Record Low Interest Rates – What It Means for Home Buyers

April 3, 2020

Record Low Interest Rates

The current period of share market uncertainty is driving a wave of property investment into Southeast Queensland. Encouraged by record low interest rates and house prices, North Harbour is welcoming increased interest from investors, particularly interstate investors, looking to seize the opportunities offered by the current crop of low home loan interest rates.

Investment properties in North Harbour tick all the boxes for a great classic mid to long-term bricks and mortar investment, namely location, affordability, amenities and local need for rental accommodation.

Location

North Harbour is in the suburb of Burpengary East in the northern corridor between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. This is a growth area with plenty of new infrastructure and more planned to come, both in the community itself and in the wider region. North Harbour is 45 minutes from Brisbane CBD, and 35 minutes to the Sunshine Coast. We’re close to public transport and the highway making commuting simple in either direction. The northside of Brisbane is growing at a rapid rate. With an array of new global stores such as IKEA and Costco on our doorstep as well as new recreational and lifestyle amenities and job opportunities – the northside has become a very sought-after location.

Affordable Investment Properties

North Harbour offers a variety of affordable investment properties priced from $369,000 for a 3-bed Terrace home and around $400,000 for a four-bed, two-bathroom home. The average house price in our suburb of Burpengary East is $605,000 (Figures from Realestate.com.au April 2020), so a brand new home in North Harbour offers great value in this regard.

Amenities

North Harbour has excellent amenities. Each home at North Harbour has access to our high-speed broadband network and reticulated gas. All homes are located within walking distance to open space, which forms part of our proposed 1000 acres of open space and parks. We currently have five parks, a mountain bike trail, free activities, café and childcare centre on site. Local medical centre, shops and eateries are a 5-minute drive away and a proposed shopping centre, marina and more are included in our development masterplan. North Harbour is home to over 2000 residents and we are approximately halfway through our 15-year masterplan.

Need for Rental Accommodation

Experts advise that investors purchase properties where there is a need for housing and potential for growth, so you can get good tenants, such as North Harbour. North Harbour is popular with renters and we have a 30% cap on investment, so the possibility of being stuck with a property in an oversupplied area is very low. Rental income from houses in Burpengary East is averaged at $420, whereas North Harbour is slightly higher at $450, as houses and amenities are brand new and therefore more attractive to renters. (Figures from Realestate.com.au April 2020).

Buying an Investment Property at North Harbour

We endeavour to make the business of buying investment properties at North Harbour as easy as possible. You can already view sales plans, house and land packages and general information on our website www.northharbour.com.au, and walk through videos of our 31 display village homes will soon be online here.

If you’re keen to find more information about investment properties at North Harbour, particularly while record low interest rates are available, we have plenty to offer on our website and other channels:

• YouTube Channel: We have over 100 videos online here and add more every week 
• Blogs: We have almost 200 helpful blogs on our website
• Facebook: All our latest updates will be posted on Facebook
• You can also contact us by phone, 07 5433 1111, or email . Our office is open 10am-5pm every day until further notice
• Importantly, we can work with you through the buying process by phone, email and electronic document transfer if you prefer.

Re Covid-19, the advice from experienced financial experts is not to be too influenced by the news cycle. Buy smart and be prepared to stick with your investment in the medium to long term to take full advantage of the growth cycle. A recent article in the Australian Broker stated that; “While it has become clear that transactional activity will be disrupted in the coming months, there is no evidence of reduced housing values to date…Those positioned to benefit in the coming months are buyers who have the confidence and financial well-being to remain active in the housing market despite the broader context, with significant potential for good buying opportunities at competitive prices and at ultra-low interest rates.” To read more click here.