SEEN across the nation as the country’s last wild frontier, Darwin can rightly claim to be a magical spot. But what makes it so special, so unique? Peter Kafkas has only spent 31 years in Darwin so he’s come up with some reasons he reckons every Darwinian should feel incredibly proud to call the city home and why you should be moving to Darwin.
Sunrise from SOHO 18th Floor Looking East 8th February 2011
Darwin and its suburbs spread in an approximately triangular shape, with the older south-western suburbs—and the city itself—forming one corner, the newer northern suburbs in another, and the eastern suburbs, progressing towards Palmerston, forming the third.
The older part of Darwin is separated from the newer northern suburbs by Darwin International Airport and Royal Australian Air Force Base. Palmerston is a satellite city 20 km (12 mi) south of Darwin that was established in the 1980s and is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia. The rural areas of Darwin including Howard Springs, Humpty Doo and Berry Springs are generally experiencing strong growth.
Mitchell Street in Darwin CBD
Darwin’s central business district is bounded by Daly Street in the north-west, McMinn Street in the north-east, Mitchell Street on the south-west and Bennett Street on the south-east. The CBD has been the focus of a number of major projects, including the billion dollar redevelopment of the Stokes Hill wharf waterfront area including a convention centre with seating for 1500 people and approximately 4,000 square metres (43,000 sq ft) of exhibition space. The development will also include hotels, residential apartments and public space. The city’s main industrial areas are along the Stuart Highway going towards Palmerston, centred on Winnellie. The largest shopping precinct in the area is Casuarina Square.
The most expensive residential areas stand along the coast in suburbs such as Larrakeyah and Brinkin, despite the slight risk these low-lying regions face during cyclones and higher tides. The inner northern suburbs of Millner and Coconut Grove and the eastern suburb of Karama are home to lower-income households, although low-income Territory Housing units are scattered throughout the metropolitan area. The suburb of Lyon was an addition to the Northern Suburbs. Development and constructor took place in 2009 and 2010 and became home for a number of affluent Darwin residents and local/recently posted military families above the rank of Sergeant or Flying Officer.
Still Not Sure About Moving?
The Northern Territory’s vibrant economic growth and a raft of multi-million and multi-billion dollar developments position the region as one of Australia’s fastest-growing, with a prosperous future. Thousands of jobs are expected to come on line for professionals and skilled tradespeople along with new opportunities for business entrepreneurs.
Facts about Darwin, Northern Territory:
Population (Darwin): 132,000 (approx)
Population (Northern Territory): 244,000 (approx)
Unemployment rate in Darwin: 3.34%
Median Home Price (Overall Darwin): $516,250 (Q4 2016)
Median Household Income: $80,000
Average Commute Time: 16 minutes
Darwin Real Estate
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Aerial photography and videos can sell a lifestyle that standard pictures can’t.
Cliche descriptions of homes with “stunning views” and “a stone’s throw away” to parkland no longer suffice in a competitive market where iProperty NT agents are using drones to take their marketing to new heights.
Technology is changing every aspect of our life so it’s little wonder it’s also changing the way we look at real estate.
At iProperty NT our agents and vendors are turning to emerging technology in video, 3D-imagery and dronevideography to show prospective buyers properties from a whole different angle.
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are increasingly being used to provide a better overview not just of the property, but also of the surrounding area.
iProperty NT’s owner Peter Kafkas said drone footage provided prospective buyers a better idea of a property before the inspection, and were 75 per cent cheaper than helicopters that cost about $1500 to hire for an hour.
Peter Kafkas presents amazing drone footage of this custom design property which is ideal for those seeking a no fuss move to the country lifestyle surrounded by pure serenity.
Will it work for your property?
Selling a house can be a stressful process at the best of times, so add in an extra layer of technology and there’s a chance you could tip over the edge.
Hamlet says vendors should weigh up whether drone photography will help profile their particular property.
“Drone photography is great for many property shapes and sizes, and we have also produced aerials for apartment towers, town houses, and farms.
“When considering aerial photography you need to keep in mind any visual obstructions from trees or power-lines that could prevent clear visuals.”
Tips for engaging a drone video to sell your home
Ensure the drone operator is properly licensed by the relevant authorities
Ask to see examples of their work to ensure you’re happy with the quality
Inform your neighbours you’ll be filming and work through any issues they may have prior to starting
Agree on what aspects of the property/local area you want to focus on before you start
Much of the general public is oblivious to all the costs associated with being a real estate agent. They mistakenly believe we all drive BMW’s and are grossly overpaid. Nothing could be further from the truth. Carrying a real estate license comes with many expenses, and agents have to charge our clients accordingly to cover the costs of doing business.
The average yearly income for real estate agents is $40,000/$50,000. Most agents don’t even sell 6/7 homes per year. With that in mind, there’s a myriad of monthly costs that must be covered, whether we sell a home that month or not.
To demonstrate that it’s not all fancy cars and mansions in the lives of agents, I’ve listed 10 things real estate agents blow their commission checks on which the public has no idea about.
10 AGENTS EXPENSES
1. REA Dues:
You have to pay monthly to have access to REA (Realestate.com.au). REA is the source that lists all the homes for sale. Domain don’t have near as much data in most states as REA. The REA charges a hefty monthly fee to list and sell the agents’ homes. It’s very much a necessary tool in the agent toolbox.
2. Signs:
An agent can’t sell a home without a sign. Signs aren’t free. When an agent has dozens of signs, they have lots of money invested. The design and shipping can be hundreds of dollars. Agents use yard signs, open house signs, location signs, and sold signs just to name a few. It adds up very quickly.
3. Licensing Fees:
The Agents Licensing Board (ALB) is the Board that has responsibility for the licensing of real estate, business and conveyancing agents and the registration of agent’s representatives in the Northern Territory. And guess what— ALB wants its money every year for renewals. And they don’t take IOUs.
4. Marketing Materials:
The agent’s main job is to market. They market properties and themselves. Between websites, business cards, flyers, and expensive print advertising the average agent will spend almost $1,000/month on marketing materials. Some spend $5,000+ in marketing each month. It’s not cheap to spread the word about a multi hundred thousand dollar asset for sale in innovative ways and promoting yourself.
5. Advertising:
Paid ads aren’t cheap. If it wan’t for VPA (Vendor Paid Advertising) most agents would be out of business but don’t think for a minute they don’t pay out of there own pocket. Whether it’s in the paper, magazine, or the baby seat in a shopping cart, ads cost a lot of money. They’re the lifeblood of a good agent. That’s how they sell your home—by advertising it.
6. Website Hosting:
If you’re going to sell real estate in this digital age, you need a quality website. You’ve got to have a place for your prospects and clients to come and search for homes. That website has to feed into the REA (another fee to do that), and the website has to be responsive. The average custom website costs $5,000 and comes with monthly charges. You starting to see the pattern here?
7. Open Houses:
You may think that we just sit in your home using up your free wifi, but that’s not the case. Depending on the agent you choose, there’s drinks (water in Darwin is almost essential) rare occasions food involved as well as balloons, signs, ads, and staging—all designed to make the place look and feel like a million bucks. I’ve even paid to have someone mow the yard and trim the bushes before an open house. I didn’t have time to wait on the owner to take action.
8. Settlement Gifts:
In most markets its customary (but not necessary) for agents to give a gift to the clients after doing business with them. What most don’t know is that they usually send one to the conveyancer and the finance person as well. When everyone puts in hard work, the agent wants to reward them so they continue to do so. You may view it as frivolous, but you can never be too nice to conveyancers and banks. When you need a favor, gifts go a long way.
9. Being An Agent:
Most top performing agents not only spend a lot in marketing but can spend thousands of dollars a year in professional development courses, coaches and mentors. Flying around Australia to attend AREC or a Glenn Twiddle event does not come cheap.
10. Office Space (often included in an agent’s commission split)
Most people think that agents have a job with an office. They don’t realise in most cases that the principal charges for the office space in one way or another. Just know this: Nothing is free in the real estate game. Not even a place to do your work. And as you know, commercial office space isn’t cheap.
So next time you’re thinking about hiring an agent, and you think their fees are a little high, think of this list (which is just a fraction of what’s really paid for). They’re all things to facilitate properties getting moved faster and for higher dollar amounts.
It’s not easy, cheap or always fun being a real estate agent, but the smile we see on our clients’ faces when they buy a new home or profit from selling their old one, makes it all worth it.
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
Watch me on Youtubeor follow me on snapchat for videos, tips and inspiration or check out our awesome Facebook page!
At iProperty NT we are always looking to reinvent the customer experience? Welcome to Homepass Northern Territory by Peter Kafkas.
“Today’s customers expect outstanding experiences. They want everything to be simple, and they want it all on their mobile,” says Peter Kafkas, NT most innovative agent. 2016 & 2015 REINT Public Nominated Salesperson of the year Peter Kafkas in another NT 1st is now transforming his open homes and raising the bar for customer experience.”
Once Homepass is installed on our mobile or tablet, we can register inspection visitors with a few taps, send a personal SMS welcome and mobile brochure to their visitor’s mobile, and instantly see a rich customer profile – enabling a more informed conversation.
Homepass transforms your mobile into the ultimate customer interaction tool.
“With Homepass, our agents better understand who the client is, their needs and what relationships they already have with our team and agency,” says Peter.
In the near future we will further extend the experience, Homepass also offers signboard beacons for 24/7 mobile marketing, a kiosk app for an impressive entry, and a free consumer app that even allows visitors to check in automatically – as they walk in.
With agents competing in a crowded marketplace, Peter believes tomorrow’s real estate leaders will continue to improve their customer experience as a competitive differentiator. “When you give visitors an amazing experience, they are more likely to choose you to sell their own homes.”
Ive been saying it for 3 years a. “Vendors appreciate they’re choosing an agent who not only has the right experience to sell their home, but also leverages the best technology.”
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
Watch me on Youtubeor follow me on snapchat for videos, tips and inspiration or check out our awesome Facebook page!
If you want to profit from selling your Darwin home, you may need to hang onto it for longer than you think.
In the NT we say property prices tend to double every 7 – 10 years, is this true?…. Australian home owners who turn a profit from selling their home own it for an average of 9.9 years, according to a new report.
The latest Pain and Gain report, released yesterday by CoreLogic, also found that homes which sold for more than double their previous purchase price were owned for an average of 16.4 years.
The report compares the most recent sale price of homes to the previous sale price to determine if it sold for a profit or loss. So when will your Darwin home turn a profit?
Sydney, Melbourne best performers
It found that Sydney was the best performing capital city for resales, with only 2% of its property resales being loss-making. Melbourne was the next best performer, followed by the ACT, Brisbane and Hobart.
The hardest hit areas were housing markets linked to the resources sector, such as mining heartlands in outback Qld and WA.
Darwin real estate agent Peter Kafkas says “It really does come down to timing when you’re buying and selling.”
CoreLogic Research Director Tim Lawless says the message for home owners is that property does tend to be a better long-term investment proposition, but it depends greatly on the property growth cycle.
“It really does come down to timing when you’re buying and selling.”
“If you owned your own home in Sydney for the past five years, you would have made a decent capital gain because the market was so strong.”
The other big winners from the report were coastal lifestyle areas, which have seen a significant turn-around.
When is the best time to sell your Darwin home?
Darwin, Illawarra, Newcastle, Geelong, Richmond-Tweed and Cairns were all big improvers, with stronger tourism and more lifestyle buyers re-entering the market.
“A few years ago, Cairns was showing nearly 50% of its sales as loss-making – it’s now 25%,” Lawless says.
“In 2008 we saw people’s retirement savings halve in the space of a few months, but there’s been a real rebuild of wealth and we’re seeing a lot of those retirees now put their retirement plan into action and targeting those lifestyle markets.”
While housing investment has boomed in Australia in recent years, the data signals a warning for investors, with owner-occupier housing stock more likely to turn a gross profit than investment stock.
Peter says investors are more willing to accept a loss than owner-occupiers.
“If they do make a loss they can write that loss off against future capital gains,” he says.
“If they see their prospects for capital gains are lessening, or they see the rental yield isn’t enough to pay down their interest payments, they will simply sell and accept the loss.
“For owner-occupiers, accepting a loss doesn’t have any tax implications that can be written off at a later stage.”
Conclusion:
When is the best time to sell your Darwin home? Of course everyone’s situation is different and depending where you are in life and whats happened but the general rule of thumb is “Never Sell”
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
Watch me on Youtubeor follow me on snapchat for videos, tips and inspiration or check out our awesome Facebook page!
PROBLEM :
Real estate content marketing fails to accurately portray physical space.
There is a new way to see and share your home through the use of SCANNED3D 360 video available at iProperty NT
3D technology is an innovative way to take your listings to the next level.
Providing a detailed experience that allows prospective buyers to “walk through” a Darwin property.
Delivering in-depth information to help property searchers understand the property’s layout, size, design and condition
Viewable across multiple digital platforms.
Created in a simple and efficient manner via your 3D expert.
Eye-catching positioning. Located at the forefront of your listings on both search result pages and property details pages.
Deliver higher engagement on your listings.
3D technology improves the efficiency of your sales cycle by validating prospects before inspections, and allowing them to revisit the property multiple times says Peter Kafkas.
It expands the reach of your entire marketing campaign by creating virtual perpetual open houses in the luxury of the consumers lounge. 3D technology helps you reach remote, interstate and international buyers that you otherwise may have missed out on.
Help win more listings through innovative technology.
Peter Kafkas says “Vendors are looking for agents that are at the forefront of technology. Already 12% of residential home listings on realestate.com.au have a video URL¹, generating over 190,000 views per week² 3D technology takes your listings to the next step by improving your market awareness and increasing your potential for engagement on every listing.”
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
We are delighted to advise the recipient of the REINT 2015 Award for professional excellence in a new public category for salesperson of the year is iProperty NT’s Peter Kafkas!
Peter Kafkas takes home the prestigious award at the 2015 REINT Awards for Professional Excellence, on Saturday 10th October.
Held at the Darwin convection centre, the annual black tie event was in honour of the Territory’s most outstanding performers in the Real Estate Industry
The win brings Pete three REINT awards in a row, in recognition of his ongoing commitment to innovate the Darwin real estate industry, with unique video marketing strategies that have only been adopted by a select few around Australia.
REINT 2015 Real Estate Agent Of The Year!
NT’s number 1 agent: Peter Kafkas: Only agent in NT to sell OVER $15 Million Dollars using video marketing
REINT 2015 Public Nominated Salesperson Of The Year
38% of Homes SOLD have achieved OVER THE ASKING PRICE
REINT 2014 & 2013 Innovation Award Winner
82% of his clients see a SOLD SIGN
REINT 2014 Salesperson Of They Year nominee
Over 350 Properties Sold in NT
Over $500 Million Dollars worth of Real Estate SOLD
Social Media & Video Markting Elite Agent
Winner of REA’s Best Agent Profile In NT
72% of Clients are Referred to Peter – showcasing his experience and results he achieves for all his clients. Something you wouldn’t know – Peter innovated the Darwin real estate industry with his outrageous video marketing ideas, Peter is known as “NT’s Most Innovative Agent”
I often say that our marketing is successful because we’ve made every mistake in the book. The key is we’ve learned from those mistakes and it’s rare — if ever — that we make the same one twice.
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
Voted by you….. On Saturday 10th October 2015 the real estate profession recognised its best and brightest at a black tie event held at the Darwin Convention Centre. Around 350 people attended the REINT 2015 Awards for Professional Excellence!
For the first time ever in REINT’s history the awards included the “inaugural Public Nominations category for the best salesperson and property manager of the year voted by you!
These 2 new categories had the most nominees and was hotly contested….
So with out any further adieu the 2015 REINT Property Manager Of The Year is……
Veronica Garrigan 2015 REINT Public Nominated Property Manager Of The Year
“I am an efficient experienced property manager whom enjoys all aspects of Property Management. Having had 11 years experience within the Real Estate Industry, I have developed strong communication skills, and possess an eye for detail. I am passionate & truly enjoy my job!”
With 15 nominees in the running the fiercely competitive award for 2015 REINT Salesperson Of The Year goes to…….
Peter Kafkas 2015 REINT Public Nominated Salesperson Of The Year
“Combine the power of online themed video with social media and the chain reaction is ATOMIC!” Darwin’s elite agent Peter Kafkas believes it’s better to “think outside-the-box” rather than follow the pack.
Who said agents are boring?…. These 2 know how to work and play hard
“By all accounts it was a spectacular evening enjoyed by one and all”, said Mr Kilian, “but most of all it gave us an opportunity to showcase the amazing talent
we have in the real estate profession in the Northern Territory”.
Reint Awards For Excelellence 2015. Darwin Convention Centre. Photo Shane Eecen Creative Light Studios
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
NT Quadrella It’s a 4 Peat for iProperty NT’s Peter Kafkas when he took home the 2015 REINT Public Nominated Salesperson Of The Year on Saturday night.
Winner of the REINT 2013 & 2014 Innovation Award, and 2014 REINT Salesperson Of The Year Nominee says “My team & I thought we had no chance because we were up against 15 talented nominees but we did, we brought home the NT Quadrella
Peter Kafkas Takes Out Real Estate NT Quadrella
“This year has certainly being a challenge to say the least” Peter hired superstar real estate coach Glenn Twiddle over 2 years ago, and continued with Jody Hayes coaching team, couple this with a culture similar to google and a work ethic almost unmatched you have a recipe for success.
“I do my own letterbox drops every week and I love challenging even my own clients to call me at 5am if the need me whether it be for a listing appointment, a marketing strategy or a crucial conversation”
2 years ago Peter innovated the Darwin real estate scene with his high impact marketing campaigns with themed and corporate video marketing.
A massive congratulations to Di Brereton on being awarded the achievement award and Peter Kafkas who was awarded the People’s Choice award for residential sales person.
REINT 2015 Real Estate Agent Of The Year (People’s Choice)
Over 350 Properties Sold in NT
Over $500 Million Dollars worth of Real Estate SOLD
38% of Homes SOLD have acheived OVER THE ASKING PRICE
Only agent in NT to sell OVER $10 Million Dollars using video
82% of his clients see a SOLD SIGN
REINT 2014 & 2013 Innovation Award Winner
REINT 2014 Salesperson Of They Year nominee
Social Media & Video Markting Elite Agent
Winner of REA’s Best Agent Profile In NT
72% of Clients are Referred to Peter – showcasing his experience and results he achieves for all his clients. Something you wouldn’t know – Peter innovated the Darwin real estate industry with his outrageous video marketing ideas, Peter is known as “NT’s Most Innovative Agent”
“I am truly honoured to receive this award making it an NT Quadrella”
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
3D TOUR – SOROUNDED BY 2 LAKES, THE ULTIMATE FAMILY STREET
Peter Kafkas presents this amazing family home perfectly positioned to capitalise on views to 2 magnificent lakes and also located near the end of a no-through road. Take the time to appreciate all the magnificent walking trails via the lakes to the golf course and experience the lifestyle with our 3D Tour Walk Through.
PROBLEM
Real estate content marketing fails to accurately portray physical space.
There is a new way to see and share your home through the use of SCANNED3D 360 video available at iProperty NT.
* A true 5 bedroom home all of which are generous!
* Magnificent lakeside views from the spacious front lounge room
* The central kitchen with all the mod cons including centre island and easy service to the dining room opposite
* Fantastic second living area ideal for the kids or when you need additional entertaining space as this room flows out to the very generous outdoor verandah with superb views across the lakes
* The master bedroom has direct access to the outdoor verandah and pool and offers a terrific walk-in robe plus a spacious ensuite which also has a bath
* Entering the main bathroom you will appreciate the corner bath and large vanity and the separate toilet
* Bedrooms 2, 3 and 4 are all spacious with bedroom 5 being ideal as a study or nursery
* To complete the family lifestyle picture, get ready for the onslaught of the wet season with the inground pool with again views to the lakes
* Presently tenanted at $800.00 per week and terms are flexible
Why Choose iProperty NT
At iProperty NT we aspire to be innovative. We take pride in our professionalism and integrity, and being an independent boutique agency.
Recognised by industry leaders as one of Australia’s most innovative and forward thinking brands, our dynamic approach toward real estate is breaking the traditional mould to cater for the buyers of today.
“We are social media heavy”
A proud independent agency – we have developed a solid understanding of the ways in which local real estate is conducted.
We like to challenge the status quo of traditional Real Estate, we embrace change and we do things differently to give you the edge by making your property stand out
