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The whole 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

LIVING like every day is a holiday will soon be possible as a suite of apartments in one of Cairns’ premier complexes enters the market.

The whole 10th floor at the glamorous 12-floor Harbour Lights south tower is up for grabs and there is nothing stopping one buyer from owning it all.

Six apartments, which were formerly managed by hospitality company Accor for holiday letting are now for sale, including five one-bedroom apartments and one dual-key two-bedroom apartment.

Room 1003 on 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower. The entire floor is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

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Among the six units listed, there are recently renovated properties on offer and they range between $399,000 and $599,000.

The 10th floor is listed with Cairns Property Office agent Renee Straguszi-Smith who said the south tower had never been marketed for residential living before.

“People have always thought it wasn’t achievable to live at Harbour Lights,” she said.

“Now we have the opportunity to live at the prestigious waterfront address without breaking the bank.”

At the top-end of the price bracket is the dual-key, fully furnished property listed for $599,000. However, Ms Straguszi-Smith said the “jewel in the crown” was room 1003, which had been refurbished to present the opportunities a Harbour Lights apartment offered and was listed for $425,000.

Room 1003 at the Cairns Harbour Lights south tower has been refurbished to show buyers the opportunities on offer with an apartment in the complex.

“It’s a 75sq m one-bedroom apartment that has been stunningly refurbished with a coastal chic vibe by Koru Homewares,” she said.

“So we’re trying to strike that perfect balance between cosiness and sophistication.

“You want to walk through the door and instantly feel like you’re on holidays, but you’re living there.

“All the other units have been fitted out by Indesign International with custom-made carpet and furnishings that reflect the reef and other natural elements of the region.

“They feature full length balconies, water views, loads of natural light and year-round sea breezes.”

The whole 10th floor at the south Harbour Lights tower is for sale with six, one and two bedroom apartments listed with Cairns Property Office.

She said there was no reason one buyer couldn’t snap up the whole floor, and the apartments would likely appeal to a wide range of buyers.

“We’ve had a lot of people inquire about Harbour Lights in the past.

“We’re really appealing to buyers from all walks of life, so people from the Tablelands looking for that convenient city retreat, fly-in fly-out workers or people who work in the mines, retirees or people looking to downsize.

“It will be popular for people living in Melbourne and Sydney seeking that winter holiday home.

“They are very well-priced, easy to maintain and perfectly located in our vibrant marina restaurant precinct which includes award-winning eateries.

“The units make great investments, too. There are plenty of property management options from the onsite hotel operator Accor, to holiday letting or long-term renting.”

There are open home sessions on Saturday and Sunday from 2-2.45pm.

The post Bulk sale: Whole 10th floor at Cairns Harbour Lights for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The residence at 108 Cabana Boulevard occupies an enviable position in Benowa Waters.

For the past 18 years, a spectacular residence in Benowa Waters has provided an idyllic getaway for Gary and Julie Hahn.

The Coogee couple escapes Sydney up to five times a year, taking a month or more to reset and relax in the Sunshine State.

“We’ve always loved the Gold Coast,” said Mr Hahn, whose retirement comes after a career in the automotive industry importing and wholesaling spare parts.

“This was the house we wanted to retire in, but when grandchildren came along in Sydney we kept this as a holiday home.

“We switch into relaxation mode here – you don’t have the traffic and of course the weather is better.”

The Benowa Waters residence has been a home away from home for Gary Hahn and his family. Picture Glenn Hampson

Since March the home, at 108 Cabana Boulevard, has also provided a safe haven in which to bunker down during the COVID health crisis.

“We came here back in March and our children have encouraged us to stay,” Mr Hahn, pictured right, said.

“The property is so large we didn’t feel boxed in at all and there’s so much going on around us with the park and the river.

“It’s been a very peaceful time.”

The house boasts wide water views along the Nerang River.

The balcony offers views of the neighbouring Gold Coast Royal Botanical Gardens.

Occupying a prime 1833 sqm site, the spacious two-level residence overlooks the Nerang River and adjoins the sprawling Gold Coast Royal Botanical Gardens.

Built a year before the Hahns purchased in 2002, rendered arches and stately columns give off a sense of grandeur in the Mediterranean-inspired design.

Secure gates control access to a circular driveway with a pond, fountain centrepiece and a porte cochère.

Arches and columns add to the sense of grandeur.

A grand entrance foyer leads to spacious living and dining areas which in turn open onto multiple covered outdoor terraces with park and water views.

The property boasts 46m of frontage to the main river and a pontoon offers easy access to cruise to Surfers Paradise, Southport or Stradbroke Island by boat.

“The outlook is magnificent,” Mr Hahn said. “We can see a couple of kilometres looking east up the river. We look across at Emerald Lakes and all the beautiful homes built along the water.”

There’s plenty of space for all the family to spread out inside.

Solar panels, water tanks, storage sheds and pool heating have been added over time while a gardener keeps the grounds immaculate in the Hahns’ absence.

“When we’re here we take over and maintain the house ourselves inside and out,” Mr Hahn said.

The couple has fond memories of holidays with family and friends over the years in the four-bedroom house, which has hosted 12 or more people at one time.

“All the Christmases we’ve had here, people would get lost,” said Mr Hahn, who plans to downsize to a holiday unit in Broadbeach.

“You can bet your life I’ll shed a tear when it’s gone, but if another family enjoys it even half as much as we have then I’ll be happy.”

Harcourts Coastal – Broadbeach Shaun Bourke is leading the campaign to auction on August 19 at 11am.

The post Grand riverfront mansion is the ultimate inner city retreat appeared first on realestate.com.au.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

A historic Gilberton property has been stunningly restored and now offers a truly sublime family lifestyle on the edge of the city.

Dean bought the home with his wife in 1997 and says, internally, the home bears very little semblance to how it was when they bought it.

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“We’d lived in the area and walked past it almost on a daily basis, and my wife and I used to say ‘someone will make a wonderful house of that place one day’, and little did we know it would be us,” he says.

“When we did buy it, the coach house and stables were in original condition and the horses had just left it – there were no walls at either end and we were looking at a complete restoration.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“The stable was the first part built in the 1890s and as the cheques came in from the Kalgoorlie mine fields for the owner he added the coach house and then later joined the two buildings together.”

Far from simply taking advice from one person, Dean says the process of conceptualising the restoration was a true team effort.

“One of our friends was an architect who suggested we speak to Richard Falkinger in Melbourne, who was a leading heritage architect mainly working on cathedrals,” Dean says. “He actually brought a busload of final year architecture students across to examine it as a project – firstly establishing the historical aspects of the house and stables and how it was put together and then working out the ideal way to restore it and transform it in a modern sense.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“We wanted to maximise the amount of light in the house because most old houses suffer from a lack of light, and we wanted it to retain all the nice architectural features but we also wanted it to be suitable for modern living – we didn’t want to have an old relic, we wanted something with a ‘wow’ factor and we were lucky that we were able to do things like heat the floors because there weren’t any floors here when we bought it.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

“It’s a very easy house to live in and both my wife and I were taken by Italian architecture and how they use space to create an ambience, and that’s very evident here in the high ceilings and large central room. In winter, the walls absorb the heat from the floor after four or five days so you’ve got this enormous heat bank, and during the summer, because the walls are so thick, we very rarely use the airconditioners.”

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

The home has three bedrooms and a study, a central dining and living room, a grand reception area, a formal sitting room, garage parking for four cars and is set on a sprawling 1072sqm of landscaped gardens.

“It’s great for a family, and when we moved in we had a teenage son living with us and because the house has two separate wings he thought that was fantastic because he had his own bathroom, bedroom and study,” Dean says.

“It has a bit of a ‘wow’ factor because people aren’t expecting to see the open space and people don’t realise just how big it is until they get in it, because coach houses are usually small, but this is on two blocks and it’s quite a large house, so it is a bit deceptive from the outside.

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock

“We’re not a big party couple, but our son was married here and a marquee fitted nicely on the lawn, so that was very handy. We get a buzz out of what we’ve created because most people looked at it in the early days and thought it would be very hard to turn it into a house, so we are very proud.”

Now downsizing, Dean says the couple have loved the home’s convenient location.

“It’s very close to the city and very easy to walk to the Adelaide Oval,” he says. “Let’s hope the next owners have as much fun as we have.”

10 James St, Gilberton. Photos by Jonathan Kissock.

10 James St, Gilberton

Contact agent for price

Agent: Booth & Booth Real Estate, Jamie Brown 0413 000 887.

Land size: 1072sqm.

Expressions of interest: Close Thursday, August 20 at noon

The post There’s a brightness on the edge of town in leafy Gilberton appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Key updates have been released relating to the HomeBuilder scheme.

Australians hoping to get the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant could be waiting years for the cash after guidelines for the scheme were updated this week.

In one of the biggest updates since the program was announced over a month ago, the Victorian State Revenue Office released key updates and a few warnings.

Buyers risk missing the grant if their builder takes on more work than is “reasonable” or they quit contracts signed before June 4 hoping to cash in.

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With the scheme being administered by State Revenue Offices around the nation, it is expected the guidelines could be applied across the country.

They also confirm applicants will be shelling out thousands of dollars in their own money before they receive the grant and indicate off-the-plan unit buyers will wait until their name is on the title to be paid.

As a result, the federal government could still be making HomeBuilder payments to buyers at large-scale developments and apartment towers until October 31, 2022.

Towers in major capitals like Melbourne can take years to build. Picture: David Caird.

The HomeBuilder grants are on offer for those building a new home for under $750,000 or renovating their existing home for between $150,000 and $750,000, subject to income criteria. They are only available for buyers who sign contracts between June 4 and December 31 this year, and construction must start within three months of the contract being signed.

WHEN DO YOU GET THE MONEY?

Different projects will get the government funding at different times.

• HomeBuilder payments will be made directly to an applicant’s nominated bank account at different points, depending on the project:
• New house builders receive the funds after the foundations have been laid and a first progress payment is made to a builder.
• Renovators will get the cash after they submit evidence of payments covering at least $150,000 of the contract price.
• Off-the-plan project buyers will not be paid the $25,000 until their name is registered on the certificate of title, with a deadline of October 31, 2022, now in place.

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WARNING ON DELAYS

You will need to know what a “reasonable” amount of projects for your builder to have is.

The SRO has now defined commencement as “excavation and site preparation works” for any new builds, and works “under the renovation contract” for existing homes.

An earlier promise of extensions if delays were encountered has now been clarified, with the SRO Commissioner “unlikely” to be lenient if the delay is caused by a buyer failing to “undertake appropriate due diligence when entering into a contract”.

Industry groups have been lobbying for further clarity and timeline details since June 4

This includes if the builder contracted to build the home has more work lined up than could be “reasonably expected” to be finished in the three months, and if a developer has set pre-development sales targets that have not been met yet.

They are “likely” to be covered for delays caused by council approvals, obtaining materials or subcontractors, bad weather or industrial disputes.

Natural disasters and serious illness or death in the construction team could also lead to an extension.

The guidelines also appear to slam the door on homebuyers who cancelled contracts signed before June 4 this year in a bid to access the grants, warning such applicants “you may not be eligible to receive the HomeBuilder grant”.

READ MORE ON INDUSTRY REACTION AND WHAT’S TO COME HERE.

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While a report has noted investors leaving the Hobart market, new data shows the suburbs that could catch their eye.

NEW realestate.com.au data has revealed some potential investment hot spots in a market that investors are neglecting.

Throughout greater Hobart, the website found three suburbs where houses offered rental yields above 6 or 7 per cent and five more (units) with yields of about 6 per cent.

While not a hard and fast rule, the Commonwealth Bank has pointed to a yield of 5 per cent and upward as being the sweet spot that investors look for.

Meanwhile, in its June Quarterly Report, the REIT revealed a near 50 per cent drop off in investor numbers throughout Tasmania in the three-month period. So, if there are suburbs with good potential and fewer investors in the current market, does that create opportunity?

Chief economist at realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee said it might.

Another consideration, she said, was that for established housing, money was “almost free” at the minute.

“Rates are so low, it is just incredibly cheap,” she said.

“If you have got a solid, stable job, now could be a good time to look at upgrading a home or making an investment.”

Nerida Conisbee, chief economist at realestate.com.au

In the houses sector, realestate.com.au placed Bridgewater at No.1 with a yield at 7.09 per cent followed by Risdon Vale 6.47 per cent and Rokeby 6.29 per cent.

Montrose, Rokeby, Hobart, Warrane and Howrah units recorded yields in the 12 months through June between 6.06 per cent and 6.38 per cent.

Nerida said investor activity had slowed down prior to COVID-19 with the financial services Royal Commission almost putting a stop to it.

“Limited capital growth can be a turn off for investors. They are not as active and engaged now as they were several years ago,” she said.

“Investors can find areas with good yields, often in affordable suburbs, but maybe capital growth does not come with these areas — they tend to be careful with that type of trade-off.

“Some places to watch could be those Howrah or Hobart units, areas that see value growth and currently have strong yields, too.”

The property website’s data also revealed Hobart’s most expensive and affordable rental suburbs.

Battery Point and Sandy Bay were the most expensive suburbs to rent a house at $620 and $600 per week.

Hobart and Battery Point again were the most expensive unit markets at $500 and $465.

The cheapest suburbs for houses were Bridgewater ($360), Dodges Ferry and Risdon Vale ($370 each).

At $320 per week, Midway Point and Montrose tied for the No.1 most affordable place to rent a unit.

PRD Hobart director Tony Collidge said 2020 had finally seen a rise in the number of properties available for rent following a long period of tight vacancy rates.

And yet, few Hobart homes make the grade for affordability, he said.

“There is still only 28.2 per cent of available properties that fall below the affordable line of $400 per week,” he said.

PRD Hobart director Tony Collidge.

“With a freeing up of supply, rents have decreased by up to $30 per week in Hobart through the past quarter.

“Launceston rents also decreased by $10 per week while those on the North-West Coast remained stable.”

Tony said rentals had perhaps experienced the local market’s most significant impact of COVID-19.

“With interstate and international students either returning home or unable to return because of COVID-19, the rental stress that we had experienced till now was alleviated,” he said.

“Any stress was further reduced when the tourism market came to a grinding halt and many Airbnb owners were forced to go to the medium or long-term rental markets to obtain income.”

The post Hobart: Opportunity knocks for investors appeared first on realestate.com.au.

911 Coolangatta Road, Lunawanna. Picture: SUPPLIED

VISITORS to Bruny Island are drawn to the seclusion and privacy and that’s exactly what’s on offer in this award-winning hot tub retreat.

Hundred Acre Hideaway provides beautiful accommodation in a peaceful setting and the unique opportunity to soak in spring-fed tubs while enjoying breathtaking views out to the Southern Ocean.

The property has three residences, each fully self-contained and offering their own unique design.

Each features an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area warmed by wood heaters.

Two 250kg gas bottles provide instant hot water, as well as power for cooking and fridges.

The manager’s or main residence is set within a fenced compound for privacy, with the bonus of an outdoor fire bath and a fire pit.

Absolute paradise.

Total tranquillity.

This property is sustainable living at its best. There is no electricity, water or sewerage bills with all electricity manufactured onsite via 3000kW of north-facing solar panels that feed into a new bank of 12 batteries. First National Real Estate consultant Laureen Wood said that environmental lifestyle properties offering business opportunity on this scale were rare.

“This property is much more than an off-grid private and secluded luxury accommodation experience,” she said.

“Recently a flock of Suffolk Ewe sheep were successfully bred and sold at market reaching a premium price.”

This acreage has a permanent spring-fed creek that provides pure water.

The property holds a commercial water licence, as well as riparian rights to this pristine water.

The tubs are a unique feature designed in the style of a Japanese wooden “ofuro” bath – deep with steep sides. The term means “mind like water” or being relaxed and in the flow of life.

The main residence.

Spot for a cuppa.

The highly insulating properties of the Western red cedar tubs will store the heat for many hours and outdoor bathing in hot water provides a unique contrast between the crisp night air.

About 8ha of cleared land is divided into the four irrigated paddocks and a portable electric solar fence can be used to create an extra three paddocks.

As well as grazing stock, this fertile land could support agricultural enterprises such as blueberries or olives.

Five walking trails have been established, one of which is a wild harvest native pepper berry forest that grows along the creek line and is harvested each February. These berries have featured in the Bruny Island Beer Co’s ales.

A 12m x 18m prize winning vegetable garden was created as part of the Mona Victory Gardens challenge.

The enclosed, netted garden features 5m x 18m long beds and contains 41 different vegetables, herbs and trees with a second established 4m x 8m netted garden and orchard also offering an abundance of fresh produce.

Luxurious comfort.

Saddled with responsibility? Hoof it to the Hundred Acre Hideaway.

This remarkable property includes a double carport, machinery shed, storage studio, utility area, hay shed with two stable/barn shelters and chook pen.

This environmental accommodation development established in 2013 is offered for sale ‘walk-in, walk-out’.

The proven past income stream offers a way of life “like no other”.

And the sale of the property includes a professionally designed website with a booking engine.

No.911 Coolangatta Road, Lunawanna is listed with First National Real Estate Hobart & Kingston and priced at “Offers over $1,100,000”.

The post Time will slow down when visiting this award-winning hot tub retreat appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Super suburb – 21 Ward St, Willoughby.

Three upper north shore suburbs have made it onto the top 10 list of Sydney suburbs with the strongest median house price growth in the 12 months to June.

North Willoughby came in equal third with a growth rate of 28 per cent, while Lindfield and Willoughby shared fifth position with growth of 25 per cent.

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Property market recovering faster than expected

The suburbs’s median house prices are now $2,742,500, $2,930,000 and $2,449,500 respectively, according to data from realestate.com.au.

The group’s chief economist Nerida Conisbee, said there was still no shortage of demand for properties at higher price points in Sydney.

“We are in recession, unemployment is rising and we should be in a situation where house prices catastrophically fall,” she said.

“It continues to surprise me how resilient they are.

“Prices have softened a little bit since March in most markets but year on year, Sydney is still leading the pack.

“A lot of this has to do with how hot the market was leading up to March but the surprising resilience from there is also driven by the stable banking sector, the flexibility in which the banks are dealing with people impacted by COVID-19 and of course by the fact that if you are employed, you are likely to be saving a lot because there is pretty much nothing to do even if you aren’t locked down.”

REA Chief economist Nerida Conisbee.

She said the strongest markets continued to be those priced well above the current house price median of $969,500.

“The most expensive suburb on the top growth list is the north shore suburb of Lindfield which is now getting close to a $3 million median,” Ms Conisbee said.

Donna Fischer, of Stone Real Estate Lindfield, said low interest rates, low stock levels and a steady level of demand, particularly from families looking to upsize in Lindfield were keeping the market steady.

“People recognise that good properties in good areas will hold their own,” she said.

45 Grosvenor Rd, Lindfield.

Ms Fischer is currently marketing a three-bedrooom house at 45 Grosvenor Rd, Lindfield, which has a price guide of $2.1 million to $2.3 million, and she said there was strong interest.

John McManus, of McGrath Willoughby, said he was not surprised to see these areas were doing well despite COVID-19 and the current national economic conditions.

“Prices are holding up okay, but stock levels are still really low,” he said. “Last Saturday was the busiest Saturday we’ve had in a long time (for open homes).”

21 Ward St, Willoughby.

Mr McManus is currently marketing 21 Ward St, Willoughby, a classic Californian bungalow that has undergone a quality renovation and has an auction guide of $3.35 million.

Further up the road in North Willoughby, there is only one property on the market in the entire suburb, according to realestate.com.au.

No. 11 Chaleyer St is a two-bedroom full brick semi on a due-north-facing 408sqm block. It is due to go to auction on Saturday with a guide of $1.4 million.

11 Chaleyer St, North Willoughby NSW REAL ESTATE

Roz Reynolds, of Di Jones Northern Suburbs – Beecroft, said there had been strong interest in the property, which has masses of potential.

“There hasn’t been much available in North Willoughby,” she said.

“It’s a popular area, with lovely streets, and it’s so family orientated.”

The auction will be held on-site at 12.45pm.

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The post Lindfield, Willoughby and North Willoughby post strong house price growth appeared first on realestate.com.au.