By Owen Jacques
owen [dot] jacques [at] dailymercury [dot] com [dot] au
This year has already been described as a "challenge" for most people, as our city waits for the damage caused by a financial storm.
But 2009 could well be the ray of sunshine that first-home buyers have been waiting for.
Would-be buyers have been handed a combination of low interest rates, grants from the Federal Government of between $14 000 and $21 000 and creative developers, builders and agents keen to sell homes.
Darren Symons from Vision Real Estate said the past month had gone far beyond his expectations.
"First homebuyers have really come into the market," he said. "The market up to $500 000 has been very positive."
But he said it wasn't just those breaking into the market who were pushing the industry forward. "They've certainly helped but there's a wide variety of buyers and sellers."
He said since last year there had been "a very minor" price change on houses, with costs falling only slightly. And it was enough to galvanize house hunters.
"First home buyers with the $21 000 grant are certainly looking at brand new houses. People coming to town want houses already constructed - they want to move in straight away."
Ray White Mackay principal Fum Walters said she was positive about this new year. "There's still the demand there, but the prices have come back."
She said even with the recent job losses in the mining industry, she saw Mackay as being "pretty strong." "Vendors have had to reduce expectations but there's still people willing to buy."
At a recent open house, she said more than 45 people came through the doors. "It's a big amount by the usual standards," she said.
Her thoughts were echoed in the building industry, with Gemini Homes director, Graham Stritzke saying the market was "very buoyant" in Mackay.
"I don't think there's a better time to build," he said. "Between developers, builders and real estate agents, they're all having a good run."
Mark McGrath, president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia in our region said there were a lot of houses being sold.
"If they have confidence with their job, they can have the confidence to outlay for the house," he said. "Mackay is still going strong."
Taken from The Daily Mercury January 2009