EMMA BAYNES
NARACOORTE'S housing market will prosper in the next 12 months, according to property developer James McIntyre.
The Mount Barker-based investor plans to create five house and land packages off Alexander Ave at the southern end of Naracoorte this year.
He's taken a a keen interest here since 2009 when he bought two properties in Naracoorte. He has since sold one and bought another a month ago.
The semi-retired 48-year-old spent his time "investing in the right things" and creating his own capital gain.
He was attracted to Naracoorte three years ago because he was adamant he'd get a good return on houses.
"The motivation was there," he said. "Naracoorte had a negative growth and I knew I'd buy and get a decent return on it.
"I pinpointed Naracoorte for a good growth factor."
According to a report in The Advertiser on April 21, Mr McIntyre was right.
Naracoorte was deemed SA's best regional town for medium growth at a rate of 16.8 per cent.
"I believe Naracoorte's set for a bit of a boost in the housing side of things," he said.
Mr McIntyre plans to subdivide the block of land - called Glencairn - for first home buyers or investors.
In conjunction with GJ Gardner Naracoorte, he will offer house and land packages this year.
"This was a bit of a spur of the moment decision actually," he said. "(But) from an investor's point of view, if the numbers work, then the numbers work and you make money.
"The Reserve Bank dropped rates by 0.5 per cent. That has to be a positive for first home buyers.
"Once interest rates lower, it gives people confidence. It's a good positive thing."
Mr McIntyre spoke highly of Naracoorte Lucindale Council's development approval process.
"The turnaround time for getting things approved is a lot quicker (compared to Adelaide)," he said. "You cut through a lot of the red tape a lot quicker.
"I'm already looking at two other sites here in Naracoorte to invest in."
Mr McIntyre pays close attention to the market nationwide.
"I study all the trends," he said. "Within the next 12 months, the real estate market is really going to start to motoring along."
He uses local tradesmen when working on his properties.
"I've decided to keep it all within the region," he said. "We want the local community to benefit from this. That's what gets everything going.
"It's about creating the capital gain - not waiting for it."
Mr McIntyre said he was "95 per cent sure" that "Your Investment Property" magazine would run a story soon "on the before and after stages of this particular property.
"It will create a fair bit of interest as well," he said. "Every property developer in the country reads it.
"It will certainly boost the investment property enquiry. I've got no doubt about that."
"For people in Naracoorte, now would be an absolutely perfect time to get that first home or buy an investment property," he said.
First home buyers or investors can contact Naracoorte First National for more information about the Glencairn development.
Mr McIntyre bought his first investment property in 2000 and has continually bought and sold in SA since then.
Owning a company called Maccorp Property Developments, he recently sold a farm in Meningie.