Long-term Sanctuary Cove residents and preeminent real estate agents, John and Marie Manning join Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, heading up the Sanctuary Cove office. For over a decade, the couple has exclusively owned and operated Manning Real Estate as Sanctuary Cove specialists.

"On numerous occasions, Marie and I were courted by national real estate franchises to join them; however, our response has always been, a 'no thank you'.

"With Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, it is a totally different equation.  They bring value to Sanctuary Cove buyers and sellers through an unprecedented global network which showcases Sanctuary Cove as a multi-cultural luxury community with an enviable lifestyle," explains John Manning.

Marie Manning adds, "Once you move to Sanctuary Cove, you will never want to leave."

"Expanding into Sanctuary Cove is a natural progression as our brand seeks the best of the best in Queensland luxury property. John and Marie Manning joining our Company as Sanctuary Cove specialists is a coup," states Paul Arthur, owner and CEO of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty.

Pictured: John Manning and Marie Manning. Image supplied by Queensland Sotheby's.

"This year our sales team has gone from strength to strength with the opening of our Port Douglas office led by Barbara Wolveridge and select high-profile Queensland locations under consideration," Arthur said.

Related reading: Barbara Wolveridge to head up Queensland Sotheby’s new Port Douglas office
 
Joining the Mannings in the Sanctuary Cove offices is highly credentialed real estate professional and Queensland Sotheby's Senior Sales Executive, Vickie Lea. Over the last 15 years, Vickie has worked with multi-national property developers headquartered in Sydney and the United Kingdom; and more recently, Queensland.  

Meanwhile, the chilly winter temperatures are having absolutely no effect on the Gold Coast beachfront apartment market, where the market is sizzling hot if recent sales figures are anything to go by.

The new apartment market recorded 278 unconditional sales in the March 2018 quarter, according to the latest research by property consultants Urbis. This was a 33 per cent increase on the previous quarter’s sales and the highest sales rate in 12 months. 

Sales were buoyed by the recent Commonwealth Games excitement and nine new project launches, equating to over 1,000 new apartments. As per the previous quarters, the majority of transactions were owner occupier sales, making up 42 per cent of sales.

This was followed by interstate investors (28 per cent of sales), local state investors (20 per cent of sales) and lastly foreign investor buyers who made up only 10 per cent of sales.

Lynda Campbell, Senior Consultant at Urbis, said the strength of the Gold Coast apartment market was grounded locally.

71/3 Cunningham Avenue, sold through Kim Sharpe of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, as featured on Luxury List.

“The Gold Coast is more than just a premium tourist destination, it is a place to live, work and play. The apartment lifestyle makes sense for a range of Gold Coast residents, including downsizers, and quarter on quarter we have seen owner occupier sales come out on top.

“As we predicted, 2018 was off to a strong start for the Gold Coast apartment market," Campbell said. 

Related reading: Queensland Sotheby’s adds another two top agents to its growing team

Kim Sharpe, an agent from Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, can certainly attest to this. He recently sold a Main Beach apartment for a high sum, after only 21 days on the market.

"The property was initially listed with another agent for four months," Sharpe said.

71/3 Cunningham Avenue, sold through Kim Sharpe of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, as featured on  Luxury List.

"The most unique thing about this property is the uninterrupted views. They are never to be built out views, looking straight down the Spit. That is quite unique in an area filled with predominantly high rise buildings," Sharpe told WILLIAMS MEDIA.

"The apartment is 650sqm over two levels, it has its own pool with views straight down the Broadwater," Sharpe said.

The agency has since sold another two waterfront penthouses on the Gold Coast, both in 'Deepwater Point' on the Broadwater, within two weeks of each other.

71/3 Cunningham Avenue, sold through Kim Sharpe of Queensland Sotheby's International Realty, as featured on  Luxury List.

And with new apartment projects popping up everywhere you look, including the upcoming $1.2b Spirit tower in Surfers Paradise, supply is certainly stepping up to meet the demand.

“New project launches stimulated sales in the quarter, and with a possible 19 new projects to launch in the next quarter, supply has definitely stepped up to meet demand.

"Though some of our other cities may have seen a slowdown in sales, things are looking sunny on the Gold Coast,” said Campbell. 

Related reading: 

Get to know Michael Vettoretto, Senior Sales Executive and Auctioneer at Queensland Sotheby's Realty

Gold Coast downsizers favouring dual living properties

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