What a roller-coaster three months we’ve had in Australia. At the end of March our industry was placed into virtual shutdown. Open homes and Auctions were banned and we resorted to conducting individual buyer and tenant inspections – one person at a time.
We feared the worst for the property market and the local economy. After half a decade of dismal market performance, we felt Covid-19 had come to wreak havoc on any 2020 recovery.
Nevertheless, not even a pandemic could stop the momentum of the Gladstone market. We were astonished by the level of enquiry and number of transactions that were completed during the three months just past.
Among the negative media reports and doomsday predictions, reduced supply of homes for sale, combined with increasing rental rates created a growing level of buyer demand resulting in boom-like conditions.
With the onset of Covid restrictions, some vendors withdrew properties from sale, other would-be sellers delayed coming to market. A relatively strong number of Buyer’s in the market were competing for a reduced pool of properties, with early anecdotal evidence of upward pressure on pricing.
A similar trend appeared in the rental market. Due to the restrictions, tenants found it more challenging to search for a rental property. It was easier to renew a lease than find a new home. Reduced supply of rental properties has pushed the Gladstone vacancy rate to 1.6% – one of the lowest rates since the LNG construction.
The market has dodged a bullet for now, but with the imminent reductions in Government stimulus later in the year, conditions could still stagnate or head south.
We really look forward to the next quarter’s data to see if the official figures match the trend we are seeing at the coal face.
When we say ‘established in 1980’, It leaves a note that can instinctively make the office sound like a distilled whisky. But, much like a fine aged, triple distilled whisky, Ray White Gladstone has been fermenting and perfecting our subtle notes of, great service, trustworthy market knowledge, advice and … Read more
2021 has been off to a flying start with property markets across the country experiencing unprecedented activity. Gladstone has not missed out on the action, recording the second highest house price growth in the state, again only trailing Noosa. In the 12 months to January Gladstone house prices rose 9.1%. … Read more