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Todd Carney has sold his Waverley investment apartment. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Former NRL star Todd Carney has sold his Waverley investment apartment.

Carney bought the one-bedroom, one-bathroom property for $607,000 in 2011.

It was snappily sold with no disclosed price by Albert Sassoon at McGrath, but buyers were being told $900,000. It had been a $695 a week rental in late 2019 having first yielded $550 a week on its purchase.

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Carney bought the unit in 2011. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The property has one bedroom and one bathroom.

Located on Birrell St, the apartment offers a modern kitchen, open plan living and dining, and a private courtyard.

The sale comes ­shortly after the disposal of his Sans Souci investment property at $600,500 in June.

Carney is also set to auction off a Coogee two-bedroom apartment that he bought in 2010 for $880,000.

It had been a $695 a week rental in late 2019.

The living space.

Carney, who has been dating the former Married At First Sight star Susie Bradley, recently opened a new tattoo studio, Island of the Gods Ink, in Bali. He participated in dry July.

There is a $563,500 median price for Waverley’s one-bedders, according to realestate.com.au.

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Tyrrell Hill and his wife Taew Srisa-ard are excited to have finally found an affordable house in Thomson. Picture: Peter Ristevski

A couple who moved back to Geelong from Sydney to get a foot on the property ladder have realised their dream after beating competition for a renovated Thomson house.

Hayeswinckle, East Geelong agent Adam Murphy said the three-bedroom house at 8 Robertson St went under offer within days and attracted multiple offers.

Tyrrell Hill and his wife Taew Srisa-ard paid $435,500 for the 650sq m property, ending a long search for their first home together.

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First-home buyers were lining up to check out 8 Robertson St, Thomson.

Mr Hill said they had looked at about 100 houses across Geelong’s most affordable suburbs since moving back from Sydney 15 months ago.

This one appealed because of the work had that already been done, including a new kitchen and renovated bathroom.

“I moved to Geelong because it was entirely unaffordable in Sydney,” he said.

“I had been looking extensively and the reason was I didn’t want to extend myself on borrowing in the current situation.

Taew Srisa-ard and Tyrrell Hill outside their new house with Hayeswinckle, East Geelong agent Adam Murphy. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The renovated interior was a big attraction.

“We had a number of things that we were looking at … we were looking at the best value and this house was very much in our range.”

Mr Murphy said the house attracted mainly first-home buyers chasing a renovated entry-level home.

He said 20 private inspections over the first weekend of the campaign netted multiple offers.

Polished floors and lots of natural light are a feature of the loungeroom.

Fellow Hayeswinckle agent Yan Lin said the 3219 postcode, which covers Newcomb, Thomson, Breakwater, St Albans Park and Whittington, as well as pricier East Geelong, had become the go-to area for buyers wanting to spend under $500,000 and get a decent parcel of land.

She said tipped the area would jump in value in next five years as more people recognised its potential.

“Thomson is one of those areas that people weren’t interested in before but because of the budget they are looking at it,” she said.

Thomson’s median house price has risen 4.9 per cent to $417,500 over the past 12 months, Hometrack data shows.

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South Beach at Elliott Heads will offer an alternate destination to Noosa Heads and Byron Bay.

One of Queensland’s largest masterplanned communities launches to market this weekend in a $2 billion investment in the Bundaberg Region that will see 3200 homes built.

South Beach at Elliott Heads is a 246 hectare parcel of land just three streets from white sandy beaches and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

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The site of the new South Beach community at Elliott Heads.

The farming land has been in the Manero family for generations and is being developed in a joint venture between the Manero family and Sydney-based developer Stan L Vin who has worked on the development for 12 years.

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The house and land packages are priced from $395,000 to entice first-home buyers as well as interstate buyers and almost 3000 people have pre-registered sales interest ahead of the launch.

South Beach artist’s impression.

“Out of those registrations there’s a lot of interstate interest with people wanting a sea change,” PRD Bundaberg agent Ainsley Driver said.

“But even in previous dealings before this development, a lot of people moving in to Elliott Heads are from interstate. It’s the sleepy little coastal town.

“Elliott Heads is truly reminiscent of the old Noosa Heads or Byron Bay of the 1970s and we expect it to become one of the most sought-after residential hot spots in the years to come.”

Stage one of the four or five stage development, which includes a shopping complex, will cost $100 million and include 233 homesites starting at around 450sq m.

South Beach at Elliott Heads.

Operational works will begin by the end of December and depending on how well the first stage sells, owners will be able to start building on their new homesite in June next year.

Queensland is facing the tightest rental market since the Global Financial Crisis in new figures released by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland and Bundaberg, a four-hour drive north of Brisbane, has reported a less than zero per cent vacancy rate, so the injection of new housing that is targeting entry level as well as more advanced budgets, comes at a welcome time for people seeking a home or an investment opportunity.

“Young couples need to get into the property market, this is the chance. With all the government grants out there at the moment, it just makes sense.”

The community will promote homes with a Hamptons-style and has been designed by Bureau Proberts lead designer Brian Toyota.

The beach at Elliott Heads.

“You can walk to the end of the block and see the ocean and there’s half a kilometre of white sand, it’s a beautiful spot,” Mr La Vin said.

“I don’t know any masterplanned communities this close to the beach.”

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23 Tettenhall Ridge, Belmont, sold for $655,000 at auction.

EIGHT first-home buyers joined an online auction as a renovated 1970s character home in Belmont sold $35,000 over its reserve price.

The buyers punched in bids to an auction app chasing the keys to the four-bedroom house on Saturday.

The brick veneer house at 23 Tettenhall Ridge sold for $655,000.

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Bidding opened at $579,000, with seven in the running when the price hit the $620,000 reserve.

The eighth bidder entered the fray as bidding neared $650,000.

23 Tettenhall Ridge, Belmont, sold for $655,000 at auction.

Barry Plant, Highton agent Kieron Hunter said the character and presentation were driving buyers to the property, quoted below $600,000 during the campaign.

The kitchen and bathroom were new additions.

A Highton couple bought the 631sq m property, Mr Hunter said.

“Everyone who was bidding on it was a first-home buyer,” he said.

23 Tettenhall Ridge, Belmont, sold for $655,000 at auction.

“Everyone loves that character from the 1970s now. Anything mid century, anything with high ceilings now is really sought after.”

First-home buyers are making the most of their chances to break in to the property market amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with incentives like stamp duty concessions extended until 2021 and record low interest rates.

“They see it as a good opportunity to get in the market,” Mr Hunter said.

“It’s the most competition I’ve seen, really since 2017-18.”

23 Tettenhall Ridge, Belmont, sold for $655,000 at auction.

Low stock on the market also helped drive competition.

“I’m sure there is every reason why they want to buy,” he said.

“They are sick of paying rent.

“The rates have come down or maybe they’re still living at home with their parents and being in lockdown gives them a better excuse to get out there.

23 Tettenhall Ridge, Belmont, sold for $655,000 at auction.

“But the low interest rates just pave the way for them if they’ve got their deposits.”

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas last week revealed about 2000 first-home buyers in Geelong received stamp duty waivers or concessions on properties valued under $750,000 in 2019-20.

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HOBART has outperformed Australia’s major capital city property markets, recording another small rise in median dwelling values despite COVID-19.

The city recorded a dwelling (house and units) value increase of 0.1 per cent in August despite a national decrease in values of 0.4 per cent.

Houses saw the biggest monthly increase, up 0.3 per cent, but a 0.7 per cent decrease in unit values clawed back the dwelling average increase, according to the CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index for August.

Melbourne, which is in the grips of a strict level four lockdown due to outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, saw a decline of 1.2 per cent (overall dwelling values) over the same one month period.

Sydney saw declines of 0.5 per cent, while Brisbane posted a 0.1 per cent drop.

The best performing city was Darwin, which saw values increase by 1 per cent in August, albeit of several years of declining values.

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CoreLogic’s head of research Tim Lawless said the performance of each housing market was “intrinsically linked with the extent of social distancing policies and border closures which also have a direct effect on labour market conditions and sentiment”.

“The Melbourne housing market is the main drag on the headline results,” he said. “Through the COVID period to date, Melbourne home values have fallen by 4.6 per cent.”

In Hobart, dwelling values increased 0.3 per cent over the last quarter and 5.5 per cent over the past 12 months, with median values (houses and units) reaching $490,743.

“Looking forward we are likely to see a diverse outcome for housing markets around Australia, depending on how well the virus is contained and the regions exposure to

other factors such as its reliance on overseas migration as a source of housing demand,” Mr Lawless said.

Tim Lawless

Tasmania’s borders have been slammed shut since March 19, with Premier Peter Gutwein recently announcing the moat would remain in place until at least December 1.

The state has just one active case – a man in hospital who returned from Melbourne after seeking medical treatment in August.

Low levels of cases and eased restrictions in many regional markets is just two of the factors holding up the smaller markets.

The data shows the best performing markets besides Hobart are Adelaide and Perth (0.0% change), Canberra (up 0.5%) and Darwin (up 1%).

All of those markets have zero or minimal cases and more freedoms.

Mr Lawless said regional markets also tended to be less reliant on overseas migration.

“Regional markets may also be appealing for their relatively low density and lower price points,” he said.

“The normalisation of remote work through the pandemic could make proximity

to major cities less of a factor in home purchasing decisions.”

Anecdotally, local real agents are reporting an uplift in interstate buyer inquiry, particularly from Victoria.

Petrusma Property Hobart/Sandy Bay managing director and auctioneer Sam Towns said he had sold properties to “plenty of interstate buyers”, with a number prepared to buy sight unseen.

He said border closures meant buyers were able to do virtual tours of homes instead.

“They are from all over (Australia),” he said. “I think people are seeing Hobart and Tasmania as a bit of a sanctuary.

“If they can’t move immediately, they are certainly wanting to make the move here one day.

“And if their job can be done remotely, that creates flexibility.”

Mr Towns said the key suburbs being looked at by interstate buyers were those closest to the CBD – West Hobart, Sandy Bay, Battery Point and the like.

He said Hobart offered great views, lifestyle, proximity to the city, lifestyle and relative affordability compared to the likes of Sydney and Melbourne.

Charlotte Peterswald for Property sales manager Debbie Heron said interstate buyer inquiries were “trickling in” but she expected that change dramatically once the border opened.

“Once borders open, the Hobart market will go ballistic,” she said. “In the interim, locals are taking advantage of less competition.”

CoreLogic Hedonic Home Value Index August 2020 – Change in dwelling values (houses and units combined)

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COMMENT

Heading into the traditional spring selling season, Sydney’s residential listing numbers are slightly down on the same time last year.

This reduced level of advertised inventory has been a key factor in insulating homes from sizeable price falls through the COVID-19 pandemic to-date.

So far there has been only limited distressed listings, and mostly from investors with empty apartments or no job, rather than owner occupiers, although this could change as fiscal support tapers off and the banks get nervous about their home loan arrears.

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If Sydney does see a dramatic spike in listings, and that does come most springs, it will lead to vendors needing to offer higher discounts to get their house sold. But sellers have yet to be forced into any serious discounting as they meet the new emerging market.

Vendor discounting for private treaty Sydney listings sits at 2.5 per cent for houses and 2.4 per cent for units, according to CoreLogic, which suggests estate agents are doing a great job on pricing to meet the market.

Vendor discounting has remained relatively low so far.

Houses have been taking 41 days and units 44 days to sell during the late winter months, which given the circumstances is a terrific time frame.

Other than homeowners retaining jobs, the next biggest issue whether Sydney’s housing markets can remain relatively resilient is the reopening of international borders, which isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

But the absence of foreign buyers has certainly assisted first time buyers into the more affordable apartment market.

The Federal Budget on October 6, and the NSW budget on November 19, will help shape the direction of housing markets, with no doubt additional policy measures.

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Retired Sydney Swans captain Kieren Jack has listed in Randwick. (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

Retired Sydney Swans captain Kieren Jack has listed a Randwick investment apartment for sale.

Jack, who retired last year, and is now the Swans business development manager, paid $570,000 for the apartment in 2009, two years into his playing time at Moore Park.

The two-bedroom apartment, near the new light rail, sits on the top level of a 1960s block of nine.

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Jack now lives in Paddington. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Inside the spacious two-bedroom apartment.

Jack, who briefly called the apartment home, is now based in Paddington with his wife Charlotte.  

Carl Wilson, from Home ­Estate Agents, has the Mulwarree Ave unit listed for September 19 auction with 11 groups at yesterday’s first open for inspection.

They were advised the price guide was $925,000 to $975,000.

Views from the balcony.

The price guide was $925,000 to $975,000.

Randwick has a $1 million median for its two bedrooms units which typically rent for $600 a week.

Based on five years of sales, Randwick has seen a compound 5.6 per cent price growth for units, ­according to realestate.com.au.

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Former footballer and Triple M footy commentator Michael Roberts has sold 7 Soudan Street, Malvern.

The final siren has sounded on selling campaigns for the striking homes of past and present St Kilda players.

Footballer-turned-commentator Michael Roberts found a buyer for his impressive Malvern home on the brink of Melbourne’s stage four lockdown.

The price achieved by the 1884-built Victorian — which the former St Kilda, Richmond and Fitzroy player and his wife Andrea thoroughly renovated — is being kept confidential. The 7 Soudan Street property most recently had a $3.3-$3.6m price guide.

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Roberts and his wife Andrea beautifully renovated the Malvern home. Picture: Sarah Matray

This open-plan living, dining and kitchen area was popular with buyers.

Jellis Craig Stonnington partner Carla Fetter said her agency sold the four-bedroom house to a young, upsizing family from Armadale within three weeks of taking over the listing from another agency.

The buyer had to go head-to-head with another interested party to win the keys after they “instantly fell in love with the house”, she said.

“It’s in a great location, and Michael and Andrea did an amazing renovation,” Ms Fetter said.

“The real sell for the house was that back living and kitchen area.”

The house sold to a family from nearby Armadale.

The Roberts’ reno included installing a pool.

Roberts previously told the Herald Sun he and Andrea had shared the home with daughters Charlotte, Amelia and Phoebe since 2006, when CoreLogic records show it sold for $1.375m.

Roberts said it was “a little double-fronted Victorian” then.

He and his wife initially made small improvements before diving into the “full-blown reno” about four years ago. This involved retaining the home’s “old-world look” while also adding a second-storey main bedroom suite, the open-plan living and kitchen space that was so popular with the purchasers, and a backyard pool.

The hotel-like main bedroom suite.

The Victorian retained period charm.

“We spent a bit of dough on it — we put in steel windows upstairs, they’re quite expensive, (plus) big Italian tiles and new floorboards. But to me, the place required that,” Roberts said.

He added he’d loved watching the footy in “the best room in the house”: the sitting room.

The 61-year-old — who’s now a Triple M commentator, and previously worked as a model on Sale of the Century, and as a TV present and journalist — sold to downsize, but admitted he was reluctant to say goodbye to the “bloody nice house”.

Meanwhile, AFLW player Claudia Whitfort and her highly rated netball coach mother, Jess, also sold their Frankston South home for a figure within the $2.7-$2.9m quoted range.

The family home of AFLW player Claudia Whitfort at 24 Chetwyn Court, Frankston South has also sold.

Whitfort in action for the Saints. Picture: Michael Klein

RT Edgar Mt Eliza director Vicki Sayers said the buyers — a local woman and her partner, who had an acreage-type property further down the Mornington Peninsula — planned to make the 7800sq m property a family home for them and their kids.

“This home offered them the feeling of being in a rural space, with room for four kids between them, (plus the) convenience of being close to shops and schools,” Ms Sayers said.

Inside the charming farmhouse-style home.

The buyers planned to share the house with their four kids.

The Whitforts had called the five-bedroom house at 24 Chetwyn Court home since 2011.

Claudia joined St Kilda last year, having shifted clubs from Melbourne, who selected her in the 2017 draft while she was still in Year 12.

The sale followed Jess — the 2019 Netball Victoria Coaching Excellence award winner — moving the rest of the family up to the Sunshine Coast to take on a new coaching role.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

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