Month: April 2018

The home is in Greenview Estate in a family friendly crescent surrounded by other contemporary homes.

Townsville Bulletin 20 April, 2018

WITH a pool, spa, waterfall and place to park your boat, North Queensland living doesn’t get much better than this.

49 Bamboo Crescent in Mount Louisa has hit the market at $695,000 and has five-bedrooms, three bathrooms and two car spaces.

It’s expected to generate plenty of interest from house hunters as it features everything buyers want to make the most of Townsville’s lifestyle.

Owner Con Karavas and his wife have very happily lived in the home for 12 years.

“It’s spacious and airy and there are big full-length windows to see out to the garden and pool,” he said. “We wanted a long pool so we could do laps.

“It’s in a great spot as well because it’s on the Kirwan side of Mount Louisa, so it’s just a matter of going out of the sub-divvies and getting on Dalrymple Rd.”

The home is in Greenview Estate in a family friendly crescent surrounded by other contemporary homes.

The free-form lap pool is bounded by tropical landscaped gardens.

There is a self-contained apartment near the pool and separate to the home. The main house has two separate living areas while the fully-fenced 1061sq m lot has two street frontages.

There is also an outdoor pergola with established herb and vegetable garden and a paved, enclosed and lockup boat and caravan storage.

Source: Anderson, C., 2018. Lifestyle makes a splash, Townsville: Townsville Bulletin.

“Mount Louisa will become one of the most iconic public spaces in Townsville as a result of this concept plan – and I’m sure it will become a big hit on social media too.”

Townsville Bulletin 23 April, 2018

Mount Louisa is set to be transformed with a concept plan for the area to investigate the potential for new recreational and commercial opportunities.

Townsville City Council has appointed RPS Australia East to produce a concept plan for Mount Louisa that will open up the area – particularly its prominent ridgeline – and improve public access while allowing for new recreational uses and explore any potential commercial opportunities.

Reimagining our natural landscapes and improving access and recreational facilities is a key priority of the Townsville 2020 masterplan.

Townsville 2020 provides a clear vision for our city and aims to provide world-class experiences through new infrastructure and developments.

The Mount Louisa concept plan will transform the area into one of Townsville’s most popular public spaces by allowing locals and visitors to take advantage of its spectacular vistas of our city and coastline.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the concept plan would deliver on another election commitment.

“My team and I wanted to make sure we provide the best public spaces and recreational facilities right across Townsville, whether it’s in the city or the suburbs,” Cr Hill said.

“This concept plan will unlock Mount Louisa’s potential and take advantage of its 360 degree vistas of Townsville.

“Thousands of residents living near Mount Louisa will benefit from improved access to new recreational facilities, which could include walking tracks, viewing platforms and barbecue areas.

“Mount Louisa will become one of the most iconic public spaces in Townsville as a result of this concept plan – and I’m sure it will become a big hit on social media too.”

Deputy Mayor and Planning and Development Committee Chair Les Walker said the concept plan was part of Council’s Townsville 2020 vision.

“Mount Louisa is one of the highest points in Townsville and this plan will ensure we take advantage of the amazing views back across our city and coastline,” Cr Walker said.

“Townsville 2020 provides a clear vision for all of Townsville and providing new public spaces and recreational facilities in our suburban areas is a key part of the masterplan.

“The concept plan will focus on sport and recreation activities over the short, medium and long-term and will be delivered through a staged approach.”

The concept plan – expected to be complete in October – will also consider the existence of sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage within the Mount Louisa project area.

Community consultation will occur during the development of the concept plan and Council will update the community on progress of this project through the Townsville 2020 website: https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/2020

Source: Unknown, 2018. Plan for top attraction, Townsville: Townsville Bulletin.

A top national property expert has named Townsville as one of the top 10 places to invest in the country. Economist Colin Dwyer agrees that Townsville is about to turn around.

Source: Townsville Bulletin 21 April, 2018

MAJOR job-generating projects expected to inject billions into North Queensland’s economy have landed Townsville in the top 10 places to invest in the country.

National property analyst and founder of the Hotspotting website, Terry Ryder, listed Townsville in his National Top 10 Best Buys April-August 2018 edition.

Mr Ryder, who has a track record of identifying future price-growth areas, listed Townsville because of the city’s diverse economy, historic property price growth, declining rental vacancy rates and falling unemployment.

In the report he says major projects either proposed, approved or under construction are likely to create massive job growth that will flow on to the property market.

“Townsville ranks among the sturdiest regional economies in Australia,” Mr Ryder says in the report. “We always seek economic diversity in a property investment location and Townsville has more than most regional cities.

“It has strong elements of government administration, education, defence, resources, health, tourism and manufacturing, plus an export port.

“Its property market experienced an unbroken run of double-digit growth years from 2002 to 2007 and, after experiencing some mixed fortunes in the past couple of years, is ready to resume forward progress.”

Vacancy rates are sitting at 4.1 per cent after continuing a downwards trend from a peak in September last year at 7.1 per cent.

At the end of 2017, median house prices were $335,000 after declining 2.9 per cent in 12 months, while the median unit price was $256,000, a decline of 2.8 per cent, according to CoreLogic.

Figures from the first quarter of 2018 are yet to be released but real estate insiders are forecasting a much more positive start to the year compared to 2017. The latest Herron Todd White report Townsville in Focus places Townsville’s residential market at the start of recovery.

Townsville’s employment growth is also above the state average of 3.5 per cent, sitting at 12.6 per cent in the 12 months to February 2018, according to the ABS.

Keyes & Co principal and REIQ regional director Damien Keyes said investor interest was increasing and he had recently sold an inner-city apartment under the hammer to a southern investor.

“The investment side of things has really picked up and we’ve had (the) State Government selling housing commission properties and they are really cheap stock, which is attracting investors on a local level,” he said. “We had a cheaper apartment sell in North Ward and 90 per cent of the inquiry was from investors in New South Wales.

“I think we’ll continue to see a lift in investor interest because Townsville will become more attractive because our median house price is low compared to capital cities.”

Regional economist Colin Dwyer (pictured) said there were positive indicators that Townsville’s economy was starting to turn around.

“We’ve had high unemployment rates and low confidence in 2016 and 2017 and we’ve also had high vacancy rates and low residential building approvals but now some of that data is starting to turn around,” he said. “I think we’ve reached the bottom of the cycle and now we’re starting to improve. As soon as vacancy rates get to lower than 3 per cent there will be more income and then more jobs and you will start to see better investment activity.”

Source: Anderson, C., 2018. Property guru puts Townsville near top, Townsville: Townsville Bulletin.

With over 500 people through the doors in two days, the 2018 Townsville Home Buyers Expo was a success for all who attended! A wide range of local businesses packed into The Ville Resort and Casino over the last weekend in March for the event.

The Orchard stall was a hit with potential buyers looking for Large Lifestyle Blocks! Other stalls ranged from Builders, Financiers to In Home Technology specialists, everything you need to build your dream home at The Orchard!

Like us on Facebook for the details of next years event which will be bigger and better! @Elementsnq

“I’ll definitely return next year”