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A rooftop garden provides natural insulation.

You could be forgiven for having a limited understanding of the energy efficiency of your home.

Eyes glaze over at the mention of R3.5 wall insulation, 2.5kW systems and a 6-star energy rating.

We’ve unpacked energy ratings to make then more accessible, as buyers increasingly look at ways to save money in the home and look after the planet as well.

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Solar panels can significantly reduce power bills.

The Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard rates homes on a scale from 1 to 10 stars, based on the average yearly cost to power a home.

A 1-star house costs $5319 each year, while a 10-star home feeds energy back into the grid, actually earning $222 every year for its owners.

Melbourne’s average rating is 3 stars, at an annual cost of $1773.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is expected to release a new model soon that integrates the statewide scorecard with its own, which is used to rate new builds.

The director of energy rating assessment company Ephe, Cal Forsyth, said installation of solar was a “prime example” of an effective way to improve a house’s energy efficiency.

He said changing light bulbs and shower heads, sealing chimneys and air vents, and weatherproofing doors and windows were cost-effective initiatives that would also reduce running costs.

Thermal mass walls can help regulate temperatures inside.

This house at 8 Olivette Ave, Upper Ferntree Gully was designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Wall and ceiling insulation with high thermal resistance are also critical energy savers.

Many older homes have little to no insulation, letting heat escape through the roof and walls and reducing the property’s capacity to regulate temperature.

Mr Forsyth said the public was increasingly recognising the value of high energy efficiency as both a cost cutter and value adder.

The Upper Ferntree Gully home has an indoor garden.

“People are becoming aware and I think they’re finding previously unknown value in their existing dwellings,” he said.

“You can actually retrofit and increase the value of a property with energy efficient upgrades, whereas some of the modern high-ceiling properties that people thought were of high value are not so much anymore when you’re looking at energy efficiency.”

Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard

Star rating, annual power cost

10 stars, $222

9 stars, $0

8 stars, $266

7 stars, $532

6 stars, $798

5 stars, $1064

4 stars, $1330

3 stars, $1773

2 stars, $3546

1 star, $5319

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jack.boronovskis@news.com.au

@jackboronovskis

The post How to understand home energy efficiency star ratings in Victoria appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Parkside church conversion at 1 Castle Street is on the market. Pic: realestate.com.au

A divine old church-turned-house that has stood on the outskirts of Adelaide’s city centre for more than 135 years is up for grabs.

The Parkside property at 1 Castle Street, which was built in 1884 and converted into a residence in 2006, is offering househunters a heavenly home.

Many of its grand character features have been preserved, including its 13.5m cathedral ceilings and stained-glass windows, while modern design trends have breathed new life into it.

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It was turned into a residence in 2006. Pic: realestate.com.au

Many of its original features have been preserved, while modern design trends have given it a new lease on life. Pic: realestate.com.au

Walter & Irvine director Kevin Walter, who is selling the property through an expressions of interest campaign, said it was rare to find converted churches so close to the city.

“The original church and the annexed hall were converted into three Torrens titles, so the property for sale is half of the main church building,” he said.

“It’s such a beautiful property. It’s one that when you walk in, you’re in awe.

“The original features of the property are such a standout.

“A unique property (such) as this rarely comes on to the market, it is a fantastic opportunity for someone to acquire a home that truly makes a statement of individuality.

“You see them pop up in regional areas but not so much in metropolitan (Adelaide).”

Mr Walter said it was already attracting strong interest from househunters.

“It’s quite versatile and very modern so it could be a family home or good for an executive couple,” he said.

“It’s appealing to a lot of different people.

“From time to time during my 40 year real estate career, I have had the pleasure of selling unique properties, but this is certainly one of the best.”

It is being sold through an expressions of interest campaign. Pic: realestate.com.au

It was built in 1884. Pic: realestate.com.au

The residence has three-bedrooms, two of which are on the ground floor while the third is dedicated to a mezzanine with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

There is another bathroom on the ground floor where an open kitchen, living and dining area takes centre stage.

The church, which was decommissioned in 2003, is steeped in Adelaide’s history.

It features as part of a Burnside Council-produced self-guided history walk, a brochure of which states the foundation stone for the former Wesleyan Methodist Church was laid in 1883.

“The congregation attended open air services until the building was completed in May 1884,” the brochure says.

“In December 1884 a gallery was built to improve acoustics.”

It became known as Epworth Uniting Church in 1977.

The post Historic Parkside church-turned-house offering prospective buyers a heavenly home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A FAMILY looking to escape Melbourne snapped up a Gold Coast property within 36 hours of it hitting the market.

The interstate buyers, who could not physically inspect the property, relied on videos to make their decision before paying $2.225 million for the four-bedder at 43 Petrel Ave, Mermaid Beach.

43 Petrel Ave, Mermaid Beach sold within 36 hours of hitting the market.

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It is the highest price ever paid for a property on Petrel Ave.

“The buyers are a Melbourne family who are planning to move up in January,” said Kollosche’s Eoghan Murphy, who is marketing the property with Troy Dowker.

“The owners did everything to make sure the property was ready to sell.

“And with our marketing we make sure we get everything we need so if someone in Sydney or Melbourne was buying it, it’s an easy process – we have videos, a 3D walk through, valuations, building and pest – everything they would need to make a final decision without stepping inside the property.”

A Melbourne family will call 43 Petrel Ave, Mermaid Beach home from 2021.

The property, described as a “tropical retreat”, includes a floorplan that brings the outdoors in.

The interior includes merbau timber flooring, crisp white walls, soaring high ceilings and large windows.

A northeast facing deck is accompanied by a sparkling pool – perfect for year-round entertaining.

“It’s in one of the best spots on Petrel Ave,” Mr Murphy said.

Inside 43 Petrel Ave which sold for a street record.

Mr Murphy said the Gold Coast continued to be the city of choice for southerners.

“Everyone wants to get to the Gold Coast at the moment,” he said.

“The way the world is going people realise they don’t need to be in Sydney or Melbourne, they can work remotely. And where else would you want to be?”

43 Petrel Ave, Mermaid Beach brings the outdoors in.

The post Gold Coast house snapped up in 36 hours for street record appeared first on realestate.com.au.

14 Mirimar Avenue, Bronte, is shooting for the suburb price record.

It’s less than two months since the Bronte house price record was smashed with a $17.9m sale, now the co-founder of healthcare provider GenesisCare, Dan Collins, is aiming to go one better.

Collins’s five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with a five-car garage at 14 Mirimar Avenue his hit the market for September 12 auction via Phillips Pantzer Donnelley principal Alexander Phillips. It’s understood he has a guide of $18m to $20m.

Collins only bought the home four years ago, paying $14.5m.

But if anything’s going to beat the price that green energy entrepreneur Carl Prins and his wife, Kate, paid in Gardyne Ave on July 7 in an off-market deal — also through Phillips — this is it.

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A lift whisks you up to each of the three levels from the five-car garage.

This house has the best views in Bronte.

This truly is a special home, with far superior views than the Gardyne St property.

Both homes have five bedrooms and four bathrooms and are designer residences with ocean views, though this has a five car-garage rather than two and looks to be a cut-above in design terms and features along with the views.

It was previously owned by Peter Scutt — founder and CEO of Mable, an online service to help the aged or disabled find support workers — and his wife, Nadia Jacob, the founder and director of CrEight, which specialises in residential design.

The previous owners converted an old apartment block into this magnificent home.

The heated mineral pool is bathed in northerly sunshine.

They rebuilt an old apartment block — bought for $3m in 2013 — to create this incredible new home that was snapped up by Collins in an off-market deal via Pauline Goodyer of Goodyer, who’s now selling Scutt and Jacob’s next home in 22 Thompson Street with a $14m-$15m guide.

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The Mirimar Avenue home is a custom-built residence on a vantage point between Bronte and Tamarama beaches, with views across the full sweep of the beach and the ocean horizon to Mackenzies Bay.

Built by award-winning Master Builder Mardini Constructions, it offers the latest in home technology with level lift access from the garage to all three levels.

Picture postcard views.

Outdoor dining doesn’t get any better.

Walls of glass maximise the ocean vista. The super-stylish interiors are by Amy Sharma of The Design Spot.

The top floor is devoted to living and leads out to a poolside entertainer’s haven, with heated mineral pool, bathed in northerly sunshine.

Sleeping accommodation includes four bedrooms on one level and a self-contained lower level apartment. The private master retreat has a dressing room and a stunning ensuite that includes an Italian bathtub with a view.

A five-car garage is a rare find.

Enough room for 720 bottles in the temperature-controlled wine cellar.

Other highlights are the nine-metre terraces that extend from three levels; the wide oak floorboards; and an aether marble kitchen with butler’s pantry, Wolf dual fuel range and Subzero fridges.

The four luxurious bathrooms have underfloor heating, Gessi appointments and heated towel rails.

There’s also C-Bus lighting, sound and airconditioning, electric blinds and a temperature-controlled wine cellar for 720 bottles.

It’s only 150 metres to the sand, sea and surf.

The post GenesisCare chief executive and co-founder Dan Collins shoots for $18m Bronte house price record appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Sprawling lifestyle properties in regional areas drew the eyes of Australian property seekers in the first half of 2020, dominating a new list of the most viewed homes in the country.

Search activity data from realestate.com.au has reinforced the trend of prospective buyers looking outside of the big cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with secluded bush settings, coastal retreats and metropolitan mansions appearing high on wishlists.

A grand sandstone manor in Sydney’s Hills Shire attracted nearly 300,000 views, with property seekers no doubt impressed by its size and facilities, including six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and enough space to park up to 61 cars.

This sandstone beauty in Dural attracted almost 300,000 views. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

Spanning 2.23ha, 50 Carters Road in Dural features business and residential zoning and has a 14-car garage, separate one-bedroom guest cottage and a media production studio space.

Listing agent Megan MacKay, from Ray White Frenchs Forest, said buyers were attracted to the property’s high level of amenity and its self-contained nature, among nature.

“We’re still seeing strong volume of interest, particularly from family groups who have the ability to work from home and are looking for community living,” Ms MacKay said. “They also like the aesthetic, the infrastructure and the quality of the build.”

Also in New South Wales, a tropical oasis in the Northern Rivers region made Australians swoon with its palm-tree setting and coastal-chic styling.

House hunters could not resist this slice of paradise in Bangalow. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

Set on a 1,344sqm land holding with four bedrooms, a pool, studio, fire pit and loft, 6 Burrawan Place in Bangalow presented a fantasy hideaway for social distancing during the early days of isolation. This translated into a sale in April.

Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at realestate.com.au, said the unusual landscape of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the type of property and location home buyers want.

She said areas such as the Central Coast and Southern Highlands of New South Wales had regularly appeared in search activity this year, as well as Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

“It appears that during COVID-19, affordability may be of less importance to property buyers in regional areas and that lifestyle factors are becoming more important,” Ms Conisbee said.

“People are perhaps looking for bigger places to live and aren’t currently tied to a central workplace.”

Homes in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia featured in the list of top 10 most viewed listings, attracting the highest number of views on realestate.com.au between January and the end of June 2020.

The one property listing to buck the ‘lifestyle’ trend surprisingly claimed the top spot: a ‘renovator’s dream’ in North Gosford, featuring a comical promotional video from the selling agent that went viral.

Here are the 10 most popular homes for sale in Australia in 2020:

1. 1 Linden Street, North Gosford NSW

While the house itself is nothing to write home about, some tongue-in-cheek marketing from Gittoes agent, Richard Faulkner certainly drew in the views – more than 330,000 to be specific.

1 Linden St, Gosford North is a true renovator’s delight. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

In a video tour of 1 Linden St, Mr Faulker described the four-bedroom house as having a “mould splashback” and “one-of-a-kind stained carpet”, with holes in the walls simply the previous tenants “starting the demolition process”.

The home went to auction on 22 August and sold for $535,000 – $85,000 above the $450,000 guide.

2. 50 Carters Road, Dural NSW

The luxury six-bedroom residence presents a range of opportunities for lifestyle and business, with a raft of resort-style features.

It is for sale by expressions of interest.

50 Carters Rd, Dural was the second most viewed listing in Australia since January. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

3. 6 Burrawan Place, Bangalow NSW

Spanning 1,344sqm, the stunning lifestyle property in Bangalow was snapped up by a lucky buyer in April.

This Bangalow home attracted plenty of attention. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

4. 25 Paperbark Drive, Pokolbin NSW

Another dreamy country escape, this Hamptons-style home in the Hunter Valley has captured imaginations with its high-end design and expansive grounds.

This Hamptons-style home in Pokolbin has impressed. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

The five-bedroom home at 25 Paperbark Drive in Pokolbin is on the market by expressions of interest.

5. 446 Maleny-Kenilworth Road, Witta QLD

Coming in at number five was this charming, renovated 1920s Queenslander on the Sunshine Coast, set on a whopping 4,000sqm.

This cottage in Witta, Queensland, is one of the most viewed listings in Australia. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

The beautifully presented interiors and gardens of this Witta cottage made an impression and it is now under offer.

6. 32 Avenel Gardens Road, Medindie SA

One of the few properties on the list in a central location, this renovated period villa in Adelaide has breathtaking interiors that design-lovers, well, loved.

This striking Medindie home made the top 10. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

Impressive both inside and out, the four-bedroom Medindie home is now under contract.

7. 215 Clarke Street, Northcote VIC

This spectacular Federation Queen Anne home in Melbourne’s north has been snapped up – but not before hitting more than 130,000 views.

The circa 1912 home on Clarke Street in Northcote sold in May for $3.6 million.

215 Clarke St, This Northcote home is an ode to the past. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

8. 12 Watson Street, Camp Hill QLD

Another Hampton-style home in Brisbane’s prestigious Camp Hill, 12 Watson Street epitomises the popular coastal-luxe style.

This prestigious home in Camp Hill has a coastal-luxe vibe. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

The stunning five-bedroom home sold in June for over $1.78 million.

9. 36 Jacksons Road, Mount Eliza VIC

Set in Mount Eliza’s Golden Mile, just metres from Port Phillip Bay, this five-bedroom mansion is clearly a dream for many Victorian property seekers, attracting more than 120,000 views. It is still on the market.

10. 14 Williams Road, Heathfield SA

One of the most unique listings in the top 10, this award-winning architectural masterpiece is definitely a looker. Located on 2.62ha in the Adelaide Hills, 14 Williams Road in Healthfield is a striking achievement – and still available.

The post Lifestyle the new X factor in list of 10 most viewed homes in 2020 appeared first on realestate.com.au.