Make the housing market boom work for you

Thursday, 28 January 2021

The resilient Queensland property market continues its rise into 2021 after defying the pandemic predictions last year.

Brisbane housing prices values rose 1.1 per cent in December alone, according to property data analytic group CoreLogic.

In 2020, Queensland became the most popular destination for international and interstate relocations, particularly from Sydney and Melbourne, according to the REIQ.

With demand high amongst buyers and a shortage of properties on the market, now could be an ideal time to put up the “for sale’’ sign and downsize.

Record low interest rates, combined with the Federal Government’s Home Builder Scheme current until the end of March 2021 and the Queensland Government’s First Home Owners, continue to buoy the market.

Selling at the right time and the right price is essential for the majority of Aura Holdings’ residents to buy their dream retirement lifestyle in our established and under construction communities in Brisbane, Sunshine and Gold Coasts, and Toowoomba.

For retirees wishing to take advantage of current high housing prices but are concerned that construction isn’t complete on their preferred Aura Holdings’ retirement living community, we offer you a way to benefit from selling your family home now and securing your preferred retirement apartment. You will be very welcome to take up temporary residence in one of our established communities in southeast Queensland while you await completion of your new apartment (click here to find out more).

We have more than 30 residents currently residing temporarily in our villages, particularly those awaiting completion of construction later this year at The Pavilion North Kirra, beside the beach on the Gold Coast, or Somerset Indooroopilly within the beautiful Indooroopilly Golf Course.

Retirees Kim and Bill Horne recently moved into Kingsford Terrace at Corinda in Brisbane’s southwest while they await completion of The Pavilion. Not having lived in Brisbane previously, the couple are enjoying exploring their new neighbourhood and getting to know the city.

Kim and Bill were living in a unit in Kirra when they literally stumbled across The Pavilion site on Lang Street while out walking. “We were in a three-storey walk-up complex so had been thinking for a while about our future living arrangements for our ‘forever home’.  We had been exploring other retirement village options around the area and so when we discovered The Pavilion, we knew it was right for us and committed within 24 hours,” Bill said.

While they feel they are ‘living the (interim) dream’ at Kingsford Terrace, Kim and Bill are looking forward to moving back to the sea air and beach.

Another couple taking advantage of Aura’s Transfer Program is Gay and Mal Stapleton who are residing at The Atrium Lutwyche, in inner northside Brisbane, before heading to their permanent home at The Pavilion.

The Stapletons sold their home at Pottsville in northern NSW sooner than expected. “It left us up in the air and undecided whether to continue with Aura’s development or move elsewhere,’’ Gay says. “The transfer program took the pressure off us knowing we had somewhere to go.’’

Unlike other village operators, if one of our residents decide to move within or between any Aura development they won’t be charged the Deferred Management Fee twice. The DMF will only be calculated after the resident’s final move from an Aura property and then it will be calculated pro-rata based on the time residing in each apartment. For more information about the calculation of the DMF please speak to your sales consultant.

Many of the large corporate retirement village operators also insist that their residents pay refurbishment costs (such as repainting and recarpeting) on their current apartment if they change apartments. In fact, Aura residents never pay refurbishment costs when they move. This is a real point of difference for Aura.

Your decision to downsize and capitalise on the strong market is obvious but another benefit can deliver a welcome boost to your retirement savings. If you are 65 or older and sell your family home, the Federal Government allows you to contribute up to $300,000 for each partner into your super. For more information about the Downsizer Contribution click here.