Do you have a link to the ad/listing so we can see what the property actually is and what the current sales pitch is. This would make suggestions easier
as someone who lives 3hrs north of Noosa and has a son at Uni on the Sunshine Coast I visit about once a month…heres my 2 cents worth.
Who would rent it? The Sunny Coast is pretty depressed economically at present (not just those in tourism)
Noosa is at the top and relatively (in SC terms) a fair way from the hub (lovely though)…add another 15-20 mins which I assume at that price is N/NW and you're limiting your market again.
Look at the competition, not just in that area but around Noosa/Noosaville and you will see that there is plenty out there in the rental pool. Don't always believe the prices on websites either, a friend just secured a 3br resort townhouse in Noosaville for $250p/wk rent that was advertised for $315……..times are tough and some will bend a fair bit cos a lot are desperate investors that need to at least cover high BC costs
I too have struggled with this dilemma for the last few years and decided to just pump it into the mortgage for the reasons your friend said.
We now have 95% equity in a house last valued at $340k in SEQ so really we could look at several IPs, its just that with two kids living away at Uni and a third to go, cashflow is probably needed for that plus …whatever I look at, (with the exception of student accom) the figures just don't add up so why go there??
Most money commentators like Paul Clitheroe, Noel Whittaker and Scott Pape say the same thing
Cheap airfares are changing the holidaymaker demographics, thus influencing local infrastructure which in turn affect prices. I live in the coastal region of Bundaberg Qld and the fact that Hervey Bay airport has upgraded to jet status means that Southerners can fly cheaper to there or Maroochydore than the traditional road trip to Merimbula etc. Get there quicker and enjoy more temperate weather.
Bundaberg has upgraded their airport but the commercial airlines aren't prepared yet to offer the service whilst Hervey Bay is only 75 mins away. Guess where the tourists go, guess where the infrastructure that goes with that happened. Of course there is also a glut of properties there as everybody tried to cash in.
I live 300m from the water, and have seen prices virtually triple in the last few years without any real reason, other than hype. There is a waterfront cottage near me for $560k that can't rent at $250. My point is, if the area (based on infrastructure and future appeal)warrants the price, sit tight, if it was based on hype and inflated expectations then think some more.