Prospective buyer numbers double at Darwin first home opens, report real estate agents
THE number of prospective buyers attending first home opens in Darwin has more than doubled since the coronavirus pandemic began, with one local real agent reporting an instance of more than 100 people attending
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE number of prospective buyers attending first home opens in Darwin has more than doubled since the coronavirus pandemic began, local real estate agents say, with one reporting an instance in which more than 100 people attending.
O’Donoghues First National residential sales agent Tim Mackenzie said his first home opens were drawing 15 or more groups, or 35-50 people, on average, but one new property had attracted a particularly large turnout.
“At our first home open at a Rapid Creek property two weeks ago, we had 50 groups through the doors – there were probably in excess of 120 people there. I think that was a new record for our office,” he said.
“We had another 25 groups the week after that, then 15 midweek, so I’d think we’ve had about 90 groups go through in total.
“It’s a four bed, two bath property in a really good area of Rapid Creek and it has just appealed to a lot of buyers – to people who want to get in the area, first homebuyers and young families.”
MORE REAL ESTATE NEWS
First homeowners flocking to handful of NT suburbs for best buys: Report
Fannie Bay home sold to a Victorian who saw photos online and said ‘I love it’
Bark Hut Inn fuel station and shop reopens, with tavern soon to come
Elders Real Estate Darwin sales representative Derek Hart said he was seeing similar numbers at first home opens for his properties.
“On average I’d be seeing 12-15 groups, or about 30-35 people, coming through per open,” he said.
“Before COVID I was averaging 3-5 groups, or 12-15 people, coming through, so essentially it has doubled and a little bit more.
“The highest I’ve had was 42 at a first home open.”
He said buyers were particularly interested in properties in Darwin’s northern suburbs, or with three or four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Similarly, LJ Hooker Darwin sales representative Jennifer Wardell said her first home opens had been drawing 10-20 groups, or 20-50 people, in the past few months.
“Previously we were getting an average of 5-10 groups through depending on the property,” she said.
She said buyers were also showing more serious interest, and at an earlier stage, than they had for some time.
“Buyers’ commentary is that they have missed out on properties before or everything they have looked at has gone under contract, so they want to get in first before they miss out.,” she said.
OFFER EXTENDED: Subscribe to the NT News for just $1
“Buyers are making offers either at opens or straight after opens again from fear of missing out, with offers being closer to asking prices.
“(Those) that are coming through now have done there due diligence and have seen their financier in anticipation of making an offer.”
Raine & Horne Darwin general manager Glenn Grantham said the last time first home open numbers in Darwin had been this strong was in 2012, at the height of the Inpex construction boom.
Find your dream home in the NT News real estate guide, inside today’s issue of the paper.
Originally published as Prospective buyer numbers double at Darwin first home opens, report real estate agents