Once considered the Great Australian Dream, the family house on a quarter acre block is no longer everyone’s ultimate property choice. Even in Cairns, significant changes in our population profile and lifestyle priorities are feeding a strong trend in apartment living.

High clearances of properties sold in the office in January confirm the positive shift in market sentiment that we noticed over the past few months. More people than ever are asking our team "How's the market?" It is no secret that buyers have been holding tightly on to their cash, but they have become far more inquisitive lately, sensing movement in the market.

It is well documented that the Cairns economy experienced a tough year during 2009, with the slowdown of the tourism and construction industries causing a large jump in unemployment.

Another record month for properties sold at Powe Property has eclipsed the existing record set earlier in the year. Locals can tell by the extra sold signs around that there has been an increase in sales activity. Although it began at the budget end of the market, this activity has been gradually washing up into higher valued properties.