Real Estate Talk with Kevin Turner

Weekly radio show 'Fly Over' report

Kevin will keep you informed with the current Real Estate market and answer any of your questions. Each week we "Fly Over" a suburb, check out the history and find out about real estate in that area. 

Inala, QLD  (Sat 27/12/2008)

When Queensland faced a massive housing shortage following WWII, Inala was one of the earliest housing projects to get underway.

The suburb was designed to be a satellite town to Brisbane – 18 kilometres south from the CBD – located on a gently sloping ridge. Construction coincided with modern, more simplistic house designs, characterized by lack of ornamentation, low pitched roofs and the use of fibro cement sheeting. All very avant gard in the 1960s, but the suburb looks a little tired now. It is currently undergoing urban renewal as families identify it as an affordable and reasonably well-serviced area.

RP Data reports house prices in Inala fetched the median price of $295,000 last month, posting a trend-defying 12 month growth of 22.92%  

Highgate Hill – Brisbane (Sat 3/1/2009)

Highgate Hill is just 2 kilometres south from the CBD and is home to a mix of historic houses – some dating from the 1880s – and the city’s first highrise, the Torbreck, which opened in 1960. The two-tower Torbreck, which is on the crest of Highgate Hill, is still a landmark today, and is the city’s first example of ‘international’ style and high density living. Commanding views of the city, river breezes and access to some of the best wining and dining make living in Highgate Hill a dream. And it will remain a dream for many – median house prices are up there with Brisbane’s highest - $912,500.

RP Data reports 42 houses were sold in Highgate Hill last month, for the median price of $912,500, showing a quarterly growth of 1.39%. There were 52 units sold, fetching a median price of $420,750, a quarterly downturn of -2.83%.

Fig Tree Pocket (Sat 10/1/2009)

QLD Fit Tree Pocket is located 8 km south-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is named, not surprisingly, after a fig tree which once grew in the area. It was so large it was said to be able to shelter a herd of cattle. The fig tree died in the 1890s but the suburb lives on. Now it is more the home to spacious houses and riverfront mansions than herds of cattle. Though the picturesque suburb does retain its semi-rural feel. It’s most famous resident is Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary which opened in 1927. It is the first, and largest, koala sanctuary in the world. And the area remains something of a rural paradise in the urban world – boasting a roll call of animals, tortoises, frogs, birds and bats.

RP Data reports 55 houses were sold last month, for the median price of $820,000, showing a 12-month growth of 14.69%. 

To view a detailed report for these suburbs please follow the links below:

• Detailed Suburb Profile for Inala - 52 pages, PDF format, 1.37mb
• Detailed Suburb Profile for Highgate Hill - 39 pages, PDF format, 0.97mb
• Detailed Suburb Profile for Fig Tree Pocket - 30 pages, PDF format, 0.97mb

Listen to the Show

You can listen to Real Estate Talk on the following stations:

Note: 2UE will be off air during Chrismas and New year holiday until 15 Janurary, 2009.

• 4BC Brisbane: Saturday 10:00am - 12:00pm
• 2UE Sydney: Thursday 1:30pm - 2:00pm
• Macquarie Southern Cross Media (Over 40 stations across Australia): Sunday 9:00am - 10:00am