Media release - 15th November, 2013

Vacant lots for as little as $65,000 to attract first time buyers, holiday makers and investors

Some of the most affordable parcels of vacant land still available on Australia’s east coast will go under the hammer on 8 December, when the popular fishing hub of Forrest Beach hosts its inaugural Super Sunday real estate auction on the spectacular beachfront at the Forrest Beach Hotel.

The brainchild of Nathan Henderson, Principal of Raine & Horne Ingham & Beaches, it’s anticipated the Super Sunday Auction will attract first home buyers and aspiring holiday home owners, with some of the bargain basement blocks expected to sell for less than $70,000.

“We will have 10 lots for sale, including vacant blocks and new and established homes – and value will be the order of the day,” says Mr Henderson.

Headlining the value options is a vacant block of land at 9 Mistletoe Street, Forrest Beach, which is expected to fetch $65,000 at auction.

“With prices like this, we expect the Super Sunday Auction to attract plenty of first time buyers armed with the Queensland Government’s $15,000 Great Start Grant,” says Mr Henderson.

The Great Start Grant is an initiative to help first home owners secure a new first home sooner, by supplying a $15,000 grant to buy or build a new house, unit or townhouse (valued at less than $750,000).

Mr Henderson also expects Brisbane and interstate buyers looking for an affordable coastal hideaway to make their presence felt at the Super Sunday Auction.

“Forrest Beach is only a 75-minute drive north from Townsville Airport, which is appealing to those looking for a holiday home on Queensland’s mid north coast,” says Mr Henderson.

Apart from vacant lots, new homes such as 11 Magnolia Court, Forrest Beach, which comes with a price expectation of $329,000, should also appeal to first home buyers.

“This brand new three bedroom home comes with two bathrooms, is ready to move into, and buyers can still claim the $15,000 grant,” says Mr Henderson.

“It is built on a generous 800 sqm block and is within a two minute drive of the beach.”

While Mr Henderson expects first timers to jostle with holiday makers at the Super Sunday Auction, he doesn’t discount investor interest.

“The construction of the $500 million sugar and ethanol facility at nearby Ingham is on target to be completed in 2016 after the owner, North Queensland Bio-Energy Corporation Limited, recently secured China’s Nanning Good Fortune Heavy Industry Company as its major equity partner,” says Mr Henderson.

“Forrest Beach is only 20 kilometres from Ingham and we expect the mill to swell the hamlet’s population of 1,200, creating renewed demand for tenant accommodation.”

Mr Henderson also expects that capital values will be affected by the mill, with prices expected to return to pre-GFC levels once the facility is operational in 2016.

For more information about the Super Sunday Auction on 8 December 2013 at the Forrest Beach Hotel, 1 Ash Street, Forrest Beach, contact Raine & Horne Ingham on 07 4776 5944.

Super Sunday Auction list

Address	Property type	Land size (sqm)
35 Pandanus Street, Forrest Beach	Land only	690
9 Mistletoe Street, Forrest Beach	Land only	700
6 Baileyana Street, Forrest Beach	Land only	2615
7 Bellbird Close, Forrest Beach	Land only	4005
17 Mahogany Drive (Lot 13), Forrest Beach	Land only	4152
13 Forrest Drive, Forrest Beach	Land only	5020
4 Mahogany Drive (Lot 23), Forrest Beach	Land only	8043
67 Leichhardt Street, Forrest Beach	Land with shed	704
11 Magnolia Court, Forrest Beach	Brand new 3 bed, 2 bath house	800
9 Ardrossan Street, Ingham	3 bed, 1 bath house	875

*Visit rh.com.au/ingham and enter the Property IDs for more information about the individual properties

-ENDS-

For further media information contact:

Nathan Henderson, Principal Raine & Horne Ingham & Beaches, 0417 840 038

Andrew Harrington, National Marketing & Communications Coordinator on 02 9258 5400

Affordable land to go under hammer at Super Sunday Auction