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The media often seek our opinion about local property buying trends and updates for Queensland. Here are just a few of the articles that we have been asked to contribute to or have relevant information you may find interesting:

The Eureka Report Will Property Rise in the East? by Monique Sasson Wakelin January 2012

Brisbane

Last year was Brisbane’s annus horribilis. Truly a perfect storm of environmental and economic factors – particularly a fall in tourism due to the floods and strong dollar – combining to send property prices down around 7%. But really, when you think about it, that fall was remarkably measured given the circumstances.

Brisbane’s property market has demonstrated a fair degree of resilience in the face of adversity, and is also due to bounce back. There are signs that this is under way, according to Meighan Hetherington, director of Brisbane-based Property Pursuit.

“We find that a steady increase or decrease in our customer commitments usually foreshadows change in broader Brisbane market prices four or five months later,” she says. “We saw a big drop in investor commitment in November 2010, which correctly predicted negative price growth around April 2011.

“Throughout 2011 buyer commitments have remained relatively low. Enquiries have picked up since September 2011 and commitments have increased month on month since October. We believe this will translate to a steadying of prices throughout 2012, with mild growth back to 2010 levels.”

Although Brisbane still faces ongoing economic headwinds from the strong Australian dollar, I believe it will be well placed. Indeed, it may end up being the top performing market in 2012.

Click here to subscribe to The Eureka Report

National Feature in Your Money, Property: A Beginners Guide by Sophie Elsworth January 2012

Property prices have been a bit battered in the past year, yet building a real estate portfolio remains a burning ambition for many Australians.

For those of us yet to dabble in property investment, there's plenty to think about before getting started........

Buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington, of Property Pursuit, suggests getting advice on what each type of property is likely to deliver for you but says there is much to consider.

Click here to read the full article

Multicap Home Opening September 2011

Meighan and Carol were invited to attend the opening of the second Multicap 'home4life' initiative in September 2011.

Multicap, a non-profit organisation that provides support options for people with high-needs disabilities, celebrated the opening of a second home through their 'home4life' initiative.

Property Pursuit are proud to have found and purchased this home and another for Multicap.

For more information about Multicap visit their website www.multicap.org.au

Courier Mail Do the rental research by Michelle Hele May 2011

Taking your time to find the right property is crucial for would-be landlords, writes property editor Michelle Hele.

Buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington of Property Pursuit, says too few investors do the demographic research that is needed to buy and investment property.

She says too many buy with their heart and don't treat it like the business transaction it is.

"Few people think it through," Hetherington says.

"A large percentage buy in their own suburb because they are comfortable in that suburb, so they don't buy something that somebody renting would find had good attributes."

Realestatetalk.com.au with Kevin Turner 10th July 2011

Meighan is often interviewed by Kevin Turner for the 4BC radio Real Estate Talk radio show on Saturday mornings between 7.00-8.00am.

In this episode, Kevin asks Meighan about the importance of location in choosing an investment property.

Click here to listen

The Sunday Mail Desperate Sellers slash home prices by Michelle Collins February 2011

Meighan Hetherington from buyer's agency Property Pursuit said not only were there more sellers than buyers, banks were now more cautious with home loan approvals.

"The financiers have been quite strict and tightening up their lending criteria, which means more contracts have been falling over because people who thought they could get finance couldn't actually get it," she said.

Style Magazine Hammer Time by Sarah Murray October 2010

Most of us would like to believe that we're well-schooled in the area of real estate but unfortunately that's not always the case, especially when it comes to auctions.

"People often find themselves going to an auction with a complete misunderstanding of the impact of their actions," says Meighan Hetherington of Property Pursuit, adding that although people are often exposed to the process of auctions on TV, it's not at an in-depth level.

Fox News, Your Money Your Call March 2010. Meighan also appeared on the show again in October 2010.

Sunday Mail Invest on the Edges: Cross Rail Benefits by Michelle Collins 19th September 2010
THE unveiling of the route for Brisbane's Cross River Rail link is bad news for those whose properties face resumption but it can be an opportunity for investors.
Buying just outside areas earmarked for major road and rail developments and purchasing before or during construction when properties were likely to be cheaper can be a money-maker.
Meighan Hetherington from buyers' agent Property Pursuit recommended purchasing just outside the study areas but close enough to benefit from the new infrastructure.
"There can be very good opportunities for buyer's to secure properties during the uncertainty — often at very cheap prices," she said.
"But as always our advice is that just because a property is cheap does not make it a bargain. It still must be a quality property in the right location, either meeting strong investment fundamentals for the investor or the right needs of the home buyer."
But there was always a risk.
"The city is undergoing so much change and development that nothing is certain," she said. "A new project could be announced tomorrow that affects your house or mine.

For the full article please click here

Sunday Mail: Home in on prices: Listings too high 12th September 2010
YOU might not get the 50-80 per cent discounts found in the shops but houses around the state are being marked down to attract buyer's. Vendors are being forced to drop their original listed prices by thousands of dollars to sell.
Meighan Hetherington from buyers' agency Property Pursuit said there were genuine bargains, with properties priced lower than their valuation, but others had been put on the market at an unrealistic starting price.
"We bought one property at auction that had a valuation of $1.45 million and we bought it for $1.2 million," she said. "I would say that is a bargain but there are others out there that are simply overpriced. They need to come down in price for people to even be interested in going to see them."
She said overpricing tended to be mostly in the $550,000 to $750,000 price range.
"For example a house that is worth $550,000 is listed at $620,000 or a $700,000 house listed at $790,000," she said. "There are quite a few in that range that have been set too high."
Research by RPData on the average difference between listing and selling price showed that, in Brisbane, houses in Kenmore Hills, Chermside, Balmoral, New Farm and Herston sold for 10-12 per cent less than what the vendors originally asked for.
In Cairns, the biggest discounts were close to the city centre in Bungalow, Bayview Heights, Earlville and Manunda, along with Port Douglas, which had been heavily affected by the slowdown in tourism.
Houses on the Gold Coast that recorded the highest level of vendor discounting were by the waterfront where, in many instances, the supply of units significantly outweighs the supply of houses.
They were at Surfers Paradise, Paradise Point, Tallebudgera Valley, Mermaid Beach and Tallebudgera.
Houses on the Sunshine Coast that recorded the highest discounting were in Cooroibab, Doonan, Peregian Springs, Caloundra and Mooloolaba, and in Townsville —West End, Black River, Wulguru and Currajong.

For the full article please click here

www.australianhousehunters.com.au Investor's market still strong July 2010

Although buyer inquiries in the Brisbane property market have dropped off marginally in the past couple of weeks, figures reveal that investors are raising the bar in terms of property prices.
Meighan Hetherington, Brisbane’s leading buyer's agent from Property Pursuit, says investors are stronger in the $750,000 plus range – which is a trend away from the traditional sub $550,000 range.
"More than 70 percent of our current investors are spending more than $700,000 on each investment property,” Meighan said.
"They are focusing on quality locations close to the CBD and transport, and also quality character-style houses.”
This trend echoes a recent report conducted by the Housing Industry Association, the voice of Australia’s residential building industry. Inner-city Brisbane rated 18 in the top 20 hot spots in the HIA list.
Property Pursuit’s own research shows the owner-occupier market is also strong with buyer's focusing on location as their primary driver together with compromising aspects of the house.
"Couples with young children are keen to get into areas that have state schools with good reputations such as Wilston and Ascot State Schools,” Meighan said.
"Those with older children are focused on being within walking distance to the suburban private schools, like Ashgrove, Toowong and Ascot and they are prepared to pay a premium for a top position.”
Meighan said although buyer inquiry has dropped off slightly, well positioned properties are still moving quickly.
"Some sellers have adjusted their expectations towards overpricing on listing, and by ensuring their properties are well priced, they are not missing out on those early buyer's.
"In today’s market, buyer's should remember that everything is open to negotiation.”

The Courier Mail: North v South by Michelle Hele July 2010
While Brisbane's northside has long boasted prestigious hillside suburbs offering city and river views, interest in its southside has increased substantially in recent years thanks partly to one very well-known resident.
And even though he is no longer the prime minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd's standing as a long-term resident of Norman Park helped to put that suburb and the rest of Brisbane's southside on the radar for property buyer's.
Although that small claim to fame would not be enough to get entrenched northside residents to cross the Brisbane River.
Brisbane residents have long battled over which side of the river is best to live on and changing their minds is a hard task, according to buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington.
She says even new residents to the city with no historic allegiances get caught up in the hype.
"We spend a lot of time dispelling the myths," she says.
For the full article please click here.

The Courier Mail Property Lift out: Renovating a home requires realism by Amanda Horswill
Experts know how to ensure the best return for investment on home makeovers, even in a fluid market write Amanda Horswill.
The frequent house-hunter sees it all the time - that house advertised as "totally renovated" but where something just isn't quite right.
Maybe it's the lounge room and how it is marooned away from the kitchen. Or the colour scheme, where purple and orange everywhere seem too overwhelming to fix.
Perhaps the bathroom is too close to where people sit to eat. Maybe it's the layout - why are the bedrooms hogging access to the back deck?
It's that "one thing that will make potential buyer's leave without another word", says buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington from Property Pursuit.
For the full article please click here

The Courier Mail, Property Lift Out The DIY Traps by Melissa Ketchell May 2010

It is a sector of the property market that keeps growing. Despite all the jokes about troubles finding tradesmen, renovating still seems to be one of the nation's most popular pastimes. Choose your improvements wisely and renovating can add substantial value to your home. But poorly thought-out changes can even lower the value of a home despite the best intentions. Buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington said spending thousands on high-end ovens and expensive tap fittings was one area where sellers were unlikely to recoup the expense. "The fixtures and appliances should be in keeping with the value of the house," Ms Hetherington said. "High-end ovens in a cheaper house don't add value." According to Ms Hetherington, a fresh coat of paint and polishing the floorboards were amongst the best low-cost options for increasing the value of a home.

The Courier Mail: Front Page On the Move by Michelle Hele 17th April 2010

Houses are selling almost twice as fast as last year, as Queensland's property market bounces back from the global financial crisis.
Buyer's fearful of missing out have started offering over the asking price.
With sellers jumping at quick deals, more than 14,300 properties have been put on the market in the past month.
More than $37 billion worth of property is now for sale. Since the end of last year, Brisbane prices have shot up by about 5 per cent and buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington of Property Pursuit said homes were taking far fewer days to sell, as buyer's tried to beat the rises.
Across Brisbane it now takes on average 58 days to sell, compared with 98 days a year ago.
"The market is similar to how it was at the end of 2006 and start of 2007," Ms Hetherington said.

City News: Poor Planning can be an expensive mistake by Luke Royes 8th April 2010
Poor planning when purchasing a home could cost you a new car or a luxurious holiday abroad.
Property Pursuit agent Meighan Hetherington has waned prospective house buyer's than only a small calucualtion error in the value of their new home could cost, on average, $25,000.
.....According to Ms Hetherington, house sale prices are otfen determined by market pressure rather than the home's true value, amaking it difficult for the average buyer to establish the right price to pay for a property.
"the Australian model for selling real estate is skewed in favour of the vendor, so it's important that prospective buyer's seek fair representation for themselves and in all probability, save themselves tens of thousands of dollars" Ms Hetherington said.
RP Data's research director Tim Lawless said the continued high rate of capital gains in the new year came as a bit of a surprise.
For the full article click here

Eureka Report: Location rules as buyer's downsize by Monique Wakelin March 2010

The news from the field is this: Don’t trust the simplistic overview. The days of consistency among the states in price performance and supply are dead and generic national outlooks are increasingly useless to smart investors. A watchful eye on each of the state’s economic influences and each city’s property drivers are compulsory in times like these.

I asked several property experts and an economist for their view on what is driving Australian capital cities’ residential property markets, and the news is interesting, varied and for some investors unsettling. While overall clearance rates are high, not every sale result is a reliable indicator of market dynamics. Each city’s market is patchy and I believe this patchiness is the result of two factors......

Brisbane’s market has good volumes of supply across most price ranges but there is limited volume in the most desirable suburbs, pushing many towards smaller properties just to stay in their preferred area, according to Meighan Hetherington, managing director of Property Pursuit. This is an experience consistent with Melbourne.

"Many more people are willing to compromise on property size or the need to renovate just so that they can live or invest in the area they prefer,” Hetherington says. Around $500,000 could buy a three bedroom house within 12 kilometres of the city, $600,000 would buy an updated Queenslander within 8km of the CBD, and $700,000 is required to purchase a house in premium suburbs such as Paddington or Ashgrove, she says.

For the full article please visit http://www.eurekareport.com.au/

www.realestatebuzz.com.au $25,000 Loss in miscalculated house price on average home March 2010

Queensland’s Buyer's Agent of the Year has warned prospective house buyer's that only a small calculation error in the value of their new home could cost, on average, $25,000.
With the average house price now sitting at approximately $500,000, Ms Meighan Hetherington of Property Pursuit in Brisbane said that only a minor miscalculation of five percent would cost the average family or investor the equivalent of an overseas holiday, a year of private schooling for two children, a new car or a significant share portfolio.
Ms Hetherington commented that she was stunned that working families paid more attention to the price of petrol, milk and bread, than they did to the price of the biggest investment of their lives.
"We’ve done the calculations and estimated that if you saved 10 cents a litre on milk and used an average of seven litres a week, it would take 686 years to recoup the loss of one transaction in one weekend buying a family home or investment property,” she said.
According to Ms Hetherington, the prices for which houses sell is often due to market pressure rather than the true value of the home, making it difficult for the average buyer to establish the right price to pay for a property.
"The Australian model for selling real estate is skewed in favour of the vendor so it’s important that prospective buyer's seek fair representation for themselves and in all probability, save themselves tens of thousands of dollars,” said Ms Hetherington.
Property Pursuit’s clients, 45 percent of whom are purchasing their principle place of residence with the remaining 55 percent being investors, spend in the vicinity of $1.3 million dollars per property, dramatically increasing the financial severity of any margin in error.

Aussie Home Loans: Experts predict top growth suburbs for 2010 February 2010

Property prices are on the rise in 2010, so where will you get the best bang for your buck?

According to Matthew Bell, economist at Australian Property Monitors (APM), Brisbane and Perth are the best places to buy.

"Queensland and Western Australia's increased exposure to the downturns in both the resources and tourism sectors has meant that price recovery for both houses and units have trailed other states," says Bell. "However it's important to move now as prices are likely to recover in early 2010."

But he also says there are opportunities for bargains in Sydney and Melbourne where some suburbs still remain under their late-2007 levels, even after the strong growth of the last six months.

Queensland

In Queensland, Bell says the best suburbs to buy are Hawthorne and Lota for houses and Kangaroo Point for units.

Meighan Hetherington, managing director of buyer's agents and advisers Property Pursuit in Brisbane, points to suburbs that will benefit from infrastructure developments including the northern busway, the airport link and the Clem 7 tunnel.

"Lutwyche, Kedron, Gordon Park, Alderley, Enoggera, Greenslopes and Woolloongabba will all be good suburbs," says Hetherington. For owner occupiers she sees premium suburbs such as Paddington, Auchenflower and Bulimba all showing potential.

For the full artice please visit http://www.aussie.com.au/

Eureka Report: Middle Ring: The Comfort Zone by Monique Wakelin, February 2010

The question for investors is: Should I be investing my hard-earned money in these locations and property types?

Meighan Hetherington, of Brisbane-based Property Pursuit, advises clients against buying investment properties more than 12 kilometres from Brisbane's CBD. "People here are pretty city-centric and for Brisbane, 12 kilometres is a long way to drive every day," she says. "We don't have the employment centres spread out, which means rental returns and future saleability are affected when properties are too far from the CBD.

"Properties just inside that 12 kilometre boundary need to be looked at carefully, particularly if they are not close to major transport links. Some suburbs not on a train line, like Aspley, should be avoided in favour of better-performing properties for similar prices closer to the CBD. But even then you can't just rely on how close it is; you have to research the demographic mix, the property types and all of the infrastructure and facilities before making a decision."

And there's the rub. While a rising market lifts all boats, true investment grade properties float higher than most.

So my advice is quite simple. If you're thinking of buying a large family home, don't mind being a bit further away from the centre and these precincts appeals to you, the upmarket family house may be just what you're looking for.

But if you're investing purely for financial gain there are faster growing opportunities elsewhere.

For the full article please visit http://www.eurekareport.com.au/

Australian Property Investor: The Tips and Traps of preparing to buy January 2010

The property pendulum is on the upswing, according to Property Pursuit managing director Meighan Hetherington, and to get in on this fast moving market buyer's need to be better prepared.

For the last quarter of 2009, Property Pursuit reported 'days on market' as between seven to 10 days in some parts of Brisbane.

Hetherington said now is the time to get in on the action and secure a property before the housing supply declines further and faster.

"....we have already seen many homebuyers returning to the market, with many of (these) buyer's spending time and money getting ready to go to auction on properties that are simply out of their price range," said Hetherington.

Hetherington has revealed her tips for buyer's when considering a property:

1. Location: Does it have schools? Shops? Day care? Car parking? Major shopping area? Cafes? Sporting facilities?

2. Transport: How do people get to work in that area? How far is it to bus stations or train stations?

3. Demographics: Look at the potential demand of the property by matching the household demographics to the property.

4. Rent-ability: Review the logical layout of the home. Does it have adequate sized bedrooms? Are there usable living spaces inside and outside, and other features such as storage?

5. Potential: Is there an ability to increase the value of the property through renovation or development? Check the surrounding properties can't become high-density blocks of units.

6. Affordability: Stay within the second and third quartile of prices in the suburb for price and rent.

And what she regards as the traps to be wary of:

1. Avoid buying with the heart and forgetting the head.

2. Avoid buying that 'bargain' property - there are usually major negatives that will stifle growth. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

3. Don't miss good opportunities because you're waiting for the 'perfect' house. Every house will have trade-offs and compromises.

For the full article please visit API. Also appeared on Yahoo

Australian Property Investor: Buying now to avoid limited supply January 2010

As property values increase steadily into 2010 and supply thins out, now is the time to buy, according to residential and commercial buyer's agents Property Pursuit.

"Buyer's need to realise that the peaks and troughs of the property market are shortening, so we are now seeing the start of a property market surge, reminiscent of 2007," said Property Pursuit managing director Meighan Hetherington.

"We've already seen high prices and fast moving sales in the second half of 2009, so the next downturn in the market may not occur for another two years."

She said when on the search for properties and determining the best time to invest, the property lifecycle must be studied, along with the property fundamentals.

"If you wait until the end of 2010, you could face exorbitant costs and limited supply," she said.

For the full article please visit API

Australian Property Investor: Meighan was interviewed in December 2009: What are Brisbane's in-demand suburbs?

Lutwyche, Ashgrove and Greenslopes are among the suburbs Meighan Hetherington from Property Pursuit believes are set to benefit from gentrification, infrastructure and an increase in demand in the near future.

Hetherington says premium property in Brisbane is back in demand, with homebuyers paying a premium to secure their own abode.

"Since June this year, we've witnessed a rapid increase in demand for properties, especially prestige properties in the Brisbane CBD," she says.

"We believe it's the result of pent-up demand formed over seven months of economic instability."

For the full article please visit API

Money Matters: In October 2009, Meighan was quoted in Property Advisors provide link with Financial Planners

Property advisers can provide a link between a financial planner and a client who wants to add property to their portfolio, according to Property Pursuit director Meighan Hetherington. While financial planners may be skilled in advising clients to include property in their investment portfolio, they do not have the skills, abilities or licences to assist them with suggestions on what type of investment property to purchase, Hetherington said.

For the full article please visit Money Matters October 2009

Australian Property Investor: In October 2009 Meighan was interviewed for "Avoid the 'Buy and Hope' Strategy"

Selecting a good investment property is a complicated process and shouldn't be left to chance, Brisbane buyer's agent Meighan Hetherington says.

Hetherington, the director of Property Pursuit, says too many investors are missing out on the best returns because they don't do enough research before buying an investment.

To read the full article please visit API

Eureka Report: In August 2009, Meighan was quoted in 'City Secrets'.

Brisbane's median price also appears to be underperforming, improving by just 1.4% in the June half, according to RP Data. But Meighan Hetherington, Managing director of Property Pursuit, puts this result down to the composition of sales. "We've seen a heavy concentration in the under $500,000 market making 2009 figures a little misleading," she told me last week. "I think the next release of data will show the recent effect of investors' activity on the Brisbane market. They have only been active in the past six weeks or so, but I'm seeing portfolio buyer's and expats returning to the market. The best buying opportunities are in the mid-priced sector up to about $900,000, particularly three-bedroom family houses along the major transport routes. But there's not a lot of stock on the market so investors need to be highly selective."

For the full article please visit http://www.eurekareport.com.au/

City News: In September 2009 Meighan was interviewed for "Million-dollar houses back in buyers' buzz"

Prestige property in Brisbane has attracted an unexpectedly high level of inquiry and activity, according to leading Brisbane buyer's agents and property advisors, Property Pursuit.

Director Meighan Hetherington said the $1m-plus bracket was being driven by buyer's taking advantage of the lull in activity and a reasonable level of supply.

To read the full article click here

REIQ Journal: "Demistifying the role of a Buyer's Agent" August 2009

'The fundamental difference between a buyer's agent and a traditional seller's agent is in respect of which party's interests they protect. A buyer's agent works for, and acts in the best interests of, the buyer; whereas a seller's agent works for, and acts in the best interests of, the seller.'

To read the full article click here

REIQ Journal: Buyer's Agents - New Kids on the Block August 2009

And while buyers' agents are becoming increasingly popular in the marketplace, according to 2009 REIQ Buyer's Agent of the Year Meighan Hetherington, the wider industry has yet to fully understand their role.

"A buyers' agent's independence is their most valuable asset," she said.

To read the full article click here