Bees Nees The Buzz » Highgate Hill

Bumpy ride for rent rises

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:58:20 +0000

Local rents dipped slightly in the last quarter of 2011, according to new stats released by the Residential Tenancies Authority. The median rent for a 2 bedroom apartment dropped $10 to $500 per week, reflecting the quieter rental market and caution from landlords.

Rents are up 6% on the same time a year earlier ($470/week) so overall it’s good news for investors. The CBD’s workforce continues to be a big driver of demand for this neighbourhood and crossing the river saves tenants $60 (the median for postcode 4000 is $560/week). And they can live on the doorstep of all our local lifestyle amenities!

January has started with a real rush and enquiry to our South Brisbane office from tenants is the busiest we’ve seen in some years. We’re expecting the RTA data will show 2012 starting as a great year for local investors.

Note: this RTA data is collated by postcode so includes new bonds lodged throughout 4101: South Brisbane, South Bank, West End and Highgate Hill

If you would like a rental appraisal for your property just give our head of Property Management – Annie von Rudzinksi a call on 07 3214 6899.

For median rent information visit http://www.whatrentmyhome.com.au/

Fire stirs Highgate Hill from morning slumber

admin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:36:40 +0000

Today’s local house fire is a good reminder of the importance of smoke alarms. Neighbours initially thought the residents were home during the early morning fire but fortunately they’d already left for work.

The house only sold in April of this year after spending almost 9 months on the market, and now it’s been signifcantly damaged. Queenslanders burn quickly and judging by the TV footage smoke covered a huge chunk of the suburb.

Highgate Hill real estate sales update

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 03:19:54 +0000

While real estate market-watching’s become a national sport, it’s hard to call any strong price trend in Highgate Hill’s market so far this year. Our median sales prices are down on last year, but have retained much of the growth of the last decade. One clear change is the number of transactions – the 2nd quarter of 2011 has been busier than the first but we’re still on track for just half as many house sales as we saw in 2010. Why? Many local home-owners have withdrawn their properties from sale (or not listed at all) awaiting stronger prices. Overall buyer interest remains fairly solid, albeit at softer prices than last year.

If you’d like a sales market update for your property please call our Highgate Hill specialist, Rob Honeycombe on 0423 332 022 or 07 3214 6800

Thankyou to the Brisbane State High School catchment

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:09:36 +0000

Last weekend marked the 90th birthday of our local high school and on behalf of all local real estate agents we owe you a big thankyou! The respect Brisbane State High has earned as an outstanding education facility has led to its neighbourhood’s real estate increasing in price. Without any doubt.

We’ve just sold a house nearby and the Brisbane State High catchment was a crucial drawcard for more than half the buyer enquiry we received. Familes from as far afield as Aspley made the drive to Highgate Hill in the hope of securing a home, and importantly an address that is inside the line on the map. And this is a common story.

If you’re a Highgate Hill real estate agent, a South Brisbane real estate agent, a West End real estate agent, or even an agent handling those parts of Woolloongabba real estate that are within the catchment, you owe the school a huge thankyou. Local home owners who’ve sent their kids to BSHS have had the double-benefit: a great school and solid home prices.

Highgate Hill’s best cubby house?

Rob Honeycombe — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:23:52 +0000

You don’t need government stats to know that there’s plenty of families calling Highgate Hill home. Swing sets and kids bikes are a fairly regular sight when I’m out and about. But today’s pic is an outstanding piece of home handywork, and no doubt the kids spend plenty of time in this “penthouse” of a cubby. I hadn’t noticed it until this week but that may be because the frangipani tree has lost all its leaves.

If you’ve seen a better local cubby house we’d love to hear about it.

Rental Market Update – 4101

admin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:30:26 +0000

We like to use the 2 bed apartment rents as our benchmark and across inner-Brisbane they rose 4% in the 3 months to June 30th. Across wider Brisbane City they rose just 1% and there’s no doubt some pockets are witnessing stronger demand than others. Rents in this 4101 peninsula dropped $20 to $480 after a $30 rise in the March quarter. So while the trend is up the market is still finding its way. We added just 31 homes to the local rental pool in the June quarter, and while some new apartment projects are underway there’s good reason to expect rents to grow further.

Note: RTA stats quoted here cover all of postcode 4101 including South Brisbane, Highgate Hill and West End

If you would like a rental appraisal for your property just give our head of Property Management – Annie von Rudzinksi a call on 07 3214 6899.

For median rent information visit www.whatrentmyhome.com.au

Fiesta 2011 draws a happy crowd

admin — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:13:41 +0000

Another happy, bubbling crowd at the annual West End State School Fiesta yesterday. It’s a real treat for the senses – the smells of dozens of different international foods, the live bands, the excited chatter of the kids, the WWWWOOOOOSH of the rides flinging their passengers through the air. Congrats go to all the parents, staff and students who put in so much effort. Organising Fiesta takes a mountain of volunteer hours and gives the broader community a chance to support the school.

This year Bees Nees very own company chairman Boris called in to say hi and hand out some balloons. Can’t keep that bee away from a good party!

: P&C Chair Marilyn Trad, Boris Bee and Sophie Honeycombe

Less for sale as local home-owners stay put

Rob Honeycombe — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:46:06 +0000

We keep a close eye on what’s for sale in Highgate Hill and there’s been a fairly sizable drop in the numbers over the past couple of weeks. As at today there’s just 11 Highgate Hill houses on the market for example, and of those only 4-5 are actively campaigning (i.e. doing more than just sitting on the web). This peaked at 24 at the time of January’s floods and has stayed around 20 for most of this year.

Local apartment listings are also down with just 24 now for sale, having peaked at 33 just a month ago.

This is positive news for local property owners as it means there’s less for buyers to choose from, and less price competition. It supports our view that very few owners are in a forced-sale situation – many would like to sell and upgrade/downgrade/move elsewhere, but they’re prepared to sit out this current market dip.

Surrounding suburbs are witnessing a similar drop in homes for sale, so if you’re looking to buy you might like to make your move now!

Community speaks up on demolition proposal

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:13:41 +0000

This eye-catching house at 161 Dornoch Terrace has been the subject of plenty of local discussion over the past fortnight, with a proposal before Brisbane City Council for its demolition. The land-owners were required to advertise their proposal and that sparked a flurry of submissions to Council and a healthy “liking” of a Facebook page set up to show opposition to the proposal.

Submissions closed yesterday so we’ll have to wait and see what BCC decide. The neighbourhood’s got a rich history of development applications causing controversy - the land immediately behind this house was known as the Gully and saw a long and tense debate before development proceeded as what’s now the extension of Brydon Street.

Children’s hospital rises from the dirt

Rob Honeycombe — Wed, 25 May 2011 04:03:21 +0000

I love the sight of a forest of cranes! I snapped this driving past the new Queensland’s Children’s Hospital in Vulture Street. They’re spending $1.4 billion on the place and it’s due to be completed in 2014.

It’s one of those projects that’s so big and is taking so long that you forget it’s there. But for home buyers looking at the areas nearby – South Brisbane, Highgate Hill and Woolloongabba especially – we’d suggest it’s a key piece of infrastructure that you shouldn’t overlook. With 360 beds this hospital is going to draw thousands of new workers to the area. Thousands. And they all need a place to live.