Blog

No. 16a Pera Place in Red Hill is up for sale.

Leafy, family-focused enclaves, new developments and “old Canberra” suburbs have been dominating buyer wishlists, as new search data reveals the most popular streets in the city.

Canberra’s most in-demand streets – ranked by the number of views per listing within a suburb over the past three years – reflect a trend for affordable family areas as well as established locations, well-serviced by green space and amenities.

MORE: Award-winning display home seeks first owner

Inner south cottage with a ‘fernery’

Streets with less than fives homes for sale over that period were excluded from the analysis, meaning some of Canberra’s most tightly held addresses don’t feature.

Homes in Hayball Place, Evatt are a big hit with buyers.

10 most in-demand streets in Canberra

1.McHenry Street, Amaroo

2.Pera Place, Red Hill

3.Hayball Place, Evatt

4.Willessee Rise, Coombs

5.Dot Butler Street, Wright

6.Dwyer Street, Cook

7.Tiwi Place, Waramanga

8.Heseltine Street, Denman Prospect

9.Shortland Crescent, Ainslie

10.Morant Circuit, Kambah

Many of the locations have little to no stock currently on the market. Streets were spread across Canberra’s districts, including Belconnen (2), Gunghalin (1), Molonglo Valley (3), North Canberra (1), South Canberra (1), Tuggeranong (1) and Weston Creek (1).

The number one enclave – McHenry St, Amaroo in the Gunghalin district – is popular for its feeling of safety and community spirit, with ample access to green space.

“People loved that it’s a family-friendly street and so level, which is great for kids to play on,” said Jessica Smith from McGrath – North Canberra, who sold 8 McHenry St at auction in March.

McHenry Street in Amaroo.

“When we did the open homes we ran into so many neighbours ¬– one time there were about 10 out the front chatting, kids riding their bikes. That’s something you just don’t see much these days.”

Pera Place in exclusive Red Hill is a small and leafy sloping street, featuring a mix of older Canberra homes and stylish new builds.

There is currently only one home available to buy at the address – an architect-designed contemporary house at 16a Pera Place.

Rounding out the top three was the small Hayball Place in Evatt, which is in easy distance to good schools, Gininderra Creek, a shopping centre and walk trails.

The best streets on realestate.com.au were ranked by the number of views per listing within the suburb over the past three years. Streets with less than five listings in that period were excluded. Of course, some highly sought-after streets are so tightly held that properties rarely go up for sale and, therefore, those streets would not appear in this data.

The post Canberra’s 10 most sought-after streets for home buyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Kyal and Kara from The Block season eight talk about their latest stunning renovation project, a coastal-meets-Mediterranean new build, just moments from the beach.

After taking second place on season eight of The Block back in 2014 and pocketing a cool $567,250 profit from the reno, it’s only been onwards and upwards for Kyal and Kara Demmrich.

With The Block 2020 just around the corner we’re gearing up for all the inspiration we can handle and this home hits all the right notes.

This Blue Lagoon home ticks all the boxes. Picture: Supplied / Gyprock

The couple’s latest project – a beautiful lagoon-style coastal meets classic Aussie beach house – is simply stunning. Complete with open-plan living, a sumptuous indoor-outdoor area and an amazing kitchen it’s located just metres from Blue Lagoon beach on the Central Coast.

“The day our Block prize money settled in our account was the day of the auction for this property – we took this as a good sign. We sold our first home about six months after purchasing the shack.”

Here are the five things we loved most about it:

1. A backyard, in the centre

Think a yard needs to either be at the front or back of the home? Think again.

This modern couple opted for a central yard, which means more rooms within the home get to enjoy the greenery aspect and it helps to bring the outside in.

“We wanted a centralised yard, as opposed to a rear yard, with the kitchen/living/dining and the rumpus room all opening out to this space. The floor plan didn’t change at all during the design and build process, however, there were definitely changes along the way,” says Kyal.

2. The modern spiral staircase

When you’re tight on space sometimes you need to get creative with your ideas. And for this pair, the biggest changes was the internal staircase.

“Our original plans had a straight staircase with a landing,” said Kara. “Once we began building the frame and stood in the space, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to build a helical staircase to tie in with other curves throughout the build – a huge decision, but one of the best we’ve made as the helical stairs are one of the biggest features of the whole build.”

The modern spiral staircase by Gyprock is inspired. Picture: Gyprock

The Helical Stairs, made smooth with Gyprock plaster compounds, can be seen from the kitchen into the hallway and rumpus beyond, and provide a link to the other curves in the home, as well as being a feature you can see from so many different living spaces.

For more garden inspo, check out: The Block front garden reveals

3. Blue Lagoon meets the Mediterranean

“The overall brief we gave ourselves was ‘Australian coastal’ meets ‘Mediterranean villa”, said Kara. “We love the traditional beach homes with crisp white weatherboards, but we also love the textural elements of a Mediterranean home.”

“The curves help to bring a bit of this Mediterranean vibe to our beach house. For the exterior, we’ve mixed curved rendered blockwork with James Hardie Linea weatherboards.

Deciding to start the project afresh meant the couple could enjoy maximum light quality and an indoor outdoor flow. Picture: Gyprock

4. Curves in all the right places

Inside, they used Gyprock Flexible to create curved feature walls which create an architectural statement and help to soften the look of other hard surfaces and finishes.

The curved concrete blockwork at the front of the garage was Kyal’s biggest challenge.

“There was a lot of engineering involved in the tight curves, as well as the large garage door opening,” he explained.

5. A forever (for now) home

“It’s the ‘forever home for now’ house”, said the renovation-loving pair.

“I think when you run a building business, there’s always going to be another project. However, we’re so keen to settle here for the foreseeable future.,” explained Kara.

This modern Australian home perfectly captures the beach lifestyle vibe. Picture: Gyprock

“Having said that, we’re already looking for our next renovation project – we just won’t live in the next one. We’d love to go back to our roots on our next renovation and find a home with ‘good bones’ that’s ripe for a cosmetic renovation.

For more reno ideas from the Block, read The Block’s Neale Whitaker gives his 2021 interior trend tips

3 reasons to start a new home build rather than renovate an old home

The pair had weighed up whether to renovate the existing property or remove it and start afresh, ultimately deciding to start again.

Here are their top 3 reasons for opting not to renovate:

1. Poisonous materials such as asbestos or poor-quality workmanship, which mean work is costly and complicated.
2. Bad orientation on the block of land, leading to poor light quality and lack of energy efficiency.
3. Questionable foundations/stumps

“The original shack was primarily asbestos, with lots of ‘add ons’ over the years,” Kyal explained.

“The foundations weren’t great and there was a fair amount of mould, as the orientation of the original home didn’t take advantage of the natural light and Northern aspect.

“A lot of the charm of the original home came from the surrounding trees and the large frangipani at the front of the block, so of course, we made this a feature in the new build,” he said.

The post The Block’s Kyal and Kara’s Blue Lagoon build: 5 things we love appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Block 2020 is finally hitting our screens on August 23 – and it’s shaping up to be an absolutely incredible year.

This time around, five houses from different periods, including from turn-of-last-century to the 1950s, have been craned into position on a vacant lot in the Melbourne bayside suburb of Brighton, ready for five teams to completely renovate them over a 12-week period.

The Block 2020 contestants are ready to renovate. Picture: Channel Nine.

Production briefly shut down due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it started back up again in May, and in a stroke of luck, the cameras were able to remain rolling until Lockdown 2.0 was announced in June. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s contestants:

1. Jimmy and Tam, QLD

Jimmy, 33, is a plumbing supervisor and one-time CrossFit trainer. Tam, 31, is a bar manager at her local bowlo – she’s been going there with her parents since she was two-years-old (her mum is a local bowls legend!).

Tam channels a retro style and is a self-confessed “op-shopping queen”, so expect to see nods to the past in the couple’s up-coming reno – as well as some fabulous retro hair quiffs.

Jimmy and Tam. Picture: Channel Nine

Where they live: 

The pair normally reside in Brisbane

About the couple:

Jimmy was Tam’s CrossFit trainer. They met seven years ago. “He was complimenting me on my squats a little too much, I think,” Tam laughs. The couple were married at the bowling club where Tam works and they now have a four-year-old daughter, Frankie, who they’re devastated to be leaving behind for the three months of filming.

How they’re placed: 

Tam’s great taste and ability to shop on a budget will be a huge advantage, while Jimmy’s on-the-job training as a plumber means he has intimate knowledge of how a worksite operates. “I think that will be an advantage for me, knowing the process of construction,” he says. 

2. Sarah and George, NSW

Sarah, 27, is a high school teacher and George, 33, is an electrician with “13 years in the game.”

Sarah and George from NSW. Picture: Channel Nine

Where they live: 

The outer suburbs of south west Sydney.

About the couple: 

George and Sarah have been together for eight years and married for three. They don’t have any kids yet, but are keen to start a family – they were planning to start trying this year, but then The Block happened. 

How they’re placed: 

George’s considerable experience as an electrician means the couple stand to save stacks of money in the coming weeks. Their easy-going attitudes and ability to laugh at themselves are also qualities that should serve them well during their time on The Block. They’ve previously renovated two properties together.

3. Luke and Jasmine, WA

Luke, 35, is a chippy who has owned his own business for nine years. He’s also a sometime-model and is signed to Chadwicks Models. Jasmine, 36, is a kindergarten teacher.

Luke and Jasmin from WA. Picture: Channel Nine

Where they live: 

This pair normally reside in Perth.

About the couple: 

Together seventeen years, and with two kids, Lola, 4, and Sonny, 1, this ambitious couple first met at a student night in their local “dingy pub” in Perth! “I spotted him across the room and I actually went across and approached him,” said Jasmine.

How they’re placed: 

Luke’s experience as a carpenter will come in handy, but as a team, they’re both incredibly driven. And with two small kids, they’re used to surviving on very little sleep. 

4. Daniel and Jade, SA

Daniel, 35 and Jade, 34, are from rural South Australia. Daniel is a full time sheep and cattle farmer and Jade is a part time hairdresser. The couple has three children, Lincoln, 9, Hayden, 7 and Isla, 6.

This is their fourth time lucky applying for The Block.

Daniel and Jade, SA. Picture: Channel Nine

Where they live: 

The pair normally reside in Wandearah, near Port Pirie – 250km north of Adelaide.

About the couple:

Jade has been a hairdresser for 17 years. She’s been married to her farmer husband Daniel for a decade. The couple has weathered their fair share of tough times – their daughter has a rare chromosome disorder that affects her speech and physical ability, which she has lived with since she was a baby. But this resilient couple just keeps on keeping on.

They have been hit particularly hard by drought in recent years, rendering the couple almost a million dollars in debt. “The drought started several years ago, and we’ve been doing it pretty tough since then,” says Daniel. 

“It’s extremely stressful when you know you’ve got to keep the money coming in to keep going for the next year,” says Jade. 

How they’re placed: 

Daniel worked as a chippy for 16 years, so he has practical experience. But what will really see them through is their sheer tenacity – and this couple has it in spades. Daniel is incredibly handy, while Jade has a great eye for style.

5. Harry and Tash, VIC

“Let’s get one thing straight – Harry is my Dad!” says Tash, putting to bed to any suggestions they’re actually a couple (Tash has a partner, Brad).

This father/daughter duo are from Melbourne – Harry, 57, is Australian/Greek-Cypriot and works as an IT and telecommunications specialist. Tash, 32, is a production manager. 

Harry and Tash are The Block’s first father/daughter team. Picture: Channel Nine

Where they live: 

Harry lives in the suburb next to Brighton, giving them a huge home-town advantage. Tash only moved out of their family home last year. 

About the pair:

Harry, who is married to wife Andrea, has always been incredibly close to Tash, the eldest of his brood. “We get on incredibly well – she’s my first-born,” he says. 

They’ve been wanting to apply for The Block for years, but never quite got around to it. They say mum Andrea will be regularly popping in with dinner for them. 

How they’re placed: 

This incredibly close father/daughter combo is here to win. While they may occasionally disagree, their ability to work well as a team will put them in great stead for the competition. The Block’s first-ever father/daughter combo, they’re going to be great fun to watch.

THE BLOCK – SUNDAY 23RD AUGUST AT 7PM ON NINE AND 9NOW

The post The Block 2020: Meet the contestants appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Litigator Amanda Banton has bought this Darlinghurst dump.

Powerhouse litigator Amanda Banton is set to emerge as the mystery purchaser of one of Darlinghurst’s last decrepit Victorian terraces.

Word is after the uninhabitable five-bedroom Surrey St home sold for $4.6m that Banton engaged William Smart Architects to work on the restoration investment project.

The home attracted 18 registered bidders at its BresicWhitney auction despite needing $2m plus in renovation work.

MORE: Roosters coach Robinson snaps up $4m semi

Kings boss takes up Bellevue Hill bolthole

Amanda Banton.

A renovation is needed.

There were three bidders at $4.6m for the 278sqm property with 7.6m frontage. The hoarder home, offered with rooms cordoned off with danger tape, last tra­ded in 1976 at $43,000. Darlinghurst had 40 sales over the past year at a $1.9m median, according to ­realestate.com.au.

Not too sure about the colour scheme.

Plenty of potential.

The Rose Bay-based lawyer has just kicked off her new Martin Place legal firm, Banton Group specialising in insolvency and litigation.

Her partners have made significant recoveries for clients, including $200m plus against Lehman Brothers and $215m against Standard and Poors. Banton Group recently acted successfully on a pro-bono basis to represent a ­grieving family excluded from the class action in the MH17 appeal.

The post Litigator Amanda Banton buys decript Darlinghurst terrace appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Aussie John Symond has sold his 73-metre super yacht, Hasna

‘Aussie’ John Symond knocked back an offer of $100m on his Point Piper mansion a few years ago, but he has reportedly offloaded his $150m superyacht.

Symond put the 73 metre luxury motor yacht ‘Hasna’ up for sale a year ago with an asking price of $160m, with the intention of upgrading to something even bigger.

Now, despite COVID-19, it’s sold, according to yachtie news website yachtharbour.com. But not before a $10m price drop.

Among its highlights are an eight metre infinity pool, a jacuzzi, a 10-seat cinema, a wellness centre and massage room, a lift, an inside-outside bar, sun deck lounge and even a hairdressing salon.

MORE:
Shock result for AFL star on Coogee house

Art deco treasure hits the market

Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond his wife, Amber, at the annual Christmas cocktail party they hold at their Point Piper mansion in 2016. Photo: Brianne Makin

Among its features, the superyacht has an eight-metre infinity pool, a jacuzzi…..even a hairdressing salon.

The man who made his fortune from mortgages as the founder of Aussie Home Loans bought the boat for more than $104m two years earlier, soon after he withdrew his Wingadal Pl waterfront trophy home from the market.

The plan had been for Symond and wife Amber to tour Europe on ‘Hansa’, which is one of the best private superyachts in the world.

The identity of the purchaser isn’t it known, or whether it took a further discount to sell it.

John Symond’s Point Piper waterfront mansion … he knocked back an offer of $100m in 2016.

John Symond with the then Amber Keating at the time of their engagement, Valentines Day, 2015, outside the Point Piper mansion. Picture: Toby Zerna

At $150m, that’s $50m more than the Australian house price record, which was achieved, when, unlike Symond’s, did actually sell for $100m.

That was for another Point Piper waterfront, when tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes bought the Fairfax waterfront estate ‘Fairwater’.

‘Hasna’ has been renamed ‘Lunasea’ by its new owner since the sale in recent weeks.

It has accommodation for 12 guests and a crew of up to 21.

Yachtharbour.com reported that the sale occurred via leading superyacht companies y.co and Burgess.

Y.co chairman Gary Wright said demand for well-built yachts was strong but added: “Completing a sale of this magnitude in the current climate has taken an extraordinary amount of commitment from everyone involved.”

The post ‘Aussie’ John Symond sells $150m superyacht ‘Hasna’ appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Chris Pongrass (right) of the Sydney Kings has bought in Bellevue Hill. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Now back in Sydney, Chris Pongrass, the chief executive of the Sydney Kings, has put down roots in Bellevue Hill.  

He was appointed CEO at the NBL club just over a year ago having spent six years with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.

MORE: Luxe Byron Grand Designs home sells quickly

Roosters coach Robinson snaps up $4m semi

It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

It took just two weeks to sell.

He’s paid $2.1m for a newly renova­ted unit.

Last traded for $1,363,000 in 2014, the 120sqm, three bedroom, two bathroom unit was sold through Ray White Double Bay agents Warren Ginsberg and Claudia Brunker.

The sale for Alexandra and Dean Joffe, the mortgage broker, was sec­ured in less than two weeks.

It is newly renovated.

There have been 15 three-bedder sales so far this year, with prices ranging from $1.4m to $2.7m.

Pongrass, a UTS graduate, started his career as a paralegal at Harry Triguboff’s Meriton Group

The post Sydney Kings CEO Chris Pongrass buys unit in Bellevue Hill appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Don’t give people a reason to look for problems with your home.

I am going to go out on a limb here and say, generally speaking, people don’t like being misled.

A light shop I ride past on my way to work has a sign out the front:

“LIGHT SALE THIS WEEKEND ONLY!”

That’s been up for close to six months now.

MORE NEWS

Chance to restore a piece of history to its former glory

Where you can buy a house for $80,000

Historic church’s impressive transformation

Then there are the rug shop TV commercials:

“WE’VE ORDERED TOO MANY RUGS AND THEY’VE ALL GOT TO GO AT 80 PER CENT OFF!”

Really? This happens every week! Either you’re not being entirely truthful with us, or you need to fire whoever is in charge of stock orders, because they’re clearly failing hard at their job. People see through that sort of nonsense, so just be honest with us.

Real estate marketing is no different. I still see, on a daily basis, properties marketed with impossibly perfect lawns that have been photoshopped to within an inch of their life. Back lawns that look like pool tables, when we all know that the massive Moreton Bay fig tree in the corner of the yard is going to be doing an absolute number on it.

We’re not that easily fooled. And for those that are, why disappoint them? They’re not going to buy your property if you’ve ticked them off right from the get-go.

They’re also likely to be inspecting your home more critically – looking for other possible flaws or imperfections you’ve potentially tried to mask. Don’t take the risk.

If your home needs some attention to bring it in line with your competition, address these issues in real life before launching rather than relying on camera trickery to get buyers in.

Or lower your price expectations to allow for the fact that buyers will have to spend a bit of money to get it up to how you’d ideally like it to look.

Don’t give people a reason to look for problems with your home.

It’s the same with pricing. Buyers are armed with more information than ever before. So if you put a price on a property that’s below market value to attract a bit more interest people know. Don’t do it. Put up the price you want, or don’t put a price on at all.

The overwhelming majority of real estate marketing in this state is done really well. Don’t let your house be the one that stands out for all the wrong reasons.

As a buyer, you’d expect honesty, so make sure that’s how you promote your property.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a good one.

Stay safe, and happy househunting!

The post Looking to sell? Don’t do this … appeared first on realestate.com.au.