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Three generations of the Bisinella family inspect the new site in Baywater Estate, Bisinella Developments’ chief financial officer Steven O’Neill, managing director Lino Bisinella, Adam Bisinella and director Richard Bisinella.

A LAND grab across Geelong, spurred by the new HomeBuilder grant, has prompted a key developer to fast track construction at a Bellarine Peninsula estate.

Bisinella Developments has released stage 13 of Baywater Estate in Curlewis six months earlier than expected.

Civil contractor Wellam Constructions started work on the 29-lot stage on July 1 and it is expected to be finished in January next year.

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Bisinella Developments director Richard Bisinella said there had been strong demand for stages 1-12 at Baywater Estate, with only 16 titled lots remaining.

The developer is offering a $30,000 rebate for purchasers in those stages and has announced a $20,000 one-off rebate for those buying land in stage 13.

This is in addition to the Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.

The view towards the You Yangs from Baywater Estate.

“The Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder package, combined with the grants being offered by Bisinella, has led to a significant increase in sales in Baywater Estate,” Mr Bisinella said.

“As a result, we have brought the construction of Stage 13 ahead of schedule by six months.

“We are noticing a strong interest for land on the Bellarine Peninsula, with the incentives opening up the estate to a wider market.

“Purchasers are looking for titled land so they can take advantage of the incentives and build their home straight away.”

Homebuyers Kyarna Cloke and Ben McCarthy discuss land options with Warralily Estate manager Claire Almond. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Geelong developers reported a surge of interest in land during June as buyers raced to take advantage of the new HomeBuilder grant.

Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said sales were at double the projected numbers in recent months.

“We had very, very slow numbers in March … so if you average it out over 12 months we are back where we should have been,” Mr Costelloe said.

He said there were a higher proportion of first-home buyers in the market, chasing titled land as they needed to enter building contracts by the end of the year to secure the grant.

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22 Colleen Crescent, Primrose Sands. Picture: SUPPLIED

AS delightful and it is low maintenance, this Colorbond home will be a winner for those looking for a quiet lifestyle.

Set on a sprawling 3600sqm-plus block, the property feels even bigger still with its views across to the water and out to nearby hillsides.

The builder of this immaculately presented home definitely had his thinking cap on when orientating the home toward its neighbouring wetlands, the Carlton River and Mount Wellington/kunyani in the distance.

This two-storey home is spacious and bright with high ceilings and a neutral colour palette.

There’s room for all of the family here with just under an acre cleared land.

Space to roam.

Cosy comforts.

For property owners that dream of having some animals, there is abundant space.

The ground floor of the home is open plan with two large living areas separated by the kitchen in the middle

The front living room could be used as a sitting room or a large dining space.

The living area to the rear has big windows that take in the water views.

Via glass doors there is a huge undercover veranda, a perfect place for relaxing, alfresco dining, barbecues or entertaining friends and family.

The kitchen will be a delight for the family cook. It has an induction cooktop, double wall ovens, a full extraction rangehood, a dishwasher and a microwave. It offers generous bench, drawer and cupboard space and — if desired — there is plenty of room for an island bench.

This level also houses the laundry.

Alfresco entertainer.

Cook up a storm.

The upper level of the property is home to the master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, a three-piece ensuite and a balcony overlooking the beautiful views.

Bedrooms two and three are spacious double-sized rooms with built-in wardrobes.

The fourth bedroom could be suitable for use as a nursery or a study as desired.

A landing area on this level offers the flexibility to be used as a family retreat or a reading nook.

The family bathroom is also upstairs with a tub for soaking in and a separate shower, plus a vanity.

Outdoors, the property has a double garage with lights and power, plus two large water tanks and a newly gravelled driveway.

If required the owner could park five or more vehicles in the long driveway — cars, a boat and a caravan, too.

Primrose Sands is a 20-minute drive to the main shopping precinct of Sorell, 30 minutes to the airport and about 45 minutes to Hobart’s CBD.

The suburb’s fishing and boating destinations are close by this impressive property.

No.22 Colleen Crs, Primrose Sands is listed with PMM Real Estate and priced at “Offers over $560,000”.

The post A fantastic lifestyle at your fingertips appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Sydney Conference and Training Centre at Ingleside is on the market with potential for a major redevelopment.

Residential development is being touted for the Sydney Conference and Training Centre on the northern beaches.

The former Westpac owned complex at 30 Ingleside Rd in Ingleside sits on 3.51ha and is being offered for the first time in about five years.

Sydney Conference and Training Centre is perched on top of a hill overlooking Narrabeen Beach and is made up of 56 four-star hotel rooms, a swimming pool, gym and several conference rooms.

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The Ingleside complex is on 3.51ha.

The site has a long history of attracting Sydney’s corporate heavy hitters over the years and was previously Westpac’s in-house training centre for 20 years until they sold the complex in 2008.

Listed with CBRE — Hotel’s Raymond Tran, Andrew Jackson and Tom Gibson, the conference centre is being marketed as a rare opportunity to acquire 3.51ha of land in a “prime” northern beaches location.

It offers developers the chance to redevelop the existing conference centre or convert the site into a retirement home, aged care facility or house and land sub division. There is also the option to bank the land until it is rezoned.

Corporate heavy hitters from across Sydney frequently attend retreats at the conference centre.

Mr Tran said he expects the buyer will be land banker who will use the centre in its current form until rezoning is complete.

“It is available to subdivide now, but if you wait a few years there is the option to undertake a more substantial development,” he said.

Despite the venue being forced to close earlier this year due to the outbreak of coronavirus, majority of land bankers are still attracted to the strong income on offer in the short term.

“The centre is used by many corporate heavy hitters as well as school and leisure groups,” Mr Tran said.

Land bankers have made up majority of the interest so far.

There has also been inquires from major hotel brands interested in managing the complex and buyers from Asia looking to buy Australian real estate.

While no guide has been made public, CoreLogic shows the property last traded in 2016 for $13 million — the then suburb record.

Expressions of interest on the landholding are open until August 20.

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The post Sydney Conference and Training Centre on the market with option for house and land subdivision appeared first on realestate.com.au.

HOBART rents are falling the fastest of any capital city in the country, according to a new report.

The ANZ-CoreLogic Housing Affordability report focusing on the rental market shows Hobart joined Sydney and Melbourne in having suburbs with the largest value declines.

Among the top 21 suburbs across the capital cities for rental declines, 11 were in Sydney, five were in Melbourne, and five were suburbs of Hobart.

Rent values across Hobart had the steepest rate of decline of the capital markets from March to June, falling 2.3 per cent over the period.

The biggest decline was in Battery Point, where rents fell 5.6 per cent, followed by South Hobart and Lenah Valley, both 4.8 per cent.

Rents fell 4.7 per cent in North Hobart, New Town, Hobart and Sandy Bay, 4 per cent in West Hobart, 2.6 per cent in Kingston and 2 per cent in Bellerive.

A mortgage is cheaper than renting in many greater Hobart regions

The report said of the decline for Hobart, where rental markets have been the most unaffordable of the capital cities since December 2018, the compounding effects of COVID-19 could be “a great relief for tenants”.

However, the report said there would be “opportunities” for investors in markets including Hobart “where Airbnb stock may be reverted back to the short-term rental market”.

The report said the pandemic and its associated economic shock would have long-lasting effects on housing affordability.

Battery Point and Sandy Bay were two of the Hobart suburbs with significant falls in rents form March to June.

However in her introduction to the report, CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said the pandemic alone was not enough to have a long-term effect on housing affordability in Hobart.

”For relatively unaffordable markets like Hobart, broad-based affordability measures should be considered for longer term improvements in affordability, rather than relying a global pandemic to reduce demand,” the report said.

Hobart continued to have by far the highest proportion of income required to service rent, at 34 per cent.

In contrast, Tasmania’s housing sales market is travelling steadily, with only a small drop in houses sold and an increase in values during May.

According to the Real Estate Institute of Tasmania, Hobart house sales jumped by 20.8 per cent in the month from April to May as shutdown restrictions eased. Launceston experienced a more modest 5.6 per cent increase in sales, while a 17.2 per cent fall was recorded in the North-West.

blair.richards@news.com.au

The post Hobart’s outrageous rents continue to fall amid coronavirus pandemic appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Hot auction – 26 Awatea Rd, St Ives Chase.

Who says you can’t swim at home every day of the year, no matter what the weather?

Certainly not the former owners of 26 Awatea Rd, St Ives Chase, who saw fit to install an indoor heated swimming pool.

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Set on a level 921sqm block, the single-level home has been fully renovated to provide

flexible open plan living spaces with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, two of them ensuites.

Katheryn Purdy, of Di Jones North Shore – Wahroonga, said one of the major drawcards of the home was its location within the catchment of the St Ives North Primary School.

“This is a highly sought after school so it’s not surprising that we are seeing a lot of family interest in the property,” she said.

Easy living inside …

And out.

One of the four bedrooms.

She said the current owners originally bought the property to knock it down and start again with a new home, but then decided on a full renovation.

The result is an impressive list of features, including a renovated kitchen with butler’s pantry,

separate rumpus room, formal dining room which could also be used as a home office, additional media room or study, brand new, six-zoned reverse cycle airconditioning, outdoor kitchen with fridge, double carport and workshop storage room.

Street appeal.

Formal living.

Formal dining.

The indoor pool is fully enclosed and gas heated, making it even easier to keep the pool temperature comfortable in the winter months.

The home is within walking distance of corner shops and a new day care centre, and is close to Warrimoo Oval and tennis courts and a bushwalking track at the end of Warrimoo Avenue.

“It’s a very light house and this was one of the reasons the owners opted for a major renovation instead of a rebuild,” Ms Purdy said. “They liked the light.”

The property is due to go to auction on July 25 at noon. It is open for inspection on Wednesday from 1-1.30pm, and Saturday, prior to the auction, from 11.30am-noon.

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The post St Ives Chase home comes with an indoor pool and $2.2m guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Big result – 3/85 Raglan St, Mosman.

Taking a punt and moving a planned auction forward by a week has paid off for the owners of a five-bedroom Mosman home – to the tune of $4,550,000.

Agents Stefon Bertram, and David Smeallie, of Belle Property Mosman, had been expecting three bidders to throw their hats in the ring for 3/85 Raglan St, a substantial home in a rare gated estate in the heard of Mosman.

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The 785sqm Torrens title property was on the market for just over two weeks and attracted more than 2300 page views on its realestate.com.au listing.

The home is located within the luxury gated estate ‘Raglan’, and has been designed for low-maintenance living.

Set on approx. 961 sqm of level land and enjoying a private setting this single level home provides ideal, flexible open plan family living.

There are five homes within the estate, and these share the road and a tennis court.

Street appeal – 3/85 Raglan St, Mosman.

The main living space.

The freestanding, full-brick house at No. 3 is located back from the road, has a northeast to rear aspect and is close to the bus stop, Queenwood, Mosman Prep, the ferry and village shops and cafes. It also has its own private pool.

Mr Bertram said the main interest had come from downsizers, upsizers and executive couples.

He said the interest had been so strong that they had decided to bring the auction forward a week.

He was expecting three bidders to line up when the property went under the hammer, but he ended up with five, and all were in the race to win the property.

Formal dining.

The kitchen.

More than 50 people attended the auction, with plenty of hands on deck to ensure property social distancing rules were followed.

“There was a lot of depth to the auction and everyone took part – there was some strong bidding,” Mr Bertram said.

In the end it was a family with older children whose bid of $4,550,000 brought the hammer down. The sale price smashed the price guide of $4.1 million.

Leafy outlook.

More living space.

Mr Bertram said the lack of stock on the open market and pent-up buyer demand was keeping prices strong.

“There’s a lot of properties available off-market, and while there is a space for off-market sales, it’s not going to suit all properties,” he said.

“You need to have a deadline and you need to promote properties so buyers can know they are out there.”

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The post Early auction of a rare Mosman home brings a $4.55m payday appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Half Melbourne’s apartment residents are tenants. Picture: David Caird

Victorian homebuyers are yet to fully embrace apartment living, suggests research showing just a quarter of the state’s apartment residents own their homes.

The apartment sector remains an investor-dominated market, with tenants making up 50 per cent of the property type’s occupants, according to a new University of New South Wales report.

In comparison, 14 per cent owned their home with a mortgage and 11 per cent owned outright.

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A further 14 per cent of Victoria’s apartments were classified as “unoccupied” at the time of the latest census.

Associate Professor at UNSW City Futures Research Centre, Hazel Easthope, said this included both empty properties and non-permanent residences like holiday homes and short-stay accommodation rentals.

“(The apartment market) really is an investor market. New buildings in particular see a higher proportion of investor owners,” A/Prof Easthope said.

“In order to build an apartment complex, developers need to get finance from a bank. In order to get finance, unless they have a lot of money already, they need to make off-the-plan sales, which are more typically made to investors.”

But the report, commissioned by the Strata Community Association, draws on the latest census data to also reveal 8 per cent of Victoria’s population reside in apartments, equating to more about 471,000 people.

Less than half the state’s apartment residents (42 per cent) were born in Australia, with China (8 per cent) and India (6 per cent) the next most prominent nationalities.

And only half spoke English at home, followed by 9 per cent Mandarin and 2 per cent Cantonese.

A/Prof Easthope said this reflected the fact new migrants typically sought affordable rental homes that were accessible to employment and amenities, which often meant apartments.

Natasha Nagel at the Hawthorn unit she owns. Census data shows 57 per cent of Melbourne’s apartment residents are aged 20-39. Picture: Tony Gough

Meanwhile, 57 per cent of Victoria’s apartment residents were aged 20-39, with the other age groups taking splits of 18 per cent for 40-59, 13 per cent for 60-plus, and 12 per cent for sub-20.

“Lone-person” households dominated apartment living at 39 per cent, followed by couples with no children (23 per cent), group households (11 per cent), couples with children (9 per cent) and single parents (5 per cent).

The proportion of Victorians living in units with children (14 per cent) was much lower than in New South Wales (24 per cent).

But the report also reveals Victoria has adopted strata complexes — buildings divided into “lots” that are typically apartments, villa units or townhouses — more than any other state.

Victoria’s 115,968 complexes account for a third of the national total, contain 907,135 lots, and have an insured value of more than $343b.

A/Prof Easthope said Victoria was home to “a large number of two-unit strata complexes”, such as semi-attached townhouses, that were typically more appealing to owner-occupier buyers.

The explosion of strata complexes since their introduction 60 years ago reflected the demand for new housing driven by population growth, and government policies promoting “building up, rather than out within existing urban areas”, she said.

Strata Community Association Australasia chief executive Alisha Fisher said it also reflected people placing “increased value on access to their places of work, shopping and entertainment precincts, and recreational amenities”.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

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Imagine coming home to this big beauty every day. The facade at 118-120 Prospect Rd, Newtown.

OH, what a prospect. Yep, just like the street name, 118-120 Prospect Road presents a remarkable opportunity.

Those looking for the ultimate city property will be overwhelmed by the sprawling sense of space and privacy at this coveted address.

This magnificent Newtown house, with price hopes of around $3m, has a long list of luxuries — chief among them is the rare 1276sq m land parcel that easily accommodates the large five- bedroom house and neighbouring tennis court.

Dust off those racquets and start limbering up.

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“The block offers two separate land titles with rear north-facing aspects,” said Wilsons, Geelong agent James Wilson.

“This marquee property is a great example of the appeal that quality Newtown homes continue to have.”

Mr Wilson said the vendors, who are moving on after 20 years holding the keys, had thoroughly enjoyed all the benefits of the 3220 postcode.

“The current owners built the property, raised their family, and have loved living there,” he said.

It’s no wonder with some of Geelong’s most prestigious schools and the delightful shopping strips of Pakington St and Stinton Ave all within walking distance.

But let’s get back to the incredible home.

It’s a picture of perfection – the house and the extensive gardens have been meticulously styled and maintained over the years.

The vendors have taken a modern approach to timeless style with a crisp, white colour palette and timber flooring.

Inside is bright, breezy and calm with carefully curated living spaces.

The bedrooms are all spacious.

Thoughtful design means there’s a mix of formal and informal living spaces (with so much space inside and out you’ll hardly see the kids).

An impressive entry reveals the true scale of the gorgeous home, with high ceilings and generously proportioned living spaces on show from the front door.

Here, parents have their own retreat, with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, set just off the entry.

Upstairs is all about the kids, with three bedrooms, each with a built-in wardrobe and desk, along with a spacious main bathroom and retreat space.

A fifth bedroom, set downstairs, would be perfect for guests, or could be set up as a home office (and it offers easy access to the kitchen – perfect for sneaky snacks).

Speaking of food, the striking kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, island bench and loads of storage, and links to the large yard and paved entertainment area.

The large open-plan kitchen, lounge and meals area is set close to the outside spaces.

Outside is a like a world of its own, with a well-lit Modgrass tennis court where you can stage your own Australian Open or shoot some basketball hoops, then cool off in the gas heated pool and spa.

Active families will love what’s on offer at this premium Newtown address.

Serve those aces, shoot those hoops, rest those muscles or watch that movie.

The nearby courtyard is a joyful space and perfect for a sunset (or Sunday) sip.

A separate double garage offers handy rear access and a games room (we told you, you’d hardly see the kids).

The post Premium Newtown property serves up luxury family living and privacy on a grand scale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

a ‘floating mansion’ has been dubbed the modern day Noah’s ark. Picture: Mansion Global

A so-called “floating mansion,” – a blend between a yacht and a modern mega-home that is currently moored in Miami is for sale for AU$7.9 million (US$5.5 million).

The 23m-long yacht can cruise in the ocean or be elevated out of the water by its retractable legs, according to Howard Chase, whose brokerage firm listed the property last week.

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The solar-powered houseboat is self-sustaining. Picture: Mansion Global

The houseboat offers over 400sq m of indoor and outdoor space. Picture: Mansion Global

“It’s like a two-storey house that you can take anywhere,” Mr. Chase said.

“It’s completely solar powered and equipped with a rainwater-collecting-and-purifying system, so you can live totally off-grid.”

Named The Arkup, after the Biblical story of Noah’s ark, the houseboat offers 405sq m of indoor and outdoor space, with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, according to Mansion Global.

It’s currently docked at Vice City Marina. Picture: Mansion Global

One of the bedrooms. Picture: Mansion Global

The kitchen opens on to the deck. Picture: Mansion Global

It has been touted as the first liveable luxury sustainable yacht, which is independent of electricity and water.

The home’s roof has 119 solar panels, and underneath it has hydrologic technology which allows the home to be lifted out an extra 5.5m, which the inventors say can help stable the vessel in case of a hurricane.

“Another cool aspect is that it has an elevator for a tender or a jet ski,” Mr. Chase said, which makes it convenient to go in and out of water.

There is room to entertain 50+ people on the deck. Picture: Mansion Global

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The Arkup was built in 2019 by Nicolas Derouin and Arnaud Luguet, two Miami-based French engineers who have a passion for the ocean and renewable energy.

Derouin and Luguet, who currently own the Arkup, were not immediately available for comment.

Its’ presently in Miami. Picture: Mansion Global

The yacht is currently docked at Vice City Marina, steps away from Miami’s high-end restaurants and other amenities, Mr. Chase said.

It has not been confirmed if the home could be transported overseas at this stage.

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