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Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has sold in Mosman. Picture: Brett Costello

Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and wife Chelsea haven’t wasted any time in snapping up a buyer for their renovated Mosman home.

It took just five days for the property at 55 Countess St to sell, through Michael Coombs and Anthony Godson, of LJ Hooker Avnu.

MORE: Property market recovering faster than expected

Live in an ex-NBA superstar’s Sydney home

Mr Coombs was tight-lipped about the sale result, however it is understood the property sold for about $5 million.

The property was due to go to auction on August 29, and had a guide of $4.85 million.

Mr Coombs said 35 groups inspected the property, and six contracts were issued in the five days after it came to market.

The gorgeous backyard.

Classic style.

Negotiations began in earnest on Sunday and the property was officially sold on Tuesday.

“There were a couple of buyers who were very disappointed, but they just couldn’t move quickly enough,” he said.

He wasn’t surprised by the speed of the sale or the level of interest.

“It’s probably one of the best properties in the area,” he said.

“These are the deals where I love my job – an amazing house, lovely vendors and lovely buyers.”

Waerea-Hargreaves and wife Chelsea.

The Waerea-Hargreaves family. Source: Instagram

The Roosters star in action.

The buyer is a local family, Mr Coombs said. He said the sale showed the strength in the lower north shore market, which is still struggling due to a shortage of stock.

“The market is ticking along strongly, and I think come spring there’s going to be a lot more buyers around,” he said.

“COVID’s really made people focus more on their family and their house.”

The Waerea-Hargreaves family had bought their Countess St property as their forever family home, but the renovation bug has hit hard and they want to do another project.

Mrs Waerea-Hargreaves said they hoped to stay in the Mosman area, as they loved the family vibe and the eldest of their two daughters is due to start school next year.

“It is such a great area for families,” she said.

The couple did a stunning renovation.

The outdoor living and dining space overlooks the pool.

Indoor living.

The home is a clever mix of classic architectural styles that make the most of the light-filled interiors and extensive outdoor spaces.

The skylit all-seasons deck has an outdoor kitchen that is perfect for the family and the living areas are kept cosy in winter with a dual sided fireplace,

Other features include a stone kitchen with Miele appliances, impressive main bedroom with

deck, ensuite, walk-through wardrobes, zoned ducted reverse cycle airconditioning, and state-of-the-art home security system including video intercom.

There are multiple living spaces.

Formal dining.

Prime location.

The manicured rear garden and lawns are low-maintenance thanks to an integrated irrigation system, and there is a gas-heated pool.

Mrs Waerea-Hargreaves said she and her husband had thought carefully about listing their home in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We did question it, but this seems like a long-term thing and I don’t think it’s going to go away overnight,” she said.

Mr Coombs said the couple was now on the hunt for their next home, and are making Mosman their priority.

“They love Mosman,” he said.

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House hunters have swamped Western Australia’s south west since the state’s COVID-19 regional borders were reopened, local property agents say.

Real estate agents have reported a large spike in buyer enquiries in the popular holiday towns of Busselton, Dunsborough, Yallingup and Margaret River since 29 May, when the WA government reopened intrastate borders that had been shut during the health pandemic response.

Agents say buyers are rushing to snap up properties in WA’s south west after intrastate borders reopened. Picture: Getty

Agents said after years of WA’s lacklustre property market and eroding prices, a lack of stock and keen demand has fostered a market resurgence that could prompt price rises across the region.

The HomeBuilder scheme is pushing up demand

Managing director of Stocker Preston, Louis De Chiera, said renewed interest in the south west had largely been driven by land sales, thanks to government incentives to boost the construction sector, but there had also been steady enquiries about established properties.

“We’ve definitely seen a huge increase in activity in both enquiries and in sales,” Mr De Chiera said. “The level of sales has been unprecedented in the last 15 years, I’d say.

“People are potentially looking for holiday homes or to relocate permanently, but a lot of the sales have been in vacant land.

“The offering from the government in terms of incentives is encouraging people to buy, so while the volume is up, the majority of those sales have been vacant land.”

In June, the WA government announced $20,000 grants on the back of the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant from the Federal Government for owner-occupiers who build or substantially renovate their homes.

Mr De Chiera said Stocker Preston offices in Dunsborough, Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta had all experienced increases in enquiries and sales over the past four to eight weeks. There had also been a steady turnover of established properties, he said.

This four-bedroom home in West Busselton sold for $855,000 at the end of July. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

“Lack of stock has been an issue,” he said. “We’re seeing a bit more stock come to market now. People who are thinking of selling are realising that now might be a good time to sell, but the number of buyers looking far outweighs the stock available, so we’re seeing multiple offers occur.”

“Perth people just don’t want to be in the city anymore”

First National Margaret River sales agent, Megan Booth, said there had been a flood of buyer enquiries and an increase in sales since the regional border closures were lifted in late May.

Ms Booth said the area was suffering a shortage of stock and pre-pandemic uncertainty had translated to significant sales successes in some towns.

In July, the quaint timber A-frame home at 15 Timor Place, Margaret River received a cash offer of $740,000, just two weeks after it was listed.

This tranquil Margaret River home received a cash offer of $740,000 after just two weeks on the market. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

“The market is not suffering at all,” Ms Booth said.

“We’re finding it [similar to] pre-GFC, that’s how busy we are. We’re doing a sale a day, on average. I’m hearing it’s the same in Dunsborough, Augusta, Busselton. I think there’s a lot of Perth people who just don’t want to be in the city anymore and they want a bit of acreage.

“When the borders opened and most of the restrictions were lifted, we just got inundated with enquiries and inspections, and then sales. Pretty much every property that we show, we get at least one offer.

“It’s pretty crazy. We weren’t expecting this.”

Agents “run off their feet” with interest from around Australia, and the world

Realmark Dunsborough sales representative Julie Fairclough said she was “run off her feet”.

Ms Fairclough said there was a cohort of people who were keen to capitalise on the region with a holiday home. Others were interested in purchasing properties now ahead of their retirement in a few years’ time and rent them out.

“There’s no shortage of buyers. There’s cash offers left, right and centre. We’re absolutely run off our feet. It’s insane,” she said.

“Everyone wants to get out of the city. I’m getting calls from around Australia and around the world, particularly from West Aussies, expats, who want to come home.”

The vendors for this Dunsborough home accepted an offer within three days of it being listed. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

Ms Fairclough said she listed a Dunsborough property online on a Friday night in early July. By Sunday morning there had been three viewings and the vendor accepted an offer that afternoon.

“We had three offers from the three viewings well over $2 million and another offer written sight unseen,” she said.

“It’s just what’s happening. People are buying immediately. We did a FaceTime walk over of a block in Yallingup and a couple from Dubai bought it. Yallingup and Dunsborough are just going crazy.

Would-be buyers are eager to snap up beachfront properties like this limestone beauty in Quindalup. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold

“In Yallingup and on beachfront properties, there is a massive upwards trend of prices. People are paying top dollar.”

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