Australia’s housing market has been hit hard by the housing affordability crisis and is now being pushed into a crisis of confidence, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
“Our research shows Australians are increasingly turning to online sources for advice, advice that is easy to use and offers a simple, safe and reliable way to buy or sell property,” NAR president Peter McGarry said.
“It’s not only for the short-term but also for the longer term.
The real estate industry is a big part of Australia’s economy and a great asset class to have.”
Here are some key points to keep in mind if you’re considering buying or selling property: The NAR’s research found people are increasingly looking to other real estate agents online.
“The trend has been towards a lot of new entrants,” Mr McGarry told The Australian Financial Press.
“People are looking for a real estate agent who will be helpful, honest and accessible, and that’s exactly what we see with our recent research.”
The online market has more than doubled in value since the end of 2014.
A number of online real estate sites are offering deals and recommendations, including Binance and Trulia.
These offer people an easy-to-use interface and offer a wide variety of property properties for sale, with a realtor or real estate broker to help them navigate the complex market.
“There is so much for buyers to get to know about buying and selling real estate online,” Mr McCarry said, adding “we’re seeing an increase in the number of people who are looking at a range of properties to try and get a deal.”
Many of these sites offer short- and long-term property offers, with many offering “buyer beware” advice on properties.
These are sometimes a little more expensive than other online realestate sites, and some also offer a short- or long-terms lease option.
“We do see a lot more people going online looking for advice on property,” Mr McBride said.
The Nars report also found a number of real estate agencies are offering a variety of different types of realtors, such as property management and real estate marketing.
This includes “buyers beware” agents who may offer a range more flexible options than other agents, such a lease, rental or buy-to, while also offering a “buy no risk” agent, where the buyer may buy the property and the realtor may sell it at a later date.
“They can offer advice on the best way to get a property to market value,” Mr McClure said.
Some agencies offer “sell-to” deals, which involve a person buying a property for a short term, and then selling it at some later date, while others will offer a “rent-to offer” or “rent a property” deal, where a person buys the property, pays a deposit, and the property is rented to someone else at a lower price.
This type of offer is more affordable and may also be a more direct way to sell a property than a “sell and move” offer, but is not considered a buy-and-sell deal.
“This is a lot better than what we’ve seen before,” Mr McNamara said.
Another popular type of realtor that people have used online is BOCA Real Estate.
The website has more properties than any other realtor site in Australia, with more than 30,000 properties listed, and offers an extensive range of realestate services.
Mr McGarr said the site was “the biggest buyer beware” agent in the market, as well as offering advice on “buy-to sell” and “rent to offer” deals.
“Their agents will be happy to answer any questions you may have on a range and offer their own advice and recommendations on any of the properties they represent,” Mr McMorris said.
There are some “buy to sell” deals on offer, including on properties with low asking prices, or in desirable locations, such to an estate agent in Melbourne.
“When you see a deal with a $700,000 asking price, the agent may be interested in a sale at that price,” Mr McKerriss said.
NAR research found more than half of people had contacted the agency to inquire about buying or renting properties online.
While it is unlikely the majority of people will make the move to online realtancing sites, the NAR has seen an increase of more than 50 per cent in the amount of inquiries made online in the past year.
“While some agents may offer advice or suggestions for those interested in buying property, there are others that are offering advice and offers for people looking to sell,” Mr MacKerriss added.
“As well as being a great way to make money online, real estate is also a good way to secure a better quality of life in the local community.”
The Nar has launched a website