For those that made the cut before deadlines, an early gift is the relaxation of state borders just that little bit sooner, with the rest of Australia now welcomed back to the north from Monday 13^th – a welcome that has been very much anticipated here in Cairns, both for those separated from family and those just keen to see the City pumping again with feet on the street.

For buyers, this next two weeks still provides opportunity to find your dream home, though the way you do it might be a little different. With school holidays in full swing you will more than likely find opportunities to visit open homes dry up after this weekend, so direct enquiries and requests for private inspections will become more important to avoid missing out.

When you do find that perfect property, keep in mind that the 14 or 21 day turnaround your broker promised you in November is unlikely to fly now. Banks will be winding down over the holidays too, so the chances of having an application processed over the break is slim to nil. You would likely want to allow at least 28 days at this point, though don’t stress too much about how this might look on a contract – everyone is pretty understanding of timing around these dates.

Building and pest inspections are similarly important to line up correctly – not only will inspectors be off the clock, but if you are relying on quotes from tradies to make a decision on a report, they may similarly be out of contact for a period.

It hopefully goes without saying, but please do be patient when it comes to enquiries and inspections between Christmas and New Year. There hasn’t been much of a chance for a pause throughout a year that has been wild for property, and equally – both owners and tenants will be looking for their own time outs. If you ARE seeking a viewing that falls in this timeframe due to your own movements, make sure to let the agent know well in advance so hopefully something can be arranged to suit everyone’s needs.

Here’s to a successful finish to a tumultuous 2021.