As we click over 2 years of COVID-19 impacting our lives, in this article we reflect on the ways the virus has impacted the property market in Australia, and particularly within regional areas such as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. 

As readers within and near the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area would know, the Hunter region went into COVID lockdown from 5pm Thursday 5th August. 

Following the media announcement from the Premier, we briefed our team and were all up and running working remotely and fully operational from 9:30am the next morning. 

During the lockdown period, our office is closed and our contact page is updated with the best means of contacting us whether for urgent maintenance, non-urgent maintenance, or general enquiries.

While some aspects of business are temporarily paused in the interests of public safety, our ability and commitment to the continued management of our landlords' valuable investments remains ongoing. 

If you'd like to talk to us about the management of your investment, we're still available to reach any time. 

Stay safe
- Natalie, Paul and the team 🏡

In light of the recent heightened COVID-19 case numbers throughout NSW, new temporary measures have been put in place to support both tenants and landlords who are financially impacted as a result of COVID-19. 

Specifically, these measures have been introduced to prevent financially impacted residential tenants from being evicted and to assist landlords who agree to renegotiate rent.

The latest information related to these residential tenancy support packages is found on the NSW Fair Trading website, while a summary is as follows. 

We often speak with property owners who are planning to travel and are investigating options of how to manage their home while they are away. 

For significant periods of travel, some people consider actually selling the home and "starting fresh" when they return, however for most the plan is to return to the property.

In the current climate, as well as temporary relocations for work placements, we are fielding enquiries from people itching to explore domestic travel given the reduction in overseas holiday options due to the impacts of COVID-19. 

The current rental market across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is running hot. We have been writing for months now about low rental vacancy rates across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and the impacts this has on driving house prices and rents upwards. 

As in basic economics, as supply decreases and demand increases, prices increase with demand. The thinking of "my property is worth what someone will pay for it", while true, can have more significant consequences. 

In this article we provide an overview from a property management perspective of what is happening right now for renters across the region, our frank opinion on the exploitative nature of some rental asking prices, and the impact this is having. 

What a wild ride this year has been. 

We have all ridden the wave of COVID-19 uncertainty, disruption, frustration and sadness.

Some of the challenges we have shared together as a community, while others have been unique to individuals and families.