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A NEW report has highlighted the resilience of the Townsville property market during COVID-19, with sales volumes and buyer confidence remaining high.

At the ‘start of recovery’, the Townsville residential property market continues to see strong

levels of activity with sale volumes trending higher and general market sentiment remaining positive, according to the Herron Todd White (HTW) Month in Review report for September.

“House sale volumes started strongly in 2020 before dipping in late March and early April with the onset of COVID-19 restrictions,” the report said.

“By May, sale volumes had regained momentum and have continued to consolidate on the strong start to 2020.”

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Herron Todd White North Queensland managing director Darren Robins said Townsville was now seeing sales taking place across all suburbs more consistently, with much less focus

than before on the central (4810 postcode) suburbs.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that the residential land market has seen a surge in activity on the back of the homeowner grants with land in a wide range of locations and price points seeing activity,” he said.

Herron Todd White North Queensland managing director Darren Robins. Picture: Evan Morgan

Master Builders North Queensland regional manager Emma Peters said there had been a “giant surge in land sales” following the announcement of the Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.

The financial boost is on top of Queensland’s $15,000 first homeowner grant and the $5000 regional home building boost, meaning first home buyers could be eligible for up to $45,000 in grants to help buy their first home.

Masters Builders Regional Manager Emma Peters on site at Eden Park’s new estate

Ms Peters said the number of people going through display villages soon after HomeBuilder was announced had “exploded”, with one developer reporting a 980 per cent increase in the number of land sales.

“We were coming off a low base though as residential construction had been very low for several years,” she said.

“And these (current) house and land sales are subject to finance, with buyers awaiting approval for the HomeBuilder grant.

“Hopefully that (approvals process) doesn’t drag on because we are pleased to see the residential sector booming.

“That has a flow on effect to the whole construction and associated industries … and the local economy.”

Ms Peters said it was still too early to tell whether the boom in sales was being driven by interstate buyers, but many developers were reporting significant uptake by locals.

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Lifestyle is a big drawcard. Picture: Evan Morgan

Elements NQ has two developments under construction — The Orchard at Jensen and Riverstone in the Upper Ross – and another three projects in the planning phase.

Elements NQ sales manager Paul Fontinos said sales were up 400 to 500 per cent, albeit off a “low base”.

He said the grants had “absolutely worked” to stimulate the construction sector, prompting buyers who may have waited a few more years to buy to take the leap early.

“It was instantaneous,” he said, warning that there was already signs of a skills shortage in the region.

“There are builders who are so busy they are already saying they can’t take on any more work this year,” he said.

But Mr Fontinos said the boom in new home and land sales had huge benefits for the local economy.

“People think it is just the builder, the tiler who benefits, but people go out and buy rugs, couches, pets, turf, irrigation,” he said.

“It is the engineers, the town planners, valuers, banks. It stimulates so much growth and employment, directly and indirectly.”

The REA Market Trends report for August shows that the suburb where the most houses changed hands over the past 12 months was Kirwan, with 256 houses sold in the past 12 months.

Bushland Beach and Kelso round out the top three suburbs, recording 132 and 118 sales respectively.

Other top performers can be found in suburbs where house and land packages are being snapped up by first home buyers and upgraders, including Mount Louisa (113 sales), Burdell (84), Mount Low (60) and Bohle Plains (52).

Maidment Group’s Harris Crossing development SUPPLIED

New estates include Maidment’s Sanctum in Mount Low and Harris Crossing at Bohle Plains, Urbex’s residential estate Kalynda Chase, also at Bohle Plains, Mendi Group’s Summerset Estate at Mount Louisa, Markwell Groups Pinnacle Views at Kelso and Stockland’s North Shore community at Burdell.

Managing director of Mendi Group, Jeff Doyle at the site of a new residential development in Mount Louisa, Summerset Estate. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

The post ‘Giant surge’ in new home sales lifts Townsville property market appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

I often find myself assuming that the first home I own will lose out on coveted modern features in order to meet my budget.

Having lived in many rental homes with very small laundries and bathrooms over the years, I often think my first home will likely have similar features.

However, visiting Sterling Homes’ Macquarie Ensuite at Miravale estate, Angle Vale, certainly challenged that perspective.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, double garage home is targeted at first homebuyers and offers all the modern features you could need, along with a stylish yet low-maintenance interior.

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Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

Sterling Homes’ operations manager Rob Argenio says this design has been popular with first homebuyers, as well as young families and those looking to downsize.

“The Macquarie Ensuite has been a popular design in the market due to its excellent features and affordability,” he says.

Suited to a courtyard sized allotment, and measuring 11.51m wide and 18.95m deep, this home offers homebuyers a practical design, packed with modern features.

As previously mentioned, I’ve lived with many houses with small laundries – not to mention visited plenty of display homes over the years – so I know a good laundry when I see it.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Macquarie Ensuite’s laundry is how much space is dedicated to it – it’s long and stylishly finished.

“It’s important when planning your laundry to allocate sufficient space to be able to use the room without it feeling cramped and pokey,” Rob says.

In the display, the sleek laundry also has impressive storage, including a linen cupboard, open shelving, and overhead and under bench cupboards.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

However, what I love most about this laundry design is the longevity it provides. While having children isn’t on the cards anytime soon, this laundry would easily keep up with the needs of a young busy family.

Storage is another feature that I’ve sparsely had the privilege to enjoy, so you can imagine my delight to see all three bedrooms include built-in wardrobes. The master suite goes one step further to include a generous walk-in robe, nestled alongside the ensuite complete with a shower, toilet and neat vanity.

While the storage will impress, there’s more to enjoy in the master bedroom. Here, you’ll notice the window curves around the front of the home and the high placement of the curtain rails; features which make the room feel spacious and allow natural light to flow throughout.

Further down the hallway, the main bathroom can be found. Yet another practical space, it has been split into three areas and has ample space dedicated to each.

“The bathroom is another room in the house where many people neglect to allow enough space to use the room freely,” Rob says.

“The bathroom in the Macquarie Ensuite was designed to allow the right amount of space for parents to bath their kids comfortably without having to feel cramped.”

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

Practicality might reign supreme on my priority list, but that doesn’t mean I want to lose out on a stylish interior. Luckily, the Macquarie Ensuite has an interior decor that’s nothing short of luxurious.

“The Macquarie Ensuite has been styled with a combination of whites and earthy tones to give the home a cosy and homely feel,” Rob says.

The open plan kitchen, dining and meals area truly shows off the style of this design, with a crisp white palette warmed by the toasty brown island bench and cabinetry.

While this space oozes sophistication, it balances it out with practicality – especially with the use of tiled floors throughout the open plan area.

“They’re durable, easy to clean and resilient,” Rob says. “Tiles also heat up in winter due to the direct sunlight from the sun’s low angle. The heat retention in the tiles means less energy is required to heat up the home during the cooler months.”

Keen cooks will love the U-shaped kitchen, which features plenty of storage and overlooks the cosy dining area – which can be opened out via sliding doors to the backyard for entertaining.

The living area is tucked to the right of the kitchen and offers a cosy den for families to relax in and enjoy a movie.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

Sterling Homes Macquarie Ensuite display at Miravale Estate, Angle Vale. Photo: Nick Clayton.

The impressive interior of this design is matched by the stylish facade, complete with a feature stone wall and similar earthy toned render and bricks; ensuring your home’s street appeal will age well over the years.

Visiting Sterling Homes’ Macquarie Ensuite, I had no idea my preconceptions of a first home build would be so drastically challenged. Priced from $114,200, this home proves you can build your first home within a reasonable budget and still have all the features you could dream about.

“The Macquarie Ensuite is a design targeted at those wanting a three-bedroom home which provides more luxury than current designs on the market,” Rob says.

“By allowing for more space in the living area and bedrooms the home provides more comfortable and flexible living spaces.”

The post Sterling Homes’ Macquarie Ensuite the ideal for first homebuyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.

89-91 Cambridge Road, Bellerive.

EX-PAT and former mainlander David Grant didn’t need to set foot inside Bellerive House to know it was the house for him and his wife Jacqueline.

That was 15 years ago, when David and Jacqueline came to Tasmania on a week-long visit to look for a property that would make the ideal bed and breakfast.

“We’d been living in Singapore and came back to Sydney in mid 2004,” he recalls.

“Opening a B&B was what we wanted to do and we were considering New Zealand or Tasmania, although we’d never been to Tassie before.”

A blast from the past.

A gorgeous tub.

Chic and contemporary.

Bellerive House came to their attention a mere 24 hours before their flight home and it was the sight of yachts heading out for twilight sailing from Bellerive Marina that David knew he was in the right place.

“We made an appointment to come and have a look and the agent left us there for several hours while we walked around,” he says.

“I fell in love with it straight away. It was a heart-over-head moment, I’d already bought it.”

That was December 2004 and the four-bedroom two-bathroom 1900s-built property had previously been used as a stately family home.

By Christmas 2005 the Grants had left Sydney, completed a comprehensive renovation and opened for business.

“It was slow to start off with,” David admits.

“But over the years we’ve met some wonderful people who have become friends and we’ve kept in touch. We’ve had lots of return guests over that time.”

Great place to work.

Period charms.

What’s for dinner?

The couple modernised the two existing bathrooms and added two more.

Contemporary touches complement the original Federation characteristics, which include a covered entry porch, intricate fretwork, leadlight windows, Celery top pine timber and refurbished fireplaces and mantles.

There are ornate cornice and ceiling roses, multiple living areas, two wood fires and panel heating for warmth. Heated towel rails and underfloor heating in the bathrooms provide extra comfort.

French doors from the white modern kitchen and hand laid slate floor open out to a paved alfresco dining area and formal gardens filled with hedges, lavender bushes and mature trees.

“It’s a lovely old house and we didn’t want to mess with it too much, it has such lovely bones,” David says.

So much to love.

Pretty from every angle.

Spacious sleeping quarters.

The view from the property overlooks Kangaroo Bay to Mt Wellington, an aspect that changes every day and one David has never tired of, pausing to take it in every time he walks down the central hall.

“It has very solid walls and is extremely quiet because the internal walls are all double brick,” he says.

“It was built by a craftsman rather than a builder and has wonderful sandstone foundations.”

Bellerive House has had numerous owners in its 120 years, including the Tasmanian Education Department, which divided it into four bedsits for teachers.

It’s also been used as two-storey duplexes and a family home.

While it’s successfully operated as a bed and breakfast for the past 15 years, David says it would just as easily become a spacious family home once again.

“It lends itself to all sorts of things, we’ve loved living here,” he says.

“There’s a wonderful sense of community and everything you need down the road.”

No.91 Cambridge Road, Bellerive is listed with Petrusma Property and will be sold by expressions of interest closing September 21.

It will be open for inspection both days this weekend at noon.

The post Carefully updated historic home a showstopper appeared first on realestate.com.au.