Tag: real estate

Australian mum’s travel hate booms into $20m business Luxico

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 7, 2022
No Comments on Australian mum’s travel hate booms into $20m business Luxico

When it comes to holidaying, deciding whether to go with the expected comforts of a hotel or the relaxed amenities of an Airbnb generally comes down to the guest and the mood of the trip.

For mum and businesswoman Alexandra Ormerod, travel has always been high on the priority list – and she had no plans for that to change when she and husband Tom decided to start a family.

But with a little one in tow, the pair soon realized that the simple pleasures they once took for granted in a hotel room were no longer applicable for a young family.

“We have a lot of family overseas… we are avid travelers and after our first daughter was born we quickly discovered in our travels that hotels were dead to us and that came as a bit of a shock,” Ms Ormerod told news.com. ouch

“We soon found it very challenging to be traveling with a small child and finding accommodation that was of a standard better than a serviced apartment.

“We realized quite early on that places like Europe and Asia have a more mature market than Australia, so there are a lot more villas to hire in different locations. Whereas when you came to Australia and you effectively had the option of a holiday home. That home would be hired through a real estate agent and generally you were restricted to a coastal location and picking the keys up from the local fish and chip shop because the office was closed.

Ms Ormerod said the “disconnected experience” and “transactional approach” to hiring holiday homes in Australia meant guests “never really knew what they were going to get” on arrival.

With a background in advertising, Ms Ormerod said her work in travel and tourism along with her husband’s involvement in property development and real estate meant they identified a gap in the market for couples, friends and family groups seeking options in the luxury end of the holiday homes market.

As a result, ‘Luxico’ – which essentially combines hotels and holidays homes into one – was born in 2013.

“Luxico was a bit of an obvious outcome,” she explained of the company, which is now worth almost $20 million.

“We found there was a real niche for designer accommodation which we identified as not really existing at the time Luxico was born.”

Having a house on the Mornington Peninsula, Ms Ormerod said a lot of neighbors and Melbourne residents had “big homes” in the area which sat empty for most of the year. So she and Tom started renting out properties in the area which signaled a huge area of demand for beautiful, high-end homes temporarily.

“We found there was a lot of demand for that $1000-a-night or more price point that was not being serviced,” she said.

“So we then built on that to try and service that demand, and try to take the experience away from a transactional offering to a more hospitality or hotel offering [within a luxury home].”

Each Luxico stay comes with a concierge service – essentially a local who ‘checks you in’ to the home. Each concierge acts as a point of call for guests, with no request too big, small or bizarre. The homes range from $250 to $15,000 or more per night.

“It’s bringing the human element back into that holiday home stay, and all our concierges are from the local area,” she explained of the company which exclusively manages $700 million worth of property across Australia.

“The extra services you can have – from chefs, to butlers and specialist touring – are all part of the optional extras.

“But for the everyday traveller, the feedback has been that the concierge had given them insider tips to the area … maybe told them of an amazing hidden gem they wouldn’t have otherwise known about that made their holiday.”

While celebrity clients make up a large bulk of the brand’s clientele, Ms Ormerod said “mums and dads” still make up the majority of bookings.

“Luxico is an end-to-end service so we exclusively manage all of the properties that we offer,” she said, adding that if a family is looking to book two or three hotel rooms – a home works out to be better value.

“So we are managing the guest experience not just through the booking process, but the experience they have in home and even afterwards.

“So from the slippers, to the towels to prepared toiletries, the concierge is going in there and provisioning and preparing the home so if you are traveling with small children we will bring in a toy box so they have something to play with. So it’s all those little touches that make the experience a continuance of the booking process.

“It’s more a holistic experience, connecting you with local products, experiences and service providers that will build on that stay.”

Read related topics:airbnb

Tags America, aussie mum, aussie spot, Australia, Australia and New Zealand, australian mom, booking process, Byron Bay, Cate Blanchett, celebrity clients, concierge acts, concierge service, designer accommodation, designer stores, euro hit parity, family groups, finding accommodation, holiday home, holiday homes, holiday homes market, home works, hotel offer, hotel rooms, luxury home, luxury shoppers traveling, Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula, multimillion business, New South Wales, North America, Northern America, Oceania, Paul Ewart, price point, property development, property listings, real estate, real estate agent, Russell Crowe, service providers, specialist touring, Tom, travel hate booms, United States of America, vanessa brown, Victory, young family

Australia

South Australians can soon buy their first home with low deposit on HomeStart loans

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 7, 2022
No Comments on South Australians can soon buy their first home with low deposit on HomeStart loans

Owning a home could soon become a reality for more South Australians with a state-government backed lender lowering their minimum deposit requirements.

Eligible graduates will be able to apply for a home loan with HomeStart Finance with as little as 2 per cent deposit.

Successful applicants will not need to pay lender’s mortgage insurance — required by most lenders if home buyers do not have 20 per cent deposit — potentially shaving off thousands of dollars in upfront costs.

Dwelling prices in July have grown for Adelaide, Perth and Darwin while other Australian major cities dropped as interest rates surge.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said the loan could wipe months off savings plans of people trying to buy their first home.

“Rather than South Australians having to spend years and years trying to save 20 per cent deposit to get a loan with one of the big four banks, instead that time is now reduced perhaps to only months,” he said.

A man in a business suit speaking with another man in the background — SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan says the loan scheme will open doors for more South Australians into the housing market.

Mr Mullighan said the deposit reduction for the HomeStart scheme would allow low-to-medium income earners an opportunity to compete at auctions.

He said the government was expecting the Adelaide housing market to stabilize as interest rates rise.

“Even though some of the heat is going to be coming out of the market, for the first time we’re going to be seeing South Australians armed properly so they can compete in the market,” he said.

He estimates more than 250,000 South Australians with a Certificate III or higher qualification will be eligible for the scheme.

The previous minimum deposit required for that loan is 3 per cent.

For a $400,000 home, loan applicants will only need to fork out $8,000 in deposit and for a $850,000 price tag, buyers will pay $17,000 instead of $25,500 in deposit.

for sale sign adelaide 2 — South Australians will be able to get their homes sooner with HomeStart dropping their minimum deposit requirement.(ABC News: Meagan Dillon)

Electrician Robert Thiel and hospitality worker Beth Mayfield, who are currently renting at Lockleys, say the change will help the couple get into the housing market sooner.

“Any amount you can save as a potential home owner is life-changing,” Ms Mayfield said.

“I never thought it would be possible for myself, to be honest, so it’s really exciting that it might be something really attainable for us.”

Ms Mayfield said her rent has increased in recent months, encouraging her to consider becoming a home owner.

The HomeStart graduate loan will be offered from Tuesday.

Tags Adelaide, cost of living, home loans, home start, homestart finance, Housing, housing affordability, peter malinauskas, real estate, sa, Stephen Mullighan

Australia

Moreton Bay Regional Council push flood-risk disclosure for Queensland property buyers

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 6, 2022
No Comments on Moreton Bay Regional Council push flood-risk disclosure for Queensland property buyers

Queensland councils want to mandate flood risk disclosures for property buyers, with one south-east mayor describing the move as “common sense”.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said his council would take the proposal to the Local Government Association of Queensland conference in October.

“Personally, I think this is common sense and some property buyers are entitled to know prior to purchase,” Mr Flannery said.

“This might be as simple as mandatory disclosures of flood and other natural hazard risks during the property conveyancing process or other due diligence searches.

“I think this is an important and easy change for the state government, and I’m confident of getting the support of Queensland’s other councils.”

So far, more than 4,250 residents have registered their interest to have their homes raised, rebuilt or voluntarily bought back under the state’s $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, announced after the February floods.

Of the 443 home owners registered for a voluntary buy-back, 70 per cent live in Brisbane and Ipswich.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner threw his support behind Moreton Bay’s proposal.

“You wouldn’t buy a home without first getting a pest inspection, yet flooding risks can be so much destructive and costly than termites,” Mr Schrinner said.

“It makes sense that buyers should be fully aware of any flood or natural disaster risks before buying.”

Proposed seller disclosure program

Deputy Premier and State Development Minister Steven Miles says Queensland “has to do better” to account for the impacts of climate change.

“In the short term, we’re looking at ways to make it easier and quicker for local governments to change their local planning schemes to respond to the effects of flooding,” he said.

“We’re also looking at ways to make sure natural hazard risk is disclosed to prospective buyers, so they’re aware of potential risks.”

Queensland is calling for submissions on a proposed statutory seller disclosure program.

Currently, it has no formal system, with sellers having to meet a mix of common law, statutory and contractual obligations.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Alison Smith said mandating flood risk disclosure would put Queensland on a par with NSW and Victoria.

“The state is currently calling for submissions on its proposed statutory seller disclosure requirements, and the LGAQ and its member councils will be submitting that the current draft does not go far enough, and should include floods and other natural hazard information,” she said.

Flood mapping complicated

But Real Estate Institute of Queensland chief executive Antonia Mercorella said while mandating disclosure sounded simple, it could become complex when determining what a property’s level of flood risk was.

Ms Mercorella said local governments already provided detailed flood mapping, but even so, some residents were still caught by surprise when floods hit.

“Flooding happens for a number of reasons, so we need to be careful about what even constitutes a flood, what are the causes of a flood,” she said.

“Flood mapping is becoming more sophisticated. It’s becoming more reliable, but ultimately Mother Nature keeps surprising us.

“Just because a property hasn’t flooded previously, I don’t think that necessarily means it won’t flood in the future.

“And similarly, just because a property has flooded in the past doesn’t necessarily mean it will flood again in the future.”

Tags brisbane flood risk, brisbane property flood map, flood mapping, localnews, queensland flood disclosure, queensland flood risk, real estate

Business

Queensland mum Alexi Bennett, partner and kids forced to live in motel room amid rental crisis

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 5, 2022
No Comments on Queensland mum Alexi Bennett, partner and kids forced to live in motel room amid rental crisis

A young family has been forced to live in a Gold Coast motel amid an ongoing housing and rental crisis crippling Queensland.

But even with a virtually spotless rental history, stable income and no prior issues with their previous properties, Alexi Bennett and her partner Tinei Tiumalu say they still can’t find a place to live two months after their troubles began.

The couple, who has three young children, had to leave their previous rental home in May after their lease was not renewed.

“We were effectively made homeless,” Ms Bennett told NCA NewsWire.

Ms Bennett first spoke to the Gold Coast Bulletin about her plight and how it left them with no place to go.

She said they were now living in a small motel room which cost $850 a week while she continued applying for new properties from the Tweed region up to Logan.

“We’ve been going through real estates, private rentals, Gumtree, even the apps that aren’t really well known and there’s still nothing,” Ms Bennett said.

“It’s just rejection after rejection, or we’ve been told it’s already just been leased.”

“It’s a daily thing now.”

Ms Bennett’s plight is just one of many stories amid a shocking housing emergency leaving thousands of Queenslanders struggling to find a home.

Last month, the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) revealed more than 50,000 Queenslanders were waiting for a home on the social housing register.

The QCOSS blamed unaffordable house prices, rising costs of living and a slew of natural disasters plaguing the state.

Ms Bennett, a qualified aged care nurse, with her removalist partner Mr Tuimalu, are financially able to afford a rental property but have been constantly rejected from applications.

“It hits you; it really brings you down,” she said.

“My anxiety is through the roof. I sit up at night looking at homes, it leaves you speechless.”

Ms Bennett said she was remaining as positive as possible in the face of the constant rejections.

But she admitted she doesn’t know what the future holds.

“I don’t want my kids to know this life or the amount of guilt around simple things,” Ms Bennett said.

“We can’t even have fish and chips on the beach or go to the Ekka because of the money we have to pay in rent.”

According to research group SQM Research, renting a house on the Gold Coast costs about $970 as of August 4.

The average cost of a unit is around $653 a week.

Earlier this month, housing campaign group Everybody’s Home released data showing the “red zones” where rent prices had surged ahead of wage increases.

Northern parts of the Gold Coast had an average increase of 15.1 per cent to $835.50 for a rental.

The Brisbane CBD had a 3.6 per cent rise to $556.60.

Read related topics:Brisbane

Business

Rental crisis: employer’s shock at real estate agent’s questions

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 4, 2022
No Comments on Rental crisis: employer’s shock at real estate agent’s questions

Support has piled on for an employer who called out real estate agents who asked “invasive” questions about one of his employees, prompting other Aussies to share their own horror stories and distrust for the industry.

Taking to Twitter, Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari shared his dismay at being asked questions about his employee that he said had no relevance to applying for a rental property.

“I was a reference for an employee & the agent asked q’s like: Total salary, do they come to work on time, are they hard working,” he shared.

“These q’s are none of the agents business & no boss should have the power to spike where u live.”

Now, others on Twitter are sharing their own experiences, and backing up Mr Hilakari’s stance.

“Have you had many girlfriends? Would you trust him with your kids? Does he like to go out late?” answer one. “True questions recently asked to my reference when applying for a rental. Get in the bin.”

“I’ve done one of these too, but even worse,” replied another employer. “It’s stupid. Even if the employee is seconds away from being fired, there is no incentive and a lot of risk for a manager to write anything remotely meaningful. I cannot discuss an employee’s performance with a real estate agent.”

Another was quick to speculate it was likely the real estate agent had taken it upon themselves to ask the questions, and questioned if landlords even knew this was happening: “This is total power tripping and I bet the landlord has no idea it’s even happening and isn’t given that info.”

“That’s 100% correct. Real estate agents think that they are a law unto themselves. They are the root of the housing crisis, as well as developers riding roughshod over homebuyers and governments,” agreed another.

Although most were firmly against the apparently not uncommon line of questioning, not everyone supported renters, with one Twitter user replying that these were fair questions to ask.

“Of course they’re relevant questions. If they don’t make enough money then they may not be able to afford the rent. If they don’t come to work on time then they might not pay their rent on time. If they are not hard working then they may not look after the rental property,” they said.

“Sorry to burst the bubble but these kind of things add up to someone who is probably responsible and would probably reliably pay their rent on time,” said another.

While some argued that seeking to find out what type of person an agent might be allowing to rent a property is fair, others pointed out that those looking to buy weren’t held to the same standard.

“I recently got a mortgage and they didn’t call my employer,” a Twitter user commented. “Pay slips/bank statements were enough. Renters are being scrutinized to a greater degree for a much shorter term/less beneficial to them financial commitment.”

We all know that the process of applying for an overpriced rental is competitive, invasive and absolutely stacked in the landlord’s favor — just look at the reaction one potential tenant got when he asked for something as simple as a reference for the landlord.

Now, Mr Hilakari says changes to the Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act are needed to regulate the types of questions real estates can ask.

Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Hilakari further explained that he was concerned with invasive questions like this were not only getting worse, but unfairly gave an employer too much power of their employees’ life.

“We’ve received reference checks for rentals before for and the questions being asked are getting much more invasive,” he said.

“As the rental market has tightened, it seems real estate agents think they have the unfettered right to ask whatever they want.

“Employers are put in the terrible situation of either having to give personal information or risk their employee missing out on a house to live in.

“I’ve had both employers and renters reach out and say they have universally had a gut full. Renters feel completely put over a barrel and feel they have no choice but to share their personal data.

“The system has to change.”

Tags agent business, employer calls, employer way, Hall Council Secretary, invasive questions, kids River, questions real estate, real estate, real estate agents, reference check, rental crisis, rental-property, Trades Hall Council, Victorian Trades Hall, Victorian Trades Hall Council

Australia

Rental crisis: employer’s shock at real estate agent’s questions

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 4, 2022
No Comments on Rental crisis: employer’s shock at real estate agent’s questions