Archives for 2013

Published Gold Coast Bulletin: 21-9-13

By Alister Thomson

 

Colleen Babbag’s decision to move into Seachange – an over 50’s lifestyle resort – came as a surprise to her friends.

At 52, Mrs Babbage who has purchased a $578,580 home at the Arundel estate with her husband Ian, is far too young to retire.

But she said the price and the $178 per week site fee gave her access to far more than just a home.

“My reaction to friends being surprised was that I was buying a lifestyle and not just a house, with a community of like-minded people who like to make friends,” Mrs Babbage said.

The estate, which recently celebrated selling its 200th home, caters for a wide range of activities including aqua-aerobics, movie nights, bowls, woodwork, crafts and much more.

“The range of activities they have you can’t find anywhere else,” Mrs Babbage said.

Mr Babbage works away at the mines and she said it was comforting to know there are a range of social activities she could take part in while he was away.

Mrs Babbage has nine grandchildren and said another attraction was the resort’s child friendliness. She said they could come and play games on the village green or go to the pool.

Although her three bedroom and two bathroom home won’t be completed until February, she said she can’t wait to move into the estate.

On Wednesday 18th September, the State Member for Southport, Rob Molhoek launched Seachange’s most anticipated stage release to date, the Village Green which was attend by more than 160 guests including local media, members of parliament, welcome centre residents and record numbers of prospective purchasers.

The launch unveiled the award winning over 50’s resorts latest stage release which features a Village Green, Anzac Memorial, Community Garden, Community Pavilions and additional BBQ facilities that will compliment the existing 5-Star, 3400sqm residents-only Country Club.

Once complete, the Village Green will form an integral part of the Seachange walking trail. It will connect the village to the neighbouring 78 ha Coombabah Lakes Conservation area, and the 1.8 hectare park which is to be created along the western boundary of the village.

As the State Member for Southport and Assistant Minister for Planning and Reform, Rob Molhoek has been a welcomed guest at Seachange on a number of occasions now and was honored to be launching the new stage, Village Green.

“It’s been amazing to watch the progress of Seachange Village over the years, first as a Gold Coast City Councilor and now as the State Member”, said Mr Molhoek.

“Developer, David Pradella and Project Director Philip Goodman have done a fantastic job at creating a unique, 5-Star lifestyle at Seachange, one that emphasizes the importance of nourishing the communities mind, body and soul, whilst embodying everything our coastal lifestyle has to offer.”

A tremendous believer in promoting the benefits of living an active and healthy lifestyle, the Assistant Minister enjoyed the time he shared with guests on the day.

“I was overwhelmed by the sense of community that shone through on the day and I look forward to returning to Seachange again soon to see what exciting new developments have been made within the community.”

Project Director Philip Goodman said the build-up and hype surrounding the event, was the best he had experienced since the developments inception in 2008.

“We were honoured to have Rob Molhoek give up his time to attend today’s launch and unveil our latest stage release, the Village Green.”

“Today’s successful unveiling of the Village Green, highlights the developers commitment in evolving the community to ensure Seachange maintains it’s reputation as Australia’s best active over 50’s lifestyle community.”

“To top it off, It was fantastic to see record numbers of prospective purchasers attend the launch and formerly register expressions of interests, with 2 homes being sold on the day.

To find out what life is really like living in Australia’s best active over 50’s lifestyle resort, call 1800 652 797 or email live@seachangegoldcoast.com.au and join our residents for a FREE morning tea, held every Friday fortnight in the 5-Star Country Club.

Don and Coral Smith experienced first-hand what life is really like living at Queensland’s most awarded active over 50’s community, Seachange Village, by visiting friends who have been living in the community for a number of years.

Recently, the soon-to-be residents visited Seachange to sign the contracts for their new home and learnt that they were going to be the 200th home buyers at Seachange Village Arundel. To mark the milestone achievement, they were presented with a stunning timber bowl, hand-crafted by fellow resident David Hallett.

Don and Coral first visited Seachange three years ago with friends, however it wasn’t until the start of the year that they realized the burden of their home was becoming too great, and they needed to make the change to a more secure, active and community driven lifestyle amongst friends – before it was too late.

“We went and looked at a number of different over 50’s resorts and retirement villages on the Gold Coast, some of which we already had friends already living in.”

“We had always been impressed with the 5-Star lifestyle facilities that Seachange offered, however being able to experience first-hand how the community of residents interact and bond with one another both on a social and personal level, was a key driver in our decision to move.”

“Our friends of more than 30 years, David and Beverly have been living at Seachange for almost three years now, and we have been lucky enough to have been invited to a number of planned social events, organized by the residents, including bus trips and jazz concerts.”

“We have another one already booked for October and we don’t even move in until March next year, so we already feel comfortable within the community.”

When Don and Coral first visited Seachange, they were amazed that the first person they met and spoke to when they walked into the welcome centre, was a resident.

“I was pleasantly surprised that residents volunteer their time in the welcome centre and take the time to talk to you personally, about their experiences living at Seachange. It gave us piece of mind and was comforting to know how happy residents who live here truly are.”

Another key driver in the their decision to make the move to Seachange, was the location at Arundel, which is positioned directly across the road from Arundel Plaza, offering a selection of cafe’s, designer stores, a Coles supermarket, newsagency and a medical centre.”

“We will continue to visit our local doctors and shopping centres that we do now, however it is comforting for us to know that we have access to public transport and facilities nearby that are important to us if we ever need anything.”

Every second Friday, Seachange residents host a morning tea which allows new guests considering downsizing their home and upgrading their lifestyle, the ability to interact with the residents who live and breathe the 5-Star facilities and community on a daily basis. To join our residents for a FREE morning tea, and to see why over 70% of current residents refer family and friends to live at Seachange, call 1800 652 797 now.

Due to strong purchaser demand Seachange Village Arundel is launching the next stage of its award winning development as the benchmark in five star living for over 50’s.

Built around the fundamental believe that there must be a better way, the developer has continued to consult with the existing residents to ensure the Community has a continued say in the evolution of the facilities to meet the vision to create the open space and facilities to enable a community to lead happy, healthy and active lifestyles.

The project backs onto the 78ha site recently purchased by the GCCC for the development of an extensive natural parklands precinct to be known as the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area. This area is currently within its final planning phase by the GCCC and once complete residents at Seachange will have direct access to this area providing many kilometres of walking trails with access to the many and varied wildlife and birdlife in the Coombabah Wetlands Area.

In keeping with this green theme the next stage of Seachange Village Arundel will include the Village Green, offering residents the opportunity of utilising one of the many BBQ’s the pavilion style community centre for social gatherings outside the existing 5 star country club and green open space for the playing of cricket when the grandkids visit.

Phil Goodman, Project Director at Seachange said “ the most exciting component of the Village Green for me is to be able to support our Anzac Day committee by providing the residents with a dedicated Anzac Community Garden, Memorial Space and Flagpole to give them a larger area to celebrate given the success of the event this year. It is important that a Community meets to celebrate its history and it gives me great pleasure to be able to provide a facility of this nature.

The developer is also in negotiations with the GCCC to add a further 1.7 hectares of green open space o be known as West Park to the western boundary of the development providing a range of bike and walking trails plus other fitness activities and community gardens for residents use.

“At Seachange we are committed to evolving the community to ensure Seachange maintains its reputation as a Australia’s best active adult community for Over 50’s living. To allow prospective purchasers the opportunity to see this for themselves the first person you meet in our Welcome Centre will be a current resident of Seachange who will show you the current country club and give you an insight into the many activities our residents enjoy. No pushy sales people just a belief that if you do your job well the best people to tell you what you should know about living at Seachange are the people who live there.” Philip Goodman said.

With 47 homes sold in the last 6 months now is the time to register for the new stage release to be officially opened by Rob Molhoek MP on the 13th September.

THE Gold Coast’s turbulent real estate market is out of the white wash and into the shallows with more homes selling, prices slowly improving and less stock on the market.

An analysis of market figures from RP Data comparing June this year to June 2012 reveal a rise in recent sales, a stronger median sale price and buyers competing for less homes, creating a magical trifecta of improved conditions.

A snapshot of the week up to June 19 revealed 9006 properties were for sale in the Gold Coast region, compared with 11055 that time last year, and of those 1306 properties in the popular $300,000-$499,000 are currently on the market, compared to a whopping 3930 last year.

According to Herrod Todd White’s Residential Month In Review report for August, the Gold Coast’s market bottomed out in the first six months of 2013, evidenced by a significant increase of buyers in the marketplace compared to the past 12 months.

“Agents are reporting significantly higher traffic through open houses at all ends of the market and there are now fewer mortgagee in possession and receiver sales occurring than in 2012,” the report claimed.

“Agents are also reporting low stock levels, especially in the under $700,000 price bracket.

The report said more investors had moved back into the market and the $1-$2 million price range and prestige unit market had bottomed out and levelled.

Harcourts Coastal managing director Dane Atherton echoed the findings, reporting strong transaction levels in the lower to middle housing sector and movement in higher end waterfront homes.

“In that (lower) sector it’s as good as sold,” he said.

“That log of stock from six months ago has been cleared … listings are more competitive.

“And I think price growth is going to come.

LJ Hooker Nerang, Coomera and Pacific Pines principal, Shane Colquhoun, said the rise in buyers and drop in stock summed up their view perfectly, with the market considerably better than a year ago.

“You are getting about four to five times more registered bidders at auctions now,” he said.

“We have definitely seen prices improving on bottom of market stock too.”

Mr Colquhoun felt it could take six months to see a price rise, but once the election and another rates drop were out of the way it would come,

For buyer Andrew Coates, it took a matter of weeks to recently sell his unique Coomera Waters abode despite being warned it could take a year.

“One agent did say it was taking an average of 12 months to sell homes like this … we only had it on the market for eight weeks,” he said.

I was surprised it sold that quickly given the price bracket ($700,000-$800,000).

“And we didn’t have to discount it to sell.”

Mr Coates put the success of the sale down to a top real estate agent, the fact that his property was unique and the changing market.

“That was our third home we have bought and sold … and it seemed to me that this one was the easiest to sell,” he said.

“I was very pleasantly surprised by the whole experience … it really showed to me that things have picked up and houses are selling … I think it’s actually a good time to sell, it’s not a hurdle anymore.

Source: Sarah Webb www.goldcoast.com.au