Guiding you home
The Year in Review
Starting the new year presents an opportunity to reflect on previous property trends in the Ballina greater region. A common question raised in day to day business is “Where do your buyers come from?” and “How can we target ‘Sydney’ money”? In the post COVID boom, metropolitan investment into our region was no secret. Metro based buyers made themselves known as sea/tree changers, filled seats on Saturday morning Virgin and Jetstar flights, and subsequently executed local property purchases in unprecedented numbers.
Where are they now?
Well, metro money still moves and shakes within our town. However, we have seen a gradual shift toward a ‘try before you buy’ mindset, where buyers will elect to rent first to determine their property and location preferences before committing to a purchase.
The Mills Team transacted just over 100 residential properties this calendar year. The buyer origin shows that 63% of residential buyers are from within the Ballina Shire. This includes all price ranges and locations that we have sold across our postcode. It goes to show that shire residents shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to targeting the best buyer for your property.
Median house prices in Ballina, East Ballina, Skennars Head and Lennox Head are all trending upward. Since the 2022 Flood and interest rate crunch, property prices were in a corrective cycle - and that is no longer the case. For any buyers out there looking to enter the market or have been wondering “when is the best time to buy” - statistically speaking it was six to eight months ago.
Forecasting the year ahead is always unknown. Everyone is looking to find their own crystal ball. However, our general expectations for the local property market remain steady. Unless there are dramatic changes to interest rates or catastrophes in the world economy, our area is attractive to such a diverse community and will continue to set its own pace. Forming a market opinion based on headlines surrounding Sydney clearance rates or a price correction in Cronulla often doesn’t translate into local facts. Keep your market research specifically local and choose an agent with the runs on the board to substantiate the advice.
Market Share / Sales
McGrath - 301
Elders Lifestyle - 79
LJ Hooker - 74
Wal Murray - 36
Harcourts - 28
Belle - 20
Team Mills Buyer Origin
Ballina Shire - 63%
Interstate - 8%
Byron Shire - 10%
Lismore Shire - 3%
Sydney - 8%
Other NSW - 8%
Suburb
*Suburbs include: Ballina, East Ballina, West Ballina, Cumbalum, Skennars Head and Lennox Head.
About Team Mills
There are six members comprising Team Mills, with a combined total of 94 years experience in the real estate industry, including Glenn Mills, Nathan Mills, Adrian van Eck, Ben Gatwood, Sarah Sommerfeld and Nick Arena. Each member of the team has direct responsibility and input into each sales campaign.
The benefit of listing with Team Mills is that you employ not one agent, but 6 people working as one, dedicated to achieving you the best result possible. We pride ourselves on customer service and aim to take the stress out of selling. Having lived in Ballina all their lives, father and son team, Glenn & Nathan Mills have a depth of local knowledge few can rival. Glenn & Nathan say they thrive in real estate because it’s “all about people; we love the business because of the people we meet. It’s that simple.”
There are four other members that make up Team Mills. Adrian is trustworthy and
approachable. His expertise and attention to detail compliments his strengths in IT and marketing knowledge. Ben grew up in the area and with a family history in construction, has extensive knowledge of the local real estate industry. Sarah thrives on challenging situations and goes above and beyond for her clients. She loves helping people to achieve their goal, whether it be selling or purchasing. Nick has an unwavering commitment to his clients. With his high standard of customer service, he brings a considered and authentic approach to any situation, all whilst presenting a positive energy within the team.
Case studies
1/6 Elizabeth Street, East Ballina
Sold $1.725m
4 Beds | 3 Baths | 3 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction Sale Date 8 August 2024
Days on Market 36
No. of Inspections 27
Buyer Origin Alstonville
54 Silver Gull Drive, East Ballina
Sold $1.75m
5 Beds | 3 Baths | 2 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction
Sale Date 15 August 2024
Days on Market 32
No. of Inspections 28
Buyer Origin Brisbane
31 Killarney Crescent, Skennars Head
Sold $1.95m
5 Beds | 3 Baths | 2 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction
Sale Date 21 August 2024
Days on Market 6
No. of Inspections 13
Buyer Origin Suffolk Park
4 Cawarra Street, Ballina
Sold $1.12m
3 Beds | 1 Bath | 2 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction Sale Date 24 October 2024
Days on Market 30
No. of Inspections 28
Buyer Origin Ballina
Case studies
27 Phoenix Drive, Tintenbar
Sold $2.2m
4 Beds | 3 Baths | 2 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction
Sale Date 31 October 2024
Days on Market 8
No. of Inspections 10
Buyer Origin Blue Mountains
2/28 Shelly Beach Road, East Ballina
Sold $820k
2 Beds | 1 Bath | 1 Car
Sale Method Prior to Auction
Sale Date 7 November 2024
Days on Market 15
No. of Inspections 14
Buyer Origin Port Macquarie
2/23 Tamar Street, Ballina
Sold $695k
2 Beds | 1 Bath | 1 Car
Sale Method Private Treaty
Sale Date 20 November 2024
Days on Market 19
No. of Inspections 16
Buyer Origin Ballina
3/6 Fawcett Street, Ballina
Sold $2.9m
3 Beds | 2 Baths | 2 Cars
Sale Method Prior to Auction Sale Date 21 November 2024
Days on Market 16
No. of Inspections 26
Buyer Origin Sydney
94 Years Real Estate industry experience
$112m Total value of properties sold in CY 2024
109 Number of properties sold in CY 2024
38 Our average days on the market
$1m Our average sale price
6 Highly experienced McGrath team members
62% Auction clearance rate #1 Regional Agents McGrath Network 2024
Client Testimonials
It was a pleasure to meet Nathan when we first viewed the property at an open house, and he proved engaging, straightforward and knowledgeable about the property. All subsequent contact with Nathan during the buying process was seamless and any of our questions met promptly. We have found from our own enquiries that the Mills Family Real Estate business is well respected and deservedly so. Nick’s follow-up messages also assisted the process.
Peter P
I couldn’t be happier with my experience working with Team Mills at McGrath Ballina. They were not only reliable and trustworthy but also brought a genuine approach that made the entire process feel easy. Their expertise helped secure a sale at the top end of the price range, which was fantastic. Their well-connected network of support professionals made everything run smoothly from start to finish. I would definitely recommend them for anyone looking for an outstanding real estate agent.
Steve M
The stress of selling our property was completely negated because of the professionalism shown by Glenn and Sarah. Communication throughout the process was excellent and we were fortunate that their negotiating skills resulted in a higher than expected sale price. I can’t thank them enough and would have no hesitation in recommending Glenn and Sarah to anyone considering selling their property.
Marg & Ken H
We met Ben on our first inspection, what an impressive young man. Throughout our negotiations Nathan kept us fully informed and up to date. Team Mills is a great team. They all worked together to create an enjoyable and seamless purchase for our new property. If you are looking to buy or sell, give Team Mills a call.
Malcolm M
The trusted McGrath team were so supportive and offered great guidance as to the current market situation in the area. They were very communicative, extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. They advocated for me to ensure the sale was successful, with consideration of my personal circumstances at all times.
Sherrie V
I could not fault the service I received from the Team in my search for a new home. Knowledge of the current market, timeliness and keenness to assist me were of a very high standard. I would (and have) recommend McGrath as excellent real estate agents in this area.
Liz S
Our selling experience with Glenn and Sarah was stress-free thanks to their professionalism, expert knowledge of the local market and strong people skills. They communicated with us during every step of the journey, and were quick to put us at ease, in a respectful and friendly manner. We would strongly recommend them to any prospective vendor or buyer.
Don & Sue H
Recent Sales by Team Mills
CRM