Port Douglas real estate sales continue their resurgence after a strong finish to 2012 gave home sellers and agents reason to be optimistic.

Callum Jones (pictured) of Tony McGrath Real Estate in Port Douglas described the current revival as a turning point for the local market.

"Absolutely, that's continued on into this year. January was a really good month, particularly the first two or three weeks so it's pretty positive stuff."

He said that buyers are still taking advantage of lower prices, but they can't expect to have it all their own way for too much longer.

"It's all price orientated still. The stuff that's cheap is the stuff that's moving. I think the feeling is that interest rates aren't going to get any lower and people want to get into the market.

"There's definitely more enquiry but the prices haven't started to come up yet.

"There's now more competition (amongst buyers). Previously they could sit back and say 'we're in no rush', but now the older properties that have been there for a while are now selling and selling quickly and people are missing out."

Land sales continue to boom in Cooya Beach, making it a property hotspot in the region. Properties close to Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas are also a focus for potential buyers.

"We sold about twelve blocks of land at Cooya Beach which has been first home buyers and people getting into the market, that's since mid-December so they're pretty good numbers," Mr Jones said.
 
Commercial properties are also starting to move, a scenario Mr Jones described as great news for business confidence in the region.

"We've done a lot of commercial stuff that's settled this last month like Bistro 3, there was a lot of work involved in it but it settled last week...it was a Newcastle buyer.

"We just had the settlement of some commercial stuff next to Tommy Bahamas, next door, for $1.4 million so that's a good sale for the town. It's those bigger commercial sales that get some confidence back into the area."

Mr Jones said agents were looking forward to the strongest 12 months in the industry for many years.  

Callum's tips for sellers
Set a realistic price
Consider going to auction

Callum's tip for buyers
Take advantage of current bargains while they last