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Finder analysed house price falls across 227 suburbs in Queensland during the early months of COVID-19.

Fresh data has revealed the suburbs where house prices fell the most during COVID-19, and the biggest drop has come from the most surprising area.

Comparison firm Finder.com.au reviewed all suburbs in Queensland to track house price changes since January this year – in the process uncovering where “deals” could potentially be found.

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“Of the 227 suburbs that had more than 20 sales and a population of more than 1,000, 41 per cent saw a decline in price in April compared to January 2020,” according to the Finder analysis.

But the biggest surprise was the suburb that saw the highest fall in house prices during that period – Hawthorne – was located in the high demand Brisbane inner ring.

Hawthorne saw its house price go from $1,460,094 in January to $962,500 in April this year, it said, a massive 34 per cent fall.

Three suburbs saw prices fall by 23 per cent: Mooroobool in Cairns that went from $385,000 to $295,000; Rangeville in Toowoomba fell from $543,750 to $418,000; and popular Gold Coast suburb Broadbeach Waters saw its house price go from $1,221,500 to $943,750 in that period.

Finder insight manager Graham Cooke said the falls came at a time when interest rates were falling.

“The value of houses has and may continue to tip lower in many suburbs, and ready buyers are taking advantage,” he said.

“For those with a mortgage already, even though your home’s value may have dropped, unless you take action, the mortgage payment will not.”

Record low interest rates are spurring on buyers.

“As budgets are crunched, a historic number of people are refinancing and getting a better deal on their largest investment.”

“Record-low interest rates and a lack of investor spending can be a boon for savvy mortgage holders.”

While the results varied widely across the state, the average change across Queensland was a 1 per cent rise in price – also a pleasant surprise given the massive impact COVID-19 has had globally.

WHERE HOUSE PRICES FELL THE MOST (OFF COVID-19):

SUBURB JAN APR DROP

Hawthorne (Brisbane) $1,460,094 $962,500 -34%

Mooroobool (Cairns) $385,000 $295,000 -23%

Rangeville (Toowoomba) $543,750 $418,000 -23%

Broadbeach Waters (GC) $1,221,500 $943,750 -23%

Runaway Bay (Gold Coast) $1,050,000 $843,500 -20%

Coorparoo (Brisbane) $1,135,000 $915,000 -19%

Lowood (NW of Ipswich) $275,000 $222,500 -19%

Palmview (Sunshine Coast) $720,000 $583,950 -19%

Frenchville (Rockhampton) $350,000 $287,500 -18%

Atherton (Tablelands) $340,000 279,750 -18%

Source: CoreLogic, Finder

*Suburb metrics: Only includes suburbs with 3 month median sales price available.

Number of sales over the last 3 months needs to be over 20

Population of at least 1,000.

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The post Where house prices fell the most off COVID-19 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

4/6 Buckhurst Ave, Point Piper has a guide in the “high teens”.

You know you’ve made it when you can wake up every day to this view, with boats bobbing about in the harbour in the foreground and the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge beyond.

And when you walk into your kitchen, TV room, and the deck off the living and dining room — that same iconic view is still right there in your face.

That’s the case with this four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment at 4/6 Buckhurst Ave, Point Piper — owned by former Sydney lord mayor Nelson Meers and his wife, Carole — which hit the market on Wednesday with a “high teens” guide via LJ Hooker Double Bay’s Bill Malouf and Margaret Morosi.

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Wake up to iconic views.

The master suite features a freestanding bathtub.

There are no direct comparables, but Malouf points to the $20m deal on an apartment in nearby Wolseley Road in 2018, when property developer Phillip George and his wife, Jane, sold to University of Sydney chancellor Belinda Hutchinson.

And that didn’t have views of the Bridge and Opera House.

“I consider this one of the best waterfront apartments in the eastern suburbs,” Malouf said.

“It’s an opportunity for a penthouse-style apartment with beach access and views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.”

The kitchen is well-appointed and also has incredible views.

The huge open-plan living space.

Take a look at the floorplan on realestate.com.au — the apartment is huge, measuring 449sq m with terraces.

The block was dramatically transformed about a decade ago, with the original 14 units converted to six whole-floor designer apartments, with all the best fittings and furnishings.

The reconfiguration has allowed a large open-plan entertainment space with a Jetmaster fireplace.

Just one of the attractions is an innovative glass-fronted wintergarden, which can be opened to the elements in the warmer months.

The grand entry.

A fine spot for breakfast.

Others are the Caesarstone gas kitchen with Gaggenau appliances, butler’s pantry and coolroom.

Three of the four bedrooms have stylish ensuites and the master has a freestanding bath tub.

The fourth bedroom, which could be a study, has a bathroom right by the door.

Downsizers will love the direct internal lift access. Doors also open to the private four-car garage.

And there’s a temperature-controlled wine cellar. The owners share an infinity pool at the water’s edge.

Nelson Meers was Sydney’s lord mayor 1978-1980, practised for many years as a commercial and defamation lawyer, and in 2005 was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community.

The post Former Sydney lord mayor Nelson Meers and wife Carole list Point Piper waterfront apartment appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A green touch.

Being in this Richmond home is “like wearing Cashmere”, according to its owners of seven years.

“It’s comfortable, light and luxurious,” RT Edgar Toorak selling agent Max Ruttner explained.

Buyers now have the chance to find out if the glorious double-fronted Victorian at 10 Erin Street fits them — it’s on the market with a $4-$4.4m price guide.

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Before a renovation of the grand property.

Can you feel the Cashmere?

Mr Ruttner said the vendors were a “high-profile architect and designer” who’d raised three children at the four-bedroom terrace house after gutting and recreating its interior.

“It wasn’t a project for them, it was a family home,” he said.

The agent said the house had quickly attracted the attention of “doctors, solicitors, and downsizers who want to be closer to the city” — as well as a long-time admirer.

“I received a phone call from a buyer who missed out on this in 2013 (when CoreLogic records show it sold to the owners for $2.67m),” Mr Ruttner said.

A stately facade.

The property in 2013 before it was transformed internally.

And after.

“He said to me, ‘I always promised myself when this came to market for sale again, I would do everything to buy it’.”

Drawcards for buyers included the home’s natural light, “welcoming” tones and colours, and inner-city location walking distance to the MCG, Bridge Road, public transport links and the Epworth hospital.

Its period character is preserved in French Oak parquetry flooring, bay windows, ornate ceiling roses, open fireplaces, and 3.5m-high ceilings

The entry when it sold in 2013.

Parquetry floors are luxurious underfoot.

Multiple living areas make up the ground floor, including an open-plan lounge, dining and kitchen space that opens out to Rick Eckersley-designed gardens with a barbecue deck. Parking for two cars completes the yard.

The kitchen is packed with Miele appliances, and also features a Smeg oven, Travertine benchtops and a butler’s pantry.

Luxe on luxe.

Clean contemporary style.

Two of the fours bedrooms have ensuites decked out in Carrara marble, and all of them can be found on the upper level, which has balconies at each end.

The shared bathroom, which also has marble floors and walls, boasts a tub with city views.

Co-listing agent Jeremy Fox said the house had “one of the best renovations of a terrace he’d seen”.

Its expressions of interest campaign closes August 13.

A beautiful way to wake up.

Arch appeal.

Luxury lounging.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Richmond two-storey Victorian house ‘like wearing Cashmere’ appeared first on realestate.com.au.