Wes Davidson

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

In our first year with PRDNationwide, we were pleased to finish in the Top 10 offices nationally.
We have no doubt the National Branding and Network brought more buyers to our doors we we were able to convert into sales for our Vendors.

Many real estate markets around the country struggled in 2011, but Horsham remained very strong.

After a slightly slow first quarter start, mainly due to the floods, we recorded our highest ever consecutive six months in sales (April to September) and our annual sales volume finished up overall on the previous year.

Our average days on market in 2011 to clear new listings was just 30 days , with around 98% of the asking price being achieved on average which is exceptional.

Rental demand continued to remain strong, and in the last quarter of 2011 we had an average 0% vacancy rate ( no empty houses! ) which made our investors extremely happy.

Looking ahead we have water back in the recreational lakes and the farmers have filled the bins so there are plenty of smiling faces around. Rental demand continues to climb, investors are bombarding us on the internet, and there has been a surge in sales in the $300,000 - $500,000 range indicating confidence in our local market.

We look forward to an exciting year in real estate and please feel free to call us on 53820000 if there is anything in real estate we can do to help you.

What's the market really doing?

2011-02-14T15:29:00.000-08:00

The market has really lifted in February with lots of new listings, increased buyer activity and more sales - particularly in the $200 - $400 range.

PRD for those that do not know stands for Property Research and Development.

Our research department has studied the sales data and tells us that after a period of strong growth stretching through the earlier half of the decade, the Horsham house market seemed to have reached a plateau in more recent years.

This type of growth is in close alignment with a regular real estate cycle, where a market experiences strong growth for a number of years and then cools
for a duration before taking off again. With this in mind and the
strong performance of many other markets throughout regional
Victoria, the Horsham house market should commence seeing
significant growth again in the short to medium term.
The average growth over the last ten years was 7%.

In Ararat the median price has continued to surge, recording a tweleve month growth of 20.7% and a 13.5% improvement in sales volume. Of particular interest is the shift to wards more sales in the higher price brackets indicating strong confidence in the community.

Full reports on Horsham and Ararat are available for free from us upon request.

Regards,

Wes Davidson CEA ( REIV)
Director

Junior Basketball Tournament this weekend .

2011-02-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend (as major sponsor) we welcome people from all over the state to Horsham for the Junior Basketball Tournament. We hope you enjoy the weekend and encourage you to stay, shop and play in our wonderful region.

We will still be working of course, and available to show you through any properties that may be of interest. Horsham is a great place to invest with high rental returns and very low vacancy rates.

For further details on real estate in this area, ask a local.
Wes Davidson Real Estate Pty.Ltd - PRDNationwide.

New Website About to be released

2011-01-20T23:26:00.000-08:00

Wes Davidson Real Estate - PRDnationwide is about to launch our new website reflecting our new corporate branding.

You will still be able to access our site using the www.wesdavidson.com.au address, but the new site is much more enhanced with extra features.

We would love your feedback once the new site is launched next week.

Flood Update

2011-01-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

Business is returning to normal now but all mid week opens this week have been cancelled as we let the water recede.

Our phones are manned and we are ready to take your calls for appraisals, sales or rental enquiries.

Congratulations to the SES and other flood crisis authorities for an outstanding job.

Open Homes cancelled due to flooding

2011-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

The Wimmera is anxiously waiting for the flood waters to peak sometime today or tomorrow. It is a nervous time for us all.

Our thoughts and best wishes go out to everyone in our community and we hope our homes and businesses are spared from flooding.

Our scheduled mid week open homes are cancelled until further notice ,and if anyone requires emergency accomodation we will do whatever we can to assist.

Good luck and best wishes everyone.

Horsham will have the services of a nationwide real estate agency at its doorstep from the start of 2011.

2010-12-21T15:43:00.000-08:00

Leading Horsham real estate agency, Wes Davidson Real Estate, has merged with PRDnationwide to bring all the advantages of a national real estate agency, without losing the ‘local’ touch, to the Wimmera.

Wes Davidson, who established his agency in Horsham in 1993 before expanding into Ballarat and Ararat, said the introduction of the national brand to the Wimmera would bring a fresh approach to real estate in Horsham.

“Our offices in Horsham and Ararat will remain the same, but Ballarat will merge with PRD Jens-Gaunt. The local people will be the same in each office, the enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment will be the same, but there will be many extras that we can now offer here that we could not before.” Mr. Davidson said.

“We recognised PRDnationwide’s strengths and they recognised ours. By bringing the companies together we are strengthening both our businesses and we are offering more options and benefits to our clients than ever before. It’s very exciting.”

PRDnationwide has 130 franchise offices across Australia with 15 in Western Melbourne and Western Victoria, including Ballarat. The company specialises in residential property and investment sales, asset and property management, leasing, rural property and agribusiness, prestige property and land marketing. Colliers International is PRDnationwide’s commercial arm. This leading local and global agency has more than 9300 employees in 240 offices worldwide.

Mr Davidson said the philosophy underpinning PRDnationwide’s business meshed well with his own approach to business and his desire to see the entire region strengthen its reputation as a place to live and work.

Wes Davidson Real Estate opened in Horsham in 1993 and later opened in Ballarat in 2000. Ararat opened several years later.
Despite 2010 being the best year for the Ballarat office, Mr. Davidson said he and wife Gina had decided the time was right to merge the Ballarat business to allow them to concentrate their focus back on the Wimmera region.

“The PRD focus is “ask a local” and that is exactly our philosophy in all offices. We employ locals. We will merge with PRD Jens Gaunt in Ballarat and use our combined resources to our clients’ advantage throughout the entire
region we service..” Mr Davidson said “but Horsham and the Wimmera is our home; we cherish that and won’t trade that. It remains our main focus. ”
For more information on the merger or for all your property needs contact Wes Davidson Real Estate at 71 Wilson Street, Horsham, phone (03) 5382 0000 or email info@wesdavidson.com.au

Busy Spring Market

2010-11-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

It's a busy spring market with activity across most price ranges and areas.

We have particularly noticed a lot of increased internet traffic and expressions of interest on lower priced rental properties for investment,
and with the attractive returns and vacancy rates currently under 2% it's little wonder.

If you have a property you are considering selling please call us for a free market appraisal today. Buyers are waiting !

Thinking of Selling ?

2010-10-14T18:45:00.001-07:00

Now is a great time to get a free home appraisal.
In fact , one executive home we listed this week sold in less than 24 hours !

If you are thinking of selling , we will offer you sound advice on the right pricing strategy and the best way to present your home for sale to get a fantastic result , as quickly as possible and on the terms you want.

Preparing your property well can make an enormous difference to the end sale result , so here are some general points for you to consider …

Make the property feel inviting

Buyers (even investors) like to imagine they’d enjoy living in a property, so make it easy for them to feel good about your place. Gentle music, a fragrant oil burner and a few scattered cushions can make all the difference on inspection day. The power of emotion is amazing. Perhaps even hire some modern furnishings, or whatever suits the style of your property to create that perfect package.

Less is more
Clear the clutter. It will make it easier to keep the property tidy for inspections and rooms will feel more spacious to buyers.

Let the sun shine in
Everyone loves sunshine when they are looking to buy, so open up blinds and curtains for inspections. We have never had a buyer complain of too much sun !

Fix outstanding repairs
Especially visible ones. Even the smallest of problems can make buyers wary about other less obvious issues. So it’s best to fix what buyers will see and make the property appear well cared for.

Clean up lawns and gardens plus remove rubbish
This may seem self explanatory, yet it’s often the garden that is last on the list of things to do. If you’ve spent time and money with your property’s presentation, a small investment in finishing off gardens can be extremely worthwhile. Remember we live in a beautiful part of the world where the outdoor areas can be just as valuable as indoors for many buyers.

For more information on selling your property for the maximum price with the minimum of fuss, call one of our 2010 RER (Australasia) award winning sales negotiators.
You’ll see the difference the right advice can make .

Regards,

Wes Davidson .

The Vendors Statement

2010-07-15T02:40:00.001-07:00

Also know as a Section 32 statement, this must be prepared and signed by the Vendor before a property can be sold.

The Vendors statement is designed to ensure that the purchaser receives important and relevant disclosures about the property they are considering purchasing which may affect their decision.

The Vendors statement may include details of :

Zonings
Rates & Outgoings
Statutory Notices and Orders over the Property
Easements, Covenants and other restrictions on title
Mortgages over the property
Leases affecting the property
Title description
Owners corporation details
Building Permits, Insurance and Warranties
Planning Permits and Conditions

If the purchaser is satisfied with the information contained in the Vendors Statement , a formal sales agreement can then be entered into.
Note that is illegal for a purchaser to sign a contract to purchase a property before receiving a duly completed and signed Vendors Statement .

The Vendor Statement therefore also serves the Vendor in uncovering anything they may not be aware of that needs to be considered or factored into the negotiations for the sale of heir property. Therefore we recommend ordering a Vendors Statement from your lawyer immediately your home is listed for sale.

Maximise your deductions on investment properties

2010-06-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

With the end of the tax year approaching now is the ideal time to review your property investments and to look for ways to maximise your investment deductions in this tax year.

Deductions are generally allowable on investment property expenses such as interest, rates, body corporate fees, commissions paid, repairs and general maintenance. In short, most of your outward cash expenditure made to sustain the investment is deductable. Bring forward expenses such as repairs prior to the end of the financial year, will result in additional tax savings this year.

Other deductions may also be made for depreciation on assets greater than $300 and certain other expenses; these are written off over a period of time.

Some items such as principal payments are not tax deductable and other items such as renovations can assist your future tax position although they are not an immediate deduction. These items are added to your cost base of the property and are offset in your capital gains calculations when you sell at a later date.

If you have not already, consider having a quantity surveyor prepare a detailed report on your property. You may be pleasantly surprised what he uncovers to maximise your tax claim!

I recommend you check with your professional financial advisor/accountant to see what (if any) extra deductions you may be able to claim in this financial year and how your investment is performing for you overall.

HOMES NOW WANTED !

2010-05-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

Despite the latest interest rate hike there is still lots of buyers eagerly seeking new homes in Western Victoria.

A very strong finish to April has seen our stocks decline and we have many anxious buyers now waiting for us to contact them with newly listed properties.

We offer free appraisals every day, so please call your local office today for a no obligation assessment of your property.

ANZAC DAY

2010-04-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

I look forward to Anzac Day each year, as I enjoy the MCG spectacle where Collingwood and Essendon have had some of the greatest football contests.
If you haven't been, I can assure you that the atmosphere is simply amazing and much better than the grand final.

But the significance of the day is much more important.
It's the day we honour those who have served our country, particularly those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

To all our service men and women, past and present, and their families, please accept our sincere thanks.

Lest we forget.

The issue of housing in Australia

2010-04-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

The first quarter of this year was certainly active in our markets, and this is reflected by yet another interest rate rise today of .25%

Buyer demand is certainly outstripping supply,and it's times like these that we hear more and more on the news about "housing shortages" and the need for the governments to do more to increase our housing supplies.
Simultaneously home loan affordability continues to be a problem, with many home buyers now believing prices are rising so quickly that they will never get into the market.

The problem is compounded by our governments imposing ridiculous rates of stamp duty at an the entry point to a new home ; a first home buyers scheme that is a fixed dollar amount rather than a percentage of the acquisition ; a lack of tax deductablility on home loan interest paid and a totally inadequate commitment to reducing infrastructure costs and other hurdles placed on developers in order to increase land availability both now and in the future.

Forget investigating the Foreign Investment Regulations Minister , as the answers are not there.Get to the real issues and please do something about them.

Easter Break

2010-03-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Its been a fabulous start to the year and over Easter our team will be enjoying a well earned break.

Our offices will close Thursday April 1 at 4pm and reopen Tuesday April 6th at 9am.

From all our team please have a happy and safe Easter.

Sales People Now Wanted !

2010-03-04T23:14:00.000-08:00

We are currently expanding and are looking for energetic people wanting a career in real estate sales in our Horsham or Ballarat Offices.

You must be eligible for employment as an agents representative, have a real desire to succeed in the industry and have your own motor vehicle.

If you are interested in further information please email your interest to careers@wesdavidson.com.au

Interest rates and property values on the rise again!

2010-03-01T20:33:00.000-08:00

There is an old painting which depicts a very elderly man on a walking stick with a caption along the lines of the “young man who waited for the price of homes to come down “.
The television national news during the week reported rapidly rising prices particularly in the Metro markets with buyer confidence increasing and with many investors moving from shares to property once again. This is resulting in many first home buyers having left it too late to get into the market, exasperated by home loan affordability becoming increasingly difficult with the Reserve Bank increasing interest rates by .25% this week.

Always seek qualified professional financial advice before making any financial decisions, but a simple reality is that if you can afford it , the sooner you get into the market the sooner you can be on the way to owning your first home.

The first home owners grant is still available . For further information call us.

Regional investment is a popular option

2010-02-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Have you thought of investing in regional Victoria lately?
If not , perhaps it's time you did.

Our returns on investment are favourable, historically our capital growth records are attractive, and the rental demand is extremely strong with our rental departments running well under the national average.

We are now experiencing,due the ever growing use of the internet,high enquiry rates by investors from the metropolitan regions, interstate and internationally more than ever before.

Call us for to discuss your options anytime.

Call any one of our sales team today to discuss your

Two of the best!

2010-02-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Robert Dolan and Andrew Ferguson who both received excellence awards, winning their respective categories at the Australasian Real Estate Results Awards (ARERA's) on Monday the 15th of February 2010 at the Sydney Opera House.

The ARERA's are contested by members of the Real Estate Results Network throughout Australia and New Zealand each year and recognise elite achievements in real estate.

Robert was also a guest speaker earlier in the day at the conference and he received a tremendous ovation from his peers. I think many in the gathered crowd struggled to comprehend the magnitude and consistency of the achievements by Robert, Andrew and our team in a regional area; results that blitz many of our city counterparts.

The team at Wes Davidson Real Estate congratulate Robert & Andrew, and the support staff behind them, for their incredible achievements.

Congratulations Robert & Andrew!

2010-02-08T16:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Robert Dolan and Andrew Ferguson who are in the top four finalists in this years prestigious Australasian Real Estate Achievement Awards to be announced in Sydney on Monday February 15th , 2010 at the Sydney Opera House.

This is fantastic recognition of their outstanding performance in 2009 and their on going commitment to excellence.

Well done and good luck !

What is your home worth?

2010-02-01T20:13:00.001-08:00

Your home is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it !

The property will however generally achieve the maximum possible price if it is exposed at a fair market price to a wide range of buyers,thus creating competition, when handled by an experienced and competant sales negotiator.

Comparative sales evidence should always be used when assessing the value of a property, taking into account the extra features and benefits of the individual property.

When an agent offers an estimate of value to a seller,they should be able to back it up with evidence or you should discount that opinion.

Likewise your agent should be able to demonstrate that they have the skills, experience and training to represent you in this important transaction.

If you would like further information on selling your property, now or in the future, call today for a no obligation discussion of your options.

Australia Day - celebrate !

2010-01-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

There is little doubt that people who travel extensively overseas come back with a greater and growing appreciation for the term "the lucky country".

What we have here in Australia is to be celebrated, and we encourage all Australians to mark the day in your own special way.

Our offices will be closed on Australia Day and re-open then next morning.

Enjoy the day!

SOLD BY AUCTION !

2010-01-14T18:31:00.000-08:00

Friday January 15th saw our first Auction of 2010 with 1 Pynsent Street, Horsham being sold at auction for $180,000.

Bidding commenced at $150,000 and it was keenly contested between bidders.

If conducted properly an auction is a superb way to achieve the maximum value for your property.

If you would like to know more about the auction sales method and how to achieve a great result by auction call me, Wes Davidson, CEA & REIV Accredited Auctioneer on 0419 8200000 anytime.

Its' a boy!

2010-01-10T15:30:00.000-08:00

Robert & Kristyn Dolan have welcomed their second son Jye to the world on January 11th, 2010: a little brother for Brodi and no doubt destined for a life of fishing !!!

Congratulations to Rob & Kristyn. We wish you every happiness and good fortune.

Welcome 2010 !

2010-01-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

Our team is back in action after a well deserved break and are launching themselves into 2010.

In 2009 we set several new sales records, and we are all looking to go one better again in 2010.

Open homes resume this weekend and there is a good mixture of homes for the eager house hunters out there.

Do you know what your home is worth?
We can assess the value of your home at absolutely no charge.
We provide obligation free market appraisals everyday, and you have the option of "no sale/no charge" if you decide to list your home for sale with us.

Let's get cracking and may 2010 be your best year ever!

PS: How good was the 2nd test ?! Go Aussies.

2009 draws to a close - bring on 2010 !

2009-12-21T13:28:00.000-08:00

2009 was an amazing year in real estate.

Despite the Global Financial Crisis we saw property once again become the favourite option for many investors, and despite rising interest rates and lowering first home buyers grants, prices and volume of residential sales increased.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team at WDRE for an amazing year.I am sure they will now enjoy their well earned break before starting afresh in 2010.

Our offices will be closed from December 24th 2009 until Tuesday January 5th,2010.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Christmas,and please spare a thought for those less fortunate. May 2010 be yours and everyone's best year yet!

Regards,

Buy before the New Year to maximise your First Home Owners grant!

2009-12-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

As from January 1 2010, the amount that eligible first home buyers will receive from the government towards their first home will reduce considerably.

Currently eligible first home buyers in this region may receive $12,500 towards the purchase of an existing home or $29,500 towards building or buying a newly constructed home.

On January 1 2010 these figures will reduce to $9,000 for an existing home and $22,500 for a newly constructed home.

For contracts entered into between 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010, the value of the property must not exceed $600,000.

If you would like further information on buying your first home, contact one of our sales agents today.

Spring market shows confidence

2009-11-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

The spring market was one of the most active markets seen in years, with investor confidence surging.

Presently there are more buyers than sellers which is resulting in multiple offers on correctly priced properties at all levels.

If you are thinking of selling your property, we offer free market appraisals and the option of " No Sale - No Charge".

Auction, private sale , & discreet sale are all available.
Call today to discuss your options.

Presentation is everything!

2009-11-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

When you are selling your home, first impressions really do count.
Many people undersell their property because they simply did not spend a little time, energy, and perhaps some money making the property look more appealing.

When you buy a car from a caryard, it will have been detailed and looking it's best. Lets do the same with your home.

Start outside with the simple things. Mow the lawns, trim the edges, weed the gardens and touch up any exterior painting required.

Inside the first thing is to remove the clutter. If in doubt, throw it out!
Have the carpets cleaned, the walls washed down, and particularly ensure the kitchen appliances and bathroom are freshly cleaned and free from grime. Let plenty of light in and make sure the heating and air conditioning are working.

If you would like further information on selling , contact me anytime.