Wagga Business NetworX Christmas in July 2010

You’re invited to attend the annual Wagga Business NetworX Christmas in July on Friday the 23rd of July from 6.30 pm, at Joyes Hall, Charles Sturt University. The cost is $75 and includes canapés, two course meal and drinks of beer, wine and soft drinks. Performing on the night is the talented Australian Army band Kapooka. Funds raised benefit Kurrajong Waratah’s Children’s Accommodation Services for children with a disability.
Wagga Business NetworX is a small group of like minded business men and women who aim to support each other by creating networking opportunities. It was formed in 2005, and to date have raised over $70,000 for Kurrajong Waratah which has made an enormous difference in the lives of many children with a disability. Their support has enabled the construction of a major outdoor play and living area for a group home for children from 8-18 years. They have also provided funding to enable Kurrajong Waratah staff to take a group of children with a disability on an annual holiday for the past four years.
Fitzpatricks Real Estate Director and one of the founding members of Wagga Business NetworX, Adam Drummond, said the event is one of the highlights on the group’s fundraising calendar of events. This year is tipped to be bigger and better than before.
Come along for a night of fine food and brilliant entertainment and help make a difference in the lives of children with a disability.
If you would like to purchase tickets you can phone Kurrajong Waratah on 6925 5002 or email Cathie Smith

Why is winter a great time to sell?

Despite what some people may say about waiting for spring to put your property on the market, winter has some advantages which often go unnoticed.
The price and time a property is spent on the market is determined by two important factors, supply and demand. The more properties on the market, the more buyers have to choose from. If everyone is waiting for spring to put their house on the market, how much supply is there in winter? Obviously the less, the better for sellers!
“But it’s cold and muddy!”
Why not show buyers how warm and inviting your home can be on a cold winter’s day. Listen to their sigh of relief once they step into a nice, warm house from the cold. Use the elements to your advantage.
“But the garden isn’t at its best!”
It’s extremely rare that a buyer won’t purchase a house because of the way the garden looks. Gardens are replaceable and everyone knows it’s winter, and most gardens are not looking their best. People make decisions on buying a house by the following factors:
Features (needs)
Price (budget)
Benefits (wants)
Location (proximity to what’s important to them)

So before dismissing winter as a bad time to sell, always remember those three key points;
Supply and demand
Use the elements to your advantage
People buy a house not a garden.

New Stamp Duty benefits

In an effort to increase the State’s housing construction sector, the government will introduce the NSW Home Builders Bonus (HBB) from July 1, 2010. The HBB provides exemptions and concessions for certain purchases of new homes, homes purchased off the plan and vacant land in which a new home will be built.
First home buyers will receive benefits of up to $29,490, while families and investors can receive up to $22,490 in stamp duty relief. The NSW Home Builder’s Bonus will come into effect from 1 July 2010 for two years until 30 June 2012.
Stamp duty will be cut to zero for off the plan home purchases worth up to $600,000. This represents a saving of up to $22,490. This zero stamp duty is also available to property investors and only applies prior to any construction commencing.
For those buying a new home already in the construction phase or newly completed, they will be eligible for a 25 percent Stamp Duty cut. This is available to homes worth up to $600,000 and represents a saving of up to $5,623.
Stamp duty will also be eliminated for the next two years for over-65s who buy and move into a newly-built dwelling worth up to $600,000 provided that they sell their existing home.
The last time the State Government released these stimulus packages over 2 years ago it had a positive effect on the building sector in Wagga Wagga, and it will continue to have a positive effect this time.
Fitzpatricks Real Estate expects “there will be a high take up of these incentives and they will cause a positive influence throughout other industries within our local economy including retail, automotive and finance” said Director Adam Drummond. Adam also went on to say “this will also encourage investors back into the market”.
The following property will receive free stamp duty if purchased between 1 July 2010 and 1 July 2011:
from $379,000 Units 1-5/9 Clarence Street, Tatton


The following new properties qualify for the 25% stamp duty from July 1:
$260,000 & $288,000 Units 1&4/2 Cochrane Street,Kooringal

from $315,000 2/1 Greenway Street, Lloyd

$315,000 14 Yulong Street, Glenfield Park

$339,000 & $379,000 1&2/15 Tanami Street, Tatton

$459,000 32 Kaloona Drive, Bourkelands

$469,000 15 Marylands Way, Hilltop

$489,000 11 Tanami Street, Tatton

$495,000 2/10 Day Street, Central

$535,000 7 Hamersley Place, Tatton

2010/2011 NSW State Government Budget

This week the NSW State Government released the 2010/2011 State Budget. Highlights of this announcement for home buyers was the Stamp Duty relief by way of the “Home Builders Bonus” for a two year period in an effort to increase the State’s housing construction sector.
First home buyers will receive benefits of up to $29,490, while families and investors can receive up to $22,490 in stamp duty relief. The NSW Home Builder’s Bonus will come into effect from 1 July 2010 for two years until 30 June 2012.
Stamp duty will be cut to zero for off the plan home purchases worth up to $600,000. This represents a saving of up to $22,490. This zero stamp duty is also available to property investors and only applies prior to any construction commencing.
For those buying a new home already in the construction phase or newly completed, they will be eligible for a 25 percent Stamp Duty cut. This is available to homes worth up to $600,000 and represents a saving of up to $5,623.
Eligible first home buyers continue to benefit from these incentives with the Home Builders Bonus and the $7,000 First Home Owners Grant.
Stamp duty will also be eliminated for the next two years for over-65s who buy and move into a newly-built dwelling worth up to $600,000 provided that they sell their existing home.
The last time the State Government released these stimulus packages over 2 years ago it had a positive effect on the building sector in Wagga Wagga, and it will continue to have a positive effect this time.
Fitzpatricks Real Estate expects “there will be a high take up of these incentives and they will cause a positive influence throughout other industries within our local economy including retail, automotive and finance” said Director Adam Drummond. Adam also went on to say “this will also encourage investors back into the market”.
The State Government also announced its new pay roll tax rate which will be reduced from 5.65% to 5.50% effective from 1 July 2010 and will be reduced further from 1 January 2011 to 5.45%. This will have a positive effect on small to medium business owners.

Making a difference in our community

Fitzpatricks Real Estate is now into its 60th year of making a difference within our community, with over $100,000 donated back into our community throughout the past 5 years.
To celebrate their 60th anniversary, Fitzpatricks Real Estate has proudly partnered with Mission Australia’s Wagga Youth Connections. Throughout this year, Fitzpatricks Real Estate has been donating approximately $1,200 per month directly to Wagga Youth Connections. This generous donation will continue throughout the year to assist the centre and make a real difference to the youth in need of support in the Wagga Wagga area. So far they have raised over $3,540 to the end of March and hope this will be $12,000 - $14,000 by the end of the year.
To take their donation one step further and to physically show their support, Fitzpatricks Real Estate held a working bee last Saturday at Wagga Youth Connections in Thorne Street.
This working bee was a way for Fitzpatricks Real Estate employees to further develop their relationship with the staff and residents of Wagga Youth Connections and was also a fantastic way to help brighten up the lives of residents of the refuge, both now in the short term and in the future.
“We are going to give the front and rear yards a vibrant and fresh makeover,” said Director Brendan Madigan. “This makeover will included a general tidy up of the grounds as well as adding new plants, updating the entertaining area and installing a new barbecue,” said Brendan.
Heather Manning, Service Manager - Wagga Youth Connections said “the benefits of such generous community spirit works in many ways, not only will the young people be able to experience a much more pleasurable surrounding and have something to be proud of, they see first hand what it means to be involved in and a valued member of a caring supportive community.”
They have received generous support from the community including landscaping supplies kindly donated by Loam and Stone, plus the purchase of a new barbecue with the help of Palm Air, Harmers Plumbing Solutions and Allan Woolstencroft’s Handyman Service have also offered support and will provide expert assistance on the day.

The Reserve Bank has held interest rates steady

After six consecutive increases since last October, The Reserve Bank has kept the official interest rate steady at 4.5% after the board met yesterday. This decision to leave interest rates on hold was welcomed by Richard Fitzpatrick, Director of Fitzpatricks Real Estate.
Mr Fitzpatrick stated the whole market place from the retailing industry to the real estate industry would welcome the news.
Interest rates are still considered to be below long term historical levels and Mr Fitzpatrick believes the decision to hold rates is an indication by the Reserve Bank, that they have now controlled the inflationary trend of the economy. This is good news for real estate and business owners with current loans and for those people wanting to enter the real estate market.
The general consensus from the various market analysis indicates the rapid rise in interest rates is now behind us, making this as good as time as any to buy Wagga real estate.

Fitzpatricks 2010 CSU Scholarship winner announced

Charles Sturt University student Kelly McPherson has been awarded the annual Fitzpatricks Real Estate Scholarship for 2010.
Offered to students enrolled in a Bachelor of Business degree undertaking any specialisation, the scholarship provides funding and work experience to a local student each year.
Kelly is in her second year of study and is aiming to work within the local community in an accounting role. Ultimately, her goal is to become a lecturer at Charles Sturt University, so she can help educate accountants for the future.
During the application process, Rebecca stood out as very hardworking and diligent with a firm commitment to her studies and to achieving her goals.
Fitzpatricks Real Estate is very proud to be able to award the Fitzpatricks Real Estate 2010 Scholarship to such a deserving young achiever.
“To receive this scholarship is a real honour and a reflection of the dedication Fitzpatricks Real Estate has to CSU students. To be recognised by such a professional organisation is a privilege,” Kelly McPherson said.
Congratulations Kelly!

Fitzpatricks Real Estate staff attend training event

Fitzpatricks Real Estate staff returned to work this week after attending one of the nation’s major training events for the year, the Australasian Real Estate Conference (AREC).
16 Fitzpatricks team members joined with more than 2,000 sales and property management staff from around Australia and New Zealand at the three day event at Darling Harbour Convention Centre. Now in its 13th year, AREC is the biggest independent real estate conference and trade exhibition in our region and unique in the world.
The content was provided by a mix of specialist trainers and industry experts from around the globe and reinforced the knowledge that FRE property services are of the highest caliber.
AREC assists real estate practitioners to "raise the bar", providing the foundation for value adding and enhanced client services.
The international line-up of speakers included the inspirational Sir Bob Geldof and Edward De Bono.
Lifestyle Channel’s charismatic real estate expert Andrew Winter was the MC for the event and helped to reshape our thinking on property presentation as featured in his popular program Selling Houses Australia and Selling Houses Aboard.

Wagga Gold Cup Photo Gallery

On Friday the 7th of May the regions most prestigious racing carnival took place in Wagga Wagga; the Gold Cup. The racing carnival attracted large crowds, top field jockeys and trainers, along with strong fashions on the field with many people travelling from far and wide to be a part of this annual event.
We extend congratulations to the connections of "Thereheiz", winner of the 1200 metre 2010 Fitzpatricks Real Estate Class 1 Handicap. Trained by Barbara Joseph and ridden by jockey Blake Shinn, “Thereheiz " celebrated its win in the second race of the day.
Maintaining our long association with the region’s premier racing event, the Fitzpatricks team joined with invited guests in our annual hospitality marquee as a way of saying thank you to our dedicated and long standing clients. We would like to thank our guests for their company and we hope you enjoyed your day and our hospitality.
View slide show of photos from the Gold Cup

If you see a photo of yourself you would like an electronic copy of, simply email us and we will send you the photo. Enter the image title of the photograph you would like into the email subject field.