Coffee Shop Goss Banora Point > Kirra Beach - September 2014 | Page 3

>>>REALLOCALS>>> I had the pleasure of catching up with local property agent Shaun Hogan for a coffee at Osteria in Casuarina. Shaun is a true local having lived on the Gold and Tweed coast for over 40 years. Shaun has an amazing insight into the region and where the region is heading. First tell me a bit about yourself. I grew up in Main Beach during the 70s and went to school at Aquinas College at Ashmore. Over the years I have bought, sold and built many of my own homes thorough the region. I live in Casuarina with my wife and 2 daughters, I am an avid surfer and sponsor and supporter of the Casuerina Hockey club. Shaun you mentioned Tweed Coast Boom, what do you mean? Let me start by explaining the regional population growth of the Gold Coast since the early 80s. The population growth first went west to Nerang and Robina, then north to Helensvale, Coomera etc. These areas are now saturated and the new Gold Coast growth area is South to the Tweed Coast. This growth area is a triangle from Kingscliff to Pottsville and West to Murwillumbah. It is demand for product that pushes the price up and this is driven by growth. Currently we are seeing record numbers of buyers attending open homes and stock levels are low, so demand for stock is high. Buyers for the region are coming from the central Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sydney. They are looking for community living and see good values in the region. Significant growth is already evident in the unit market, for example Drift Apartments in Casuarina were struggling to get low 300K last year and now we are seeing Drift Apartment achieving the low 400K mark. The housing market has seen similar growth but it is in the stock that is over the 800K mark, land is now drying up and some blocks are on second and third sales. For someone thinking of selling what do you recommend? You must understand how a buyer finds your home and how the buyer engages in the advertising and marketing. Buyers are visual first, so excellent professional photography is a must. These photos need to be of magazine quality. Second is scripting. The dialog must be engaging and needs the reader to want more information. Now it is positioning, where to put your advertising. 99% of buyers go online and realestate.com.au is the Google of the online property market. It is positioning on realestate.com.au that is the key. You need to be front page or your property will simply not get found. What I have just explained is primary marketing, secondary marketing is what individual agents and agencies do differently. For example DJSTRINGER have a data base of over 20,000 email subscribers that we promote our properties to. I also recommend getting 3 agents out to your home to explain how they will market and advertise your home. It is advertising marketing that will bring the most amount of buyers and get you the best price. Tracey, if your readers do make the decision to move on, upsize, downsize, or just sell their home and sail away into the sunset, then give me a call, Shaun Hogan from DJ Stringer on 5599 5222. I will give them the facts without the spin. Tracey Hamilton, CSG Editor www.coffeeshop.goss.com.au > BANORA POINT TO KIRRA > SEPTEMBER 2014 3