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Tradies are scared to turn up for construction work as new restrictions put the brakes on Victorians’ bids for $25,000 HomeBuilder grants.

Tradies scared and confused by new rules governing the construction industry are planning to stay home throughout Melbourne’s stage four lockdown for fear of being fined.

The revelation is a spanner in the works for the federal government’s $680m HomeBuilder scheme, which has finally begun taking applications from Victorians after a web portal designed for the program went online Monday night.

State Revenue Office figures show about 14,600 Victorians have registered interest in the scheme in the past month.

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The web portal is accessed through the SRO website and is the only way in this state to make a formal application for the $25,000 grants for new houses and substantive renovations.

However, it comes more than a month after Tasmanians began applying via a paper-based system that commenced on July 6.

Master Builders Association of Victoria chief executive Rebecca Casson said the portal’s launch was a “positive” for builders “in a tough few weeks for our industry”.

“This program will help stimulate interest and then action in our industry,” Ms Casson said.

“It will specifically have an immediate effect in regional Victoria where building and construction is still operating at full capacity, and our regional members have reported huge interest in clients taking up the grant since the announcement of the program.”

She added that while construction could commence during Melbourne’s stage four lockdown, it would continue at a diminished capacity.

Some tradies are now too scared of fines to turn up to work.

Nostra Homes builder Anthony Caruana said he expected to commence construction on just 25 per cent of the homes he had planned to before the September end of the shutdown.

“There are tradies throwing in the towel, saying it’s too hard and they are just going to stay home for the six weeks,” Mr Caruana said.

“They are scared. They are worried they will be on site and get a fine.”

He added that about 10 per cent of the mostly first and second-home buyers who had contacted his business with plans to capitalise on HomeBuilder’s $25,000 grants had already pulled the pin as a result of the six-week stage four lockdown affecting their employment.

Urban Development Institute of Australia Victorian chief executive Danni Hunter said the restrictions would be “problematic for small-scale projects throughout the next five weeks”.

However, the industry remained committed to ensuring the lockdown lasted six weeks and not longer.

“While a massive improvement on the initial restrictions, the limitation on tradespeople being able to only go to three sites per week will significantly hamper the home building industry’s ability to continue functioning,” Ms Hunter said.

New restrictions governing Victoria’s development industry came into force at 11.59pm Friday, including limiting tradespeople to working on just three new builds a week and capping workforces on new house construction at five people.

Larger projects, above three storeys, have their workforces capped at 25 per cent of their typical numbers.

Renovations must stop unless the site is unsafe for home inhabitants.

Renovations at inhabited homes must stop if they are safe for habitation.

The HomeBuilder scheme is available for anyone building a new home or substantially renovating an existing one and who signs contracts between June 4 and December 31 this year.

New builds must be priced below $750,000 and renovations must be between $150,000 and $750,000. Those earning above certain income thresholds are also excluded from access to the scheme.

The State Revenue Office commissioner has already exercised his discretion to provide Victorians with six months to commence construction, instead of the three month timeline in place elsewhere in the nation.

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The post $25k HomeBuilder grants open to Victorians, but tradies fear fines appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The house at 7 Wellington Street, Brighton has been through some things.

A grand Brighton residence that was built for a former mayor, and survived being hit by a cyclone a century ago, has emerged as a rare buying opportunity.

The 1863 house on a substantial 1177sq m corner block at 7 Wellington Street has hit the market for the first time in two decades, with a $7-$7.7m price guide.

Vendor Gill, who asked that her surname not be published, said a Brighton Historical Society profile of her longtime home had revealed its first owner was Thomas Crisp, who served as the suburb’s mayor in the 1860s.

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Dark timber features prominently.

A formal dining room.

She said the residence’s landholding stretched “all the way down to the West Brighton Club (on Park Street) at the time”, but portions had since been sold off.

In 1918, a cyclone that tore through Wellington Street “took the top of the house off”, knocking one of the then-owner’s daughters down the staircase and breaking her leg.

Gill said the five-bedroom house then lay vacant for a few years before the next owner renovated it to a Spanish Mission design.

“As a result, you’ve got that beautiful Victorian downstairs with wood panelling and an original staircase with the rest of the house in 1920s Spanish Mission style,” she said.

A spacious bathroom.

One of five bedrooms.

Cosy by the fire.

Gill and her family refreshed the floors during their first year there in 1999, and then a decade ago, carried out “a big renovation” that involved adding new bathrooms, removing walls to open up the house, and installing a large deck with a built-in barbecue and wine fridge.

They then repainted last year.

Highlights of the “timeless design” include a stone-topped kitchen with an island bench and Smeg appliances, a palatial main bedroom with a balcony and twin ensuite, and a mix of formal and casual living and dining spaces.

The family had loved having “the beach at the end of the street”, and Church Street’s shops and eateries also within walking distance.

“As a family, we’ll often walk up to the movies at the (Palace) Dendy, and to Church Street for dinner,” Gill said.

Brandy and some cabaret.

The kitchen is swish and modern.

A high-end touch on entry.

The family is selling to downsize.

Selling agent Nick Johnstone, of Nick Johnstone Real Estate, said the property faced north at the rear and occupied “one of the best streets in Brighton”, while the house itself boasted “big rooms and high ceilings”.

He said he’d managed to show a handful of interested buyers through the residence before stage four restrictions banning on-site inspections kicked in.

samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Brighton house built for mayor, hit by cyclone a century ago for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

Stirling’s real estate market is luring buyers by the droves, with property-hungry househunters fighting for homes.

Harris Real Estate’s Arabella Hooper, who is selling last Saturday’s Hills and Country House of the Week – a stunningly renovated home at 6 Merrion Tce, Stirling – says the property attracted a solid turnout over the weekend.

“We had a great response for that one – we had 35 groups through – and a real mix of buyers,” Ms Hooper says.

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“The property has a mixed use, so you can use it as a business as it has a commercial zoning to it.

“That one’s tracking along well, as is anything through there at the moment.

“We’ve got multiple parties coming back for a second look this week, so we’ll see what happens from there but there’s definitely a lot of interest in that property.”

Vendor Lincoln McEwen says he’s loved his time in the home that’s captured buyer’s attention, and hopefully, their hearts.

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

“I bought the property about six years ago and I was attracted by Stirling, and the home’s central location in it,” Mr McEwen says.

“It’s almost like an English village walking lifestyle where you park the car on Friday night after work and you don’t get in it again until Monday morning, because we walk to the shops, walk to the playground, walk to the library or walk up to the pub for dinner.

“The location couldn’t be any better, but yet it still feels very private. You’d think you’re on acreage.”

The property was the site of the former vet clinic, but some clever conversion work both by the former owner and Mr McEwen has transformed it into a great family entertainer.

“We’ve used it as an extended family house – my parents spent a lot of time in the self-contained area upstairs because it’s got a separate living area, kitchen and bathroom upstairs,” he says.

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

“We’ve made lots of little changes over the years, including creating an extra bedroom upstairs and converted the remains of the vet upstairs back to much more residential use.

“It’s great for entertaining and we had my boy’s seventh birthday on the lawns and it was perfect for that.

“All of our friends live nearby and we’re never short of a pop-in and we spend a lot of time on the deck around the chiminea in winter or enjoying the shady garden in summer.

“People are blown away by the views out of the northern windows and the sun streams through so you get beautiful dappled light during the day and as the sun comes up in the morning it streams through the mist in the valley and bathes the house in these stunning rays first thing in the morning.”

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

The home features seven bedrooms, numerous indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces and is set on a 2680sqm allotment with a creek.

“There are two ducks that have lived there for the past three years now – it’s brilliant,” Mr McEwen says.

“My kids Leo and Ivy loved it – it really is a fantastic family home.”

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

Mrs Hooper says Stirling properties, and indeed homes across that region of the Hills, were moving quickly.

“We’re finding that things are definitely shifting within the first few weeks of being on the market and there’s definitely still a shortage of stock on the market at the minute.” Mrs Hooper says.

“We’ve got listings coming forward, so we’re expecting spring to be pretty busy as usual, but whether that will be ramps up somewhat as a result of COVID-19, we’re not sure. But we’ve certainly got some really beautiful properties coming onto the market.

6 Merrion Tce, Stirling. Supplied by Harris Real Estate

“We’re definitely seeing a real shortage in supply right now.

“We’re saying to anyone looking to sell to bring it on right now, don’t wait – why would you when there’s so much activity in the market.

“Now’s a better time than ever before to put your home on the market.”

The post The Hills suburb where buyers are ravenous for homes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 1 Linden St is not the typical home found in North Gosford.

With holes in the walls, a rotting deck and a mould problem, you’ll need a good builder for this Central Coast property.

The North Gosford house is barely liveable in its current condition and the listing ad says buyers looking to move straight in, should probable give this a miss.

As a result, 1 Linden St has a $450,000 price guide, which is roughly the same price as a typical apartment in the suburb.

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The guide along with house’s condition has seen it take the internet by storm, with more than 17,000 page views propelling the property to the most viewed on realestate.com.au this past week in NSW.

The home has seen its fair share of punches.

Along with a hilarious marketing video, the listing ad said the current owners of the four-bedroom home have “kindly commenced the renovation process starting with the removal of the gyprock walls – one punch at a time”.

Gittoes — East Gosford agent Matt Gravas, who is selling the house with his colleague Richard Faulkner, said the property fell into disrepair after the long-term owners moved away and left it to their kids.

“They clearly enjoyed the place a bit too much and unfortunately destroyed the property from throwing lots of wild parties among other things,” he said.

More holes and a nice gap in floor.

The serenity!

When mum and dad returned home to North Gosford, Mr Gravas said they were left with no choice but to sell the property due to the damage.

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 least there is a roll of toilet paper.

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 apartment after years of ignoring any upkeep, while some interior floorboards are missing completely.

”The owner says this is abstract art”.

Bathroom has a horrible mould stain, but least there is toilet paper.

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.

“Lots of buyers are keen to do a mini reno on the property, while a few are looking at gutting it completely, Mr Gravas said.

The property has been a hit with first homebuyers looking to get into the market on the cheap and from builders after a project.

“First homebuyers have really come back into the market of late, and we are being inundated with requests,” Mr Gravas.

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The post North Gosford house priced the same as an apartment in need of major renovation appeared first on realestate.com.au.