Suzana Wade of Locate Property is a local Brisbane property management expert who is on the ground in Brisbane, speaking to tenants every day. Her insight is invaluable when actually trying to ascertain investor sentiment and tenant feedback for Brisbane Properties, and right now is a bad time to be a tenant.
Property rents are increasing, and vacancy rates are at an all-time low. However, this should be an excellent time to be a property investor. However, why hasn’t this translated to more investors buying right now?
Tenant demand is robust, rental prices are rising, properties are in little danger of sitting empty, rental returns are strong, and it’s starting to shift to be a buyer’s market in many locations thanks to recent declines in purchasing prices.
However, investors have been noticeably absent from the festivities. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the value of investor lending for homes in February was down 32.6% year over year. Overall, house lending was down 30.9%.
It’s crucial to emphasise that a lack of investors isn’t the only reason for our housing crisis; governments and a lack of development are also to blame (the number of dwelling approvals in February 2023 was down 31.1% from the previous year).
However, investor participation helps to alleviate the crisis.
The main obstacle, according to PropTrack economist Angus Moore, has been interest rates, which have crushed investors due to limited borrowing capacity and higher mortgage rates.
repayments just like everyone else. The Palaszczuk government’s new tenant legislation is a close second in terms of the reasons keeping investors out of the Brisbane property market.
Although prices have retracted by on average 5–10% over the last 18 or so months, investing in Brisbane Properties is unquestionably more expensive thanks to interest rates and hidden investment costs. “During the pandemic, we actually noticed more investors selling than buying,” Suzana said.
“Many people saw their overall wealth decline as a result of falling home prices.” “Also, given the low number of property listings and limited new homes to buy, there hasn’t been a large selection of investment property options for investors to purchase with an attractive price discount incentive.”
Investors for Brisbane properties have the opportunity to profit.
Experts believe the moment is now, with capital city vacancy rates still falling and rental prices rising as housing supply is limited and population growth is high.
According to PropTrack statistics, a vacancy rate of 3% is considered desirable as a market equilibrium between tenants and owners; however, capital cities recorded a rate of only 1.43% in March 2023, down 55% from March 2020 and 0.66% from March 2022.
Sydney and Melbourne experienced the most significant quarterly declines, while Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, the ACT, and the regions experienced modest rises.
According to the ABS, 303,700 people are predicted to move to our shores in the year ending June 30, 2022; a larger proportion of them than the average population is likely to seek rental accommodation.
Meanwhile, advertised rental prices on realestate.com.au rose 2% nationally in the first quarter of 2023 to a median of $500 per week, representing an 11.1% increase over the previous year and the fastest rate of rent growth since well before the pandemic.
“Given how tight rental markets are and how competitive they are, we’re seeing rents grow extremely quickly across the country.”
“The only long-term solution is more housing.” “And more investors are purchasing such homes.”
Investor demand is expected to rise.
According to Warren Hogan, an economic advisor with Judo Bank, the present rental problem would certainly encourage additional investors to enter the market.
“We know there will be a supply squeeze and that the population numbers are there.” Rents will continue to climb, as will rental yields; prices will not fall much further and will most likely begin to rise.
“This is an excellent time to enter the market for a long-term investment.”
Some investors appear to be in agreement.
Despite borrowing less, their share of all borrower-accepted loans is increasing.
According to the ABS, investors accounted for 33.7% of all transactions in February 2023, up from 24.2% in February 2021 and 27.3% in February 2020.
A property management Brisbane firm, Locate Property, founded by Suzana Wade, who is now speaking out against the state government’s new rental reform regulations. Beginning on July 1, 2023, rent hikes are only allowed to occur once per year as a result of new laws established by the government. However, as a result of the transition arrangements, any rent increases that were previously agreed upon in the lease will also be null and void as of this date.
Ms. Wade and Antonia Mercorella, chief executive officer of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), have both expressed displeasure with the retroactive nature of the new legislation. Ms. Mercorella has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the government’s choice to disregard previously negotiated contracts. Ms. Wade counters by saying the government’s action is unwise and may have lasting effects on Queensland’s real estate market.
Property Management Brisbane companies like Ms. Wade’s are worried that the State Government of Queensland’s ongoing stream of legislative changes may discourage property investors from putting money into the state. She warns that watering down property investor rights might have dire ramifications for Queensland’s rental market, as private investors are the primary source of housing for the state’s 1.5 million renters.
Ms. Mercorella has warned the government against being overly prescriptive when revising rental laws. She thinks the measures need to strike a good balance between protecting tenants and enticing investors to remain in Queensland. Ms. Mercorella warns that ignoring the importance of property investors could have disastrous effects on the rental sector in the state.
As a result, it’s safe to say that neither Ms. Wade nor Ms. Mercorella approve of the state government’s new rental reform regulations. They contend that these regulations could have a significant negative impact on the state’s rental market and all property management firms in Brisbane, as they will undermine property investors’ confidence in Queensland. They advocate for reforming the state’s rental laws in a way that is both thoughtful and balanced, protecting renters’ rights while also acknowledging the role of property investors.
To access Stage 2 of the proposed Rental Reform laws, Click HERE
Locate Property’s Suzana Wade predicts that renting in Brisbane is about to get even harder with record rent increases over the next 12 months. According to recent PropTrack statistics, tenants across the nation have another challenging year ahead of them as rental costs rise. According to the data, rentals across the country have increased by 2 percent in the first quarter, to a median of $500 per week.
In the past year alone, rents have increased by 11%, which is the biggest annual increase seen since before the epidemic. Rents in the nation’s capital increased by 4% from the last quarter of 2022 to the March quarter, bringing the yearly increase to an astounding 13%. Meanwhile, rents in the region have climbed by 2.2% from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2018 (an annual increase of 4.5%).
Particularly in Brisbane but also in Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, rents are rising “at an extremely rapid pace,” as the paper emphasises. In fact, Perth rents increased by 9 percent in the most recent quarter. PropTrack’s analysts are sounding the alarm that rent increases are likely to persist due to the current tight rental market. Particularly true in nation’s capital, where rent hikes have remained steady since they first began to accelerate in early 2022. As the pandemic has progressed, rent rises have slowed in the regions.
Except for the Australian Capital Territory and remote South Australia, rental prices rose across the country in the March quarter. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has lately paused its long-running cycle of interest rate hikes, opting to maintain a cash rate of 3.6 percent instead of raising it. However, rising rental costs show little signs of slowing down. Therefore, renters everywhere will be hit even harder than usual this year.
For more articles on trending real estate, click HERE.
Locate Property’s principal and licensee, Suzana Wade, explains the property management fees in Queensland and how they tend to operate, particularly in Brisbane.
As a landlord in Brisbane, you should know that the cheapest option is not always the best when it comes to hiring a professional management company.
The company offering the lowest prices may appear to be the best choice, but you shouldn’t automatically assume that this is the case.
We’ll explain the various components of property management fees in Queensland and why you shouldn’t base your decision solely on the bottom line.
The first order of business is to figure out what kinds of services the property management company offers. A property management company will charge you a management fee for their services. These costs may vary widely depending on factors like the company, the location, and the nature of the services rendered.
The monthly management fee for a rental property in Queensland is typically a combination of a flat rate and a percentage of the rental income collected by the owner. This figure typically falls between 6 and 12 percent, though it can be higher or lower depending on the nature of the business and the services it offers. Some companies, especially those that advertise themselves as “full service” property management firms, may charge extra for services like inspections, reports, maintenance, and access to technology.
Other property management fees in Qld may include but not be limited to, the following:
Letting Fee
Reletting Fee
Rent Collection Fee
Admin Fee
Court Appearance or QCAT fees
File Closure Fees
Technology fee (depending on the additional services that may be on offer )
Renovation/Maintenance% over a certain dollar value.
A successful property management firm will reinvest its earnings to attract and retain a more talented workforce and to expand the range of services it offers to its clients (the building’s owners and tenants). The success of any modern business depends on its ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees.
What you, as the owner, want to do is find a happy medium between service costs and service offerings. The key, according to Suzana Wade, when entrusting someone with a valuable asset like an investment property is to find a middle ground where you can get great value and a comprehensive set of services at a fair and realistic price.
If you can’t decide between two or more agencies, Suzana advises you to trust your instincts and work with the one that feels right, regardless of how much it costs.
The following list will offer you some additional points to look into.
Do they view property management as their main line of business or more as an add-on to their sales department?
Does the principal have a background and work history in property management or sales?
Have you had the opportunity to speak with and meet the person who will be in charge of looking after your property?
Are their reviews accurate and do they mention the names of the people you’ve met and you will be working with.
Maintaining excellent lines of communication between all members of the team and the owners and tenants is essential to the success of any business.
Choosing a property management company is a very individual process, your interaction with the company’s day-to-day operations and how you are treated by its employees will determine how satisfied you are with the service you receive.
Just remember that a few dollars saved now may amount to thousands that a poor appointment will cause over the longer term. Loss of rent, unattended maintenance , poor tenant selection one that here at Locate see all the time, little or no rent reviews, leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
Just remember a sign of a good property management firm is that when it is running well, everything works as it should, updates come through, reports are on time and accurate and you will hear less and less from your property management firm. Just ensure that your checks and balances are in place to ensure they are doing the job that you are paying them to do and once you have built up this trust, this is how it should be.
In conclusion, it is essential to weigh the quality of services against the cost when evaluating property management fees in Qld. Choosing the right agency based on the property management fees Qld alone might result in subpar service and damage to your bottom line. If you want your investment property to succeed over the long run, you need hire a management firm with a solid reputation, knowledgeable employees, and extensive offerings where you are getting VALUE which will never be the cheapest.
Click here for more helpful information from the REIQ
Suzana Wade, a Brisbane real estate expert and principal/licensee at Locate Property, has seen firsthand how rapidly the Brisbane landscape has changed, especially for first-home buyers looking to enter the market for the first time.
To help make the process easier, Suzana has now published her list of the top 10 suburbs that first home buyers should be looking into when making their decision on how to source an area that will allow them to enter the property market.
Brisbane is wide and diverse and Suzana’s greatest advice for first home buyers is be flexible, this isn’t your forever home, this is your first home.
Ripley
About 40 kilometres west of Brisbane’s CBD is the developing suburb of Ripley. It’s the ideal combination of metropolitan conveniences and natural beauty, thanks to the abundance of parks, lakes, and hiking trails. Single-family homes in Ripley cost about $440,000 on average, while a unit will cost about $295,000 on average.
Ipswich
Ipswich, a historic suburb of Brisbane, is located 40 kilometres west of the city proper. It has easy access to major roads and public transportation, and it is home to both historical sites and modern amenities. Houses in Ipswich cost about $330,000 on average, while apartments cost about $235,000 on average.
Caboolture
Caboolture is a developing suburb 45 kilometres north of Brisbane’s central business district. An up-and-coming suburb of Brisbane, just a short drive from the Sunshine Coast’s idyllic beaches. The area is rural and charming, with plenty of parks, shops, and schools. The average apartment price in Caboolture will run you around $210,000, while a house will set you back around $325,000.
Burpengary
Just 35 kilometres north of Brisbane’s central business district, Burpengary is another promising suburb on the city’s periphery. There are plenty of parks, stores, and schools, and the area has a rural, quaint feel. 10 min Drive to Westfield, Costa & Ikea. The median house price in Burpengary is around $430,000, and the median unit price is around $290,000.
Lota
Approximately 20 kilometres east of Brisbane, along the coast between Wynnum and Manly, you’ll find the suburb of Lota. All the perks of a beachfront location, without the hefty price tag. Parks, cafes, and shops abound in this area, making it feel like both a suburb and a beach town. In Lota, an apartment will run you about $380,000, while a four-bedroom house will set you back around $660,000.
Logan
About 20 kilometres south of Brisbane, in a diverse and increasingly desirable suburb known as “Logan,” As the neighbourhood undergoes gentrification and becomes a more viable option for first-time homeowners, this is a great choice. It combines the conveniences of suburban life with the beauty of nature by providing access to numerous parks, lakes, and hiking trails. In Logan, a one-bedroom apartment will set you back about $255,000, while a four-bedroom house will set you back about $380,000.
Kippa Ring
Approximately 26 kilometres north of Brisbane, in the Moreton Bay Jurisdiction, the family-friendly suburb of Kippa Ring has been Brisbane’s top performer for many years. It’s got all the conveniences of a suburb and the allure of the coast, like good parks, stores, and institutions of higher learning. Kippa Ring has a median house price of $477,500 and a median Unit price of $360,000.
Redbank Plains
Approximately 30 kilometres south-west of Brisbane’s central business district, Redbank Plains is a developing suburb in the Ipswich Jurisdiction that borders Springfield Lakes. The Cross City Rail Project is important because it involves the extension of a rail line through the suburb and its eventual connection to the Brisbane Central Business District. Redbank Plains has a median house price of about $410,000 and a median unit price of about $290,000.
Narangba
The family-friendly suburb of Narangba can be found about 26 kilometres north of Brisbane’s CBD. This suburb, which has already seen substantial growth, is on the cusp of seeing some massive school projects from the Catholic Church come to fruition, which will completely transform the area. There are plenty of parks, schools, and shopping centres, and the area has a rural, quaint feel. In Narangba, a median house price of $524,000 and a median unit price of $348,000 can be expected to be paid.
Bellbird Park
Located next to Springfield Lakes, the family-friendly suburb of Bellbird Park is often seen as a classier alternative to Redbank Plains, which appeared earlier on our list. It is only 22 kilometres south-west of Brisbane’s central business district, making it conveniently close to a major transportation hub. It’s got all the amenities of a typical suburban area, like parks, stores, and institutions of higher learning, and then some. Bellbird Park has a median house price of around $430,000 and a median Unit price of around $335,000.
For advice on how to secure the right home loan click HERE and for more great advice follow Suzana on her Real estate journey HERE.
