With stamp duty exemptions on pre-existing homes giving first home buyers an extra boost, Margo Taggart of First National Real Estate and Mark Sleiman from PRD are both predicting a strong start to 2018.

“Our homes have been selling quite quickly, there is a shortage of new and well-priced listings, Mrs Taggart said.

“There are plenty of buyers around which is great, but agents are struggling for stock.

“This time of the year is also busy on the rental side of things with people relocating into and out of Tamworth, so the Christmas and January period is busy on that front. We have the first home buyers out there looking with the government grants so that is bringing a bit more competition back into the market.”

Mrs Taggart said investors were looking with newer homes in mind.

“They’ve always been astute as far as what they want to purchase, but they will always be around,” she said.

Mr Sleiman said the phones had been ringing hot at the PRD property management office with job transfers prompting more rental enquiries into the new year and predicted a good year ahead.

“The (real estate) market is going to be strong in most of the locations in Tamworth,” he said.

“It will be based on pricing and also what the banks do next year which will have an influence of how things will go. My number one piece of advice would be to get pre-approval about finance.

“Because a lot of people have said they’ve had a discussion with their bank and they’re alright, however if you don’t have that piece of paper saying that you are pre-approved you safe yourself two or three weeks of rigmarole.

“Investors are a little bit quiet but we’re dealing with this by making sure that we give our vendors that have investor style properties the right information to position their properties better than the rest.”