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NEW LISITINGS

LAGUNA LIVING IN THE WHITSUNDAYS $395,000 NEG

LAGUNA QUAYS, Unit 1306 Laguna Whitsunday Kunapipi Rd 3 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM HOME...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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IT'S HUGE AND AT THIS PRICE YOU CANT GO WRONG $449,000 All Serious Offers

Considered

CANNONVALE, 34 Grace Avenue

5 BEDROOM HOME WITH GRANNY FLAT...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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REDUCED PROPERTIES

REDUCED, EXCEPTIONAL TOWN HOUSE, RENT BUSTER REDUCED TO $215,000

MIDGE POINT, 61A Marine Parade 3 BRM 2 BTH TOWNHOUSE...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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HUGE REDUCTION INVEST OR LIVE IN HEART OF CANNONVALE $259,000

CANNONVALE, 6/171 Deauville East Shute Harbour Rd 3 BEDROOM UNIT CLOSE TO ALL AMENITIES...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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HOME ON 2000m2 CLOSE TO THE BEACH REDUCED $50,000 $299,000

MIDGE POINT, Lot 9 Bundesen Ave PROPOSED 2 BEDROOM HOME...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL/OFFICE/RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ON 2208m2 ALLOTMENT

$320,000

GOOMERI, 8 Moore St TENANTED, JUST REAP THE BENEFITS...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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REDUCED TO MEET THE MARKET, WALK TO BEACH REDUCED TO $317,000

MIDGE POINT, 29 Bundesen Ave 2 BRMS 1 BTH. EXCELLENT BUY...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

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2 ADJOINING ALLOTMENTS OWNER WANTS A QUIUCK SALE NOW $80,000 FOR BOTH

GOOMERI, Lot 2 & 3 Moore St NEED MORE SPACE...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

RESIDENTIAL ALLOTMENT IN A COASTAL COMMUNITY $89,000

MIDGE POINT, 53 Marine Parade

800m2 ALLTOMENT IN COASTAL A COMMUNITY...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

RARE VACANT ALLOTMENT AT MIDGE POINT $129,000

MIDGE POINT, 45 Bundesen Ave 800m2 ALLTOMENT IN COASTAL A COMMUNITY...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

5 ACRES, CLOSE TO THE OCEAN WITH WATER AND POWER CONNECTED NOW $155,000

MIDGE POINT, LOT 29 O'FLYNN CRES YOU SAVE THOUSANDS ON THIS 5 ACRES...more Contact: Terry McMullen 07 4947 6269 0408 760 994 Contact: Cathy McMullen 07 4947 6269 0429 476 269

INDUSTRY MARKET

Housing market momentum continues into 2014

3 February 2014

RP Data – Rismark Home Value Index Release

Dwelling values continued their upwards trend, with the RP Data–Rismark combined capital city index

posting a 1.2% capital gain in January.

According to Australia’s most timely indicator of housing market conditions, the RP Data-Rismark Home

Value Index, a 1.2 per cent rise in capital city dwelling values was recorded over the month of January with a

2.7 per cent rise for the three months to end of January.

The latest Index results revealed that capital city dwelling values increased by 13.2 per cent since the

beginning of the current growth cycle back in June 2012 and are now 4.8 per cent higher than their previous

peak in October 2010.

RP Data research director Tim Lawless said that capital city housing markets continue to be a mixed bag.

"Sydney and Melbourne were the clear drivers for capital gains over the past year, with values up 13.4 per

cent and 11.9 per cent respectively over the twelve months ending January 2014. Excluding Perth, every other

capital city has recorded growth of less than five per cent over the past year."

He said that these latest housing market results are likely to dampen further speculation around a cut to

interest rates over the short to medium term.

"Together with the higher than expected inflation reading and a lower Aussie dollar, the sustained growth in

dwelling values is another factor the RBA is likely to consider when deliberating on any movement in the

cash rate," Mr Lawless said.

The results confirmed that Sydney and Melbourne are now well advanced in their growth cycle. Mr Lawless is

expecting that the current exuberant conditions will wind down over the coming year due to the very low yield

environment, increasing affordability constraints and higher levels of housing supply impacting the market.

Melbourne, where values were up 3.4 per cent over the three months ending January 2014, continues to offer

an upside surprise with strong capital gains recorded despite the city showing the lowest rental yields of any

other capital and a lift in supply across the inner city and outer fringe housing markets. Local dwelling values

also surpassed their previous 2010 market peak and are now 2.6 per cent higher than the previous record

highs.

Rismark’s CEO, Ben Skilbeck, says that "while a moderation in growth is expected for Melbourne and, to a

lesser extent, Sydney, strong population growth, an increasing appetite for housing credit and positive

consumer sentiment means we are unlikely to see price declines in the near term. Growth in outstanding

housing borrowings has increased meaningfully from its lows. Most noticeable is investor borrowing which

for the calendar year 2013 grew by 7% compared to 3% in 2011. While we are yet to observe a significant

increase in owner occupier borrowing, lending commitments to this segment for the month of November, the

latest available, are 19% higher than the same time last year."

The premium sector of the housing market has gathered pace over the past six months and is now showing the

highest capital gains compared with the broad middle segment and most affordable segments of the housing

market. Dwelling values across the most expensive quarter of the capital city markets were up 6.7 per cent

over the past six months (compared with 5.8 per cent growth across the broad mid-market and 4.7 per cent

growth at the most affordable quarter of the market). Similarly, premium dwelling values have risen by 10.1

per cent over the past twelve months compared with a 9.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent capital gain across the

mid-market and most affordable quarter of the market respectively.

Rental rates continued to grow at a slower pace than dwelling values and further eroded rental yields across

the capital cities. The markets where dwelling values have shown the most appreciation, Melbourne and

Sydney, are now showing gross yields for houses below 4 per cent while the typical gross yield on a

Melbourne and Sydney unit are higher at 4.2 per cent and 4.7 per cent gross respectively, however, they are

lower than in all other capital cities.

According to Mr Lawless, such a yield environment may potentially start acting as a disincentive to investors.

"With gross yields low in Melbourne, and not a lot better in Sydney, together with the fact that both these

markets are well advanced in their growth cycle, it would suggest that investment fundamentals in these

markets are waning. It is my view that investors will start seeking out the higher yields of Brisbane where the

market is also far earlier in the growth cycle," he said.

According to Mr Skilbeck, "when Sydney’s recent growth is put into the context of the past 10 years,

continued momentum, albeit at a slower pace than the past six months, is expected. Sydney’s annualised 10

year growth to 31 January 2013 is a very modest 3.0%, less than half the rate of national household disposable

income growth over the period. The same argument, however, does not apply to Melbourne which has had 6%

annualised 10 year growth and today has the worst rental yields of the capital cities."

Key statistics, tables and graphs available in the PDF [600KB].

Expert Advice: 5 big tips for little spaces

Top interior renovator Cherie Barber shares her expert advice on how to give small spaces a big impact.

Not everyone has a big backyard to get creative with. For many people, especially those who live in the inner city, their “backyard” is limited to a balcony or small courtyard. And just like any outdoor area, without a little design inspiration these spaces can end up as barren, wasted spots, useful for little more than drying the washing. Fortunately, there are plenty of imaginative ways to turn even the smallest space into an enticing outdoor room simply by using the same styling tricks you’d apply to any room in your house. Here are my top five suggestions.

1. Get practical

If you were decking out a home office, you’d have to think about the practical ways to make the space work, such as the positioning of power points and cables, task lighting, and how to avoid glare on your computer screen. The same applies to your outdoor room. If your balcony gets blasted by sun in summer and battered by wind and rain in winter, it’s about as inviting as an exposed concrete slab. So you need to think about ways to protect it from the elements. Things like screening, shade sails, sun umbrellas and retractable awnings are all options that can turn an unusable courtyard, deck or balcony into a protected outdoor room you can use year-round.

2. Choose the furniture

Whether it’s a place to enjoy your morning cup of tea or entertain a few friends, you’ll need somewhere to sit and probably some kind of table. Your main limitation will be the space you have to work with. If it’s really cramped, think about collapsible furniture like deck chairs and a fold-away table. Your options are endless if you have room for a fixed table and chairs. Aluminium, rattan and timber are all contemporary, durable choices. Just spend a weekend browsing outdoor furniture shops and pick a style and size that suits your outdoor room — and make sure it blends with your indoor areas. Similarly, there are barbecues these days for absolutely every-sized space, and a small Weber can fit virtually anywhere.

3. Get creative.

With the practical elements sorted, it’s time for the fun bits: injecting some colour and character into your outdoor room. Mirrors immediately enlarge any space, so find a nice big one you can strategically place to capture the best aspect. Pots take up space, which you may not have, but there’s bound to be a bland wall you can turn into a vertical garden. Your hardware store could suggest ways to secure pots to a wall fixture, which you can then plant with decorative plants. You could also install a freestanding water feature. If you have a big enough courtyard, it’s worth sacrificing space for a striking focal point, like a potted frangipani or large ceramic urn.

4. Use clever storage

Talking of clutter, you need a way to manage it. And if it can serve a dual purpose, all the better. Bench seating that incorporates storage is a great idea. Just lift the lid and toss in all your seat cushions, gardening tools and other paraphernalia. Under-deck storage also works if there’s enough space. Make sure you have a retractable clothesline that folds out of the way when not in use and a hose that’s neatly wound up on a wall-hanging reel. Major hardware stores have loads of storage ideas to keep outdoor areas neat and tidy.

5. Imaginative lighting

Lighting is like fairy dust — it adds magic to any space. Night-time is often when your outdoor room comes into its own and lighting will make it feel intimate and warm. If you don’t have access to a power point, you can always use tea lights, outdoor candles or even solar lighting to create atmosphere. In a courtyard, use up lighting and down lighting to wash light over the walls and spot lights for plants and trees. Lighting set into the deck or steps doesn’t just look great, it also makes the area safer to navigate at night. Fairy lights draped over tree branches or railings give that resort feel to an outdoor room.The trick with a small outdoor room is to think big, keep clutter to an absolute minimum, and use every last millimetre of space through clever tricks of the trade.

Cherie Barber is Australia’s top renovator and the director of Renovating for Profit, a workshop-training provider that teaches everyday Australians how to successfully renovate for a profit. www.renovatingforprofit.com.au

Saul Eslake - Chief Economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Australia) explains the rate being

on hold and the likelihood of low interest rates for some time.

What Kids and Teens (And Adults) Need To Know About Facebook

Facebook states in its policy that it does not allow accounts for anyone under the age of 13. Why is this policy? A law called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) has strict rules for the use of the Internet in regards to kids under the age of 13. It prohibits the collection and saving of personal information for the child’s safety.

Some parents don’t listen to this rule and help their kids break the rule. Probably more often, kids go ahead and sign up without parental permission or knowledge. These kids, even teens over 13, (and maybe even some adults!) need to realize a lot of things about Facebook and online safety in general that they may not understand or realize.

First and most important is that anything you post online is PERMANENT. And teens are pretty much known for over sharing personal information, so they likely share and post things that really should never be online. Even if you delete a post or picture, someone already saw it. That same person might share the post right after you posted it. Even more, they could copy and paste and possibly even change the words of the post, but still say you posted it. To top it off, posts and pictures spread very quickly. And once they start, it is hard to stop.

Another big issue is that the Facebook privacy settings are not 100% guaranteed. Sometimes the settings are changed. Most of the time, profile and cover photos are public by default. It is harder than many people think to make your Facebook profile truly a private profile. Yet many parents use this to justify the fact that their child is on Facebook.

Cyber bullying can also be a problem, and it is a well documented problem..

People go to great lengths to try to trick kids online. An older man or woman could create false profiles, with pictures and everything, pretending to be a young, good looking girl or guy. They then strike up a friendship with young kids and teens. The teen is then persuaded to share personal information and details because they are “friends” with this person. They could also be persuaded to share inappropriate pictures and conversations. They decide they’d like to meet each other. Low and behold, at the scheduled meeting, the teen discovers the truth, but now they are at great personal risk with the stranger.

Be careful with everything they post on Facebook or the Internet in general. Imagine the Internet as the wall of a huge department store. Everything you post goes up on that wall, including pictures and things you share about yourself. Would you like all the people walking through that store to know or see that about you? Just think about that before you post.

Airlie Beach Festivals and Celebration

A variety of wonderful events

Whitsundays Wedding and Honeymoon Expo Location: Airlie Beach, QLD Type: Exhibitions and Shows Start Date: 23-Feb-2014 End Date: 23-Feb-2014

Report a map error

If the thought of being proposed to flying over a heart shaped reef, tying the knot under a swaying palm

tree where the turquoise waters lap the shore or relaxing in the arms of your loved on your honeymoon

sets your heart racing, then say 'I do' in the Whitsundays. All facets of your memorable day can be

catered for by professional, knowledgeable and friendly locals who will ensure that your day has the

'wow' factor. Come and meet them face to face at the inaugural Whitsundays Wedding and Honeymoon

Expo and start planning!

Contact Us

Phone: 07 4948 5911

Fax: 07 4948 5902

Email: events@wmdl.com.au

This health-promoting salad offers you a quick-and-easy way to enjoy the delicious combination of fruit and

cheese as part of your Healthiest Way of Eating.

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup green seedless grapes

3 fresh (or dried) apricots, cut into eighths

3 dried figs, sliced medium thick

1/2 lb mixed salad greens

2 TBS fresh lemon juice

salt and cracked black pepper to taste

extra virgin olive oil to taste

3 oz goat or gorgonzola cheese

optional: 1/4 lb sliced, precooked turkey breast, cut into

bite-size pieces

1. Toss all ingredients, except cheese, together. Top with goat or gorgonzola cheese.

Cajun Kidney Bean Chilli This tasty, easy-to-prepare version of chilli is a great addition to your Healthiest Way of Eating.

Beans are a good source of health-promoting dietary fibre as well as a meatless source of protein.

Enjoy!

Prep and Cook Time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 medium yellow or red bell pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, pressed

1 tsp paprika

1 TBS chili powder

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp ground cumin

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

2 cups cooked or 1 15 oz can kidney beans

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes

Salt, pepper and olive oil to taste

Optional: cooked ground turkey

1. Chop onion and press garlic and let sit for 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.

2. Healthy Sauté onion and bell peppers for 5 minutes.

3. Add garlic, spices, tomatoes and kidney beans.

4. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

5. Season to taste with salt, pepper and olive oil.

SCARY STUFF

OUR WHITSUNDAYS ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

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