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Following the Victorian government’s announcement of Stage 4 restrictions on Sunday, it’s safe to say Melburnians have a few questions about what they can and can’t do when it comes to property and real estate.

Under the new rules to stop the spread of COVID-19, Melbourne residents are banned from travelling further than 5km from their homes for at least the next six weeks, and they can only leave their homes for necessary shopping, care giving or seeking care, exercise (one hour per day) and essential work. 

Some details concerning real estate are still being ironed out between industry and government but here’s what we know so far:

1. Can I move house during stage 4 lockdown?

Yes. Premier Daniel Andrews covered this in his Monday press conference saying, “I don’t want to see people who are supposed to move from one place to another because the lease has run out unable to do so.”

However, the move will have to occur between 5am and 8pm due to an overnight curfew now in place, and you’ll be required to wear a face-covering as are all Victorians when outside their homes. 

2. Can I move house outside of the 5km radius?

Yes. Metro Melbourne residents moving to a home outside the 5km radius of their current primary residence with an existing contract or arrangement in place, can do so provided there is an agreement in place.

3. Are house inspections and open homes still available for tenants?

The short answer is yes, but these will move to online only with all in-person inspections now banned, according to a statement from Premier Daniel Andrews late Monday.

4. I am now out of work. What rent relief is available to me?

The federal government introduced financial supports in the form of JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments in March, which have gone some way in helping out-of-work tenants stay in their homes, however, there is further support available. 

We’ve compiled a complete list of six government support payments tenants can access during COVID-19 here. 

Consumer Affairs Victoria also suggests that tenants experiencing difficulty should get in touch with the Tenancy Assistance and Advocacy Program for more advice.

5. Can I sell a house during Stage 4 lockdown?

The Victorian government announced that the real estate industry was one of the business sectors that must close during the six-week stage four measures, however, a government representative has confirmed that  “online inspections and auctions are permitted”.

6. Is my real estate agent still available for contact in case of emergency?

Yes, provided they’re working from home you’ll still be able to contact your real estate agent remotely if you need to ask a question.

7. I am in the process of building my house. Can new home builds and construction continue?

Yes, construction can continue during Stage 4 lockdown but sites will be required to keep the number of attending tradespeople down to five.

On larger projects above three levels, the workforce will need to be reduced to 25% of its original capacity.

8. Can I still visit my new house under renovation?

Under the new restrictions, this activity fails to fall within the four reasons to leave home.

Melbourne residents are not permitted to “go for a drive” according to the DHHS website.

9. Can I get a tradie to visit my house?

Yes, tradies can still visit homes but this has now been restricted to emergency support situations only.

“There’ll be no cleaners going to your house. There’ll be no one mowing your lawns,” Premier Andrews said. “It’s not the time to be painting your house or having unnecessary, non-urgent work happen.”

10. Tradies are in the middle of renovating my bathroom at my primary residence. Can they still continue working?

Yes. Tradies can continue to work provided work has already started but physical distancing will need to be adhered to.

11. What does “pilot light phase” in the residential building industry mean?

This phrase means that while construction hasn’t stopped completely, it is now operating at a far reduced capacity. The state government has placed strict limits on the kinds of jobs that tradies can do – from restricting callouts to emergency situations only to limiting the number of trades that can attend a site to just five.

“This will allow the industry to keep ticking – while also making sure we limit the number of people on-site,” Premier Andrews said on Monday.

“To date, we’ve halved the number of people onsite on some of our biggest government projects. Now we’re going through project-by-project, line-by-line to make sure they are reduced to the practical minimum number of workers.

“These workplaces that are continuing to operate will have additional requirements including extra PPE, staggering shifts, staggering breaks, health declarations and more support for sick workers to ensure they stay home.”

12. How do I come up with a COVID safe plan for my construction site?

Under Stage 4 restrictions, some small businesses that are still able to stay open are now required by law to come up with a COVID Safe Plan.

Within the construction industry, depending on the scale of the site you’ll be required to implement either a High Risk COVID-19 safe plan (large-scale projects above three storeys excluding a basement) or a Universal COVID-19 safe plan (projects smaller than three levels).

You must also adhere to the following:

• Must demonstrate not blending shifts;
• Tradies will now only be allowed to attend one site at a time, rather than working across multiple jobs as many currently do now and;
• Workers will be required to give their details to enable contact tracing to occur.

The post Stage 4 Restrictions: top 12 questions for property and real estate appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Hollywood heart-throb Liam Hemsworth has building plans for his private Byron Bay estate. Nothing as grand as his big brother Chris, but the next task is constructing a yoga studio.

Just 58sq m, but the cabana will sit idyllically beside an existing dam with day beds and a built-in barbecue on its decking. There will be a wharf that extends over the water, the Harley Graham Architects plan reveals.

MORE: Chris Hemsworth’s Byron Bay mega-mansion nearly complete

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@menshealthmag @rikerbrothers @richdorment @scott.hendo

A post shared by Liam Hemsworth (@liamhemsworth) on Apr 13, 2020 at 2:39pm PDT

It’s set to cost just $138,000 and should take around two months to construct in a small valley on the 35ha Broken Head property that the family company CHLH Management bought last September for $4.25m. The company director remains just Chris Hemsworth, but the company names suggest Luke holds an interest.

Council approvals were nearly not required, but its floor space and height are slightly above automated permits. There’s no plans for any grand homestead, but the application does suggest the brothers have been busy constructing a horse arena on the former cattle farm.

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Happy mother’s days to all the incredible mums out there we salute you!! Xoxo 😘

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on May 10, 2020 at 2:12am PDT

The Hemsworth family took to Byron in 2014 when Chris and wife Elsa Pataky spent $7m on Kooeloah, the Balinese-style trophy home they demolished to make way for their modern mansion. Their project was estimated to have cost $8.8m.

All up the family have spent $17m buying property around Byron. Liam and Gabriella Brooks, who have been dating for seven months, have been resident at Byron through much of the pandemic.

With additional reporting by Joel Robinson

The post Liam Hemsworth reveals building plans for Byron Bay estate appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Adelaide property values are back on the rise after a brief period of decline in the wake of the nationwide coronavirus-led market downturn.

CoreLogic’s latest home value index reveals the city’s median property value climbed 0.1 per cent in July to $441,826.

It comes after a 0.2 per cent drop in June, 0.4 per cent increases in both May and April and a 0.3 per cent increase in March.

Adelaide was one of two capital cities across the country to record growth, albeit slight, in July, with Canberra notching a 0.6 per cent increase.

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Melbourne recorded the largest decline in July at 1.2 per cent, followed by Sydney (0.9 per cent), Perth (0.6), Brisbane (0.4), Darwin (0.3) and Hobart (0.2).

Real Estate Institute of South Australia president Brett Roenfeldt said strong demand for limited properties on the market was still holding values up in Adelaide.

“Everything hinges on the amount of listings on the market,” he said.

“As long as the stock level remains at roughly the level it’s at, then we’re probably going to see this continue.”

Mr Roenfeldt said traditionally the number of properties for sale would surge during spring, but he didn’t think that would happen this year as agents urged vendors to list their homes now while demand was hot.

“We’ll probably see a little bit more come into the market but it’s going to be nowhere near where we’ve seen in the past,” he said.

“I think that our market will be … very stable.”

Nationally, the median property value fell for a third consecutive month, recording a 0.6 per cent decline to $552,912 in July – a slight improvement from June’s 0.7 per cent drop.

CoreLogic research head Tim Lawless said despite the collective fall, housing markets had remained relatively resilient through the COVID-19 crisis so far.

“The impact from COVID-19 on housing values has been orderly to date, with CoreLogic’s national index falling only 1.6 per cent since the recent high in April, and housing turnover has recovered quickly after its sharp fall in late March and April,” he said.

However, he said with government support set to taper from October and repayment holidays set to expire at the end of March, the outlook remained uncertain.

The post Adelaide property values on the rise again despite COVID-19 downturn appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The commute from Sydney to the Southern Highlands must have ­become too much for chefBrigid Kennedy
and her farmer husband Kevin Nott.

The pair, who have used their Rozelle home as their Sydney base for eight years, have listed it for sale with ­expectations of $2.1 million.

The couple own The Loch in Berrima, a working farm that offers boutique accommodation and a restaurant for Sunday dining.

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Kennedy is the chef and Nott is a farmer and landscaper who manages Loch Farm Stall, the farm gardens for their paddock-to-plate restaurant, The Tasting Room.

Their Roser St home is a two storey property; the top level is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom place in which they live when they are in Sydney.

The lower level a separate self-contained one-bedroom apartment with a study that is currently leased for $500 a week, an option agentLynsey Kemp
of Belle Property Balmain hopes will set the home apart.

“(Brigid and Kevin) have been spending more and more time in Berrima so it’s a situation where they don’t need their Sydney base any more,” Kennedy said.

“It’s a beautiful double-fronted home in a central location but a big feature of it is that it offers the flexibility to keep the lower level leased to provide an income, or convert it into a big family home.”

Kennedy adds this flexible option which allowed them to lease the lower level of their home has been a financial boon over the years.

“Having a stylish self-contained apartment is a financial-drought proofer with either a permanent tenant or a more lucrative Airbnb arrangement,” Kennedy said.

“It’s very appealing, especially so close to town.” An August 29 auction is planned.

– With additional reporting from Mercedes Maguire

The post ChefBrigid Kennedy and farmer husband Kevin Nott list Rozelle base appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Strange tactics proved fruitful for one buyer on Melbourne’s final auction weekend before stage four lockdown restrictions.

Property inspections can only be able to be conducted online across the city over the next six weeks.

All auctions will also be digital, as regional Victoria, now under stage three restrictions, also shifts online. Private inspections will still be allowed regionally, though.

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Victorian Government information state Melbourne property operators and real estate services are required to close on-site from 11.59pm Wednesday.

Momentum was maintained at a Heatherton auction on the first weekend of August by the eventual buyer, bidding against himself to spook his main opponent.

The unconventional tactic worked for the buyer and seller at 37 Golf View Road, with the former paying a $25,000 premium for the keys to the four-bedroom house.

The property fetched $860,000 for its vendor, who watched the online auction live.

“He was texting his wife rolling updates and he was absolutely over the moon when it sold,” EYS Auctions director Fabian Sanelli said.

The auctioneer said the “interesting tactic” was a way of keeping other buyers on their toes.

“I guess by doing that you in a way show a bit of aggression and strength,” Mr Sanelli said.

“By keeping on placing bids, you’re forcing your competitor to rethink their next step — it gives you more opportunity to throw them off.”

It came as realestate.com.au recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 73 per cent from 162 reported auctions across Melbourne.

That figure was a slight improvement from the 70 per cent clearance rate, based on 140 auctions, recorded the previous week.

It was a case of love at first sight for the first-home buyers that won the keys to 23 Gleeson Drive, Bundoora.

The couple paid $813,500 for the tastefully updated three-bedroom house.

“They fell in love the first time they saw it,” Barry Plant North Eastern Group partner Michael Egan said. “She mentioned after the auction that as soon as she saw it she knew she was buying it — there was very much an emotional attachment.”

That heartfelt interest allowed the vendor to pocket $33,500 above the reserve price for the house.

Four groups competed, with first and second-home buyers competing against an investor for the 542sq m block.

“We’ve had some great success with the online system, we’re finding buyers are comfortable with it,” Mr Egan said.

The agent said that from the comfort of their own homes, property hunters were happier to disclose their price expectations.

“In the street everyone’s trying to be a little less open,” he said.

“If you’re in the comfort of your own home, you don’t have to hide your emotions.

Close to 100 bids were needed to break the deadlock at 11 Talbot Road, Mount Waverley, which sold for $1.07m.

The property was announced on the market at a bid of $991,000.

“Everyone just wanted it,” Harcourts Judd White director Dexter Prack said.

“The ones that are reasonably priced you can see that people are definitely still there.”

A Melbourne buyer had to find a friend to do the bidding for them at the auction of 4 Lichen Grove, Highton.

Five groups competed at the auction, which was conducted publicly because of different restrictions in Geelong and regional Victoria.

The property sold for $710,000, after being quoted with a price range of $650,000-$715,000.

Barry Plant Geelong agent Michael Falzon said the auction was “very competitive”, with the buyer motivated to land-bank in the tightly held street.

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jack.boronovskis@news.com.au

@jackboronovskis

The post Heatherton buyer outbids himself at auction to scare competition appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Property inspections will only be able to be conducted online under Melbourne’s tough stage four restrictions in a move experts say will essentially grind the market to a halt.

A post on Premier Daniel Andrews’ Facebook page last night listed “property and real estate” among businesses that will close for at least six weeks from 11.59pm Wednesday, with “online inspections and auctions permitted”.

A Victorian Government spokeswoman has confirmed this as correct, noting auctions will also need to shift online in regional Victorian property markets under its stage three lockdown. But private one-on-one inspections will still be allowed regionally.

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The government briefly outlawed physical inspections of occupied homes in April, overturning the ban just a few days later after an impassioned campaign by Victoria’s real estate industry.

The Consumer Affairs Victoria website stated at the time that being able to conduct in-person inspections would make it impossible for “agents, prospective owners or tenants, and existing tenants to each comply with their legal requirements” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Victoria’s real estate industry dubbed that ban “an overkill that will have incredible repercussions” for buyers, sellers, renters and agents, noting the vast majority Australians were reluctant to purchase homes sight unseen.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan echoed this view in response to the latest ban, noting while people would “lease properties without viewing them, I’ve never known of many people buying properties sight unseen”.

As such, the restriction would “essentially” shut down the Melbourne real estate sector.

“The impact is on many levels — not only financial impact to state’s economy, but also the inability to be able to provide accommodation across the state by selling or leasing,” Ms Calnan said.

RT Edgar Inner West director Joanne Royston said the ban was a cruel blow to agents who had been working hard to follow COVID-19 hygiene and distancing requirements.

“We’ve been taking our hand wipes and sanitiser out (to properties), we’ve been masking up,” she said.

“We’re also trying not to enter the houses to eliminate too many people being inside. And we’re maintaining social distancing to make people feel more comfortable.”

Wakelin Property Advisory director Jarrod McCabe expected the stage four lockdown — which also placed the city under an 8pm-5am curfew and banned residents from travelling further than 5km from their homes — to bring “added tension” to the market and further thin out the prospective buyer pool.

But with the harsh restrictions set to end on September 13, he said there was hope the traditionally busy spring selling season could revive the market.

“It won’t be your traditional spring market — with interruptions like the AFL Grand Final and the Spring Racing Carnival (bringing down auction volumes) — there will be consistency,” Mr McCabe said.

“Hopefully supply will pick up once we can conduct public auctions again.”

Mr Andrews flagged further real estate announcements on Monday afternoon, noting his government was getting “specific advice” on whether people would be able to settle on property purchases and move house.

“I think the answer will be ‘yes’ if you’ve got a contract, an arrangement in place,” he said.

An extension of the residential and commercial eviction moratorium was also on the cards, while tradies will only be permitted into Melbourne homes for “emergency” works.

The construction industry will be allowed to continue operating at a scaled-back level.

EYS Auctions director Fabian Sanelli said regional agencies could follow the online blueprint that had helped the Melbourne market continue through lockdown conditions.

Barry Plant Geelong agent Mitchell Falzon said his agency would also adopt the sale-by-set-date method, noting the market was “showing how sustainable (it) is” despite challenging conditions.

Interest from families and land bankers was helping demand outweigh available housing stock levels in the city, he said.

-with Jack Boronovskis

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Victoria stage four restrictions: How COVID lockdown will affect real estate, inspections, auctions appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Former Myer chairman Bill Wavish and his wife Vonnie have put their Palm Beach weekender on the market.

The award-winning estate on 2370sqm feels like a tropical resort and enjoys panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Barrenjoey Headland, Palm Beach and Pittwater.

The Wavish family have owned the property for the past 11 years, after paying $5.4 million in 2009, according to CoreLogic.

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It is the second property that Mr Wavish currently has on the market, with his waterfront Sydney Harbour mansion also for sale. The Kurraba Point property was first listed two years ago with a $35 million guide.

The palatial estate at Palm Beach is described in the online advert as one of “Sydney’s most spectacular homes” and is being offered via an expressions of interest campaign.

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Listed with LJ Hooker Palm Beach’s Peter Robinson and Dennis Kennelly, the home is the latest in a flood of homes to come up for sale the usually tightly held Palm Beach.

A mix of timber, natural stone and glass has been used to create a relaxed architectural feel to the home. There are six bedrooms and five bathrooms across the two levels of living.

All bedrooms including the main feature private balconies that capture spectacular district views.

There is also a sunken lounge room with a rear projection theatre, as well as a mix of formal and informal living and entertaining spaces. This would have come in handy when the couple have hosted many Australians celebrities during time at Palm Beach.

Most famously, the home was used as the venue for the engagement party of former Myer ambassador Jennifer Hawkins and Jake Wall.

The property also has a basketball half court and a heated swimming pool with a slide and swim jets. This area is surrounded by manicured lawns and established trees that create an abundance of privacy.

A double garage, integrated audio system, central heating and airconditioning round out the features.

Realestate.com.au reports Palm Beach has seen a 0.7 per cent increase in the median sale price to $3.425 million during the past 12 months.

Prior to serving as chairman at Myer, Mr Wavish was an executive at Woolworths.

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The post Former Myer chief executive Bill Wavish puts Palm Beach weekender on the market appeared first on realestate.com.au.

She was the hard-to-beat runner-up on this year’s MasterChef show and only narrowly beaten by her friend Emelia. And while the rest of us are just coming to terms with the fact our MasterChef fix is now over for the season, Laura Sharrad is back in her Adelaide hometown and expanding her Nido restaurant empire with husband Max, and business partner Simon Kardachi.

They plan to open a second restaurant at the former Rigoni’s site in Leigh Street in the city next year. Not bad for a 25-year-old.

Did we mention she’s also the author of a cookbook, My Italian Kitchen?

While Italian food is a big part of Laura’s heritage and business, she says going on MasterChef, not once but twice, has helped her become a better chef.

“I think it really helps with creativity and makes you look at ingredients in so many different ways,” she says.

At home, her favourite space, naturally, is the kitchen and there’s an industrial, Scandinavian vibe with exposed brick, Smeg appliances and a black subway tiled splashback.

“I love my kitchen. I love my Smeg freestanding cooker, I truly couldn’t live without it,” she says. “In my garden I have lots of native Australian plants.”

And when it’s time for a night out, Laura’s local favourites include Soi 38, The Aristologist, Maybe Mae, 2KW’s rooftop bar, Lot 100 and Parwana.

Post MasterChef there’s lots of plans on the table: “Opening another restaurant is up there, writing another cookbook, travelling with food, filming recipes,” she says.

Further down the track she hopes to “Have a few successful restaurants, have a family and live on a large properly by the sea.”

@masterchefau

@laurasharrad

AGE 25

WORKLIFE

Chef/restaurateur.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS/BEST KNOWN FOR …

MasterChef Australia contestant in 2014/2020 (runner-up), opening Nido, releasing a cookbook.

I’VE LIVED IN MY HOME FOR …

Three years. I live with my husband Max.

MY HOME IS …

A place where I can relax and be me.

I LOVE MY HOME BECAUSE …

Its comfortable, stylish and our own.

MY DECORATING STYLE IS …

Industrial, Scandinavian, neutral tones with pops of colour.

RECENT PURCHASE

Smeg appliances.

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I COLLECT
…

Cookbooks.

FAVOURITE ROOM

My kitchen! I love my Smeg freestanding cooker, I truly couldn’t live without it.

HOME FAVOURITES

● My Smeg oven.
● Outdoor entertaining area.
● Our artwork.

IN MY GARDEN I HAVE …

Lots of native Australian plants.

WHEN I GET HOME AT NIGHT …

I wash my face straight away and change into comfy clothes.

AT WEEKENDS I LIKE TO …

Sleep in, have a coffee in bed and catch up with friends.

MY FIRST CAR WAS …

A Holden Barina.

I
LIKE TO LISTEN TO …

Hip hop.

AT THE MOMENT I AM READING …

Nothing, I need a new book.

FAVOURITE BOOK

My sister’s keeper.

CLEAN FREAK OR MESSY BESSIE? …
Bit of both, neat freak in the kitchen, messy with my clothes.

ON MY WISHLIST IS …

Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

WHEN I’M HOME I LIKE TO COOK …

Comfort food; roasts, homemade pasta and baking lots of cakes.

FAV CAFE/RESTAURANT/BAR

Soi 38, The Aristologist, Maybe Mae, 2KW rooftop bar, Lot 100, Parwana.

FAVOURITE DRINK?

Sucker for an Aperol spritz, but currently obsessed with pina coladas.

FAVOURITE FOOD/DISH TO EAT

Lasagne.

HOW HAS GOING ON MASTERCHEF CHANGED THINGS FOR YOU IN TERMS OF HOW YOU COOK?

I think it really helps with creativity and makes you look at ingredients in so many different ways.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW POST MASTERCHEF?

Lots … opening another restaurant is up there, writing another cookbook, travelling with food, filming recipes …

WHEN I WAS A CHILD I WANTED TO BE …

A paramedic and teacher.

FAVOURITE SA HOLIDAY SPOT/OR ACTIVITY

Middleton, we have a family beach house down there and especially in winter, its super relaxing.

DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION

Maldives.

FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAM

Hawthorn Football Club.

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS?

Have a few successful restaurants, have a family and live on a large properly by the sea.

MY NEIGHBOURS ARE …

The most perfect neighbours you could ask for, a nonna on one side, and a beautiful family with young kids on the other.

I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT …

My phone, champagne and a good cheese plate.

IF I COULD AFFORD IT I WOULD LIVE …

It would have to be on a private island, off the coast of Sicily or Sardinia.

MY GOAL FOR 2020 IS TO …

To be successful and to enjoy what’s left of this crazy year.

HOME MEANS …

Where the heart is.

@smhomemag

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