300 million in private developments either underway or in the serous planning phase.

Plus, Varsity Lakes is really pumping. When completed this master planned community will comprise 3,000 homes over a 34ha area. It will house up to 7,800 residents and at least 4,500 eager and highly educated employees. Think for a moment about the facilities required to service these people. Certainly our commercial department are reporting heightened interest as early movers consider the opportunities. If you’d like to consider your future here, call Nigel Bevis on 5593 0877.

By the way, we are experiencing great demand for rental properties. If you have any properties which might be available to our rental pool or know of friends who are dissatisfied with the performance of their present managers …please call me personally. I’m pleased to say that our vacancy rate (under 1% for January) is well below that of our competitors and the published state averages (3.8%)…testimony that we get good enquiry for rental properties.

1st March, 2007	St. David’s Day
17th March, 2007	St. Patrick’s Day
25th March, 2007	Annunciation
March Birth Flower	Daffodil
March Birth Stone	Aquamarine

The factual information* is a little bit more sobering:

For instance, the median rental on a Gold Coast two bedroom apartment during the December 2006 quarter was $290 which is up 12% over the year. The quarterly change in rentals over the quarter was an increase of 4%. This reflects well against the Queensland average where rents rose by only 2% during the December quarter.

For three bedroom detached houses, the median Gold Coast rental during the December 2006 quarter was $340 which is up a modest 6% over the year. The quarterly change in rentals over the quarter was a very unimpressive 1%. Interestingly, rental bonds declined in both stock types on the Gold Coast indicating that tenants are taking longer leases – often for twelve months with two years becoming popular. The Matusik Snapshot pointed out something which we have been saying for some time – but it’s worth repeating: “Investors should always consider – even in a tight market – keeping a good tenant (for less than market rent) rather than risk a property being vacant for a period of time.” * Matusik Property Insights and Qld RTA

And where is the “property puck” going in 2007?

Here are a couple of highly informed predictions by property guru Michael Matusik:

We anticipate that some of the superannuation money (which is presently being ‘squirreled away’ into funds because of the massive advantages pre June 30) will come back into the residential market from July this year – boosting top end prices and quenching the thirst for investment property, either through direct investment or indirectly via new residential property trusts.

We envisage that the first home buyers grant will increase and more likely than not will not come into effect until after the election. Whilst the development industry is lobbying for such a move, we believe this will add to house price inflation.

Investors are presently waiting for proof of rental growth and/or have monies tied up in superannuation. An added incentive to first home buyers drives up demand in the middle of the year, further diminishing new supply levels. The flood gates open after the election causing demand to outstrip supply, causing a mini-boom (8% to 10% rise in values) and an unnecessary market correction in late 2008.

ABIX Summary

A real estate body has asked the Australian Government for action on key matters. In its annual "Australian Property Market Indicators" report, the Real Estate Institute of Australia has called for certain changes. It wants action on the falling level of home ownership, the reduction or removal of stamp duty on residential property transactions, the indexation of the First Home Owners Scheme, better co-ordination of the release of land and development approval processes, and consistent laws on real estate purchases across Australia. The Institute notes that house rents are rising across Australia and this will attract investors back to the real estate market.

Our Comment: From our perspective, each of these requests is a “fair ask” in this an election year. If only we could get the State Government’s to take their sticky fingers off the stamp duty issue which adds a not insignificant burden to every property transaction.

Our Comment:
Very soon we will be swinging over to the Archive system whereby all of our past records pertaining to your property will be electronically stored and thus more easily accessible. We know how pedantic the ATO officers can be so please make sure you can verify all expenditure items.


An Update On The Robina Rentals Team

As property owners, who are also business-owners, would know, the secret to staff development is constant improvement and an infusion of new ideas and technologies which serve your customers better. Often this involves change as older staff members who cannot grasp the new ways of business make way for the new generation.

At Robina Realty we are pleased to say that we now have a champion rentals team in place having just ‘head-hunted’ one of the Gold Coast’s top Property Managers. So, welcome Regina Smith, you will fit in well with our superstar team of Jacqui Williams and Sandra van Sleeuwen.

We should also say a big welcome to Tatum Ridgeway who will act as back-up support for our three main PM’s and we also welcome our new receptionist, Michelle Raymond. As Michelle knows she is our Manager of First Impressions and we’re sure her bubbly personality and focus on customer service will see her perform admirably.

Over the coming months you will begin to see a number of exciting new initiatives.