Heart is where the affordable home is

Zara Abu Bakar and Sid Abdullah have bought their first property, a two bedroom townhouse in Edge Hill. Picture: Brendan Radke

When this Queensland couple decided it was time to buy their first home, they couldn’t go past Cairns for lifestyle, community and affordability.

Stocktake co-ordinator Sid Abdullah and educator Zara Abu Bakar bought a townhouse in the Cairns suburb of Edge Hill this month after falling in love with the Far North Queensland region.

Mr Abdullah said he and his wife had lived in Perth and Arnhem Land previously, but after being in Cairns for more than a year, they knew they’d found home.

“The time was right for us to find somewhere to settle down,” he said.

“Cairns is affordable compared to other places.

“To find a place like ours in the (capital cities) is quite difficult.”

Zara Abu Bakar and Sid Abdullah are now proud Cairns homeowners. Picture: Brendan Radke

PRD data showed Cairns had a median house price of $650,000, while the average cost of a house in Brisbane had soared to $910,000.

Mr Abdullah said with property prices being more reasonable in Cairns than in Australia’s capital cities, the buying process was easy.

“We had saved up enough of a deposit, so I approached a broker and then the bank,” he said.

“I got good advice from them and they were very helpful.

“We had no issues getting a home loan approved.”

But the couple didn’t just decide on Cairns for its property prices.

“We like the scenery and the weather is good, especially from June to September” Mr Abdullah said.

“You can drive to Palm Cove or go up to the Tablelands and Mareeba – it’s all very beautiful.”

The home at 28 Enmore St, Manoora, is one of 40 properties going to auction on May 19. Picture: realestate.com.au

Mr Abdullah said they settled on the suburb of Edge Hill for its community feel and central location.

“It’s an older suburb that is beautiful and safe, and the community is quite open,” he said.

“They have a lot of ongoing activities and the Esplanade is within walking distance.

“We don’t have to drive into the city because the supermarket is just around the corner and if we want to go to the cafe we can walk there.”

Ray White Cairns principal Ray Murphy, who sold the couple their home, said there had been an increase in out-of-towners and new residents buying in Cairns to get more bang for their buck.

“We can see this in the response we’ve had to our auction event on May 19,” he said.

“There has been magnitude of interest.

“We had 50 properties ranging from commercial through to high end and first homebuyer stock going under the hammer, but 10 have already sold prior to auction.

“It’s a sign of the times, the Cairns market is very affordable but it is strong and there is a lot of buyer demand.”

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