Well-presented homes continue to stand out in changing market

The Surf Coast property market may be in a period of transition, but buyers are still making confident decisions when the right home comes along.  

That was one of the key messages from the latest episode of the Natural Real Estate podcast, where Director Shaun O’Callaghan was joined by Head of Sales Chris Henson and New Business Manager Steph Fry to discuss current conditions across Torquay, Jan Juc and Bellbrae.  

Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and changing buyer sentiment, Henson said sales activity across postcode 3228 has remained healthy.  

“The median house price is sitting around $1.16 million, which is very similar to this time last year,” he said.  

“As an agency we’ve sold a home every three days on average this year. The biggest change has been days on market, which has now extended to around 50 days, although well-priced and well-presented homes are often selling much sooner.” 

Henson said buyers now have more choice than they did several years ago, making presentation and pricing more important than ever.  

He pointed to a recent campaign where a property that had previously sat on the market was relaunched with a refreshed marketing strategy, updated photography and a slight adjustment to the price guide.  

The home sold within 10 days after attracting multiple buyers.  

“Having the right strategy from day one gives sellers the best opportunity to achieve a strong result,” he said.  

While some commentators continue to describe current conditions as favouring buyers, Henson believes the market is better described as transitional.  

“We’re getting really strong results on some properties and others are taking a bit longer to sell,” he said.  

“It’s not simply a buyer’s market. It’s a transitional market, and we’re still seeing buyers competing for the right property.”  

On the rental side, Fry said seasonal patterns were becoming evident, with winter bringing fewer enquiries than the busy summer period.  

“We’re seeing fewer enquiries and applications than during the peak summer period, which is typical for winter. However quality properties that present well and are priced fairly are still leasing.”  

She said changing compliance requirements continue to highlight the value of professional property management. 

“Property management today is about much more than collecting rent. It’s about protecting your investment, keeping your property compliant and helping minimise risk,” Fry said. 

“That includes careful tenant selection, regular compliance checks and making sure owners are supported as legislation continues to evolve.” 

Looking ahead, the team expects confidence to continue building as economic conditions become clearer. In the meantime, success will continue to come down to a considered strategy and experienced advice. 

The episode was recorded at TNG Studios in Torquay. The full conversation is available now via the Natural Real Estate Podcast on Spotify, with the full episode also available to watch on YouTube. 

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