What are the pros and cons of buying and selling Canberra property in winter?
Winter has arrived, but as the temperature plunges, will sellers and buyers be active, or wait for warmer weather?
Rob Cappuccio of the Bastion Property Group says it all comes down to motivation.
“There are sellers who may want to wait until spring before they go to market – often to give the garden a chance to bloom into its best presentation,” he says.
“The counter-argument is that many other sellers think the same way, so it’s often an advantage to go to market when there is less competition.”
Cappuccio says there is still strong buyer interest, but the difference in the level of motivation to buy can affect the timing of any decision.
“Some buyers who are waiting for exactly the right property to come to market may sit back, which gives highly motivated buyers a less competitive field.”
Stephen Thompson of LJ Hooker Manuka says the driver is not necessarily a focus on summer versus winter as much as the economic climate.
“Sure, there are many sellers and buyers who prefer the warmer weather, but there’s another factor at play on the back of the federal election,” he says.
“There are more people moving into Canberra right now to take positions in various ministerial teams and so on – demand for homes is still strong and so are prices.”
Thompson cites a recent sale where an original three-bedroom home in Griffith with a $1.7 million price guide sold in spirited bidding for $1.92 million.
- Motivation: Typically, both buyer and seller enthusiasm can cool off during winter – unless they are strongly motivated with a need to buy or sell. Lukewarm intent? They may hang on for spring.
- Sellers: Many agents will advise vendors to consider selling their homes in winter rather than waiting until the flowers burst into bloom. The reason: less competition, which can deliver improved price expectations.
- Buyers: Similarly, winter can cool the ardour of a buyer waiting for the perfect home to come to market. That can narrow the field of prospects vying for any particular property.
Check out our top pick of homes for sale this winter:
Pearce
This brand-new, single-level residence home presents from the street in clean, geometric lines as a series of interconnected squares and rectangles.
The striking contemporary facade is mirrored inside, where the home unfolds through a series of well-proportioned rooms and delivers 211 square metres of living.
The floor plan can essentially be summarised as bedrooms wrapping around the communal living zones.
Interior highlights include double glazed windows, Elba blue marble benchtops, Hurford “naked oak” engineered timber flooring and bespoke joinery.
The home’s centrepiece bespoke kitchen is fitted with an integrated fridge-freezer, two Smeg pyrolytic ovens, a Smeg induction cooktop and an integrated dishwasher. There’s also a butler’s pantry with a 50-bottle Vintec wine fridge and sink.
The kitchen overlooks a generous open-plan living area with high ceilings, a built-in marble-top entertainment unit and an Escea gas log fireplace.
The main bedroom enjoys a luxurious en suite with an oversized shower, dual vanities and a feature skylight while three further bedrooms share the main bathroom.
Comfort is delivered through zoned ducted air-conditioning with Wi-Fi connectivity. Other tech features include a CCTV system, alarm and video doorbell.
Al fresco entertaining has been taken to a new level with an outdoor kitchen including a built-in barbecue, fridge and sink.
Off the double garage is a large mudroom with custom joinery and bench seating.
The low-maintenance garden has been professionally landscaped and is highlighted by Wee Jasper bluestone retaining walls and Wi-Fi-controlled irrigation.
Price guide: $1.85 million +
Auction: 1pm, June 25
Agent: Bastion Property Group, Rob Cappuccio 0410 121 601
Or try these:
Greenway
Price guide: $750,000-$850,000
Auction: 10am, June 25
Agent: Carter and Co Agents, James Carter 0413 974 912
Mawson
Price guide: $675,000 +
Auction: 2pm, June 18
Agent: The Property Collective, Lauren Laing 0423 349 566
Kingston
Price guide: $800,000 +
Auction: 12:30om, June 21
Agent: Independent Our Team, Mark Larmer and Aaron Lewis 0403 215 246
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