It takes a village to grow a child

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It takes an entire community of different people interacting with children in order for children to experience and grow in a safe environment.

With the opening of both Avonside Girls and Shirley Boys high schools there is a real buzz and energy in the air, especially when school is out! Unquestionably, schools become a focal point in any community and let’s not underestimate their significance in the part they play and the sense of community they provide. When planning a real estate move, priority to local schooling becomes a major factor and will often determine the final decision. Moving forward, such a key asset in the east of Christchurch will only prove to be a positive contributor in building a stronger local community – let’s watch this space.

Historically low interest rates

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Having experienced interest rates in excess of 20 per cent in the late 1980s it almost seems beyond belief that today one can secure a mortgage for under four per cent. Currently with interest rates so low, investing in real estate has got to be a sound decision, especially in a growth city like Christchurch it’s a no brainer. Money in the bank is showing poor returns, plus you pay tax on it too!

Talk to Team Griff today for sound advice and to strategize your next real estate plans.

Busting the winter myth

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Contrary to common belief that winter is a quieter time on the real estate calendar, from experience we have found that it is actually a good time to sell. With stock levels low and the more serious purchasers out and about, we find enquiry levels are consistent and often of a better quality. The less astute buyers simply don’t bother venturing out in the inclement weather.

So just what is happening in the north-east of Christchurch? While the median sale price in Parklands has remained consistent at $450,000 since the beginning of the year, this is up 27% over the past five years, whereas city-wide the median sale price has increased by 15% over the same period.

Sales volume in Parklands is trending downwards over the past 18 months – potentially a sign that homeowners in the area wish to hold on to their properties to fully maximise the effect of the new AGHS/SBHS school zones. The median days on market for Parklands is considerably lower than the city-wide figure – 26 compared to 36, showing that properties that are listed for sale are getting snapped up quickly.  

Shirley Boys’ and Avonside Girls’ High schools now OPEN

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After much anticipation and excitement, the start of term two has seen the opening of Shirley Boys’ and Avonside Girls’ High Schools on the all-new campus in QEII Park. In just under two years we have watched these state-of-the-art facilities evolve from the remains of the former QEII Sports Stadium. The two schools share some spaces while allowing each other to maintain their own identity; a first for New Zealand education.

Servicing the north-eastern catchment areas for over 100 years, Avonside Girls’ first acquisition dates back as far as 1918 and Shirley Boys’ was first established in 1957. Obviously, the Canterbury earthquake sequence has been the catalyst for this new landmark development. Full credit to the main drivers behind this project who have shown great foresight and initiative.

Driving by recently just after school was out, the local streets were awash with students, not to mention the back to back bus layby. Certainly, a real buzz of activity and positive energy that can only be good for the greater north-east of the city.

The new campus provides two theatres, two gymnasiums with one that can be divided for multi-use and there’s even a climbing wall. Amongst several playing fields there is also as a full-sized hockey field and numerous tennis courts.

The new location to support a combined roll of 2,400, has also meant that new zones have been rolled out accordingly. While there is hot debate as to what suburbs should be included, the transitional zone extends from just north of Queenspark School to the end of South New Brighton, including South New Brighton, Rawhiti, Waitakiri and Parkview Schools. Moving forward many families propose that the future zone includes the existing Avonside Girls and Shirley Boys zones plus the Marshland catchment area.

There’s a community open night scheduled for Thursday 23rd May – we can’t wait to have a look through!

Counting the cost to sell

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Going through the cost, time and inconvenience involved with preparing property for sale is something we all go through, myself included. Recently, my wife and I experienced this ourselves, where one of our rental properties required a pre-sale makeover and costs quickly escalated outside our original budget.

Now, nearing completion, to prepare the property for the market we’re in the process of staging it to ensure maximum effect when prospective buyers see it either online or in person. It’s an often overlooked area of the selling process but one we recommend nonetheless.

In the post-quake era we live in, a current property inspection provides extra peace of mind for prospective purchasers, as does a readily available LIM report (which we consider best practice). The right digital marketing plan is essential these days, and once all that is considered and the property is sold there’s the commission to take into account as well. When you add up all these costs against the investment you’ve made in your property, it goes without saying that you should expect a decent return come auction or sale day. It’s another good reason to hand pick a well-skilled agent with a proven track record and negotiation skills!

We encourage our sellers to give it their very best shot when it comes to selling. That way, when it comes to decision-making time, there is absolutely no question of whether anything else could have been done to extract a better result.

Preparing for winter

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With brisk mornings becoming more common and daylight hours beginning to fade, it’s worth being mindful about the winter ahead. And while we’re advocates of selling during these months when there’s less competition, it’s important that you give proper attention to a few key areas in order to effectively showcase your home.

Effective heating, lighting and insulation qualities are given more notice by purchasers when inspecting properties during the winter. Never underestimate the perception these create. If you’re selling an investment property, or a property that is likely to be suitable as a rental, it’s also important to remember that new insulation requirements come into effect from 1 July. Check out the team at Warm Fuzzies, they’ll provide you with an insulation assessment for $50 +GST as well as quotes from a handful of insulation installers to get your property up to scratch.

Appealing to these senses and making people feeling like they can live there like it’s their own home is also key. A warm house with fresh baking on a cold winter’s day is the ultimate welcome home feel! Remember – a home liked in winter is loved in the summer!

New high schools create strong demand

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With the keys ready to be handed over, the opening of a brand new shared campus for Avonside Girls and Shirley Boys high schools has created a new buzz in the real estate market. Local property is in demand as families continue  to relocate and secure homes within the zone  of these schools. It’s a great thing to see in the eastern suburbs and we expect to see these trends continue as all Christchurch state secondary schools look set to become zoned in the near future.

Without a doubt, enquiries are greater across the board. Just last week, a new listing triggered double the enquiry of a similar property that was out of zone. It’s a trend we haven’t seen for a while  and it’s incredibly positive for the community seeing families moving into the north-east for schooling as opposed to moving out.

Click here to read more about this state-of-the art educational facility.

Click here to view the latest video walk-through.

New year sales hard on the heels of new listings!

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Once again Team Griff has begun the year with great gusto, successfully selling 9 of their 12 new year listings.

Unquestionably this is conducive with the team’s belief in the new year market and their strategic planned approach to maximising this window of opportunity. Our clients are directly benefiting! Being intuitive to the local market-place is important to ensuring the right approach and method of sale is being implemented for maximum return.

Taking a snapshot of three Team Griff sales

15 Roa Road, Fendalton
Auction

44 inspections
2 bidders
24 days on market
Sold post-auction for $712,000

 

95 Hills Road, Edgeware
No price marketing

50 inspections
16 days on the market
Sold for $375,000

 

105 Queenspark Drive, Parklands
Auction

31 Inspections
23 days on the market
7 bidders in attendance
Sold for $277,000

 

“While results aren’t everything, they are the measuring gauge of a carefully executed plan.”

Effective marketing is key to securing short term sales in the highly competitive Christchurch marketplace where buyers are enjoying the luxury of choice among properties. In the north-east of Christchurch we are noting elevated levels of enquiry (20+ inspections at a new listing this last weekend). The countdown begins for the pending opening of Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ high schools at the start of term two. It’s a real coup for the greater eastern suburbs – a terrific asset that will positively influence the local market for years to come!

As is, where is, more of the same

Activity from our 2000+ ‘as is, where is’ buyer database remains steady to strong, with supply waning demand is heightened meaning multiple parties inspecting and taking action.

Coffee and a chat is a good place to start – talk to Team Griff today.

Active start to 2019

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As predicted the 2019 new year real estate market has a fresh vibrant vibe in the air. Both physically on the street with good open home attendance and online enquiry are showing positive activity, even with a hint of determined decisiveness!

Backing the new year market, we have prepped a number of listings to launch early to mid January, which to date is proving to produce the desired level of enquiry. Often with less stock on the the market immediately over the Christmas – New Year period, being that “first taxi off the rank” is a smart thing to do in the realm of real estate marketing. This equates to heightened interest in the limited available stock from a buying public hungry for new listings.

It’s also worth noting that the Reserve Bank’s reduced LVR restrictions have come into effect from 1 January. This means that banks will now be able to lend 20 per cent of their new loans to owner-occupiers who have a deposit of less than 20 per cent of a purchase price – up from 15 per cent of new lending. The required minimum deposit for investors has now dropped to 30% from 35%. It’s foreseeable that these changes will bring a new batch of buyers into the housing market.

Being intuitive to the marketplace and seasonal trends is something we like to pride ourselves with, meaning we can be on the front foot when tailoring a marketing package with our clients who are looking to sell.

We believe the advantages of the new year market are many, so if you would like to strategise a specific plan to maximise both your property and the current market over a cuppa, be sure to make contact. We’d welcome the opportunity to offer specialised strategic advice to ensure the best possible result. We’re ready to get to work!

The power of effective marketing

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Achieving another outstanding result under the hammer in our auction rooms clearly confirms why we continue to recommend auction as best practice for sellers of ‘as is, where is’ properties. The results speak for themselves.

Check out the facts on our most recent auction:

Address:                                            65 Perth Street. Richmond
Days on the market:                        9
Purchaser inspections:                   28
Number of pre-auction offers       2
Bidders in attendance:                   6 (2 active)
Private offer prior to listing           $170,000
Final selling price at auction     $271,000

Team Griff’s as is, where is, under the hammer strike rate year to date: 100%

The reality is there are many “astute” property opportunists active in the greater marketplace hunting for that next bargain. A homeowner who fails to engage in an effective marketing campaign to flush out multiple purchasers can become vulnerable prey for this calibre of purchaser. Such purchasers are governed by their own perception of value, plus their motivation to maximise profits. It goes without saying that they have very little regard for a sellers’ interests.

With 306 ‘as is, where is’ sales under our belt now it would be fair to say we understand this market. Accomplishing results like the above is the most satisfying aspect of the process. Seeing people moving forward with their lives and in most instances realising a greater selling price than expected makes it a very positive experience.

With spring on the horizon, we look forward to creating many more magic results for our clients prior to the end of the year. If your intention is to get sold before the year’s end, we suggest you contact us sooner rather than later. ‘As is’ buyers are hesitant to hold properties over the Christmas/New Year period due to labour shortages, so it’s best to get the ball rolling now.