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COVID-19’s impact could be a property price stabilisation in Hobart.

FROM an extreme shortage of listings to the natural market downshift that follows a property boom cycle to the coronavirus, a huge range of factors have impacted Hobart’s property market in the past year.

And yet, median price growth in some southern Tassie suburbs simply cannot be derailed.

The Mercury has analysed realestate.com.au figures which reveal several locations that have recorded strong growth in the past 12 months compared to the same time of the previous year. Looking at houses and units separately, there were five suburbs where the annual median price growth for houses ranged from 18 per cent (Lewisham) up to 23.6 per cent (Clarendon Value). In the units sector, Battery Point led the charge with a whopping growth figure of 43.7 per cent across 28 sales while West Hobart’s median jumped up by 30.9 per cent.

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Mandy Welling.

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Mandy Welling said with affordability in and around the Hobart CBD becoming further out of reach, it was not surprising to see considerable growth of house sale prices in areas such as Primrose Sands, Dodges Ferry and Lewisham.

Mandy said ever increasing markets like Hobart in recent years will see buyers branch further out into the suburbs and consider a commute for the sake of affordability and value for money.

“These wonderful coastal communities offer exactly that,” she said. “The statistics from realestate.com.au show some considerable increases, which was a nice surprise, especially for those who already own real estate in these suburbs.”

Mandy said the sale prices of units in inner city regions like Battery Point, Mount Stuart and West Hobart reflect a robust and confident marketplace. “The most impressive figure here would be an almost 50 per cent increase in the value of a unit in Battery Point,” she said.

While some suburbs grew, others saw the median price decline over the past year, such as North Hobart and Forcett houses (-7.6 per cent and -7.8 per cent) alongside units in South Hobart and Moonah (-19.8 per cent and -5.2 per cent).

With regards to the suburbs displaying declines, Mandy said there was not anything to be concerned about. “Looking at the top five unit and house suburbs, the majority of those percentages are quite low in the range of -3 per cent to -7.8 per cent,” she said. “The standout here was the -19.8 per cent decline in South Hobart area, but I think we are all confident this is not a true reflection of the activity in the area now.”

realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee.

Chief economist at realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee said while COVID-19 will “probably” lead to prices stabilising or coming backward in Hobart, this was not necessarily a bad thing. “We often celebrate price growth but sometimes it is better to be stable than booming,” she said. “I think that is probably what will happen in Hobart, improved stability.

“It is interesting that Tasmania still has such an imbalance in supply and demand, however we have not seen a drop off in activity on the site, which you might expect.”

The post Where Hobart property prices are climbing and slipping most appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Brooke Rogers, 23 of Acton Park loves the Hobart lifestyle. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

IF 20-something entrepreneur Brooke Rogers could click her fingers and live anywhere in the world, she would choose Hobart.

And it would be hard to argue the point when she presents her long list of what makes the Apple Isle so attractive. “I grew up in Acton Park and our family has lived — still lives — in the same home since I was one,” she said. “But I also split my time between here and Brisbane so that is a best of both worlds situation. There are things here that you just don’t find in Brisbane, especially living in an inner-city apartment complex.

“At Acton our family owns a five acre property. We’ve got motorbikes, horses and the neighbours are nearby but not too close.

“I like to be active and adore being outside in the fresh air and sunshine.

“I’ve recently started playing golf in quarantine. My aunt and pop play and I thought I’d give it a try. On my first go I hit the green on a par three and I have loved it ever since.”

Friends from Hobart Brooke Rogers and Milly Russell near Lake Dobson at Mount Field. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Brooke, 23, said part of the beauty of Hobart is everything feels like it is only 20 minutes away. And that the lifestyle is more relaxed here compared to life in the big smoke.

“It is fantastic that we have such easy access to beautiful beaches and nature,” she said. “At Acton we have a rural lifestyle but you can be in the city so quickly and then 20 minutes further down the road and you could be heading towards the Huon or a forest — it’s amazing.”

Like many Hobartians Brooke knows the “secret” of the Hobart lifestyle has long since gotten out.

The pre-COVID booming tourism sector is just one example of visitors’ love of the southernmost capital city and Tasmania as a whole.

“It has been very different this year because we are so used to the city coming to life in winter during events like Dark Mofo,” she said.

Brooke Rogers, 23 of Acton Park enjoying Hobart’s waterfront precinct. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

When Brooke is not doing pilates, playing golf, making the finals of Miss Universe Australia or working one of her many jobs — an online health and wellness business chief among them — the dream of home ownership occasionally pops up.

She said the thought of it can be “overwhelming”.

“I would not call myself a big saver! The prices have risen so high here that it can seem like it is almost unattainable,” she said. “And I do like having the flexibility to not be tied down and to be able to travel.

“I’d love to be able to visit Europe, Greece and Italy in particular, and just take my time to explore.

“I have friends who have taken the plunge into homeownership and most of them have bought land to build on. I can relate to that. I’d like to be able to personalise my home and make it perfect for my lifestyle.

“Although I spend time in Brisbane, that city feels like somewhere that I go. Whereas Hobart feels like it will always be home. Most of my family is here, I adore the way of life here, and I think when the time comes to build my own home I would not want to do that anywhere but Hobart.”

The post Hobart: the place to put down roots appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Greg Inglis has sold his Botany investment. Phil Hillyard

Retired NRL legend Greg Inglis continues to shuffle his property portfolio, with the sale of an investment property at Botany.

The former South Sydney Rabbitoh secured $911,000 for the two bedroom townhouse. His superannuation fund had bought it for $850,000 in 2015 when it had been a $640 a week rental.

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Abstract artist sells grand Paddo terrace

Inglis also sold a property in Coogee last August. Picture: Brett Costello

Inglis offloaded his former Coogee home for $2,475,000 in August last year. He had bought the Coogee semi after his move from Melbourne at the end of the 2010 season.

He paid $1.1 million for what was then a two-bedroom federation home and then transformed the property into a three-level, four-bedroom home, behind its period facade.

Inglis plans to come out of retirement next year. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

The Kempsey-born star, who ­intends to come out of retirement for Warrington in next year’s UK Super League, appears on the ABC’s Australian Story on Monday addressing his challenges with mental health issues.

The 33-year-old reveals how he was gripped by alcoholism and ­depression whenever he was injured and then after his retirement.

The post Retired NRL legend Greg Inglis sells Botany investment property appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 1 Linden St at North Gosford has sold following a successful viral campaign.

A stripped-out house in North Gosford described by the agent as renovated “one punch at a time” sold at auction for $535,000 – a price reported to have left the seller in tears.

The four-bedroom house on Linden Street was in derelict condition because of a renovation that was begun but abandoned. There were holes in the walls and a mould-infestation in the kitchen.

Eleven bidders registered with Gittoes agent Richard Faulkner and Matt Gravas.

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The home has a few holes in the wall.

Mr Faulkner said he never expected the price to pass $500,000. He produced a tongue-in-cheek video for the property where he showed all of the problems. It went viral.

Realestate.com.au confirmed the ad was the most viewed listing on its portal in NSW so far this year, with more than 350,000 page views. The marketing video on YouTube racked up 100,000 views.

The strong result was some $85,000 above the $450,000 guide, which is roughly the same price as a typical apartment in the suburb.

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Bit of rubble to clean up.

More holes and a nice gap in floor.

Majority of buyers who inspected the property during the campaign expressed interest in undertaking a mini reno as opposed to a knock down rebuild. It was also a hit with first homebuyers looking to get into the market.

Sitting on 689sqm of land near the centre of Gosford, the property has overgrown gardens at the rear, a rusted shed and lots of rubbish tucked underneath the house.

Complete with a bespoke mouldy splashback, the kitchen has been partially renovated with modern appliances. The mouldy theme continues in the bathroom, where mould can be found on the ceiling and in the shower, but at least there is a roll of toilet paper.

The kitchen has a half completed renovation.

There is a mould problem in the kitchen.

The main bedroom has an “open plan ensuite” with a missing shower screen and the walk-in wardrobe is missing a door.

The timber deck is slowing falling apart after years of ignoring any upkeep, while some interior floorboards are missing completely.

Mr Gravas said the property fell into disrepair after the long-term owners moved away and left it to their kids.

Additional reporting Aidan Devine

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The post Viral North Gosford home in need of major renovation leaves seller ‘in tears’ after selling above guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Pick of the bunch: No.488 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay. Picture: SUPPLIED

A RIVERSIDE home in Sandy Bay has topped the charts as Tassie’s most expensive residential sale of the year.

No.488 Sandy Bay Rd in Sandy Bay was actually sold in late December but settled a couple of months later at $4.82 million, brining it into the 2020 club.

When it hit the market in summer, this superb property was expected to be one of the sales of the season. It certainly lived up to the prediction. And it is easy to see why.

The five-bedroom home boasts an understated grandeur as it stretches out across three waterside levels from its position on Sandy Bay’s lauded “Golden Mile”.

488 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay.

488 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay.

488 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay.

It has multiple formal and informal living and entertainment spaces — indoors and out — alongside a contemporary kitchen and luxurious bedroom accommodation.

Its master bedroom suite is pure opulence: from the wide views to the Juliet balcony, the abundant space to the five-star resort-style ensuite and wardrobing. And lets not overlook the fun to be found at the front of the home, a private boathouse with a boat ramp out into the Derwent River — perfect for a fisherman.

At a stich under $5 million, the sale is among the state’s largest on record. It is only eclipsed by Sentosa’s $6.5 million sale and an Ellerslie Rd apartment at $5.4 million. The record books also contain a $8.5 million sale but that was multiple houses and blocks.

ESI Property’s senior consultant Deb Stephens outside Beaumaris House, Battery Point.

The next best sale of the year so far was one of Tassie’s most significant, historic homes Beaumaris House. The Mercury understands that this epic 16-room three-storey 1870s Battery Point home was sold for $3.575 million.

It is known as the home of Mary Grant Roberts and the original site of the Beaumaris Zoo with links to exotic birds, Tassie devils and Tassie tigers. When the property first hit the market, there was a feeling that its size and stature might lend it to a commercial buyer.

Instead, it was sold to interstate purchasers who have moved to Tasmania and will write the next chapter of this heritage property’s story as their private family home.

64 Napoleon St, Battery Point.

12 Waterloo Crs, Battery Point.

104 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point.

Coming in at No.3 on the list was a Napoleon Street home that sold early in 2020 for $3 million and is a neighbour to Tassie’s top two sales of 2019. Large homes in this waterside address are always popular and No.64 Napoleon was no different with it barely lasting a fortnight on the market before finding its next custodian.

A glance through the current Top 10 sales reveals a southern bias, and two suburbs in particular dominates more than half of the list: Sandy Bay and Battery Point. Prices have been strong in recent years in Sandy Bay’s neighbouring suburb Taroona; it scored to spots in the top sales chart alongside homes in Bellerive on the Eastern Shore and city fringe suburb Mount Stuart.

Hobart’s median house price has been hovering around the $500,000 mark in recent years following the most recent market boom.

However, the plush homes on this list show prices in the top end of town are at least four times the median and often far more.

That is Tattslotto win level money for most people, but hey, it is fun to daydream.

Top end of town, 2020’s biggest sales:

$4.82 million: 488 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay (Charlotte Peterswald for Property)

$3.575 million: 7-13 Newcastle St, Battery Point (EIS Property)

$3 million: 64 Napoleon St, Battery Point (Charlotte Peterswald for Property)

$2.45 million: 12 Waterloo Crs, Battery Point (Charlotte Peterswald for Property)

$2.3 million: 104 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point (St Andrews Estate Agents)

$2.3 million: 8 Toorak Ave, Mount Stuart (Nest Property)

$2.06 million: 10 Utiekah Dr, Taroona (Knight Frank)

$2.05 million: 2 Sayer Crs, Sandy Bay (PRD Hobart)

$2.016 million: 40 Flinders Esp, Taroona (Knight Frank)

$2 million: 15 Victoria Esp, Bellerive (Fall Real Estate)

Source: realestate.com.au

The post Top sales: the highest home prices of 2020 appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The revelation of a record-breaking prize package has raised the contestants’ stakes, the tempers and the ceilings… almost.

The renovators of the winning guest bedroom will pocket not only the $10,000 weekly prize but up to $120,000 in Gaggenau kitchen appliances. Yep, that’s the biggest prize in Block history.

Building foremen Keith and Dan wasted no time in trying to play on the contestants’ insecurities, telling Luke that his room lacked a “wow” factor and was therefore unlikely to win.

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Scott Cam on how The Block coped with COVID

To rub it in further, they took the father of two for a site visit to Harry and Tash’s to point out how impressive their high ceilings and skylights were compared to their low flat ones.

Shelley Craft and Scott Cam throw cold water on Luke’s plans.

Soon Luke is plotting to lift his ceiling height too until Jasmin returns and urges him to stick to their guns (and traditional ceiling rose) and instead put in a polished plaster feature wall.

Hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft, who is also newly qualified as a real estate agent as well as a TV star, pour more cold water on the West Australians’ plans describing them as underwhelming and “so two years ago”.

While their dreams of an impressively appointed kitchen may have been crushed under the weight of their low ceilings and boring styling, the couple said they were no longer looking to win but were pinning their hopes on not coming last.

Another team hoping to avoid last place having already lost the very first challenge were Harry and Tash.

The pair learned that communication is key — especially when it comes to buying door locks. Bizarrely for a bloke who works in IT, Harry proved less than masterful at working the camera on his smart phone, which made a punishing task of Tash’s job as his go between at the door shop.

When Keith pulls that face it never means anything good.

Making matters worse, Tash started to doubt her dad’s work with a tape measure.

With good reason because she discovered there was insufficient space in the room to stand beside the bed and open the wardrobe doors. The only thing they could do to rectify the mistake was to downsize their bed from a queen size to a double.

Keith was the bearer of more bad tidings for George and Sarah, informing the couple that yet again they had made poor judgments about their use of space.

The couple took a huge gamble in dividing their generous-sized bedroom in two so that they could create a small office.

But they were floored when Keith showed them how their cramped floor plan made it virtually impossible to navigate the room comfortably while the cupboard doors were open.

Keith suggested the couple downgrade the bed size from queen to double but Sarah wasn’t having a bar of it.

Harry is allegedly in IT, so why can’t he work out how Facetime operates?

Making matters worse for the couple, a blue broke out over missing screws. Daniel claimed George’s plasterers had pilfered some from his work site.

George wasted no time in laying down the law with his tradies, smilingly threatening to spank anyone who failed to adhere to the rules. He also returned fire on Daniel accusing his people of taking some of his supplies as well.

Daniel, though happy to help George replace some of his missing gear, wasn’t willing to accept he was in any way at fault because he prides himself on running a super tight and orderly ship. Whereas George? Let’s just say he doesn’t show his materials the same reverence he would his beloved Pokemon card collection.

Daniel and Jade are hopeful that an old pendant light they found lying around the dilapidated building will — with a bit of spit and polish — give their room the wow factor needed to secure the kitchen appliances. But will their repurposed trash lead to treasure come judgment day?

MISSED AN EPISODE?

Episode 2 recap: Which Block team got the best house?

Episode 1 recap: The tears start early on The Block 2020

The post The Block 2020 episode 3 recap: Scott and Shelley pour cold water on plaster plans appeared first on realestate.com.au.