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National Property Statistics

Adelaide property values have recorded a modest increase of 0.1% during the month of November, according to the latest CoreLogic Home Value Index released today, Monday December 3, 2018. This small increase contributes to an annual return of 1.4%. While this small increase may not be music to the ears of property investors and owners, it certainly is sounding better than Sydney and Melbourne, both continuing their pull back with -1.4% and -1.0% respectively.

Source: Corelogic.com.au

As always, please be in contact should you need assistance with any property matter.

If interested in an individual property appraisal or statistics on your suburb or local area, please be in contact through SA Listings.

Justine

Exceptional Sale Results without Excessive Commissions

The results are in! SA Listings has selected our last 18 recent sales to statistically prove you get the same results, if not better from a fixed fee Agent compared to a traditional commission based Agent. The results also prove that brand does not matter when selling your home. SA Listings, a relatively new player in the Adelaide real estate market has successfully sold the last 18 properties with an average of 23 days on market, achieving an average of full Vendors asking price and savings in excess of $110,000 in Agent fees to boot!

SA LISTINGS – CLIENT RESULTS AND AGENT FEE SAVINGS
Property Address	% of Asking Price	Days on Market	Agent Fee Saved*
92 Folland Ave Northgate	105.24%	4	$7,312
72 Rapid Ave Lightsview	102.19%	7	$9,400
1/91 Myrtle St Prospect	100.00%	31	$4,590
11 Allen Ave Brooklyn Park	105.00%	11	$7,310
4 Paddington Ave Northgate	108.00%	9	$7,662
109/220 Greenhill Rd Eastwood	98.33%	49	$6,980
140C North East Rd Walkerville	99.11%	34	$6,320
140B North East Rd Walkerville	98.23%	31	$6,210
14 Epsilon Crt Woodcroft	100.00%	16	$3,250
14 Rapid Ave Lightsview	100.00%	52	$1,920
8 Welsh Rd Lightsview	108.70%	5	$7,750
14 Holmeswood Crt Para Hills West	98.00%	46	$3,680
74 Rapid Ave Lightsview	100.00%	1	$7,360
10 Rozells Ave Lightsview	100.00%	7	$7,150
2 Rivergum Cls Walkey Heights	97.00%	20	$6,860
13 Welsh Rd Lightsview	97.22%	21	$9,400
19 Rapid Ave Lightsview	100.00%	26	$6,540
21 Rapid Ave Lightsview	100.00%	43	$5,000
	Average Ask Price	Average Days on Market	Total Agent Fee Savings
	100.95%	23	$114,694
*Savings based on traditional Agent Commission in SA of 2.2% inclusive of GST

The savings in Agent fees is conservative, as it does not take into account significant savings achieved by our clients in marketing fees. Several of the properties listed above had no marketing fees at all as they were successfully matched to purchasers on the SA Listings buyer database. We have in fact, been told by our clients of well known brand name Agents charging additional fees of up to $2,000 for use of pre-market listing techniques, whereby, your property is listed on their website and database for viewing only by their registered subscribers, prior to listing to the general public. This is astounding! One would expect the Agent commission to cover the cost of the Agent actually matching the registered subscribers on their database to your property. Is that not their job? At SA Listings, we database match and contact all relevant parties we believe would be interested in your property. This service is incorporated in the fixed fee package at no additional cost to you, we believe our job as your Agent is to sell the property for the very best price at an affordable cost to you – without fee gouging!

Also as a consumer be aware, there are some new Agencies providing a low fixed fee but the package does not incorporate a full agent service. Please read the fine print and ask questions of the Agency selling you the packages.

Remember, SA Listings provides a full agent service for an affordable fee with the highest service from listing to settlement, to find out more visit www.salistings.com.au

Justine Thomson

Prescribed Minimum Advertising Price

The Prescribed Minimum Advertising Price or PMAP as known in the real estate industry, relates to legislation in South Australia prescribing the amount an Agent can advertise a property at. The price you and your Agent list in the Sales Agency Agreement will affect the price for which the property can be advertised. This legislation was designed to protect consumers from properties being advertised below current market expectations, a term referred to in the industry as underquoting to bait advertise.

In a Sales Agency Agreement, the Agent will provide a genuine estimate of the likely selling price and this figure is included in “Agents Estimated Selling Price”. The Agents estimated selling price is based on a range of factors including but not limited to, current comparable market sales in your area, the condition of your property, location within the area and any other factors that may impact price. For example, a property positioned on a main road may be appraised lower than the same property in a quiet street in the same area. A good Agent will know the local area well and will provide supporting evidence of how the “Agents Estimated Selling Price” was derived. This is not a guarantee you will receive this price when the property is presented to market, however, it is a genuine estimate based on supporting evidence. In the Sales Agency Agreement, the Agent must express the “Agents Estimated Selling Price” as a single figure without any words or symbols. If you think the estimate is not right, or want comfort in the figure provided you can pay a licensed Valuer to seek an independent valuation of the property.

The “Vendors Acceptable Price” is also included in the Sales Agency Agreement. This is the amount you, the Vendor wants from the sale of your property. When determining this price, you may consider the information provided by the Agent when appraising the property, research sale prices in your area, consider an independent valuation from a licensed Valuer and not allow emotion to cloud your judgment. This figure also needs to be presented as a single figure without any words or symbols.

How does the PMAP all come together? The PMAP is based on the “Agents Estimated Selling Price” and the “Vendors Acceptable Price” listed in the Sales Agency Agreement. The prescribed minimum advertised price is the greater of the “Agents Estimated Selling Price” or the “Vendors Acceptable Price”.

Let’s give an example to help assist in explaining the PMAP. After considering all variables including current market sales in your area, your Agent appraises your property with an “Agents Estimated Selling Price” of $550,000. You have considered the appraisal, researched your area and discussed with your partner and agree your “Vendors Acceptable Price” will be $570,000. The Prescribed Minimum Advertising Price for your property will be $570,000. Your Agent cannot advertise the property at less than this amount.

It is very important you have a good relationship with your Agent, as the advertised price can impact the campaign from the get go. There is no advantage gained by advertising your property above current market conditions. Consumers are well informed these days and will research the area they are looking to buy in with sales information and appraisals at their ready disposal via the world wide web! By advertising your property above market, the likely result is little or no enquiry and a property potentially not selling.

Let’s give another example, to reinforce the PMAP.

“Agents Estimated Selling Price” $450,000

“Vendors Acceptable Price” $430,000

The prescribed minimum advertising price is $450,000.

When determining the appraisal of your home you need to have trust and faith in your Agent and understand they have the best understanding of your local area sales and are experts in their field. If you do not trust your Agent’s knowledge there is no point pursuing a Sales Agency Agreement with them. To give an analogy, if you went to your Accountant to do your tax return would you be telling them “this item is tax deductible”, when they are the qualified expert. If you are, then you need a new Accountant!

Justine Thomson

Top Reno Tips Before Listing

I am often asked as an Agent, “What reno’s should I do to my home to maximise the price I achieve on sale?” Usually when a person is asking me this question, the work they are doing to the home is not for them to enjoy but to present the property as best they can to maximise return.

To answer the question, there are 5 key reno’s that will maximise the property price.

Paint: this can be done affordably if you manage yourself and can literally add tens of thousands to the sale price. Internally use a neutral white colour on all walls and ceilings. Do not do feature walls, this can polarise people if they do not have the same taste as you. Bring in colour with soft furnishings and wall art. It is also a good idea to freshen up external timber and gutters with a lick of paint if required.

Update the Kitchen: this is a major selling point of a home. Update door handles, fixtures and fittings. If the budget allows and the cabinetry/benchtops are out-dated, consider replacing the cabinetry with white laminate and upgrade the benchtops.

Update the Bathroom: you do not need to rip out and replace the entire bathroom but look at the quality of the sink, tapware and showerhead. If the tiles are dated, consider replacing or painting. Another low cost exercise is to clean all the mould from the grout. There are great products available on the market to make this job simple and easy.

Spruce up the Garden: the front garden is the first thing a prospective buyer sees. Make sure it is neat, tidy and presents well. Replace any dead plants with new, mow lawns and remove all weeds.

Repair and Patch: Consider fixing any maintenance issues including any holes/cracks in walls, cracked tiles, worn timbers and any appliances not working.

Your home is one of your most important assets and when listing to market you want to maximise your dollar return. Some hard work prior to listing should pay good dividends and will reflect in the final sale price.

Justine Thomson

Take Advantage of a Government Incentive

NRAS, or the National Rental Affordability Scheme. Don’t be bamboozled by the big words, the scheme is easy to understand and provides benefits to a wide demographic of people in Australia. Not only do investors benefit from NRAS but so do tenants and those looking to get a step up on the property ladder. So what is it? Why did it come about? And how does it work?

NRAS is a Federal Government initiative introduced in 2008. It was designed to encourage investment in residential housing to assist people on low to moderate incomes with an opportunity to rent homes at 20% below market rent values. It is not social housing; rather, it is a scheme to provide affordable private rental homes to individuals and families who meet the income threshold. To attract investors, tax-free incentives are provided to those who invest in and own approved NRAS properties.

NRAS was designed to assist in addressing housing supply and affordability. Pressure on the private rental sector, increased rents, the difficulty of low to middle income households to access affordable private rental homes, plus the reduced supply of public housing contributed to the NRAS initiative being created.

NRAS provides benefits to both investors and tenants:

Tenants: Eligible tenants can access private rental accommodation at 20% below the market rate. Tenants’ income may increase up to 25% before their eligibility is affected. Current income eligibility rates are available here: https://goo.gl/vHuAtF

If you are interested in renting an NRAS property and meet the eligibility criteria, it can be an affordable housing solution, to assist you in meeting your financial goals.

Investors: Approved investors are eligible to receive the NRAS incentive for up to 10 years for each approved dwelling where the conditions of allocation for the dwelling are met including renting the property at least 20% below market value rent.

The NRAS incentive for the 2017/2018 year is as follows:

Federal Contribution: $8,335.75

State Contribution: $2,778.58

Total Incentive: $11,114.33

The NRAS incentive comprises two components: the Federal Government contribution is a tax offset and the State Government contribution is a direct cash payment.

The benefits for investors can be significant. For example: If Jane invests in an NRAS property where the market rent is $300, she must rent the property out at $240 per week to be eligible for the NRAS incentive. Jane effectively receives $3,120 less in rent per annum for her property. However this is more than compensated by the above annual NRAS incentive she receives from the Federal and State Government. To understand the full benefit of the NRAS incentive and what it means to you financially, it is best to speak with a qualified Accountant or Financial Planner before purchasing an NRAS property.

SA Listings has a strong understanding of NRAS and works closely with relevant providers in South Australia. SA Listings currently has a NRAS property available in Evanston, South Australia. To find out more about NRAS either as an investor or as a tenant, please contact SA Listings for more information.

Justine Thomson

Selling Yourself

If you are considering selling your home in 2017 there are many paths you can take:

Sell it yourself
Engage a traditional real estate agent on commission with a full agent service
Engage a real estate agent at a fixed price with a full agent service

Selling an $800,000 home could cost as little as $2,610 if you sell yourself or up to $17,675 if you utilise a traditional commission agent.

If you are considering selling on your own, think carefully about the following:

Appraise the property correctly by using publicly available information about local sale prices and consider an independent valuation to assist
Ensure you present the home well for photography
Prepare relevant marketing material
Ensure all relevant documentation is available to a potential purchaser to enable an informed decision to be made, example: council rates, water rates, copy of title etc
Be prepared to arrange inspections by appointments and opens at various hours of the day
Be prepared to meet potential purchasers and take on board any negative feedback
Follow up with those people interested in your home and be prepared to take the emotion out of the sale negotiation
Engage a Solicitor or Conveyancer to prepare the Contract and Form 1

People often underestimate the work involved in selling a home and the level of professionalism required to negotiate the best conditions and price. Selling a property is an emotional and intense experience. It can be easy for a seller who decides to sell it on their own to run into trouble with incorrect information provided to a prospective purchaser or the inability to remove the emotion from the sale. A real estate agents market knowledge and negotiating skills can be particularly useful when it comes to listing a property for sale. Following is an indicative table of costs under each model.

Cost to sell an $800,000 Home by Private Treaty	Sell On Your Own	Sell with SA Listings	Sell with a Traditional Agent @ 2%
Base Price	$1,295.00	$7,888.00	$16,000.00
Professional Photography	Inc	Inc	$200.00
Sign Board	Inc	Inc	$150.00
Listing on realestate.com	Inc	Inc	$500.00
Brochures	Inc	Inc	$110.00
Open For Inspection	Manage Yourself	Inc	Inc
Form 1	$330.00	Inc	$330.00
Government Searches	$385.00	Inc	$385.00
Contract Preparation	$600.00	Inc	Inc
Total	$2,610.00	$7,888.00	$17,675.00

In 2017 there is choice and the flexibility to now sell your home with a full agent service at a lower cost to a traditional commission agent. So why create a headache for yourself and embark on selling alone when you can engage the service of a real estate professional at a transparent fixed fee. Whilst you think you will save thousands by selling yourself, it could in fact cost you thousands in the final negotiated price!

Justine Thomson

SA Homes Top Ten Wish List

I thought with 2016 recently ending and the New Year ringing in, it is an apt time to review the most common search words buyers use when seeking a property in SA, to assist any would be seller in 2017.

Many will be surprised pool is the number one search word when seeking properties in SA. For all those lucky enough to have a pool, the cost to run, maintenance and amount of times utilised often outweigh the benefits a pool can bring but at sale time this can be a bonus. A pool can be an attractive garden feature and for families a must have in our dry, hot summers. If your kids have flown the coop and you are thinking of ditching the pool, think twice, especially if you have plans to one day sell your home and downsize.

The old fashion granny flat is back in vogue! Statistics prove our kids are staying at home much longer these days and often do not consider leaving the family abode until in their late twenties or early thirties, sigh…. Grandparents are also becoming a part of the extended family, assuming a carers role for children when both parents work. To give extended adult families breathing space it is little wonder the granny flat is a highly sought after commodity. If you are fortunate enough to have a granny flat and are considering taking your home to market, it would be worth spending some coin on reinvigorating life into this space. If used as storage, clear out the boxes, de-clutter and style as you would a second home.

The corner block has always been a sought after find in SA but even more so since the State Government zoning changes. If you fall into the new zoning categories for higher density living, the corner block can be correlated to the golden goose who lays the golden eggs. Make sure you check with your council for current zoning requirements before putting your home on the market. The right zoning can add tens of thousands to your sale price. A good agent should be aware of the possibilities in your area when it comes to potential development or subdivision and should factor this into the market price.

Top Ten Property Search Words in SA

Pool
Granny Flat
Corner
Views
Beach
Shed
Esplanade
Cottage
Character
Investment

To maximise the return on your property consider the top ten search words and ensure your Agent takes full advantage of known characteristics your home has in meeting buyer needs.

If considering selling your home in 2017, we would love to hear from you and assist you in making the most of your properties attributes: salistings.com.au

Justine Thomson

Build or Buy Established?

A common question often considered by first home buyers, families and people down sizing is whether to build a home or buy an established property. Being a Real Estate Agent I have been asked this question many times. In fact, our Plasterer Nev, who is working on our current renovation asked me this question only the other day. The answer to this question is not like a maths question, there is no right or wrong, it all comes down to your individual circumstances. To assist here are some important tips to know.

Stamp Duty

This is a State Government tax paid on the purchase price of a property. The Government call this a duty but it really is another tax! It is a progressive tax. What this means, is the higher the purchase price the higher the stamp duty. If you were to purchase a residential home for $350,000 the stamp duty would be $13,830, this is 3.95% of the purchase price and if the residential home is purchased at $600,000 stamp duty would be $26,830, this is 4.47% of the purchase price. The higher the purchase price the higher the stamp duty. Now here is the trick, if you buy land only and then build, you only pay stamp duty on the land price. This can save you considerable duty and the additional funds saved can add value to the build! For example, if you are a first home buyer and you decide to build and let’s say the land is priced at $150,000 and the build at $200,000, you only pay duty on the land, totalling $4,830. This is a huge saving of $9,000 from purchasing an established residential home at $350,000.

At present, stamp duty exemptions for apartments purchased off plan are also available. You can find out more about these exemptions by referring to the Revenue SA website.

To calculate stamp duty payable on a property, there is a Stamp Duty Calculator available on the SA Listings website, refer http://www.salistings.com.au/stamp-duty-calculator

Let’s hope one day, the State Government will reconsider the imposition of stamp duty for all home buyers and implement a fairer system for all. Some would call me an optimist!

Government Grants in SA

There really is little on offer by the Government in regard to grant money to assist with purchasing a home unless you are a first home buyer.

First Home Buyers Grant: If you are an eligible first home buyer in SA and purchase a new home, a new home is defined as a home that has not been occupied or sold as a place of residence and the market value of the property is $575,000 or less, you may be eligible for the $15,000 First Home Buyers Grant. If you combine the First Home Buyers Grant with the potential stamp duty saving on a new build, this can be a considerable amount of money saved.

To find out more about available grant money and eligibility requirements, refer to the Revenue SA website.

Your Needs & Budget

An important consideration when purchasing any property is your budget. If you are considering building, ensure you have a fixed price contract, often builders will include provisional amounts for unknowns such as footings. Ensure you factor into your build budget a contingency amount for these provisional sum items and for any changes you may make along the way. Don’t forget additional items outside the build contract such as soft furnishings and landscaping.

When you buy an established property you know the purchase price and it is easier to manage the budget, however, maintenance and renovation items should be factored in.

When you build, you can choose exactly what meets your needs. Size of rooms, design of the home, type of build materials and overall style. When you purchase an established home, you often have to sacrifice some of your needs as it can be difficult to find a home that exactly meets your style, taste and size requirements. A rule of thumb is, if you have been searching for your dream home for longer than 12 months then it probably doesn’t exist on planet earth and you will need to create and build it.

Alternatively, you could buy an established home that doesn’t exactly meet your needs but with some renovation will. Buyer beware though, renovations can be painful to live through and can also blow the budget! We have been renovating a heritage villa for four years now and the budget versus actuals correlates with the changes to Elvis’s appearance over the years – from healthy and fit to sad and big.

The Unknown

When you build, there can often be fear of the unknown. How you imagined the home to be is not the reality of the build. To overcome this, it is important you have a great rapport with your builder who can visualise the working drawings.

Buying an established property, you know exactly what you are getting, especially if you splash the cash for a thorough build inspection. I highly recommend Chris Short in Adelaide for anyone requiring a build inspection.

Build or Buy?

If you consider each item in this article it should assist in answering the question for you. Having lived through three builds and three renovations, hands down for me, the build was much easier and more cost effective for us. On the flip side, the satisfaction achieved from renovating in conjunction with the ability to purchase a home with history cannot be underestimated.

Justine Thomson