Charters Towers property market conditions in the vendor's favour: HTW rural
Recent rain in the Charters Towers area has lifted eyes towards the sky with some good moisture in the sky with clouds building in the afternoon, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) rural report.
Recent events have developed with isolated thunderstorms delivering up to 24 millimetres in the odd spot and barely spit in others.
"The old saying rings in the ears that where the first break of the season is, that is where it will fall for the oncoming wet season," the valuation firm said.
"These are early falls, however they have had immediate effect on the minds of land holders.
"Last wet season, the Charters Towers area (more so to the north) had regular steady rain events. A cracking season for some!"
From an agricultural perspective, this district has lots to offer, the HTW report noted.
Since the area was thrown open to cattle grazing in the 1860s, agriculture has endured the tribulations of drought, disease, flood, commodity market cycles and property market cycles.
Property market cycles have endured cattle slumps, a millennial boom, a live export ban and now strong demand exists with limited country for sale.
"At four of the last five auctions in this district, neighbours were successful in expanding their holdings.
"The auctions of Somerset, Maitland Downs, Reedybrook and Myrrlumbing certainly provided varying gauges of market depth from under bidders," the valuation firm said.
There have been a few privately negotiated transactions to neighbouring land holders.
This degree of demand is somewhat different to the post live export ban period where there was limited market interest in northern cattle breeding assets.
Auction results have been:
◗ Maitland Downs (pictured below) - $9.85 million ($712/ha, $288/ acre) walk in walk out;
◗ Somerset (pictured below) -$4.3million ($296/ha,$120/acre) bare of livestock, plant and equipment;
◗ Reedybrook (pictured below) - $5.67 million ($603/ha, $244/acre) walk in walk out;
◗ Myrrlumbing - $5.9 million ($373/ha, $150/acre) walk in walk out.
"As usual, it depends what you apportion to cattle and plant, but our bare/improved land rate range from these sales is from $296 per hectare ($120 per acre) to $538 per hectare ($217 per acre)," the valuation firm said.
"Even though these are sales to neighbours, one cannot forget the depth of underbidding to take the buyer to the auctioneer’s drop of the gavel."
Given the recent rain, last year’s seasonal conditions, cattle demand, interest rates and slim pickings for buyers, only time will tell whether the broader market starts to push value rates higher.
Certainly, the property market conditions are in the vendor’s favour at present.
With both neighbours and vendors confident in their property investments and the future, it is very difficult for prospective buyers to invest at present.
