WELLINGTON Point real estate agent Stephanie Marshall says demand for property across the Redlands and Bayside remains strong, with buyers continuing to compete for limited stock and prices continuing to climb.
The Harcourts Property Centre agent — who also gained national attention through Married At First Sight — says the region remains one of southeast Queensland’s most desirable places to live.
One suburb in particular stands out.
“Wellington Point is number one. Wellington Point is absolutely number one. It is the most highly desired suburb, median house prices now sitting around $1.25m,” Ms Marshall said.
“It has just grown exponentially.”
Despite the rapid growth, she says buyers can still find value in other parts of the Redlands.
“Alexandra Hills, you can still pick up a really, really great property for less than a million,” she said.
“I think the most important thing is, anything that you can then add value to, you will reap the rewards later.”
Ms Marshall said the market continues to be driven by strong buyer demand combined with a shortage of available homes.
“Stock’s been down since about October, 20 per cent. We’ve had a shortage for a while and for that reason buyers are paying more because everyone wants to get in the market,” she said.
“Agents cop a lot of flak as well for this. Everyone says, ‘oh, you’ve driven up the prices’. We’re not the ones driving the prices up. It’s buyers who are buying the properties, who are paying more money for the property.”
The market is also seeing a mix of buyers entering the region — from local upsizers to interstate investors.
“I am seeing a few more interstate buyers come. A lot of Victorians coming up,” she said.
Some are relocating permanently while others are investing in the area’s growing property market.
“I’m also finding a lot of first home buyers maybe coming from a townhouse closer into the city and then moving further out to just get a bit of a bigger home, better value for money,” she said.
Downsizers are also playing a role in the changing market.
“You know, a lot of retirees looking to downsize from larger homes to smaller homes,” she said.
For Ms Marshall, who works extensively across the Redlands and Bayside, the job is about far more than simply listing and selling homes.
“I love one thing I love the most is the fact that a lot of clients return to me,” she said.
“So it makes me feel good that I’ve obviously done a really great job that they are coming back to me the whole time.”
Ms Marshall, who revealed during the show she earned $680,000 in gross commission last year, says the figure reflects the intense workload required to succeed in the industry.
“When we talk about our salaries, regardless of what job you’re in, you’re always talking gross, right? So let’s all keep in mind that 680,000 is gross commission,” she said.
“At the end of the day, you know, there’s other agents that are earning $3 million.
“So $680,000 compared to that, you know, keeping it relative, you know, still quite humbling, I suppose.”
She said the income reflects long hours and the pressure of working in a competitive market.
“It’s more than a nine to five job,” she said.
“Work is the first thing I do in the morning when I wake up at 5.15am and it’s the last thing I do at night before I shut my eyes.
“If I’m waiting for a contract to come back and it’s not come back, I set my alarm every 10 minutes to wake back up and make sure that contract’s come through.
“It is not for the fainthearted.”
Despite the challenges, Ms Marshall says she remains passionate about helping people navigate one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.
“I just love being with people, talking to people,” she said.
“People also relying on me… it confirms to me that what I do is valuable.”
