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1/129 Bathurst St, Hobart. Picture: SUPPLIED

IF only its walls could talk, this 130 year old Hobart city building would no doubt have a tale or two to tell.

This Bathurst Street property was designed by famed architect Henry Hunter and originally built in 1890 as the Fire Bell Keeper’s House.

Today, this charming historic building has undergone a fabulous architecturally-designed renovation throughout to offer stylish and comfortable inner-city living.

While nestled within the bustling Hobart CBD, and behind an unassuming rustic facade, this two-bedroom property provides a calm, quiet and private inner-city pad.

Rustic charms.

Sleek updates.

The flexible floorplan of this spacious two-storey dwelling includes up three bedrooms should the next owner wish to convert the current home office/second living area on the upper level.

This top floor space features a gorgeous bathroom with a luxurious spa that overlooks the city. It has a vanity and a separate shower.

The nearby master suite features the charms of yesteryear, substantial built-in wardrobes and it also takes in views of the city life below.

Downstairs, the well-designed kitchen makes a great first impression with its high-quality fit-out and appliances. It has an island bench with heaps of space for breakfast time dining, pendant lighting, a glass splashback, double sinks, heaps of cupboards and gas cooking, too.

This space flows out to a private and sunny courtyard through double-glazed sliding doors.

City living.

Period details.

Throughout the home there are gleaming polished floorboards, beautiful fireplaces and high ceilings that fill the home with character.

The combination of electric and gas heating as well as being well insulated provides a cosy and comfortable home through the cooler months.

And with a coffee shop next door and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants on its doorstep, life really doesn’t get much more convenient than this Bathurst Street address.

No.1/129 Bathurst Street, Hobart is listed with Petrusma Property at “Offers over $795,000”.

Blast from the past.

The latest realestate.com.au data for the suburb of Hobart shows over 30 homes were sold in the past 12 months.

The suburb’s median house price climbed by 16.6 per cent while units were steady a 1.7 per cent.

Compared to three years ago, both medians are in double-digit growth territory of 11.8 per cent for houses and 22.2 per cent for units.

On average in the 12 month period, homes sold in 54 days on the market.

The post Historic 1890s city pad offers glimpse of past, modern lifestyle appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Jetti Correia and Kayla Pace bought a duplex in Revesby Heights because they liked the family-friendly vibe. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Families who want large, affordable houses in areas with good schools should buy in a band of suburbs in Sydney’s south and outer southwest, a new study has found.

Suburbs ranked as offering the best lifestyle for families were Revesby Heights, Padstow Heights, Milperra and Georges Hall.

Other top areas for families included Wakeley, Bossley Park and St Johns Park, along with Engadine in the Sutherland Shire and Greystanes, near Parramatta.

The closest suburb to the CBD included in the ranking was Turrella, about 10km south of the city.

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These suburbs offered a mix of affordability, low density, proximity to amenities and safety, the Finder.com.au best suburbs report revealed.

Prices in each of the suburbs were below $1 million, crime rates were among the lowest in the Greater Sydney area and each area was within 30km of the CBD.

Many of the homes in Revesby Heights and Padstow Heights look over water and bushland.

Other factors used to determine the best family suburbs were the proportion of other families living there, the size of the local population and mortgage stress levels.

The proportion of renters to homeowners was also considered, with homeowners tending to take better care of their properties than renters, resulting in better streetscapes.

Finder insights manager Graham Cooke said suburbs in Sydney’s south and southwest could become more appealing given growing work-from-home arrangements.

“Lockdown proved to many businesses that remote working is a possibility,” Mr Cooke said.

“(Locations) that are near but not in the heart of the CBD offer young Aussies a more relaxed way of life — perfect for those looking to raise a family.”

Greystanes is a medium density area surrounded by much higher-density suburbs.

One of the most often overlooked suburbs ideal for families was Turrella, according to Mr Cooke. The suburb has a median house price of $980,000 and is the cheapest suburb within a 10km radius of the CBD — although it is less than 5km from Sydney Airport.

“Turrella is an inner Sydney hidden gem,” Mr Cooke said. “It’s a quiet and family-friendly suburb that’s only minutes away from the hustle and bustle.”

Sutherland Shire enclave Engadine offered families extra space without needing to leave the Greater Sydney area, he added.

“It’s perfect for those wanting to make a treechange without compromising on facilities,” Mr Cooke said. “The big bush blocks and proximity to some of Sydney’s best beaches makes it a no-brainer move for some Aussie families.”

LJ Hooker-Padstow principal Lush Pillay said larger houses on generous blocks were the appeal for buyers who came to the Revesby-Padstow Heights area.

“We get a lot of interest from families,” he said. “The area is very family-orientated. There are good schools, good train connections and you get a bit more value out here. There isn’t much high rise.”

Kayla Pace and Jetti Correia recently bought a duplex in Revesby Heights and said it would be a good place to raise a family.

“It’s close to everything but there’s an isolated feel we liked,” Ms Pace said. “It was great value for the price. We got more rooms and a double garage … we didn’t get as much in others suburbs we looked in.”

Jetti Correia and Kayla Pace said they got more space in Revesby Heights.

Greystanes native and director of Starr Partners real estate agency Daniel Starr said the suburb was a “little oasis” in a region dominated by high-rise apartments.

“Most properties are houses and the smallest blocks are still 550 sqm,” Mr Starr said, adding people he grew up with were returning to the suburb after they had children “to get space”.

BEST SUBURBS FOR FAMILIES (with median house price)

Georges Hall $890,000

St Johns Park $795,000

Padstow Heights $925,000

Wakeley $739,000

Greystanes $839,000

Bossley Park $835,000

Milperra $880,000

Engadine $995,000

Turrella $980,000

Revesby Heights $917,500

The post Best suburbs to buy a home: research reveals the areas families should consider appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Sydney is a paradise for renters such as James Rogers. Picture: Richard Dobson.

Struggling landlords are offering to pay tenants’ utility bills, Netflix subscriptions and even waive up to a month’s rent as a record jump in vacancies turns Sydney into a renter’s paradise.

With an unprecedented 27,000 rental properties sitting empty across the city, landlords are offering the huge perks in the hope of filling their properties quickly and staving off a long and costly vacancy period.

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Landlords are dishing out particularly enticing deals in Sydney’s inner suburbs and areas once popular with international students, which have been the worst affected by COVID-19 restrictions and rising unemployment.

No. 1306/281 Elizabeth St in the CBD is advertised with four weeks free rent.

A two-bedroom CBD apartment on Elizabeth St is being offered with four weeks free rent, while the landlord of a Kent St unit is promising a $100 per week discount for the first three months.

Other landlord offers include free internet and premium Netflix with a Castle Hill unit on Bracken Fell Cl, along with plenty of other units offered with utility bills and other expenses covered.

Ray White Erskineville head of property management Melinda Fiori said tenants had all the power.

A unit at 18/515 Kent St in Sydney is being offered with a $100 per week discount for the first three months.

Free internet and a premium Netflix subscription comes with 2/1 Bracken Fell Cl, Castle Hill.

“It is such a great time to be stitching a good deal together,” she said. “There has never been a stronger tenant market that I’ve seen before and this has seen us throw the playbook out the window.”

Property managers and landlords were considering offers they would have ignored in the past, Ms Fiori added.

“We are now working with people who are offering as much as $100 less than the advertised weekly price to try to get a deal over the line.”

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the economic fallout from COVID-19 meant landlords had to be flexible.

No. 107/121 Quay St, Haymarket has all utility bills included.

Four weeks free rent is available with 3101/3 Olympic Blvd in Sydney Olympic Park.

“Landlords have to be savvy … anything they can do to separate themselves from the pack can’t hurt,” she said. “It is better to get a tenant to sign at a reduced rate than to not have one at all.”

Ms Conisbee said the rental market was in a holding pattern that would remain until the economy started to recover.

“Apartments near universities will not see any recovery until international students can enter Australia, which is a huge unknown at the moment,” she said.

Potts Point renter James Rogers welcomed the landlord incentives, but said perks that put more money in his back pocket were more attractive.

Rent has fallen by 2.1 per cent since March, a CoreLogic/ANZ report reveals.

James Rogers is hoping to negotiate a good price when he looks for an apartment with his girlfriend at Bondi Beach. Picture: Richard Dobson.

“If landlords are offering to cover my bills or offer a discounted rate for the entire lease, that will certainly make the property far more appealing to me, than two weeks rent free,” he said.

The trend follows an ANZ/CoreLogic housing affordability report revealing a 2.1 per cent reduction in rental values for units and 0.7 per cent decline for houses in Sydney.

The inner city has been hardest hit with the CBD recording a 6.9 per cent decline in values, while Millers Point dropped 6.8 per cent.

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The post Sydney landlords offer free rent and even Netflix in a bid to find tenants in tough rental market appeared first on realestate.com.au.

31 Olola Ave, Vaucluse, has a $6m price guide ahead of its August 22 auction.

The incredible Vaucluse home of music industry entrepreneur Pete Lusty — who passed away in March after a battle with cancer — has hit the market with $6m guide.

Lusty, who was the co-founder of the independent music company Ivy League Records and management company Winterman & Goldstein, guided rock bands such as The Vines, Jet and Empire of the Sun.

Property records show he and his wife, Georgia Day, bought the five-bedroom, four-bathroom Olola House on its 1168sq m block — opposite Vaucluse House — for $4.45m in 2015.

It’s now listed with Sotheby’s International managing director, Michael Pallier — who sold them the house — for August 22 auction.

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The house was designed to experience architecture and nature.

There’s a 24-metre lap pool.

The master suite has harbour views.

Designed to “experience architecture, nature and capitalise on natural light”, the north-facing home features open plan living and dining flowing to a large entertainer’s deck and pond, has a marble gas kitchen and a separate TV room.

Other highlights are the 24-metre lap pool, a wood-burning Jetmaster fireplace, electric underfloor heating and the sustainably sourced hardwoods, sandstone and limestone finishes.

The master suite, which has an ensuite and built-in wardrobes, has harbour views.

There’s also a separate workshop with plenty of storage and an underground media room or music studio with its own kitchenette and airconditioning.

High ceilings.

The whole house opens up.

Incredible design.

It was only last October that Suns Beer held a launch party for their summer ale at the home, with guests bowled over by the home’s tree-like design.

Everyone was wondering who the famous owners were, with the living room full of ARIA awards.

Lusty was aged 50 at the time of his death. He had two children, Tom and Kitty.

A statement released soon after his death, from Andy Cassell and Andy Kelly who were his business partners at Ivy League — the label home to The Teskey Brothers, The Rubens and Alpine among others — said: “Words can’t describe our sadness … we love him so much.”

The post Incredible Vaucluse home of music industry entrepreneur Pete Lusty hits the market with $6m guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

3 Caroline Street, Dynnyrne. Picture: SUPPLIED

A SOLID brick home with stunning Derwent River views, that is always going to be a winning combination.

This property sits among the few uppermost properties atop of Dynnyrne and boasts views over the water that only neighbouring properties can rival.

The lower level is home to a garage, workshop and rumpus. A blank slate, the rumpus area could be outfitted to become an additional living space, home office, recreational area — let the imagination run wild.

Head upstairs and the home quickly reveals a vast floorplan.

A central hallway snakes from the entry all the way to the laundry at the opposite end of the house.

Solid construction.

Luxuriously appointed.

Toward the front there are living areas and to the rear are the sleeping quarters.

The dwelling has three bedroom, each equipped with built-in wardrobes.

The master is positioned privately away from the other bedrooms and the living zone, too.

It offers the luxury of a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite.

Next stop along the hall is the family bathroom with a shower and a corner spa.

The second and third bedrooms a located alongside each other and both have built-in wardrobes.

A big 5m x 4.5m living room takes pride of place at the front of the home with a deck on the river side plus an updated kitchen — with an island bench, chic rangehood and double sinks — that form the heart of the home.

Dreamy kitchen.

Play it again.

Deck stretch the length of the home, including a covered section by the dining room.

There are toilets conveniently positioned on both level of the house while the bathrooms have been renovated to suite a modern style.

The laundry and study complete this level of the home.

The house has been outfitted with fresh carpets to welcome their new owners.

An owner-occupier can feel reassured they have invested in a blue chip asset when purchasing a home of this size and elevated location in sought-after Dynnyrne.

Entertaining will be a breeze.

Sunny and spacious.

Similar to Taroona or Tolmans Hill, Dynnyrne offers an attractive alternative for buyers looking for the Sandy Bay lifestyle.

From its hilly position, this affluent suburb is home to many impressive properties with grand views over Sandy Bay to the water.

No.3 Caroline Street, Dynnyrne is listed with Nest Property and priced at $975,000+.

The post Few Dynnyrne homes sit in a higher spot looking over the city appeared first on realestate.com.au.

This luxury Bayview home is listed via EOI at $5.9m, $2.3m below the original listed price.

Luxury waterfront and acreage homes are being offered with as much as $2.3 million cut off the price as COVID-19 depletes the pool of big-spending buyers.

The deals are giving buyers the opportunity to snap up premium homes at prices that wouldn’t have been possible before the pandemic hit.

One of the biggest discounts is on a six-bedroom house in northern beaches suburb Bayview that includes a swim-in bar, views over Pittwater and a 10-seat home theatre.

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The triple-level house on Pittwater Rd was first listed at $8.2 million but is now listed through an expressions of interest campaign at $5.9 million.

Another waterfront property in nearby Clareville was dropped to $5.7 million after originally going to market with a guide of $7 million.

The price for this Manly house on Augusta Rd has dropped $500,000.

The three-level house on Hudson Parade is serviced by a lift and the bedrooms have walk-in wardrobes.

Other significant property discounts ranging from $400,000 to $500,000 are being offered for luxury homes in Manly and northwest suburb Kenthurst.

Real estate experts said Sydney’s most discounted properties were often those originally priced between $2.5 million and $5 million.

This Clareville house is discounted by $1.3m.

These properties were a harder sell because buyers were becoming more cautious about taking on larger debts during the coronavirus crisis.

The typical market for these houses were also “aspirational purchasers” who wanted to upgrade to a luxury lifestyle but did not have an impending deadline motivating the purchase.

This meant they were happy to sit on their hands and get more certainty about the economy before making a move.

This house on Arnold St in Killara had more than $250,000 cut off the price.

These buyers were in the opposite situation to the buyer group who have been most active during the pandemic — families who have outgrown smaller units and urgently need space.

The result was that properties priced in the middle of the Sydney market, roughly $900,000-$1.5 million, were rarely heavily discounted.

Sydney’s prestige market in the eastern suburbs was not as affected either — there have been multiple $10 million-plus sales since the pandemic started — because ultra-wealthy expats were returning.

Many of these buyers paid for their homes in cash and didn’t need a mortgage.

This Sandpiper Place home in Kenthurst was listed at $2.795m but is now $2.395m, a drop of $400,000.

Property Buyer director and buyer’s agent Rich Harvey said discounts varied considerably by suburb.

“Every property is being discounted to a degree but they are not as large in the eastern suburbs or lower north shore,” Mr Harvey said.

Coastal suburbs in Sydney’s north were a different story, he said. “The prices in areas like Palm Beach tend to fluctuate a lot … there would be less demand in the current market.”

The Bayview house discounted by $2.3m includes a larges games room and swim-in bar.

Ray White-Erskineville agent Ercan Erscan said buyer interest for homes priced above $2 million was weaker even in perennially popular regions like the inner west and Sydney’s inner south.

“There are still a lot of buyers once you get below $1.8 million,” he said.

The post Luxury waterfront and acreage homes on offer with discounts of up to $2.3m appeared first on realestate.com.au.

An Australian expat couple dialled in from New York to secure a Melbourne home at auction today, while strong competition in Sydney led to a ‘bumper day of sales’.

A renovated historic home in Sydney’s Woollahra sold for an eye-watering $8.1 million today, with three registered buyers vying for the prize. It is understood to be the highest price paid at auction in Australia this week.

While in Melbourne, buyers are reportedly undeterred by online auctions as coronavirus lockdowns continue.

356 Edgecliff Rd, Woollahra sold at auction for $8.1 million.

Latest realestate.com.au auction data shows New South Wales has a clearance rate of 73% for the week to date, while Victoria’s preliminary clearance rate currently stands at 68%.

Here’s what happened in the auction capitals today.

Melbourne

A charming three-bedroom townhouse in the city’s east sold for $1,366,000 at auction today, to an Australian couple currently living in New York.

Tim Heavyside, from Fletchers Canterbury, said 2/3 Raynes St, Balwyn started the auction had four bidders and opened at $1.1 million bid.

“It went on the market at $1.3 million and sold for $1.366 million to a purchaser in New York. They’re Australian expats plan to live in it eventually, although they can’t get back at the moment,” he said.

“I’ve found that this time around, in iso 2.0, buyers are more accepting of the online [auction] method. So it’s been okay.”

Mr Heavyside said a nearby property, 12 Albert St in Surry Hills, passed in at auction today at $2.27 million with three bidders, but was confident it would sell quickly.

In Melbourne’s inner south, the Balaclava home of former Richmond and Geelong player Taylor Hunt sold for $1.378 million.

The two-bedroom pad at 20 Camden Street sold for $1.378 million in an online auction with four bidders. 

Sydney

A ‘shell of a home’ in inner Sydney attracted plenty of interest at auction today, with six bidders registering for the rundown three-bedroom terrace.

49 Abercrombie St, Chippendale attracted six bidders at auction today, despite its rundown condition. Picture: realestate.com.au

Despite its peeling paint, overgrown backyard and lack of parking, 49 Abercrombie St in Chippendale sold for $1.15 million. The price was $35,000 over reserve and $150,000 above the guide price.

In the south, a two-level house on Billara Ave in Gymea Bay sold under the hammer for $1.135 million, which was $50,000 below the seller’s original reserve.

For more Sydney auction action, read here.

The post Saturday auctions: Sydney’s $8.1m sale, NY couple snap up Melbourne pad appeared first on realestate.com.au.

19 Bathurst St, Woollahra, has a $3.8m price guide.

Committee for Sydney chairman Michael Rose AM has listed his attractive Woollahra investment property with a $3.8m price guide.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom Federation era freestanding home with garage at 29 Bathurst St, listed with Michael Dunn and Andrew Birbeck of Richardson and Wrench Double Bay, has a $3.8m price guide ahead of an August 19 auction.

Property records show the light-filled residence in the name of Michael Rose, who is also the chair of Northwest Rapid Transit, a lawyer and the former Chief Executive Partner of Allens, and his wife, Marian.

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Fine dining.

A stylish kitchen.

They purchased the property for $1.14m in 1999 and had lived there up until 2016 when they moved to Bowral.

It’s been a rental property for them ever since. CoreLogic shows the weekly rent was $3200 a week in 2016, but it’s recently been advertised at $1,850 per week.

Comfortable living areas.

There’s a sunny courtyard.

The charming home is sure to be snapped up quickly by an eastern suburbs upgrading family.

It’s in a good tree-lined street and is designed for indoor/outdoor family living and entertaining.

There’s a decent-sized open-plan living areas with a fireplace and glass bi-fold doors, a modern gas kitchen and quality appliances.

It also has a sunny courtyard.

Two of the bedrooms have ensuites.

The property is spread over two levels and is close to Bondi Junction shops and transport, Lough Park, and Double Bay village.

The post Committee for Sydney chairman Michael Rose AM lists Woollahra investment property appeared first on realestate.com.au.

356 Edgecliff Rd, Woollahra sold at auction for $8.1 million.

A historic home in Woollahra described in the listing as “reborn” due to a recent renovation has sold at auction for $8.1 million.

The price for the five-bedroom house on Edgecliff Rd was understood to be the highest paid at auction in the country this week.

Three buyers registered for the auction with The Agency’s Ben Collier and auctioneer Damien Cooley received an opening bid of $7.7 million.

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Mr Collier said the house was popular because it offered a mix of contemporary styling and period features.

The home was given a modern update.

The neo-Georgian style house included a 500-bottle wine cellar and smart technology.

The sellers had also built a double-garage which made the property more accessible.

The property had lost sold in 2017 for $5 million, sales records showed. Mr Collier said all the registered parties lived locally.

The property was well-presented throughout.

The property pictured when it last sold in 2017.

Other auctions across Sydney’s east included the sale of a three-bedroom house in Matraville held by the same family for close to 60 years.

Emotions ran high at the Australia St auction, with selling agent Nick Papas of Century 21-Maroubra getting interest from three registered bidders.

Auctioneer Damien Cooley received an opening bid of $7.7m for the Woollahra home.

Six prospective buyers had requested contracts of sale and close to 50 groups inspected the property in the lead up to the auction. Most of the interest was from young families hoping to capitalise on the 627sqm block, Mr Papas said.

“It was an emotional purchase for the family who bought it,” Mr Papas said.

The post ‘Reborn’ Georgian-style house in Woollahra sells for $8.1m at auction appeared first on realestate.com.au.