I’m sure you will have been following the Reserve Bank Governor’s comments and he’s on record as saying while he must ensure the country doesn’t overspend thus driving inflation….he is firm of the view that he will not increase interest rates until the economy is moving ahead again and he doesn’t see that as a likelihood until well into 2012.
At the same time, economist, Rodney Dickens has come out suggesting the whole approach to interest rate management of the Reserve Bank is failed! Yes, he believes a stable approach with semi-fixed OCR rates delivering market rates of around 6% would allow the entire banking community and the New Zealand commercial and private communities to plan medium to long term…..something this country has not been able to deliver since the dollar was floated.
Goodness! Management! Long term planning! Stability! What an interesting
set of options!
July 19 2011 | Blogroll | No Comments »
As we head into a belated mid-winter period when history says the real estate market should be slowing it’s intriguing to note the opposite! Yes, across the country my colleagues are reporting increased sales compared with earlierthis year and last year same time and competition for better presented properties.
I know I’ve said it before but I make no apologies; it’s the tidy, clean, stylish and well priced properties that are attracting the interest and the better ones are being fought over by several buyers. Those top properties in each suburb,size or price sector are attracting all the interest while those that present less well are being left well alone, marooned on the market for months.
We also note, again across the country, that first home buyers and investors are battling over lower priced options.
July 18 2011 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
Its official the www.visionofhumanity.org website has for the second year in a row named New Zealand as the most peaceful country on Earth.
The Vision of Humanity people use 23 indicators in their GPI (Global Peace Index) to help ascertain which countries are the most peaceful.
to quote their website
The Global Peace Index is a project of the Institute for Economics and Peace. It represents a ground-breaking milestone in the study of peace. It is the first time that an Index has been created that ranks the nations of the world by their peacefulness and identifies some of the drivers of peace.
Most people understand the absence of violence as an indicator of peace. This definition also allows for the measuring of peacefulness within, as well as between, nations. The GPI ranks Independent countries by their ‘absence of violence’ using metrics that combine both internal and external factors…..more
That New Zealand has won this again of course comes as no surprise to those that live here, Well to those living on the mainland at least 
and in particular those living in Ashburton. So if you ever needed a reason for immigrating to this part of the world then this reason is a goodie.
Our friends across the Tasman did not fare as well coming in at 19th on the GPI list, and the United States at 85 must have some there re-thinking the benefits of their gun laws.
Below is a video that explains the GPI and how it came about.
![CropperCapture[4]](http://unconditional.co.nz/ashburton/files/2010/08/CropperCapture4.jpg)
August 17 2010 | Ashburton | No Comments »
Ok, Ok I’m not really a movie star but I have just finished my first ever video ad for my website let me know what you think. ( Be gentle on me it is my first one 
)
Link Margaret Wilson Promo
I have also tried to use video to promote properties themselves, here are a couple of recent listings that have had videos made to show case the properties.
Link Property Videos
Property videos seem to be quite a hit over seas and more and more are using them here in NZ, It would be interesting to hear from any buyers out there viewing my blog, Do you watch the videos of properties you are interested in? Do you see a added benefit to you when you see a listing has a video attached.
Or if you are another agent/salesperson, have you used video to promote yourself or your properties? do you believe it has increased buyer enquiry on your clients properties?
I am of the mind that anything that I can use to showcase my clients properties is a good thing, especially if it helps get it in front of buyers, what’s your thoughts?
June 04 2010 | Ashburton and Real Estate | No Comments »
To view #1 click here
To view #2 click here
Sales method needs to be justified
Auction, Tender, Fixed Price, No Price, Private Treaty, Buyer enquiry over, These are just some of the different ways your property can be marketed. Your Agent/salesperson should have a recommendation for how they think your property should be marketed.
Be aware that in times when profits are down that some will push for Auctions, primarily for the vendor funding that is often charged up front on Auction properties.
Auctions can work but do not suit all properties at all times, be sure if auction is recommended that it is because your property suits this method of sale and ask before signing why they think your property will sell at auction.
If the recommendation is to market at no price ask why, ask yourself when you are looking for a new property how much time do you spend on the properties with no price ? Do you ring the agent to find out the price, most don’t. There are times when you might advertise a property with no price but it should be part of a strategy that your agent can explain.
In all cases regardless of which method the salesperson recommends, they should be able to explain to you why they have chosen that particular method, and if not ask why not.
August 04 2009 | Real Estate | 1 Comment »
To View #1 go here
2
Marketing NEEDS to be spot on.
Anyone looking through the Ashburton Guardian on a Friday of late would have noticed that the Real Estate pages are looking very colourful recently. Colour is essential when advertising a property in print so pick a company that advertises your property in colour (and not just when the listings are light, but all the time
Alistair Helm would shoot me if I didn’t mention here that the company you pick to sell your home MUST have a good web presence and I agree with him, The easiest way to find out if a company is well represented on the web is our good friend GOOGLE.
If you Google Ashburton real estate, Ashburton property or any other term you think a prospective buyer might google while looking for a property, how does the company fare here, make sure the company you pick has a strong presence on the web, on the first page of the search result.
With over 80% of all property buyers starting their search for a new property on the web, the company you pick must advertise your property on the web on sites that get good traffic.
The companies property for sale signs must be of good quality, and erected well. You want people driving past to be able to see that the property is for sale and who to call about the property. A tattered old sign erected out of level on rickety old tomato stakes draws attention for all the wrong reasons and will draw attention away from the property. There is a sign I pass regularly, I won’t mention which opposition company the sign belongs to, but it has been erected out of level on rickety old stakes with the jaggered edges sticking out, the sign itself is way past its used by date.
I shake my head everytime I go past it, and it popped into my mind when writting this part of the article as a good ”Don’t Do” example.
I look to see if it has been fixed everytime I drive past it , and to date it is still there. My point here is that I could not tell you one thing about the property the sign is on, my eye is drawn to the shocking sign for my whole trip past the property.
The Sale sign works like a 24 hour salesperson on site, it should be good.
Make sure that the agent you pick has a plan for marketing your property that will put it in front of as many buyers as possible. In a market where listings are in short supply this is essential to generate the most interest. The aim is not to find 1 buyer but several buyers, this is when the high prices can be achieved.
(quick update on the shocking sign, I drove pass the property yesterday to see if it is still there and low and behold a new company now has the property for a listing and they used the same old jaggerdy stakes and it still looks like a train wreck of a sign, …cringe..). 
To view #3 go here
July 08 2009 | Ashburton and Real Estate | 3 Comments »
What has been developing in NZ recently is a nation wide shortage of Real Estate stock, and Ashburton has not been immune to this trend. The stock that is around is selling, and sales numbers are back up to Ok levels but the stock is getting low.
A Bi-Product of this shortage is a more agressive approach to gaining listings by the towns Real Estate agents. In this type of market listings are the key to a real estate sales persons success, so I thought it timely to do an article on what I believe to be the 3 things you NEED to watch out for when searching for a salesperson/company to sell your home in this market.
#1
Do NOT let your listing be bought
This is the most quoted “Must Not Do” out there, and for very good reason. A salesperson cannot sell a property they don’t have on there books. In a market with low stock numbers this issue becomes more prevalent as more and more salespeople compete for the limited listings.
It is the simpilist thing in the world for someone to spit out a high figure, it is something else to sell at that figure. What does tend to happen when listings are light is a high price is quoted the property listed and then the agents time is then spent conditioning you down to the market price.
A tremendous amount of damage can be done to a property by overpricing or underpricing it at the start of its marketing campaign, If marketed right a property attracts the most buyer enquiry in the first 4 weeks of its campaign so it is crucial that the salesperson you entrust to sell your home has given this a great deal of thought, they should be able to show you comparative sales figures to justify their appraisal.
Ask the question “How did you come up with that price” and listen to the answer, it should not be a glib “that’s what 3 bedder’s in this area are selling for, the answer should be quoting addresses and prices actually received with recent sales and these recent sales need to be of comparable properties in land size condition, bedrooms, and presentation. Any well equipped Real Estate office has access to this data and a good sales person should have plenty of their own recent sales they can quote, if not why not?
Do NOT entrust the pricing of your home to someone who does not have access to this or chooses to ignore this valuable tool/information by buying your listing.
The number one reason a house does not sell is PRICE, (even a broken house will sell if priced right)
So the best and biggest tip I can give anyone selling their home is..
Do not let your listing be bought
Tips 2-3 coming soon
July 01 2009 | Ashburton and Real Estate | 3 Comments »
REINZ have released there residential property report for the month of May,
To Quote that report…
“The number of houses sold in Mid Canterbury in May was up with 51 sales recorded. (April 2009: 47; May 2008: 28). The median price was up at $270,000 from $245,000 in April. (May 2008: $275,000).
Sales volume rose in Timaru in May, with 59 houses sold (April 2009: 50; May 2008: 49). The median price decreased to $186,000 in May, from $194,000 in April (May 2008: $240,000).”
Mr Elford said the biggest issue currently facing the industry is a shortage of stock.
“With an apparent reluctance to sell in what is perceived to be a buyers’ market, people are tending to hunker down and sit tight on their properties. This, combined with a seasonal trend for people to hibernate rather than put their home on the market in the winter months, has led to an acute shortage of houses on the market.”
He believes this trend will continue through June and July.”
You can view the whole pdf report here
Listing numbers in Ashburton appear to support this National view of the Market with there being a steady decline in listing numbers from when I started recording the numbers from Trademe and Realestate.co.nz back in January of this year.
Sales numbers have also followed the National trend with a slight increase on april, and vastly improved from this time last year. (see chart below)
So is now a good time to sell? Well looking at the figures you would have to say that it is not a bad time to sell.
Sales volumes are high which surprisingly in this economic climate has had a noticable upward effect on the REINZ medians for this region, and indicates a return of the buyers that went to ground around the end of last year.
Listing numbers are also down significantly, meaning less competition for you if your selling in this market.
Around New Zealand this seems to have been the norm of late, There has been a lot more talk of Multi offer situations and Houses selling by Auctions again. Will this increase in activity last? well to be honest because of the credit crunch and world wide economic climate most are pridicting No. When will it end is anyones guess.
June 12 2009 | Ashburton and Real Estate | 3 Comments »
I was approached to answer a few questions over coffee for our local lift out ENVY magazine in the Ashburton Guardian.
The following is a transcript for those not able to get that paper.
(Envy) What’s your favourite holiday spot?
(Me) Wanaka would be my first choice locally but must admit anywhere in Queensland is always appealing if the $ permits.
(Envy) What colour/style are you into at the moment?
(Me) My colour seems to black, black and white or black, grey with red. Boring I guess but black never really goes out of fashion, they try to tell us it is but black seems to pop back up every season.
Style is probably classic, plain and tailored although I am liking the layered look and is very easy to wear once you know how.!!
(Envy) What are your hobbies?
(Me) Anything outdoors, mainly boating, fly fishing, snow skiing, golf, biking, walking in the hills and bush, gardening (now and again when the mood takes)
(Envy) What item of makeup can’t you live without?
(Me) At my age probably nothing and lots more but mascara and secondly foundation.
(Envy) What kind of car do you drive? What kind of car would you drive if there was no dollar limit?
(Me) I drive a 1997 BLACK BMW and in my dreams a new BLACK 700 series BMW would be quite acceptable in the garage.
(Envy) How do you keep fit?
(Me) Keeping motivated at this time of the year is difficult but I try to go for either a walk or bike ride weather permitting or if too frosty or wet on the excercycle in the garage.
(Envy) What’s your comfort food?
(Me) Very difficult to choose as I love all food which is probably why I have to do so much exercise.
There is nothing like a good square mince pie on a cold winter’s day then there is also apple crumble with custard, and chocolate mud cake the list could go on and on.
(Envy) What was the last book you enjoyed?
(Me) I enjoy Patricia Cornwall but last book was FOUR FIRES by Bryce Courtney a book that stirred up the emotions.
(Envy) What music are you into at the moment?
(Me) Blues Jazz is always a winner but I do enjoy country as well.
(Envy) Who do you admire?
(Me) This one is difficult as I admire a wide range of people. People who are successful in business but have a good life balance. Woman who juggle a career, home life and still have smiles on their faces.
Really everyone who gives life their best shot.
(Envy) If you could invite any three people to dinner who would they be?
(Me) What an amusing fun dinner party this would with Michael Laws and The Topp Twins.
(Envy) A tip, hint or piece of advice:
(Me) If you have had to deal with adversity in your life don’t dwell on the past, because if you keep looking over your shoulder you will trip up. Keep smiling.
May 26 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
REINZ figures are out for April and show a mixed bag for the Ashburton District.
“The number of houses sold in Mid Canterbury in April was down with 47 sales recorded. (March 2009: 59; April 2008: 35)”. Down on the figures for last month, but again up on the same time last year. “The median price was down at $245,000 from $260,000 in March. (April 2008: $262,000).”
Sales volume dropped in Timaru in April, with 50 houses sold (March 2009: 72; April 2008: 36). The median price decreased to $194,000 in April, from $220,000 in March (April 2008: $241,250).
The median price for a house in Christchurch City increased to $317,500 in April, from $302,750 in March (April 2008: $320,000). 667 houses sold (March 2009: 758; April 2008: 416).
The Institute reported that…
“There has been a degree of confidence returned to the residential real estate market as indicated by April sales figures released by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).
Institute president, Mike Elford, said the National figures reinforce a certain level of stability in relation to price and turnover, and are pleasing particularly as April is traditionally a slower month due to school holidays and seasonal adjustments.
Turnover of housing continues to strengthen from last year’s figures although slightly down in April 2009 compared with March totals.
“The figures are not hugely significant, but enough to generate a degree of optimism about the way forward from here,” Mr Elford says.”
You can view the full REINZ report here
Personally I’d have to say that I have had another very strong month with plenty showing up at the Open Homes and sales numbers strong, (In fact April has been a very busy month for me, but more on that latter). I keep waiting for the effects of the credit crunch to hit my sales numbers but to date, touch wood, it hasn’t happened yet. It must be true what they say that a tough market sorts the wheat from the chaff
May 14 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments »
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