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No. 432 King St at Newtown is set to go to auction on August 29.

Savvy buyers are gearing up to have a crack at a rare shop front in the heart of the Newtown’s King St.

The building has three bedrooms and is being offered for the first time in more than 30 years.

With a $1.35 million guide, 432 King St at Newtown sits on 167sqm and is due to go to auction on August 29.

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The shop front.

The property is one of the first listings for Adrian William — a new agency started by local real estate agents Adrian Tsavalas and William Pereira.

Mr Tsavalas said the property is unlike anything that has been for sale on King St in recent memory.

“It has been several years since a single street shop and residence has sold on the Newtown strip,” he said.

There is a small courtyard at the rear.

An upstairs bedroom.

The property is described as an entry-level opportunity to get a foot into the lucrative King St market, and is set to appeal to investors and those looking to run a business out of it.

Spread across three levels and with the shopfront separate from the residential area, the property also enables the purchaser multiple income streams.

“An investor could easily reconfigure the floorplan to get three income streams from the shop, upstairs and the rear studio,” Mr Tsavalas said.

The rear office.

The lower ground has a studio, laundry and kitchen, while the first floor has two bedrooms.

A shop front, second kitchen and a back office can be found on the ground floor of the premises.

The unique listing comes at a time when real estate agents are reporting strong buyer turnout at open homes.

“For every property we show at the moment, we are still getting two to three qualified buyers who are ready to make a move,” Mr Tsavalas said.

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AFL legend Jason Akermanis is suited and booted, ready to sell houses as part of Ray White Ascot. He will be mentored by agency director Dwight Ferguson (left)

AFL legend Jason Akermanis hopes to be kicking goals in the property market after joining Ray White Ascot as an estate agent and auctioneer.

The Brownlow Medallist, dubbed ‘Aker’ throughout his career, played 248 games for the Brisbane Lions, kicking 263 goals and winning the AFL Premiership three times. Now, Mr Akermanis has set his sights on making his ‘mark’ on the real estate industry.

The ex footballer admitted his decision to enter the real estate industry was a little spontaneous, but he professes to having had an interest in property from a young age, thanks to his Mum.

Jason Akermanis spent the past few years improving his golfing skills. Photo: David Kapernick, Golf Queensland

“We didn’t have much growing up but Mum managed to save up and she bought a house in Kedron,” he said.

“She was always teaching me things, such as if you’re going to invest in property it’s good to have a nice house but it’s the land that goes up, and location is crucial. It was general stuff like that, but it’s always good to hear and it’s the type of advice that we have always done well out of,” he said. “If you can afford it and you can stick to the general rules then you’re never going to go wrong.”

Ironically, Mr Akermanis and his family are themselves in the market for a home having recently returned to Queensland to live after 14 years away.

Mr Akermanis is married to speech therapist Megan Legge to whom he has two daughters Charlotte and Sienna.

“At the moment we’ve got nothing. We sold our house in Melbourne and I came up first and the girls were meant to follow but they were delayed and then before we knew it they closed the borders, so it was a mad rush to get here, but they made it.

Akermanis has ditched his trademark blond crop for which he was famous back in his AFL-playing days.

“We’re staying with my wife’s family, so there’s ten of us in three-bedroom house, with her parents stuck in the caravan outside. It’s crazy stuff but we make it work.”

Mr Akermanis’s foray into real estate is not the first career change he has made since stopping playing professional football. He has been involved with several tech-based start-ups and most recently was pursuing a golfing ambition before deciding he wanted to try something entirely different.

Having been in his new role for just two weeks, Mr Akermanis said he was looking forward to mastering his new profession under the mentorship of Ray White Ascot director Dwight Ferguson.

“I’m excited to start this new path, to educate myself and to grow as a sales agent. I’m looking forward to finding my place within the real estate industry, talking to people, getting to know them, and building relationships.

“There are plenty of people wanting to buy and sell property in Brisbane and I relish the chance to be a part of that.”

Mr Akermanis has a particular eye on becoming an auctioneer, yet is no stranger to handling a gavel.

“I’ve spent the past 20 years auctioning off stuff at footy clubs and gigs to raise money for charity, who would have thought, all these years later, that I would get an auctioneer’s licence and be able to do it professionally selling houses,” he said.

“If anyone will give me a go, I’d be happy to auction their place.

“At the end of the day I just want to master my craft and have the enjoyment of autonomy.”

Mr Ferguson said that Mr Akermanis was an exciting addition to the Ray White team.

“I’ve employed a lot of ex-athletes in the past and the vast majority of them have gone on to be a great success in the real estate industry,” Mr Ferguson said. “I expect the same from Jason.”

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New developments like C & L Residences, Collingwood focus on sustainability.

Less than one in ten real estate agents know the energy star rating of properties they have listed for rent or sale, according to a new study.

The Environment Victoria “secret shopper” style survey of 303 agents across the state found just 9 per cent of respondents knew the energy rating of properties they put on the market.

Only 1 per cent of agents knew the energy bill of the property, while just one in three could name energy efficient features of the property, with one agent citing a “fence” as one such example.

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The survey has prompted calls for more awareness of homes’ energy ratings. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

The study prompted calls for mandatory disclosure of energy performance for homes for sale and minimum energy performance requirements for rental properties.

“Too many Victorians will either shiver through August to save energy, or pay a lot more on bills to stay warm,” Environment Victoria campaigns manager Nicholas Aberle said.

“But inefficient homes are a problem every year, not just during lockdown.”

“It is time we passed laws in Victoria requiring that real estate agents tell home buyers about a home’s energy efficiency rating.”

RMIT senior lecturer in the school of property, construction and project management Neville Hurst said it was time to “get ahead of the game and take the bullet and bring in mandatory reporting”.

Solar panels have grown in use amid calls for clean energy. Picture: Melbourne Airport

Dr Hurst said a power imbalance between landlords and tenants meant it was also necessary to have minimum standards for rental properties.

“Tenants generally aren’t really in a position or have a level of awareness that energy costs of a particular building can be quite huge compared to another,” he said.

Dr Hurst added there should be more education available for real estate agents.

“It should be part of their overall professional development, not mandated in the way occupational health and safety is,” he said.

Retired secretary Jean Christie was one of the volunteers to conduct the survey, going to open for inspections in her local area and surveying properties in Shepparton, Echuca and Wangaratta over the phone.

She said she the lack of information available to prospective tenants and househunters was a concern.

“On the whole they really had no idea and were rather surprised when I asked questions,” Ms Christie said. “Mostly they were not able to answer.”

“I think it should encourage agents to start asking buyers and landlords to consider making their properties energy efficient.”

Sustainability Victoria did not respond to requests for comment.

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@jackboronovskis

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Sellers need to think about the market differently, agents say.

COVID-19 has yet to strike a major blow to property prices but the economic fallout from the pandemic has shifted how sales campaigns should be run, property experts claim.

It comes as housing sales data showed most recent sellers have been scoring prices higher than those recorded last year despite a recent fall in values over the past three months.

Sydney’s median home price, which is based on sales of units, townhouses and houses, inched down 2.1 per cent over the three months to July, according to CoreLogic.

But the $866,000 median was still about 12 per cent higher than over July last year and 15 per cent higher than it was before the federal election in May last year.

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Ayre Real Estate principal and director Adrian Wilson said the pandemic’s impact on the market was unmistakeable but the changes were not always what many expected.

“We’re finding that what many may initially perceive to be a negative is turning into a positive,” Mr Wilson said. “One impact has been the reduction in the numbers of people inspecting properties (but) we’re actually getting more serious buyers rather than the window shoppers.”

Selling to these buyers – many of who were first homebuyers or those upgrading from units – required adapting to some key seller trends, Mr Wilson said.

One was a surge in pre-auction offers or early offers for private sales, he said. “Often the best offers come in within the first week or so, so be prepared to jump on a genuine offer at the right level,” Mr Wilson said.

“Unlike in a booming market, where you might expect more buyer interest or competition in the weeks leading up to auction, that’s not necessarily the case right now.

“Many qualified, ready-to-go buyers are usually inspecting and offering in week one, or even pre-market.”

Sellers also needed to prepare for fewer house hunters at open for inspections. “Don’t panic,” Mr Wilson said. “Even though we are experiencing lower numbers, those coming through are generally more qualified.

Fewer buyers are coming through open for inspections compared to previous years but there was an upside to this, Mr Wilson said.

“This isn’t a bad thing. It means serious buyers have a better opportunity to engage with the agent and inspect the property in detail.”

Off market sales or cheaper marketing campaigns were not a good idea, Mr Wilson added.

“Now is not the time to skimp on the advertising budget. Your agent should be proposing a well-rounded, wide-net approach or you will be missing crucial buyer opportunities.”

Mr Wilson said sellers needed to keep in mind that some properties were selling at price records while others that should have sold well fell flat. “Be open to the element of surprise,” he said. “In this market, anything can happen.”

Selling during the economic uncertainty of COVID-19 also meant making sure your property was well-presented. “If you were planning on changing the curtains and carpet, then do it.

Every hurdle in today’s market means buyers calculate price revisions,” Mr Wilson said. “Have the property presenting its best … if it’s a house, have a pest and building report done so buyers can easily review the property and you can attract higher levels of interest quickly.”

Cooley Auctions director and auctioneer Damien Cooley noted there has been a recent rise in pre-auction sales but advised vendors to always seek the best advice of their agents before accepting one.

“The most important thing is to listen to the advice of your agent,” Mr Cooley said. “They will know from experience what’s best and it’s that experience that you’re paying for.”

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There’s three apartments remaining in the Harbour View Apartments complex at 72-74 Newcombe St, Portarlington.

They may not be able to dine out at the pub next door for a while but the first residents have moved into a new multistorey apartment complex that’s risen above Portarlington’s town centre.

Buyers were quick to purchase off the plan at Harbour View Apartments, with only three finished residences still available in the development.

Neville Richards, St Leonards agent Luke Campbell said several people had now moved into the complex, which has transformed the streetscape at 72-74 Newcombe Street, Portarlington.

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The apartment complex sits beside the Portarlington Grand Hotel.

The four-storey building is home to 10 apartments on the top three floors and three commercial premises on street level.

Mr Campbell said the development had proved popular with owner occupiers, investors and lifestyle purchasers who were drawn to its central location.

The complex offers bay views and easy access to the nearby Portarlington ferry and foreshore and was designed to match the height of the neighbouring Portarlington Grand Hotel.

The three remaining apartments have balconies and quality kitchen finishes.

And two bathrooms.

They are positioned at the rear of the complex.

“You just walk out your door and everything is there,” Mr Campbell said.

“Normally we would have coffee shops, obviously not at the moment.”

The three remaining two-bedroom, two bathroom apartments at 103, 104 and 203/72-74 Newcombe Street, Portarlington are on the market for $800,000 and offer open-plan living, balconies and a secure carpark.

There’s rear access to a secure carpark.

“They have come up very well, they were well built,” Mr Campbell said.

“Considering some of the designs that are out there they’re very decent sized rooms.”

He said the three commercial premises available to lease were suitable for a variety of tenancy types.

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Farewell after 55 years – Andy Buttfield and his wife Jo Buttfield at their Lavender Bay home.

A point-blank view of the Harbour Bridge is one of the most coveted outlooks for Sydney property buyers.

But for Andy Buttfield and his wife Jo, it is much more than just a view.

Mr Buttfield was the chief project engineer who developed BridgeClimb Sydney, which opened in 1998.

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Since then about four million people have climbed Australia’s most iconic bridge.

The view can be seen from just about every angle.

The Buttfields have a box seat view of the bridge from their home of 55 years at 35 Bay View St, Lavender Bay.

And Mr Buttfield said he had never tired of seeing people climb up and down the bridge.

“It’s been a phenomenally successful venture for the bridge and the city,” he said.

“I often say, ‘oh that view, you get used to it’, a bit flippantly, but it is very special.”

What a view.

BridgeClimb Sydney isn’t Mr Buttfield’s only impressive pedigree. He is also the grandson of Holden founder Sir Edward Holden and the son of late Federal Liberal senator Dame Nancy Buttfield.

Mr Buttfield said he did not feel a strong connection to the Holden brand, which has been owned by General Motors since 1931, and was not surprised to hear General Motors’ announcement earlier this year that it was retiring the Holden brand and would cease production by the end of 2021.

“From a family connection it’s so far distant that it doesn’t mean that much to me personally,” he said.

“It is the end of an era, but it’s not been Holden for a long time, it’s General Motors.”

Andy Buttfield and his wife Jo Buttfield with dog Alf at their Lavender Bay home.

It is also the end of a different kind of era for the Buttfields, who have decided to sell up and move to their property in Bowral, previously a weekender.

Mr Buttfield said they had spent much of the COVID-19 pandemic at their Bowral home, and moving there permanently was a natural progression.

“This (35 Bay View St) was a run down dump when I bought it,” he said.

“I’ve spent 40 years taking a wreck of a house into something we’re proud to be in, and now the job’s finished.

Dine with a view.

Belle Property Neutral Bay Principal Mark Jackson plans to take the luxury property, set in one of Lavender Bay’s most sought-after streets, to private auction on August 29. A price guide of $10 million has been set for the property.

The impressive five-bedroom home is serviced by a lift to all levels, and includes self-contained accommodation on the lower level with separate entry, and accommodation for two cars.

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A ban on Melbourne buyers who are locked down in stage four coronavirus restrictions has impacted regional Victoria’s property markets.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed with the Herald Sun that prospective buyers and renters in metropolitan Melbourne could not travel to regional areas for private property inspections.

But those already living in regional Victoria, under stage three restrictions, can still arrange for private inspections of homes.

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178 Mollison Street, Kyneton is for sale.

With work to be done, it’s the sort of property buyers ought to inspect themselves.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said city buyers temporarily disappearing from regional markets could take its toll.

“The restrictions will substantially quieten them down the six weeks.” Ms Calnan said.

But agents remain hopeful the pause won’t excessively harm the in-demand markets.

Keatings Woodend agent Sandi Barry-Mueller said a “surge in demand during May and June” had added strength to the market despite two lockdowns this year.

“We usually have half of our buyers from the city, while the other half are local,” Ms Barry-Mueller said.

“But Melbourne buyers are quite fast and furious … one local buyer commented they might actually get a chance to buy something over the next five weeks.”

345 Lauriston Reservoir Road, Kyneton sold before stage four restrictions hit the city.

She expected a quieter month ahead, but encouraged vendors to prepare their properties for a spring sales campaign.

“We still have an amazing amount of Melbourne buyers who want to move here, so as it stands I think we will have another surge when these restrictions lift again.”

Biggin & Scott Ballarat director Francesca Nichol said some prospective vendors had left the market with plans to “relaunch in a month”.

1405 Sturt Street in the Ballarat suburb of Newington is on the market.

It has a $1.75-$1.85m price guide.

“We have a lot of things coming up but we are holding them off the market, so it’s worth people calling us up to see whether they could do an off-market deal with us, or get first access to a property after restrictions,” Ms Nichol said.

The agent this week successfully sold a property via Facetime to a Melbourne couple who never attended a physical inspection.

“They had a building inspector come through to give them the cold hard facts before they decided to buy,” Ms Nichol said.

“While it’s not the same as seeing a property in person, it’s still better than sitting holed up in a Melbourne apartment.”

Ballarat’s property market could be put on pause this month. Picture: Visit Ballarat

Melburnians who had already moved to Ballarat rental properties during coronavirus were also pushing ahead with their search, she said.

Barry Plant Highton director Kieron Hunter said Melbourne buyers competed for properties in his Geelong patch via online auction during the first weekend of stage four lockdown.

That included a Highton property at 278 Scenic Road, which sold $36,500 above reserve for $901,500.

278 Scenic Road, Highton sold via online auction.

One Melbourne buyer bid for the property.

But Mr Hunter said losing Melburnians from the market “hadn’t put the fear in a lot of (Geelong) vendors”.

“Out of auctions we are running, there is usually one Melbourne buyer to about five others in Geelong,” Mr Hunter said.

“The property market is being driven by people who are already in the area and want to stay in the same school zones, but upgrade.”

He said Melbourne buyers were still finding ways to compete, by recruiting relatives or local buyer’s advocates to inspect homes for them.

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