NEVER A BAD HAIR DAY…CAUSE WE NEVER SLEEP!

| Date:4 January 2010

We’re sure that there’s many people at this time of year that would agree they also never sleep…late night parties, wild new year celebrations or running on adrenaline…well it is a crazy time of year!

Fact is, we never sleep – 24 hour around the clock telephone service. No silly answering machines, you will speak to an actual person, one of us! Sunday open houses…how many agents that you know do Saturday and Sunday opens together with a mid week open?

Yes. We are and have been open the entire Christmas & New Year period. No holidays for us…we’ll leave that for the other agents!

Want to sell? Call us, we’ll come and see you at 6am, 10pm or even midnight any day of the week. Need a place to rent or buy? Easy. We’re available whenever you are.

Just click here to contact us! Simple.

Happy 2010 and we look forward to turning your New Years resolution into a reality!

WHY DEE WHY?

| Date:9 November 2009

Gone are the days where most of us used to walk around Dee Why in our boardies and thongs. Seems these days many more of us are swanning around in our best designer clothes in what is now the new uber chic Dee Why!

Dee Why has done a huge about face in the past 5 years where it once was somewhat of an untidy borderline daggy kind of neighbourhood to what it is being transformed into now.

So, why the change?

In the past 5 years Dee Why has come ahead in leaps and bounds and it seems it is now the “in” place to live.

You’d have to be living in a bubble to not notice that Dee Why is located in an irreplaceable position, with many residential streets being just a hop, skip and a jump to the world famous Dee Why Beach, Manly Beach & beyond.

Loads of luxury, state of the art apartments are going up in the area which is encouraging a slightly more mature, asset rich demographic. On the other end of the scale it appears that Dee Why is now made up of a young, trendy population with 40% between the ages of 20-39 years of age. The majority of these young inhabitants seem to enjoy a rather sizeable income and many own their own property within the area. This is a real family suburb with the benefit of having a surf beach right at the front door.

One would never go hungry in Dee Why with some 46 restaurants, cafes and bars many overlooking the beach where you can grab anything from Pizza to Indian spices, there is something for everyone! With all the new developing going on in Dee Why there has been a huge increase in the number of eateries with one trendier than the next. Been to Dee Why Market Place yet???

There is a ton of sporting clubs including rugby clubs, golf clubs and of course surf clubs together with some incredible child care facilities many of them brand spanking new.

A sensational mix of shops, 280 shops to be specific, including trendy boutiques and availability to your everyday items makes Dee Why a highly desirable place to grab a dress, get your hair done or jump in to the gym.

It’s seriously central location means that you can hop on a bus and be in the CBD within a half an hour or catch a ferry from Manly Beach, just moments away.

Just walking through the streets you’d be blind to not notice just how mutli cultural Dee Why is. The fabulous mixture of races and religions introduces a wonderful flavour to Dee Why where many nationalities live together in a peaceful, safe & harmonious environment.

Of course last but not least…Dee Why is home to The Novak Agency! We’d like to think that we set the benchmark for Dee Why now being as cool and trendy as what it is….however I think we’ll have to bow down to the many developers that saw the potential in this little piece of paradise….

The Great Recovery

The Great Recovery – Sharemarket trends

•    More than half a trillion dollars has been added to the capitalisation of the Australian sharemarket since March. Market cap currently stands at just over $1.4 trillion.

•    While the value of sharemarket has lifted almost 60 per cent since the March lows, it has also become more concentrated with almost half capitalisation held in banks and resources. And just over a third of sharemarket value is held in just six stocks – ANZ, CBA, NAB, Westpac, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
The Great Recovery

•    We have had the Great Depression. And in some advanced countries the recent economic downturn has been termed the Great Recession. But more positively – and in the same vein – the strong, swift recovery of the sharemarket since March could aptly be described as the Great Recovery.

•    The value of shares on the Australian sharemarket currently stands at just over $1.4 trillion ($1404.7 billion). Since March 9, market capitalisation has lifted by over half a trillion dollars ($519.4 billion) or a gain of 58.7 per cent.

•    There is still some work to reach the highs set on November 1 2007 but it looks far more achievable than appeared the case just seven months ago. Sharemarket capitalisation needs to rise by almost 25 per cent to reach record levels.

•    Certainly the fall from grace for the Australian sharemarket was remarkable. Between November 2007 and March 2009 the value of shares on the Australian sharemarket almost halved, falling by just over $847 billion or 48.9 per cent. But since, just over $500 billion of the paper loss has been recovered with just over $300 billion to go.
With recovery comes concentration

•    The recovery of the sharemarket appears remarkable, but not if you consider the performance of the economy. If an economy grows, it will be reflected in sales, profitability and therefore in the size and value of Australian companies. The Australian economy avoided recession and is now accelerating out of a slowdown. The Reserve Bank certainly expects the economy to gain pace over the coming year as reflected by the recent decision to lift interest rates.

•    In essence the sharp decline in the value of the sharemarket was unwarranted as the Australian economy failed to follow other economies into recession.

•    The main problem is that the dollars flooding back into the sharemarket have tended to flow to the main banks and resource companies.

•    Currently three of the 19 sub-sectors account for almost half the capitalisation of the sharemarket. The S&P/ASX 200 sub-sectors – Banks, Materials & Energy – account for just over 48 per cent of sharemarket capitalisation, up from just over 39 per cent at the start of 2007.

•    In fact just six stocks account for over a third of the capitalisation of the entire sharemarket – ANZ, NAB, CBA, Westpac, BHP-Billiton and Rio Tinto. Capitalisation of these six stocks has soared by $228 billion from the lows recorded late last year.

•    If the shift of funds into the ‘Super Six’ companies just represents a shift into large, safe-haven companies at the start of the sharemarket recovery then there are few long-term implications. As the recovery matures and consolidates, investors should feel more comfortable to embrace small and medium-sized companies, leading to less concentration of sharemarket value in a small number of companies.

•    However if sharemarket value continues to be concentrated into the top stocks then key indices such as the ASX 200 and All Ordinaries will be far less representative. It is important that investors are aware of the power that the ‘Super Six’ companies exert.
Have investors become too exuberant?

•    The sharemarket has rebounded a long way in a short time period. As a result, this raises the question about whether investors have become too exuberant. And in this respect an interesting dichotomy has developed. The forward price-earnings ratio, measuring share prices against earnings forecasts stands at 17.82, well above the decade average of 16.09. However the lagged PE measure, comparing actual share prices against actual earnings, stands at 14.7, below the decade-average of 15.4.

•    Which measure is right? Analysts were pleasantly surprised by the resilience of earnings in the latest reporting season and many have sought to upgrade forecasts. But it is probably fair to say that analysts still harbour doubts. So the upgrade path still has further to go.

•    The lagged PE measure requires no adjustment of views, so in the current environment it is arguably the more accurate valuation measure. The bottom-line being that the market is neither super-cheap nor expensive. If companies continue to offer positive guidance about earnings, then the sharemarket will continue to track higher, however at a more modest pace than has been the case to date.

•    CommSec expects the sharemarket to end the year around 5,000 points and lift to 5,300 points by mid 2010.

Source Craig James, Chief Economist, CommSec

LANDLORDS LET’S PARTY!!!!!!!

Yep! Looks as though the planets are finally aligning for all you investors out there with rental returns looking mighty fine. C’mon it’s your turn to celebrate!

Our mates at AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY MONITORS recently reported that gross rental returns had either remained steady or slightly increased.

Now, normally one would have thought that our heavily reduced variable interest rates might have released the pressure on rents. Well, apparently not so.

As it turns out, rental vacancy rates are still extremely low. Particularly in Sydney. The September “Rental Vacancy Report” by the REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE OF NSW asserts that Sydney has a rental vacancy rate of just 1.3%. In fact, for the vast majority of NSW (including regional centres) the rate sits below 2%!!!

Here’s the good news – it seems that property investors will not need to drop rents to attract tenants in this environment.

Recently published population projections by the NSW GOVERNMENT show that NSW will grow by 372,600 people in 5 years. That is a touch over 1,433 people per week.

The NSW Govt. also estimates that 187,300 dwellings will need to be built during this period – 720 new dwellings every week! Compare this to the number of building commencements last financial year of 457 per week (Source: ABS) and you will no doubt see a problem looming. An estimated shortfall of 263 new dwellings every week (13,600 per annum).

Another reason for property investors to party will be the end of the first home buyers grant “Boost” on the 31st of December this year.

Whilst this boost enabled more people to get into their own home for the first time, it also scared off many investors. It seems many prospective investors will be waiting until the first home buyers’ have completed their feeding frenzy. That day approaches.

The good news for investors is that median rental yields have been building over the last five years. Every capital city in Australia now exceeds 4% p.a. and the housing shortage should support this position.

Go on investors…let your hair down, throw on your dancing shoes and strike a pose….it’s your turn now to have some fun!

WISH US LUCK 4 SATURDAY…WILL WE WIN AGENCY OF THE YEAR?

| Date:6 October 2009

Saturday night…..do do do do do do do…..Saturday night…..do do do do do do do do……!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…Real Estate’s night of nights is this coming Saturday night when the whos who of the industry will frock up, hob nob and celebrate each others achievements.

We are up for Large Residential Agency of the Year. Yep! One of only four finalists. This in itself is a massive achievement and to be completely honest we are thrilled to have come this far. Taking out the big title would certainly be the cherry on top.

We would like to wish all finalists the very best of luck for Saturday Night and we will keep our fingers and toes very tightly crossed until we hear the words “….and the winner for Real Estate Agency of the Year goes to ??????????????”….

NOVAK ‘GET DAYS ON MARKET’ STATS IN MANLY DAILY

Thump Thump Thump

GOOD NEWS FULL OFFICIAL DATA CLICK HERE

Record August growth in home values despite first home buyer demand winding back.

Capital city dwelling values – first eight months of 2009
•Sydney values up 8.6% to $546,867
•Melbourne values up 11.6% to $467,280
•Brisbane values up 5.2% to $443,197
•Adelaide values up 3.1% to $ 407,227

National property values jumped by almost 2 per cent in August in the largest monthly movement since the
RP Data‐Rismark Home Value Indices began in January 2005

According to rpdata.com research director, Tim Lawless, the August results
surprised on the upside and are indicative of very high levels of buyer
confidence combined with low levels of listings.

“These buoyant conditions sit in striking contrast to the same time last year
when values were falling, less than half of the auctions held cleared.

GOOD NEWS FULL OFFICIAL DATA CLICK HERE

BUSY LITTLE BEES AT THE NOVAK AGENCY

| Date:14 September 2009

It seems that the whole world has come out of hibernation these past few weeks.

We have listed some 15 properties and sold loads more over the past week and a half.

The Novak Agency is in full swing with loads in store for Spring including the unveiling of our “secret weapon”….stay tuned for this one!

As the weather heats up so to is the property market with clearance rates thriving, up by 32% from this time last year.

It’s not just the birds and the bees that’ll be busy this Summer – looks as though we’re in for a bonza of season!!!

Click here to see what fabulous properties we have in store.

Also, be kept in the loop with our Novak email newsletter…so informative, so entertaining, so have to be part of it! Just e-mail the very good looking Angelo at agoutzios@thenovakagency.com and we’ll be sure to add you onto the “A List”…

PROPERTY INVESTORS – YOU’RE IN THE MONEY!!!-on the Northern Beaches.

| Date:7 September 2009

It’s possibly the nation’s best kept secret. Just recently I’ve seen an ad or two on the tellie advising us about the governments stamp duty rebate for NSW Property Investors.

Here’s the drill – people buying newly constructed homes valued up to $600 000 will get a 50% stamp duty cut in a massive stimulus boost to the state’s housing sector. Yep! 50% off.

These changes came into effect 1 July 2009 and should run for at least 6 months with a review on December 31 2009!

There is certainly some movement out there with a baton change between first-home buyers and investors in Sydney’s residential market place certainly starting to take place, but not with the timeliness the State Government had budgeted for.

First-home buyers continue to dominate the market, with new figures showing just 221 investors took up a 50 per cent reduction in state stamp duty in the first six weeks of the scheme.

The figures do show an increase on the 167 investors who bought in the first five weeks of the rebate.

New houses and units worth $94 million have been purchased by investors at a cost of $1.6 million to state revenue.

The Government set aside $64 million to fund the six-month scheme.

First-home buyers seeking to take advantage of the handouts continue to purchase at a rate of about 1750 a week, compared with 36 investors a week.

Meriton, reports that investor inquiry has picked up considerably in recent months at its Victoria Square, Zetland, development.

This is due to the strong market fundamentals investors crave – low vacancy, rising rents, excellent yields and a lack of supply,’’ the sales and marketing manager, James Sialepis, said. “The percentage of investors purchasing our apartments has risen from 10 per cent earlier this year to 40 per cent in recent months.’’

Analysts say a return to the market by nervous investors will be crucial to supporting house prices as the current surge of interest from first-home buyers is expected to peter out.

Many property investors have been anticipating a fall in prices when the government support for first-home buyers is partially reduced next month.

’’The main reason that investors have been on the sideline was that they were concerned about the price side,’’ an economist at Westpac, Matthew Hassan, said. ’’Having a good yield is all very well, but to make the proposition stack up you’ve got to have capital gain.’’

But other signs of life in the property investment market are emerging.

A Westpac survey of consumer sentiment last month showed a big jump in house price expectations among people aged between 35 and 55 – the age of most property investors.

Our advice – getting cracking!

Take advantage of the government’s stamp duty rebate. There are some fabulous bargains out there!

Jump onto The Novak Agency website to see what brilliant investment properties we have available.

Want more info on the stamp duty rebate for property investors? Just click here.

LOOKING FOR AN OLD FASHIONED REAL ESTATE AGENT? DON’T CALL 1300 4 NOVAK (8978 6888)!!!

| Date:17 August 2009

So exactly what is it about The Novak Agency that has made us the most popular real estate agency on the Northern Beaches of Sydney?

Could it be the highly visual, highly entertaining marketing that clearly sets The Novak Agency apart from all of it’s competitors? Let’s face it – buying or selling ones home is possibly one of the most nerve wracking experiences one will encounter. It is also one of THE most exciting experiences as well…so why not have some fun with it?!

The Novak Agencies clever use of copy, images, unique marketing, advertising (including the only agency to have the guaranteed back page of The Manly Daily) and signboards are certainly a talking point. It not only captures the audience however also entertains and informs in a way that no other agency has managed to do so.

For any of the millions of cars or passers by that have caught a glimpse of The Novak Agency headquarters, it’s obvious that the offices look far from that of a real estate agency (just visit our website www.thenovakagency.com)!

The agencies motto of ’a step ahead’ is certainly portrayed in their chic, glamorous headquarters ideally positioned right in the hub of Dee Why on Pittwater Road. A stunning chandelier, glass walls, plasma tvs and the sophisticated decor make you feel more as though you’re entering into a 5 star hotel than a real estate office…and so the experience starts……..

Looking past the glitz and glamour of the offices, the team that drive the agency are equally as glamorous and all are only the very best in the industry. The team is overly dedicated and live and breathe what they do best! All staff are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that’s right – we never sleep!!!

Open homes are conducted 3 times a week including a Saturday AND a Sunday open. Makes sense really considering most people are available to inspect a property on a Sunday when generally no one works.

Why not put us to the test? Come and see why we have won so many awards and why we are a finalist for this years 2009 Real Estate Institute of NSW’s (REINSW) Awards for Excellence for a Large Residential Agency.

Call us on 1300 4 NOVAK or 02 8978 6888 24/7 – we never sleep.

Or, if you’re too shy to call jump onto our award winning website www.thenovakagency.com

If you’re up for some fun follow Mark Novak on Twitter www.twitter.com/MarkNovakTNA

Or, if you love great coffee or just want to have a sticky beak at our HQ, come on in…651 Pittwater Rd Dee Why (parking at the rear).

Mark Novak will also be guest speaker at The Westpac First Home Buyers Information Evening. Come and meet Mark, The Novak Agency team, a local Solicitor (for all your legal matters) & our friends at Westpac on Wed. 25 August at 6.30pm.

Click here for details