This is my last week at Australian Property Investor and, as the final countdown begins, I’ve started to feel a bit nostalgic. Much has happened since I took up the role of deputy editor in early 2012 – both professionally and generally. BY SHANNON MOLLOY First things first, I’ve loved this job. There are a few things that I’m especially passionate about in life, and writing and property are two big ones. In that regard, this has rarely felt like work, but more like an enjoyable hobby that I happen to get paid for. The role gave me an opportunity to learn so much, tackle new and exciting challenges, and be part of an incredible and dedicated team. The people that work hard to put together this magazine each month don’t simply come in at the start of the day, complete their tasks with listless abandon and then slink home. The folks here live and breathe property. They’re investors, market watchers, debaters, analysts, wannabe economists… they’re, well, obsessive! It doesn’t take long for a new addition to the office, whatever their background in real estate, to become equally enthusiastic. We’re constantly discussing hot deals, industry announcements, innovative strategies, suburbs of interest and the many and varied factors that drive markets. Over my career, I’ve spent time in several functions across media and communications. It’s not too often that you come across a group of people so genuinely happy to show up each day. And they’re exceptionally good at their jobs. That’s why API remains the biggest, best, most widely read and trusted publication of its kind. It doesn’t take a publishing expert to see the level of time, care, attention and joy that goes into each issue, which is why our loyal readers remain such big fans. For me, there are many highlights from my time here. My exclusive profile on the iconic Lindy Chamberlain is one. Like many of you, I had no idea she was a keen property investor. The chance to hear her story and share it with our readers was a very rewarding one that I’ll no doubt remember fondly for the rest of my career. In that same issue, our cover story profiled the stories of five people we dubbed ‘property survivors’. They’d each gone to hell and back in their own individual ways, but used bricks and mortar to well and truly climb back to the top. Their tales are about as inspiring as you’ll find, especially that of Leanne Erkes, who was widowed when she was pregnant with her third child and left to manage 13 properties on a part-time salary. The countless young investors I’ve had the pleasure of talking to have also been particularly inspiring. The courage, dedication, foresight and discipline required to buy your first property, whether it’s for you or to be a rental, is extraordinary. It’s no cakewalk, so to take several steps up the ladder before the age of 30 is seriously impressive. Being a finalist in the Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s Awards for Excellence in the property reporting category, both last year and again this year, was also very humbling. Fingers crossed for February 6! Going outside my comfort zone to present videos, appear in Skype chats, do media interviews and record podcasts has been equal parts terrifying and thrilling. I don’t like that sort of thing very much but I believe it’s important to do things you don’t necessarily enjoy if it’s a good experience. I’m slowly getting more comfortable on camera too. That’s a plus. For me, this weekly blog has been a fun and casual space for dialogue about property markets, what drives them, the nature of investment and, more often than not, my attempt at humour. How successful I’ve been, particularly on the topic of humour, I’ll leave up to. My blogs have covered a variety of topics, like finding true tenancy love and the absolute panic most people felt over world economic rumblings in 2012, despite rarely understanding the issues at hand. As I was keen to point out on many occasions , the presence of positive data and a robust economy didn’t seem to sway people for a long while there. There were lots of fun stories, such as the one about my mate who bought a property while inebriated , the nightmare neighbour who threatened me with a knife , my now somewhat embarrassing first-ever experience with auctions and a tale of real estate heartbreak . Of course, there were ones I especially enjoyed writing, like that time I compared capital city markets to musical acts . As I look back at the past few years more broadly, it’s incredible to see what has taken place. For one, property markets are in a vastly different position. So is the state of sentiment. There’s no doubt we’re a far more confident bunch now than in recent times. Why? It’s hard to say. The economy is actually doing a little less well than it was two years ago. There has been a change of government, which always helps, but the impact of that is only ever temporary – and I dare say this particular honeymoon is over. Perhaps the big driver of confidence is the upswing in prices in Sydney and Melbourne, continued robust activity in Perth and the start of what many say will be a significant recovery in Brisbane. In addition, rates are low, banks are beginning to ease their restrictive policies, world markets haven’t collapsed, property has bounced back, and the country is in relatively good shape… what a transformation! Some things remain the same. For one, the government still needs to do much more on housing – affordability, rentals, taxation equity and first-time buyers, just to name a few issues. Hysterical doomsayers are as loud as ever and taken just as seriously by certain outlets. But one thing that also hasn’t changed is their track record. These people, who rant based on few actual facts, continue to get very little right. In closing, thank you to our remarkable editor, Eynas Brodie, for her constant support and encouragement. Thanks to our publisher, Lane Boy, for the chance to do what I truly love each day. Thanks to our wonderful team across all departments for their good natures and hard work. And thanks to you – for reading, for your feedback, for sharing your stories and for your inspiration. It has truly been a delight. Shannon Molloy is the outgoing deputy editor of Australian Property Investor magazine, apimagazine.au
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 06:57:09 +0000