reasons why now just might be the perfect time to sell. Q&A byStone P A G E 12 FEATURE PROPERTY With THE & Neil Webster Sarah Ward Get to know P A G E 14 PAGE5 PAGE10 April2023Edition T E A M
THE COAST Three
W E L C O M E
AtStoneIllawarrait'sallaboutyou. Whetheryouarebuying,sellingor investing,takethejourneywithus andexperiencethedifference.
WelcometotheAprileditionofThe Coast.Thismonthwecelebratefiveyears atourhomehereonCrownStreet, Wollongong.
Wehopeallourwonderfulclientsenjoyed theirEastercelebrations,asmuchasthe teamheredid!
Thismonth'seditionofTheCoast,opens upaninsightofthewonderfuleventsour teamhavebeenapartofthismonth,as wellasanswerstothosehardhittingreal estatequestions,fromourexperts.
Somanybeautifulpropertieshitthe marketinAprilacrosssalesand leasingandwehavepickedthebestto sharewithyou.
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T O T H E I L L A W A R R A .
P H I L O S O P H Y
AtStonewearecommittedtodeliveringfive starservicetoallourclients.Weareabout thejourneyandnotthetransaction.Our corevaluesarebasedontrust,integrity, professionalismandculture.Ourteamof professionalsarereadytoassistyouon yourrealestatejourney.
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In the know with Stone.
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Good news with Stone.
OnSaturday,29April,SarahWardandthe StoneIllawarrateam,proudlyhosted BalgowniePublicSchoolOutdoorCinema Night!
Despitethewetweather,thenightwasahuge success.Theteamwereextremelythankful forthosewhosupportedthenight,andwe hopeyouenjoyedamuchfavouriteofoursSING2.
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F E A T U R E
Locatedjustundera2hour drivefromSydneyisthis wonderfulpossibilitytobuild afirstclassDAapproved EcoResortsetina picturesquelocationclose tobeaches,ShellCove Marina,golfcourseand gorgeouscoastaltowns. Borderingtheuntouched MinnamurraRiverand quietlynestledonahilltop withincredible360degree viewsoverthegreenrolling hillsofJamberoo,the Illawarraescarpment, MysticsBeach,KiamaGolf courseandthetownshipof Kiama.
71 Fig Hill Lane
Dunmore
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Offeringextensivefrontagetothebeautiful MinnamurraRiverandcapturingviewstothe oceanandmountains,thisone-of-a-kind propertyoffersaworldofpossibilities–with optionsforeithercompletingtheunfinished home,orimplementingDAapprovedplansfor alandmark33roomEcoResortfeaturinga restaurant,luxuriousloungearea,resortpool, bar,gym,rooftopterraceandincluding twentyhilltoplodges CHECK IT OUT! Rare Opportunity HelenaCrumpton 0415119019 GregCrumpton 0418557185 PAGE6
P E R F O R M A N C E
S A L E S
22
NEWLISTINGS
9
SOLDPROPERTIES
689 OFIATTENDEES
P R O P E R T Y
M A N A G E M E N T 23
PROPERTIESLEASED
6
NEWMANAGEMENTS
306 APPLICATIONSPROCESSED
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F E A T U R E
P R O P E R T Y M A N A G E M E N T
Thispropertywasleasedat thefirstopenandachieveda priceof$525perweek,which was$85higherthanthe previoustenant.Therewas novacancyforthislandlord.
Definedbyitslightfilled interiorsandoutlookof manicuredgardens,this ultra-modernapartment offerstheultimatecarefree lifestyle. Enjoyopenplanlivinginafull securitycomplex,aswellas theeverpopular'North Wollongong'location,within ashortwalktoparks, beaches,salt-waterpool, railway,freebus,Universityof Wollongong,funkycafésand popularrestaurants.
12/2 Noel Street
Wollongong
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Property Management Highlights.
Theleasingteamsuccessfullyleased 9propertiesin7daysinthemonthof April.
Ourpropertymanagementteamhave oneofthelowestdaysonmarketwithin theIllawarrabeingat10dayson market.
Ourleasingteamworkshardtoforgestronglong-term relationshipswithbothlandlordsandtenants.
Asadisciplinedprofessional,SusieBampton'sexperience, attentiontodetailandpresentationedgecombinetogive clientsthebestpossibleadvantageinthemarket.Shewas drawntotherespectedbrandandwelcoming,supportive cultureofStoneRealEstateIllawarraandisdelightedtobe partofateamthatsharesherclient-centricfocus
Ahighlypersonableprofessional,JessicaBoydeisahighperforming,reliableandconsistentPropertyManagerwho workshardtoforgestronglong-termrelationshipswithboth landlordsandtenants.Shelovesdealingcloselywithclients andsolvinganyconcernsorproblemsthatmayarise, ensuringthattheyenjoythebestpossibleexperience.
S u s i e B a m p t o n J e s s i c a B o y d e
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THE TEAM GET TO KNOW
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BenjaminSayers CaitlinBarker
Q:Starsign?
A:Cancer
Q:Yourcoffeeorder?
Mycoffeeorderdependsonthetimeofday Ifitismorning, aflatwhite Ifitafterlunchordinner,Ipreferalongblack
Q:Dreamholiday?
eamholidayistogotoLondonandtravelthroughEngland ouldloveonedaytohaveafternoonteaatoneofthegreat Londonhotels,suchasTheRitzorClaridge’s.
Q:Houseorapartment?
WhilstIdoliketheideaofagrandestateinthecountry,my aboutasgreenasablueberry,soitwouldn’tbepractical
Q:Pooloryardspace?
A:Rooftoppoolalltheway
Q:Yourfavouritethingaboutyourjob?
portourclientsandourteamtoachievetheirgoalsisreally you’vesupportedsomebodytogetfrompointtopointwith easeinarealestatetransactionisveryrewarding
BernadetteKuper
Q:Starsign?
A:Libra.
Q:Yourcoffeeorder?
A:Idon’tdrinkcoffee,rarelyIwillhaveahotchocolateonskim milk
Q:Dreamholiday?
A:Anywhererelaxingbythewaterinthesun.
Q:Houseorapartment?
A:House
Q:Pooloryardspace?
A:Both,yardforthedogsbutpoolaswell.
Q:Yourfavouritethingaboutyourjob?
A:Everydayisdifferent,soyouarealwayslearningandgrowing
Q:Starsign?
A:Aquarius.
Q:Yourcoffeeorder?
A:Weakcappuccino
Q:Dreamholiday?
A:TwoweeksinHawaii.
Q:Houseorapartment?
A:House,sameaddressforthepast35years.
Q:Pooloryardspace?
A:Garden,ismypeacefulplace.
Q:Yourfavouritethingaboutyourjob?
A:Spendingtimewiththemostamazinggroupofyoungpeople, watchingtheirdriveandenthusiasmfortheindustry
K
O M
N O W
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Three reasons why now just might be the perfect time to sell.
1. Interest rate shock has worn off
Afternineconsecutiveraterises,theReserveBankofAustralialiftedthecashrateforthe tenthtimeinMarch.Almostayearintotheraterisecycle,whilewe’recollectivelyready forthehikestoend,itissafetosaybythispoint,theshockhaswornoff.Theofficialcash ratecurrentlystandsat3.60percentasofMarch2023,andit’slikelynotthelastofthe hikes.
Fromaconsumerconfidencepointofview,we’reinafarbetterpositionthanweweresix monthsagowhentherealityoftheserateriseswasinitiallysinkingin.Expectationshave beenadjusted,borrowingcapacityhasbeenrecalculatedandbuyersaremorerealistic aboutbothwhattheycanaffordandwhattheyarewillingtospend.Assuch,they’reno longerholdingbackandareincreasinglywillingtodowhatittakestosecuretheirdream property.
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2. Listing volume is lower than ever
Thenumberofnewlistingsonthemarketiscontinuallydeclining.AccordingtoCoreLogic data,theflowofnewlistingsiswellbelowaverageforthistimeoftheyear.Newcapital citylistingsaddedtothemarketoverthefourweeksendingJanuary29were-22.2%lower thanoverthesameperiodlastyearand-24.5%belowthepreviousfive-yearaverage. Onthedemandside,thereareabsolutelybuyersoutthere.
Thisincrediblytightsupply,coupledwithmoderatebuyerdemandultimatelytipsthe marketinfavourofsellers.Thereluctanceofmanyprospectivevendorstotestthemarket meansthoseinapositiontosell,willreapthebenefitsofbeingoneofalimitednumberof propertiesavailableforsale.
3. Property price declines have steadied
Thedecliningtrendinhousepricevaluepointshasevidentlyreducedinpaceacrossall regionsandcapitalcities.Januarysawnationalhomevaluesdecline-1.0%,whichisless thanthe-1.1%fallinDecember,andbelowthepeakmonthlydecline(-1.6%)recordedin August.Inotherwords:we’vemadeitthroughtheeyeofthestorm.
Ifyou’reseriousaboutselling,perhapswhat’smostimportanttonoteisthatdespitethe recentsharpdropinvalues,everycapitalcityandregionisrecordinghomevaluesabove pre-pandemiclevels.
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Q & A N E I L W E B S T E R
Whatisthefirststepinbuyinga home?
Therearethreefactorseverybuyershouldconsiderbeing budget,locationandrequirements. Budgetwillrequiretalkingtoafinanceexpert,brokeror lendertodetermineborrowingcapacity.
Itisbesttodothisinapreliminarystagetoensureyou aren’tlookingoutsideofyourmeanswhenresearching properties. Locationisalwayskey.Isitnearfamily,schools,workor lifestyleoptionssuchasbeach,lake,escarpment?Once youhavebothinplace,amoreaccuratesearchinterms ofrequirementscantakeplace.Requirementscaninclude thenumberofbedrooms,bathroomsandcarspace,along withblockrequirements,flatblockorsomethingwitha view.
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Q & A N E I L W E B S T E R
IfIamalreadyahomeowner, shouldIsellmyhousebefore purchasing?
Thiswilldependonyourcapabilitytomoveforwardwith thenextpurchase.Ensureyouhaveadequatefinancein place,orhaveanalternativeaccommodationarranged (livingwithfamily,rental).Nobodywantstoselltheirhome andhavenooptionwhenitcomestimetosettleonyour sale.
Agoodagentwillworkoutaplanthatsuitsyouandyour situationbest,andgiveyouthe“right”adviceaccordingly. Yourtakeoftheinterestraterises
andhowitaffectsyoungcouples lookingtobuy?
Whilstinterestrateshavegrowninthepast12months, theyhavereturnedtoa"normalrate" equivalenttowhatmostrateswerepriortoCOVID. Itmaybeformanyfirsthomebuyers,thattheyhave tolookinthealternatesuburbs,iftheycan’tafford theirpreferredchoices.
Theirfirsthomedoesnothavetobetheirforeverhomeand sometimes,gettingintothemarketismoreimportantthan watchingit.Thegovernmenthasalsointroducednew schemeswithregardstooff-settingStampDutytohelp alleviatesomefinancialstressforfirsthomebuyers, theseoptionsshouldalwaysbeexplored.
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Thingstoconsiderwhenselling?
Themostimportantthingtoconsiderisensuring thatthetimeisrightforyou!Somepeoplethink thattheymustsellatcertaintimesoftheyear, butessentiallytherearebuyersallthetimeand thebesttimetoselliswhenYOUfeelthetimeis right,youknowwhereyou’regoingnextand you’reemotionallyreadytomoveon.
Renovatebeforeselling?
PresentationissuperimportantsoIwouldrecommend cosmeticrenovationstoensurethebuyerslikewhatthey see,butIwoulddiscouragebigexpensiverenovationsas thesecostscanblowoutanditwouldbeimpossibleto predictwhetheryouwillgetthismoneyback.
Isitgoodtohaveabuildingand pestinspectionpriortoselling?
100%-Ialwaysrecommendhavingabuildingandpest reportbeingdonepriortosellingasthisnotonlyassists theagentinrepresentingyourhomeinitstruelight,but italsoreassuresthebuyerthateverythingisokayand putstheminapositiontomoveforwardquickly,should theywanttomakeanofferonyourhome.
S A R A H W A R D
Q & A PAGE16
F O L L O W U S O N S O C I A L S . KeepuptodatewithNew Listings,UpcomingAuctions, andofficegiveawayprizesto bewon! Ournextgiveawaywillagift tospoilmumthisMothers Day!Keepyoureyeout... @ s t o n e r e a l e s t a t e i l l a w a r r a PAGE17
Meet th team.
AngelaBolton SalesExecutive
AylaPaull Compliance&Sales AdministrationManager
BarbaraCooper SalesExecutive
BenjaminSayers TeamWard OperationsManager
BernadetteCooper Concierge
CaitlinBarker PropertyManager
CarleyRyman PersonalAssistantto SarahWard
CassandraBoland AssistantAgent
ChloeGee AssistantAgent
DarnellHaselau SalesExecutive
DavidScioscia DirectorofSales
DeanneBannerman OperationsManager Illawarra
EmilyBolton AssistantAgentto AngelaBolton
EmmaFitzgibbon Headof PropertyManagement
GregCrumpton SalesExecutive
HayleyBloom ExecutiveAssistantto NeilWebster
HelenaCrumpton SalesExecutive
JakeMcKinnon NewBusiness DevelopmentManager
JamiePereira SalesAssociateto SarahWard
JanePearson PropertyManager
JessicaBoyde AssistantAgent
KaleahCrompton Administration
KylieDavis PropertyManagement Accounts
LarissaRudd MarketingCoordinator
LaurenMellor AssistantAgent
MatthewKasbarian SalesAgentto PaulPiacentin
MichaelSchlegel Director/LicenseeLREA
NeilWebster SalesExecutive
PaigeForland AssistantAgent
PaulPiacentin Director/LicenseeLREA
RaffaeleDiCandia AssistantAgentto MichaelSchlegel
RebeccaCarlson FinanceManager
SarahWard SalesExecutive
SusieBampton LeasingConsultant
VictoriaKolevski MarketingManager
WhitneyBallardin PropertyManager
YensonMui SalesExecutive
GET IN TOUCH Address Phone Email Website Shop2,98-100CrownStreet,Wollongong 0242281622 illawarra@stonerealestate.com.au www.stonerealestate.com.au/stone-illawarra