LEADING Gold Coast agents and property experts are predicting bumper sales in the traditionally quieter autumn selling season as momentum continues to build following a strong summer.
Autumn is often referred to in the industry as a shoulder period, a period that falls between the peak and low seasons, but agents are reporting increased buyer activity in the lead-up.
Ray White Broadbeach principal Larry Malan said many sellers who had been on the sidelines would decide to list over autumn.
"I think autumn is going to be a very strong season," he said.
"It seems to be that a lot of people were waiting to see what happened with the January auctions and because there had been such demand they have decided it is a good time to sell."
Mr Malan said his agency was seeing strong inquiries for the 22 properties it had going to auction over the Easter period.
He said most activity would be in the mid-range of properties priced between $400,000 and $800,000.
Ray White Broadbeach sold more than $23 million worth of property in the month of February.
Harcourt GC Central business owner Grant Stephens said inquiries for the Easter period were already strong, particularly from interstate buyers and workers in Queensland mines.
"Easter is going to be very, very good," Mr Stephens said. "Inquiries have already been excellent."
Mr Stephens said properties listed for less than $800,000 were "flying out the door" and positive indicators for the market had included multiple offers on the same property and a drop in the number of contracts falling over.
He said one property the agency was marketing on the Isle of Capri had four offers in five weeks.
"We can definitely see activity start to build again," he said.
"Normally we drift into autumn and it's a quieter period."
Professionals John Henderson Real Estate principal Andrew Henderson said he expected the momentum from summer to continue into autumn.
Mr Henderson, whose office had its best sales for five years during summer, said economic factors were more important than seasonal ones.
"There has not been the seasonal swings there have been in the past," he said. "It's more the economic factors that make a difference like low interest rates and people having stability in their employment.
"Sales have been a lot stronger and I don't think there's anything that will stop that other than a lack of stock."
Mr Henderson estimated 70 per cent of the buyers were owner-occupiers and this shift meant holiday investors (who look in summer and buy in the autumn) were not playing as active a role in the market as they had in the past.
He said sellers were also more influenced by the state of the market and not seasonal factors.
"The sellers we've been talking to have seen a few things moving and they think now is a good time to put their home on the market."
Colleen Coyne, of Colleen Coyne Property Research, said strong sales at the January auctions had provided a boost to confidence in the market which was ongoing.
"We had a strong take-up at the Ray White Surfers Paradise auctions in January and confidence is still there in the market and people are actively considering purchasing," Ms Coyne said. "I do not expect prices to fall much."
With interest rates expected to remain low, she said investors would be more confident.
"Timing is good for investment," she said. "Volumes have to pick up before we see price improvement."
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