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Kerryn McKay is selling her funky inner city property tucked away behind Malop St. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Secret inner city properties hidden in Geelong’s commercial heart offer rare residential gems that are finding favour with buyers.

A renovated Victorian-era terrace surrounded by offices and two funky townhouses behind Big W are among recent listings waiting to be discovered in the CBD.

They’re attracting interest from buyers who want shops, restaurants and the waterfront on their doorstep but don’t want to live in an apartment.

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Kerryn McKay is selling her New York-style, two-bedroom townhouse at 10 Hays Place with price hopes of $595,000 to $650,000.

The quirky limestone home, which includes part of an old pub, comes with two bathrooms, a parking space and a north-facing balcony.

10 Hays Place, Geelong.

The townhouse has limestone brickwork.

Ms McKay can see the bay from her balcony.

Ms McKay said mileage on her car had dropped significantly since moving in nine years ago.

“I have really loved living in the city,” she said.

“I’m a member of the Geelong Yacht Club, I sail there, and I just wander down there.

“If I want to go for a drink at a wine bar or get a coffee with a friend I can just walk.”

McGrath, Geelong selling agent Wayne Baker said the townhouse was a “hidden secret”.

“It reminds me of those quirky little terraces that you find in Europe and the way it utilises the space and every nook and cranny is great,” Mr Baker said.

3/7 Hayes Place, Geelong is listed for $680,000 to $710,000.

The interior has been renovated.

Hodges, Geelong West agent Jeff Begg is selling another townhouse just a few doors down at 3/7 Hays Place, Geelong.

The three-storey, three-bedroom residence, listed for $680,000 to $710,000, has been renovated and has a private outdoor entertainment area.

“I think it’s an alternative to apartments for someone that wants to be in the city but doesn’t want to live on level 35,” Mr Begg.

The living room opens onto a balcony.

“The demand for city homes that are not apartments is very strong.”

A renovated Victorian-era terrace for sale at 115 Yarra Street, Geelong is another rare find in a chiefly commercial strip.

115 Yarra Street, Geelong is surrounded by commercial premises.

Vendors Gerry and Maria O’Brien bought the former office building 19 years ago and rebuilt it from the ground up to create an elegant three-bedroom home with two living areas, an outdoor entertainment area and a double garage.

McGrath, Geelong agent Jim Cross has set a price guide of $1.2m-$1.3m.

The kitchen/dining area has courtyard access.

Natural light floods the living room and main bedroom upstairs.

Mr O’Brien said the couple counted itself lucky to live in the heart of Geelong when it headed out every morning for a walk around the Eastern Gardens and waterfront.

And with the surrounding buildings housing offices, there’s no neighbours to worry about at night.

“We have got double glazing so it’s nice and quiet and, of course, there’s no neighbours after 5.30pm,” he said.

The post Hidden gems in Geelong CBD offer alternative to apartment living 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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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.

23 Holmwood Ave, Anglesea, sold for $2.3 million in January.

SURF Coast, Bellarine Peninsula and Geelong suburbs have dominated the top regional Victorian property hot spots over the past 20 years.

Prices have climbed as much as $900,000 in the nine towns and suburbs among the 20 areas with the highest price growth since 2000.

Realestate.com.au data shows Anglesea was the region’s top performer, rising 541 per cent.

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The price for a typical house in Anglesea rose from $170,000 in 2000 to $1.08 million in June.

Anglesea was ahead of Barwon Heads (up 539 per cent to $971,250) and St Leonards (from $90,000 to $563,750), while inner city Geelong West (from $117,000 to $690,000) was the highest urban suburb.

Portarlington ($110,000 to $609,250) was the fourth coastal hot spot, while Herne Hill ($91,500 to $520,000), Norlane ($62,000 to $350,000), Newcomb ($83,000 to $450,000) and Newtown ($169,000 to $890,000) also made the list.

Great Ocean Properties, Anglesea agent Ian Lawless said the coastal town vibe surrounded by national park ensured a wide range of buyers competed for the lifestyle location.

“We have first-home buyers, upgraders, we have downsizers from Melbourne, we have people that are moving for a lifestyle, we have a whole lot of different demographic of people all looking for the same properties,” Mr Lawless said.

11 Margate St, Barwon Heads, sold for $2.65 million in February.

“There is access to schools, Geelong and Melbourne. You can get to Torquay and there is a supermarket.

“Even for older people, once you move into Aireys (Inlet) there’s no bowling club, no football club, none of those things that are on offer here.”

Bellarine Property, Barwon Heads agent Christian Bartley said the region’s proximity to Geelong and Melbourne made it increasingly popular with buyers moving in full-time.

While Barwon Heads had a surf culture and St Leonards and Portarlington were in winery country, the towns were an hour and 10 minutes from Melbourne.

It meant they were now busy in winter, especially since the ferry from Portarlington to Melbourne was launched.

“As soon as you see townships increase in winter, it’s not too long for prices to grow,” Mr Bartley said. “Barwon Heads is busy every day of the week.”

67 Waratah St, Geelong West, sold for $1.21 million in June.

A rise in professionals working in or commuting from Geelong had driven the growth in inner suburbs, Hodges, Geelong West agent Marcus Falconer said.

“It’s no surprise that Geelong West is at the top, given the choice of schooling and the proximity to the CBD and the water,” Mr Falconer said.

Harcourts, North Geelong agent Joe Grgic said Geelong offered a value proposition enhanced by location, especially for investors seeking bargains.

“A couple of years ago I had some clients come down from Sydney and they just looked at Geelong as if it was a part of Melbourne. We get the best of both worlds. We’ve got lifestyle, we’ve got value, we’ve got so many great things from schools, shopping, waterfront, all these things and yet the value proposition is evident in comparison.”

TOP REGIONAL VICTORIAN HOT SPOTS FOR PAST 20 YEARS

Source: realestate.com.au

The post Geelong’s top suburbs for median house price growth over the past 20 years appeared first on realestate.com.au.

“Ruckers Hill House” by Studio Bright features a “periscope”. Picture: Rory Gardiner

Innovative houses in Melbourne’s inner north — one of which is crowned with a “periscope” — have emerged ahead of hundreds of other Aussie homes to win prestigious architecture awards.

The two remarkable renovations in Northcote and Fitzroy North took out three of the 10 categories at the 2020 Houses Awards.

But the pads were pipped by a restored “ramshackle 1970s-era house” in the Gold Coast suburb of Miami for the top gong of Australian House of the Year.

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“Cantala Avenue House” by ME on the Gold Coast has been named Australian House of the Year. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones

“Cantala Avenue House” was described as a “contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beach shack”. Picture: Christopher Frederick Jones

“Cantala Avenue House”, by architecture firm ME, beat 372 entries to take home the nation’s premier residential architecture prize in the 10th year of the awards run by magazine Houses.

A jury comprising esteemed architects and Architecture Media editorial director Katelin Butler lauded the project as a “contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beach shack” that “calls on us to reflect on what is truly important and what we essentially need to live well”.

The Gold Coast residence also tied with Northcote’s “Ruckers Hill House” to win the best house “alteration and addition under 200sq m” category.

“Ruckers Hill House” was an equal winner in the best house “alteration and addition under 200sq m” category. Picture: Rory Gardiner

Inside “Ruckers Hill House”. Picture: Rory Gardiner

The “Ruckers Hill House” project involved adapting an Edwardian house. Picture: Rory Gardiner

The Northcote project, by architecture firm Studio Bright, involved restoring and enlarging an Edwardian residence, including by adding new living spaces in a separate garden pavilion.

Jurors described it as “an intriguing alteration and addition” to a period home that “sends a periscope first floor up to take the measure of Melbourne’s ever-changing skyline”.

Other design features highlighted by the jury included a floating metal staircase and “theatrical curtains” used to separate rooms.

“Theatrical curtains” used to separate rooms in the Northcote house. Picture: Rory Gardiner

Jurors described the Northcote project as “intriguing”. Picture: Rory Gardiner

Victoria’s other award winner, “Fitzroy North House 02” by Rob Kennon Architects, took out two categories: best new house under 200sq m and best house in a heritage context.

Jurors noted the new house in a “street full of heritage terrace houses” blended in beautifully thanks to its worker’s cottage-style facade.

Behind it lies a two-storey modernist structure made of concrete, glass and steel, that’s “bathed in sunlight” from two courtyards and a “quasi-terrarium”.

“Fitzroy North House 02” by Rob Kennon Architects looks like a period house, but is actually new. Picture: Derek Swalwell

The Fitzroy North property was deemed best new house under 200sq m and best house in a heritage context. Picture: Derek Swalwell

A total of 80 Victorian projects were shortlisted across all the awards’ categories.

A mix of New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australian projects won the remaining categories.

When naming winners, the jurors took into account how the architecture responded to, or helped negate, crises including climate change and COVID-19, how it contributed to its streetscape and suburb, and how it reflected and shaped Australians’ lifestyles.

They also considered whether the projects were “liveable and functional as well as beautiful”, and innovative and “ambitious in design”.

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“Fitzroy North House 02” is filled with natural light. Picture: Derek Swalwell

The house was one of 80 Victorian projects shortlisted across the categories. Picture: Derek Swalwell

samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Houses Awards 2020: Northcote, Fitzroy North projects win prizes appeared first on realestate.com.au.