Congratulations to the team at cjkeane&co. Belmont, who have taken out the Outstanding Branch Award for Winter 2012.

The team were consistent across all categories of sales, property management, marketing and customer service; but were followed closely by all 5 other offices!

Here is the Belmont team receiving their award this morning.
From left to right: Dennis Bridle, Craig Campbell, Vicki Sparks (Branch Manager), Alastair Thomson (Sales Director), Brooke Stafford, Julianne Anderson & Peta Dunn.

To read all about team Belmont Click Here

OCEAN GROVE

LEARN SOMETHING NEW AT THE OCEAN GROVE NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

The Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre located at 91 The Parade Ocean Grove offers a diverse range of classes and courses. From Cooking classes to Nationally recognized training you will find something of interest.

View the Courses On Offer at the Ocean Grove Neighbourhood Centre Website

PORTARLINGTON

The cenotaph situated behind the Senior Citizens at Newcombe Street Portarlington has been restored.

New lettering, cleaning, concreting and a footpath have been additions. There is new seating to follow.

Funding was gained for this project from the RSL Sub-Branch, City of Greater Geelong, Bellarine Bayside and the State Government.

Why not venture down and have a look.

APOLLO BAY

If you're heading our way, make the most of your trip with some of these great activities:

Take a walk at Maits Rest Rainforest walk or Triplet Falls, or even try walking sections of the Great Ocean Walk, with many other walks and scenic delights in the National Parks in and around the Apollo Bay area.

If you are looking for something to do with the kids that’s a little more racy, why not try out Apollo Bay Surf Kayak

Or head to the Otway Fly with the treetop walk or zip line tours.

Another exciting thing to try is Apollo Bay Fishing Tours

And perhaps you can also fit in a tour of the Cape Otway Lighthouse

With so many options, if you still need some more ideas, feel free to drop by cjkeane&co, at 75 Great Ocean Road, and have our of our local team help to ensure you make the most of your time in the Bay.

In the meantime, Happy Easter and safe travels from all at cjkeane&co.

NEW CAFE & IGA IN ST LEONARDS

We are so pleased to see the changing scene of the St Leonards township, with the new IGA supermarket and the opening of a new Café & Bar.

With so many people visiting our town, holiday makers and day trippers, these new facilities, plus the existing business in the area create a buzz around the village strip. Plus it all assists with continuing development.

The increased traffic has also affected the number of land sales this year. Many of our purchasers are opting for property as future investment, with a view of receiving rental income. As the largest Property Managers in St Leonards, our management portfolio has increased dramatically and we feel we have been instrumental in bringing in quality tenants and higher returns for landlords than previously experienced in this area.

So this weekend, why not grab a coffee from our new Cafe and head over to check out our land listings!

OCEAN GROVE FOOTBALL CLUB HITS 50 YEARS!

With the start of the footy season just around the corner the Ocean Grove football club enters its 50th anniversary season!

A reunion is planned for all past players at their home game to be played against Torquay on 9th June. All past players, coaches and officials are welcome to attend.

For more informtaion visit http://www.sportingpulse.com/club_info.cgi?client=1-6160-80517-0-0

THOMAS FUN RUN IN DRYSDALE, A HUGE SUCCESS

The Rotary Kids Fun Run at the Drysdale train station was a raging success last weekend with an even larger turnout then the previous year of 1500 people! The kids had  a ball the racing against the full sized Thomas the tank engine while the parents watch on and all enjoyed the family entertainment on offer. All in all a great fundraiser for the Rotary Club and Kids+ and awesome day out in Drsydale..

More info at http://www.thomasfunrun.com/

PORTARLINGTON PRIMARY NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The Build Our School Action Committee (BOSAC), remains committed to their pursuit of funds from the State Government to ensure the provision of high quality teaching facilities to fit with modern teaching practices for the children who attend the Portarlington Primary School.

It is vital to keep this issue at the forefront. In a response to a Question on Notice in the Legislative Assembly recently the Minister for Education replied, “Portarlington Primary School has been listed by Barwon South West Region as a high priority since 2010.

BOSAC is not trying to jump the queue. They merely want the funding needed to rebuild. If you would like to support the campaign, people are being asked to write to the Minister for Education – Mr Martin DIXON, Shop1, McCrae Plaza Cnr Lonsdale Street and Point Nepean Road, McCrae, Vic 3938 to lobby for this funding.

SET SAIL IN CORIO BAY

This weekend in Geelong we’ll see wooden sail boats on mass in Corio Bay.
To join in the festivities jump on board the Royal Geelong Yacht Club’s website and find out full details - RGYC website.

APOLLO BAY FARMERS MARKET & AGRICULTURAL SHOW

In true St Pat’s style, and to celebrate their first birthday, our fabulous Apollo Bay Farmer’s Market will be not only serving locally grown fresh produce next Saturday, but GREEN Beer!! Come along, dress up and join us in this once in a ‘green’ moon celebration!

And don’t forget the Apollo Bay & Otway District Agricultural Show is also on the 17th! Look out for the Dog Jumping – proudly sponsored by yours truly, cjkeane&co. Apollo Bay.


DRYSDALE AGRICULTURAL SHOW

This Sunday the 11th of March is the 22nd Annual Bellarine Agricultural Show.

From 9am at the Portarlington Recreational Reserve, the local farmer and businesses will be getting together to share their wares and educate the wider community.

With arts and crafts to animals and vintage machinery, there will be something for the whole family. Head out and beyond from Drysdale and check out what’s in our Bellarine Backyard this weekend.

For more information visit the Bellarine Show Website

ST LEONARDS REMEMBERS THE PRINCIPLE OF LABOUR DAY

St Leonards is the perfect place to remember the principle of Labour Day… eight hours work, eight hours recreation, and eight hours rest. Previously workers were required to work long hours each week (10 to 12 hours a day six days a week). The five day week took almost a century longer to be adopted – 1948.

So for all those that have gone back into the rut of long hours, take some time out over this coming weekend to relax. Bring the family, some fishing rods and bathers to St Leonards and take advantage of the quiet seachange lifestyle.

BELMONT CELEBRATE THE CATS 

Our local boys will hit the grass at 3:10pm this Saturday in NAB Cup. The return of seven premiership players is on the cards; Paul Chapman, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, Steve Johnson, Matthew Scarlett, James Kelly and James Podsiadly. With these players back in form our hope of reaching the finals is back on track. Go Cats!!!!!!

COOLING OFF PERIOD TO CHANGE 1 MARCH 2012

From 1 March, if you intend to use your lawyer to help you with your purchase you will be on the same footing as someone who employs a conveyancer, so far as cooling-off goes.

Previously, if you sought advice from your lawyer before you signed your contract you lost your right to change your mind and cool off, while someone who consulted a conveyancer with the same purpose in mind did not.

From 1 March, in the majority of residential sales, the only occasion on which you will not be able to change your mind and cool off after signing your contract will be when you sign within three clear business days before, on the day of, or within three clear business days after a publicly advertised auction.

Some things have not changed, however. You must still exercise your right to cool off within three clear business days of signing your contract. In counting the days, you ignore the day you signed, weekends and public holidays.

If you do cool off, the seller will still be entitled to keep $100 or 0.2 per cent of the contract price, whichever is more, as compensation for losing their sale. Normally, the money will be deducted from the deposit you paid to the selling agent and the difference returned to you.

This article was sourced from www.reiv.com.au/news_publications on 29/02/2012. For advice on investment decisions please contact your financial advisor.

GEELONG ADVERTISER GOES GLOSSY

Did you see the new Glossy Liftout in the Geelong Advertiser… The colour of the houses looks amazing!

There’s also some great data in there now… Like… there has been 37% capital growth for units in Geelong over the past 5 years to November, 2011!

The centenary of the St Leonards’ Progress Association will be celebrated and honoured this year.

Progress Association President Bob Hynes said the Association had made a unique and significant contribution to the town since being established in 1911.

“In the late 1800s St Leonards was a company town, a timber cutting enterprise with little in the way of community amenities”.

“Initially, the Association harnessed local volunteers for the establishment of sports grounds, public parks and a community hall where meetings and social events could be held”.

“Later, it worked and lobbied for the introduction of basic utilities such as gas, water, telephone and electricity”, Mr. Hynes said.

“It is important we remember the contribution of these forward-thinking pioneers”.

St Leonards Progress Association is using the whole month of October to Celebrate a Centenary of Progress.

The program of events kick off with a FREE BBQ to mark the opening of the new walking path around St Leonards Lake on Sunday the 2nd of October.

Then each week in October there is an activity to help celebrate…
8th October – Movie Matinee at the Memorial Hall
15th October – Old Time Dance at the Memorial Hall
22nd October – Sausage Sizzle in the Main Street
29th October – St Leonards Festival and Market at the Primary School Oval

This year the Festival along with the Market will be located on the St Leonards Primary School oval in Murradoc Rd (opposite the Memorial Hall).

During the Festival there will be a display depicting the achievements of the Progress Association during its first hundred years at the Memorial Hall.
The event will also showcase local live bands and musical acts, busker entertainment and colourful dancing displays.

Mr. Hynes said the atmosphere will be one of vibrancy, colour and continuous entertainment.

“We strive to ensure there is something for everyone and perhaps this is why our festival continues to grow in popularity”.

“Food stalls with local produce, a major fishing tournament, a baby animal farm for the kids, a giant market, are among the many family friendly attractions we have planned”.

An historic walk around the township will be a must for those with a keen interest in local history.

Key sites will be marked with large information boards containing details of St. Leonards past with a walking tour map will be available on the day.

The St Leonards Festival will held be on Saturday October 29th.

cjkeane&co. is a proud supporter of the St Leonards Progress Association

27 January 2011

Download the February Edition of the C.J. Keane & co. Investment Newsletter read news item »

18 January 2011

On Saturday 1 and 15 January C.J. Keane & co. were proud to partner with The Voice for free Movies in The Park, an outdoor cinema held in the Ocean Grove Park. The films proved to be a great hit, with over 250 families snuggling in to watch Mamma Mia on the 1st of January.

03 December 2010

The Summer Edition of the C.J Keane & co. Land Portfolio is now available. Please contact Head Office on 5221 6488 to request a hard copy via direct mail. read news item »

As property investors, you will be pleased by recent findings from RMIT University that were summarised in a recent article by Enzo Raimondo, CEO REIV. “The study by Dr Ashton de Silva and Professor Gavin Wood, showed that, in addition to satisfying the basic need of accommodation, housing was also a very solid long-term investment. Their study compared the typical rates of appreciation across 108 different segments and 500,000 sales between 1990 and 2010. This period of time includes the 1991 recession, Asian Financial Crisis, the 2001 recession and the recent Global Financial Crisis.

The outcome was compared to that gained from a balanced portfolio of Australian shares as measured by movements in the Australian All Ordinaries Index over the same time. The study showed that that the quarter-on-quarter percentage increases for property was 1.6 per cent compared to 1.3 per cent for shares. Not only were the returns greater but they were subjected to less volatility. The study also found that in over 80 per cent of the market segments reviewed there was very little or no correlation between the share market and returns from the residential property market. This means that broadening an investment portfolio to include property is likely to provide not only stability to the outcomes but can also help to counter balance significant shifts in the stock market.”

For more property investment news or to speak to a cjkeane&co. Property Manager contact cjkeane&co. Geelong, 23 Fenwick Street or 03 5221 6603

12 November 2010

Last Saturday, 6 November, 114 Clarence Street, Geelong West, was sold at auction for a huge $60,000 over the reserve price. In light of reported market conditions, Agent and Auctioneer, Nick Maas was delighted to see over 100 interested parties inspect the property and a healthy turn out at the Auction itself. With a number of keen bidders early on, it was down to two in the last biting bid... read news item »

This exquisitely modern Le Maistre built home offers an inground solar and gas heated swimming pool.

It also features 3 bedrooms plus study, master with ensuite and walk in robe, 2 living areas, reverse cycle heating and cooling, stunning outdoor entertaining area, modern central kitchen, 2 water tanks and double garage. And the list goes on!

Situated on a 719m2 block in The Parks Estate within walking distance to schools, supermarket, leisure complex, playground, sporting oval and lake. This luxurious home is a must see property so call now for your immediate inspection!  

Click Here to find out more about this property.

If you've not had a chance to read our cjkeane&co. Summer Newsletter - it's full of market news, handy tips, recipes and more!

This edition includes: REIV Celebrates 100 years in Geelong, Ins & Outs of Owners Corporations, an easy Pavlova recipe and more...

Click Here to Read Now!