If the banks have it right that the South-East Queensland residential market will have a double-digit growth in the next 18 months to two years, now is a great time to invest.
“It’s about right because of the demand” says Dwyer Property Investments managing director Jason Dwyer.
“Prices are going up.
“Every time you try to buy a block of land from somewhere, all the developers are putting their prices up.”
Smart investors are already in the game.
Up until late last year Mr Dwyer was seeing strong investor growth from Brisbane and local buyers.
Since October there hasn’t been an interstate investment wave as such but more a subtle uptick of 10 per cent from the same time last year as those investors convert from fishing around the market to buying into it.
“October, November and December were my busiest months ever,” Mr Dwyer says.
Almost 15 per cent of the sales in that period were to mostly Sydney residents.
“I think because it is affordable,” he adds.
“Most people’s borrowing capacity is around the $500,000 to $600,000 mark. You aren’t likely to get very much for that amount if buying into Sydney.”
When eagerly looking to make equity or savings deliver a valuable income, realising your money in the bank is earning almost zero, and with a rental return of around five per cent gross and the Coast’s rental vacancy the lowest it has ever been, turning to residential investment is a viable choice.
The ABS’s recent report on the October seasonally adjusted new investor loan commitments showed $5.29bn, up 0.3 per cent from the previous month and 2.8 per cent from the previous year.
Investment isn’t just for retirees, says Mr Dwyer. He is seeing two particular investment groups buying in to the residential property.
There is the over 50s with some home equity and retirement plans on the table making up about 70 per cent of the buyers.
The other dominant group is the late 30s with increased savings due to the COVID lockdowns, some disposable income and the ability to borrow.
The hottest deal in the current market for investors he says are terrace or townhouse-like houses with good size internal areas, but with less outside areas that require maintenance.
“They are good for investors simply for their return on investment and because of depreciation and rental return,” Mr Dwyer adds.
