Cairns is continuing to slowly emerge from its economic trough.

Most gratifying has been an increase in employment, and although unemployment is higher even that gets a positive spin – more people coming out to look for work as they perceive the economy to be improving. Coupled with perceptions of a much busier tourist season this year and with direct flights into China about to commence, there is growing confidence in the future of Cairns economy.

Click to access 201209fullreport.pdf

Cairns Regional Council in focus

Local news, views and what’s happening around Cairns.

The September edition of #Cairns Regional Council In Focus is now available online

http://bit.ly/Uvue8u

Calculating the Best Way Forward

Buying a house is much less complicated using this tremendous array of calculators provided by Aussie

Calculating the Best Way Forward.

ANZ changes rate cut call to forecast October and November RBA cash rate cuts with possibility of single 50-basis-point cut

ANZ changes rate cut call to forecast October and November RBA cash rate cuts with possibility of single 50-basis-point cut.

First-home buyers told to build or miss out on first-home buyers grant. Source : Brisbane Times.

The $7000 first home buyers’ grant will be axed in favour of a boost for the ailing construction industry, the government has revealed.

In tomorrow’s budget, the Newman government will scrap the current First Home Owner Grant and replace it with a $15,000 handout to first-time buyers purchasing off-the-plan or newly-constructed properties.

First-time buyers, who purchase an established property, will still qualify for the $7000 grant if they sign contracts by October 11.

But the re-shaped First Home Owner Construction Grant will kick-in on September 12 for properties valued up to $750,000.
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Premier Campbell Newman said the government had responded to industry concerns in “changing” the original First Home Owner Grant.

“The Master Builders Association has lobbied on behalf of the sector for changes to the grant and the Government has responded in a constructive way,” he said.

“This First Home Owner Construction Grant will provide a targeted and sustainable injection of confidence to the construction sector.

“The previous Labor government’s Building Boost scheme was a short-term sugar hit which benefited property investors outside of Queensland.”

More than 5400 First Home Owner Grants were paid in Queensland in the June quarter, compared with 4000 in the same period in 2011.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the government had already wiped up to $7,000 off the cost of buying a home by reinstating the principal place of residence transfer duty concession.

The Property Council of Australia had called upon Mr Nicholls to undertake a wide-ranging review of state stamp duty for off-the-plan residential sales and the land tax surcharge, in the hope the LNP’s first budget will reinvigorate the embattled property and construction sector.

However, at a Property Council of Australia luncheon last week, Mr Newman remained coy when asked about the possible extension of stamp duty concessions to Queenslanders buying house and land packages.

The changes:

$15,000 for first home buyers of new and off-the-plan properties applies from September 12
$7000 grant for first home buyers of existing properties to be scrapped from October 12
New $15,000 grant applies to newly constructed homes, or properties bought off the plan

To be eligible, first home buyers must:

Make the property the principal place of residence within one year of taking ownership and live there for at least six months
Not sell the property within a year of moving in
Buy or build at a property worth less than $750,000.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-to-scrap-7000-first-home-owner-grant-20120910-25mvu.html#ixzz2620aTNDS

42 solar panels on the roof of his house now receives $1500 a quarter through selling his surplus energy to the state government.

A Kallangur man who installed 42 solar panels on the roof of his house now receives $1500 a quarter through selling his surplus energy to the state government.
But while the system was legally installed, the number of panels would be illegal now.
Kerry Rochfort, a small business owner and an electrician by trade, had the panels installed on the roof of his Anzac Avenue house last August.
His solar power system generates between nine and 12.5 kilowatts of power daily and earns him up to $1500 a quarter in excess energy.
Mr Rochfort bought the slightly flood-damaged solar panels by auction from the University of Queensland. They were to be used in a multi-million dollar test project and were being stored in a shipping container that was damaged in the January 2011 floods.
The house has the approval of the Building Services Authority and the state government’s Electricity Safety Office, he said – as well as being known among locals for its unusual appearance.
“We have had the [BSA] come out and inspect them, so that’s above board.
“And we’ve had the Electrical Safety Office come out and inspect them and again as I said, it did generate quite a bit of interest.

courtesy of : http://news.domain.com.au

Entice your buyers to find the love of their life in your home!

A home is more than just shelter – a home is where the heart is! You don’t buy just bricks and mortar. You buy the lifestyle as well. Even in a slow real estate market, buyers have a checklist of the things they NEED their new home to have such as 3 bedrooms, a big backyard, close to schools or near the beach etc.

But even after finding a number of homes in a suburb that meet those essential needs, what is it that really makes a buyer decide to commit to the largest asset they will ever own and sign on the dotted line?

They are seeking an emotional connection that makes them “fall in love” with a home. Most buyers make that initial emotional connection within the first five minutes of walking through the front door. Why? Because they can generally see up to five areas of the house from there. If they like what they see, it’s “love at first sight”!

Sellers need to imagine they are preparing their home for sale like they are getting it ready for a first date. They need to romance the buyer. Do you remember the process you went through when you embarked on meeting the person you fell in love with? Did you get excited and scared at the same time? Did you go “as is” or did you go all out to present yourself in the best possible way?

I’m sure you didn’t just pull out some old outfit from the back of the wardrobe and hope it would do. I’m guessing you made a special effort to present yourself in the best way possible. I bet you also (females especially) made sure your hair was perfect, your nails were manicured, you brushed your teeth and you wore your favourite perfume (or aftershave in the case of men)!!

Speed Dating: What Happens when Buyers Start Looking? Speed dating gives men and women a mere five minutes to introduce themselves and make enough of an impression to merit a real, full-length date. It takes place in large groups so that each speed-dater has a couple of dozen or so brief chances to make a love connection. First impressions make or break the outcome.

Much like speed dating, buyers on the hunt for a new home do something similar. They have their list of homes that they have found in the paper or off the Internet, and armed with a GPS and the open home inspection times they move rapidly from house to house over a brief period of time in their own quest for “house love”. And just like in speed dating, positive first impressions are crucial for getting your home sold, because buyers are comparing several properties within a very short time span.

To sell your house fast and for the best possible price, your best bet is to create a sensory event that bombards the buyer with an emotive reaction. As with finding your life partner, you want your home to;

Look good – Smell good – Sound good – Feel good
Let your buyers know that you care enough about your home and how they are going to react by going to the trouble of dressing your home to impress. Entice your buyers to discover the love of their life in your home!

Are you claiming your deductions on your investment property?

As the owner of an investment property you are entitled to claim depreciation on the building structure and the fixtures and fittings inside. The exact amount of depreciation will vary from property to property. Every property investor can claim yearly deductions for the wear and tear on their building and its fittings. When purchasing an older investment property, many investors decide to renovate after settlement. Investors can often claim thousands of dollars in deductions when renovations are done.Check out this handy phone app from BMT Tax Depreciation. The FREE App enables you to estimate how much can be claimed back on a property in seconds! This advanced calculator is extremely helpful for anyone involved in property investing. http://www.bmtqs.com.au/PropertyDepreciationApp.aspx

Great News for Cairns. We will host G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in 2014.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced at a press conference on The Esplanade that Cairns will host the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in 2014.

Around 4,000 delegates and 3,000 international media are expected to attend the event, which is likely to be held at the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre. An invitation to the November 2014 meeting is extended to leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies.

Leaders from other regional cities including the Gold Coast, Townsville and Toowoomba had previously indicated an interest in hosting the international meeting of finance ministers ahead of the summit in Brisbane.

As many as 2,000 people will visit Cairns as part of the meeting, giving us the opportunity to promote Far North Queensland to the world.

“The reef, the tropical rainforests, its a tremendous opportunity to showcase a part of Australia which is the gateway to the emerging world in Asia.” said Wayne Swan.

The G20 meeting has the potential to provide a huge boost to the Cairns economy then and into the future, including accommodation, hospitality, transport and tourism.

That Competitive Gap – RE/MAX Australia Launches True Global Real Estate Listing Site

The difference between RE/MAX and everyone else –  just got a whole lot wider.

global.remax.com, the first truly global resource for consumers, with hundreds of thousands of home listings in countries around the world has officially been launched here in Australia and is now live. The site features customised search tools that allow our potential buyers to search for properties in 30 languages, translate currencies and find the latest international real estate news.

RE/MAX Australia members are now able to show their sellers how buyers can view their properties in their native language and currency, regardless of where they are located along with guaranteeing exposing their clients properties to a worldwide audience.  Did you know that over 20% of Australian households do not use English as their first language!  Just one huge benefit of why the marketplace should list with a RE/MAX agent.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of foreign buyers looking for property in Cairns and all of Australia and vice versa. global.remax.com is essentially a one-stop source for residential and commercial real estate, no matter where you live.” said Michael Davoren, RE/MAX Australia Managing Director.

RE/MAX has a presence in more than 80 countries, a global reach far greater than any competitor and the power of such a site of this scale will open the doors to international business.