QLD Unit and Townhouses 'Spurring Buyers Into Action'

If you're selling a unit or townhouse in Queensland - or plan to in the near future - there was good news for you recently, with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) reporting that sales of these types of properties had strengthened in recent months.

According to the REIQ, preliminary sales figures for the March 2013 quarter indicate that Queensland unit sales had risen by two per cent over the same period in 2012.

Units and townhouses can be excellent options for all types of home buyers, from first timers looking to find an affordable way to achieve home ownership to investors looking to create or extend a rental income.

They can also be a great option for home owners who wish to downsize to a more manageable property size later in life.

Unlike fully-detached housing options, these dwellings can be popular among those who wish to live closer to urban centres without paying the premium prices that are often put on houses.

REIQ chief executive Anton Kardash said that the popularity of these property types had particularly enjoyed a rebirth in tourist centres such as Cairns, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

"These areas have experienced the highs and lows of the GFC, and the strength of the Aussie dollar, more than most over the past four years so it is heartening to see them stepping back into the light," said Mr Kardash in a June 7 statement.

"Many of these areas have also become more affordable, even those with unique seaside locations, so this is no doubt spurring buyers into action before the tide has turned to the positive completely."

Cairns recorded an impressive 54.5 per cent increase in unit and townhouse sales over the March quarter, whereas rises of 22.6 per cent and 19.4 per cent were seen in the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, respectively.

The affordable end of the spectrum drove that big improvement in Cairns, with properties less than $250,000 showing the strongest sales growth.

That's not to say that only properties around this price point were being snapped up.

On the Sunshine Coast, sales of units and townhouses priced between $350,000 and $500,000 saw a significant increase compared to the March 2012 quarter, and the Gold Coast saw a boost in sales numbers for the $250,000 to $300,000 range.

Units of all values are driving this upturn in Queensland buyer activity - is it time to get yours on the market?