Blog

84 Skene St, Newtown.

SUNSHINE laden spaces and light and bright living are the order of the day at this fun-filled and stylish Newtown residence.

There’s a lot of fine living to be done throughout the 353sq m allotment at 84 Skene St, and it’s fair to say you’ll be set for the festive season.

The wide and welcoming entry sets the right tone, and new owners can salute the sun from multiple indoor and outdoor spaces.

Wisons, Geelong agent James Wilson said 84 Skene St, Newtown has been enjoyed as a family home for the past 10 years.

RELATED:

Landmark Geelong West heritage villa on market

Darryn Lyons’ funky childhood home sells

Geelong West house beats price hopes by $87K

Wilsons, Geelong agent James Wilson has the listing, with a price guide of $1.3m.

He said super entertaining options and sparkling bay views await the lucky new owners.

“This lovely home is set on a rear, north-facing allotment offering privacy and position,” Mr Wilson said.

Speaking of, how’s this for a (main) bedroom with a view?

The main bedroom is a room with a view.

Upstairs, parents have their own private retreat with a balcony that takes in spectacular views back over Geelong, plus a luxe ensuite and walk-in wardrobe.

And, it’s almost like there’s a second main suite, as bedroom two also has a walk-in wardrobe.

Look at that lovely light.

Bedroom three is here too, while the fourth bedroom is downstairs, near the entry.

With the house so heavily focused on entertainment, it’s little surprise that three bathrooms and a powder room feature on the floorplan.

One of the three luxe bathrooms.

When Monday comes around and all the noise has died down, the study/home office area should be great space to tick off the work to-do list.

In the back section of the ground level, the dual-sided feature gas log fire is a feast for the eyes.

The kitchen is a relaxing space.

It anchors and divides the space in the open-plan kitchen, dining and living zone and will bring joy from every angle.

Thoughtful family living on a manageable allotment.

Outside, things are equally impressive.

There’s a decked entertainment area that has a built-in barbecue and seating (hello, spring and summer nights), and the oh-so private backyard.

A gas-heated lap pool with a spa is here, too.

The picture-perfect backyard.

Nestled in along the side of the house, it’s perfectly positioned to allow parents to keep a watchful eye on the outdoor happenings from the kitchen and living zone.

Privacy and security are at the forefront here, with a security system, C-Touch central lighting control and a double garage with internal and rear access directly to the pool – great for when the kids knock off from school.

Mr Wilson said the location in leafy, inner-city Newtown meant that new owners could walk to shops and cafes, as well as primary and secondary schools.

And, when footy’s back you can leave the car at home and stroll to GMHBA Stadium to cheer on the Cats.

The position also allows for easy access the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula, to make the most of the wider region’s beaches, wineries and relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Ceiling fans, hydronic heating and a ducted vacuum system are the icing on a very sleek and stylish Newtown cake.

The post This contemporary Newtown home is party and position perfect. appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Auctioneer Rocky Bartolotto at one of the many auctions that took place on Saturday across Sydney. Picture: Adam Yip.

An Oxford Falls couple paid $2.375m for a semi near the Manly beachfront at an auction that left many onlookers scratching their heads.

The buyer not only registered halfway through the auction, but had also never inspected the house until they walked past after bidding had already started. And to cap it off, the underbidder also registered during the auction after initially watching on.

MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s new waterfront mansion

Mansion with insane Swarovski chandelier to shatter record

Lavish dance studio estate to shatter records

The two parties outplayed the other four bidders who were there from the start of the auction for 1 Steinton St.

No. 1 Steinton St, Manly, sold for $2.375m.

Cumminghams Real Estate agent Georgi Bates said the bizarre scene was possible due to the auction running for a marathon time of 30 minutes.

“The auctioneer and myself were shocked to have two buyers decide to join halfway through the auction,” she said.

“It has never happened to either one of us before.”

The three-bedroom semi located just one street back from Manly Beach had been owned for the past four years by a family based in the UK. They watched the event before heading to bed via video chat.

No. 1 Steinton St, Manly, was right near the beach.

The Manly-based estate agent said the buyers who paid $175,000 above price expectations plan to keep the semi tenanted for the moment while they look to renovate it.

From 1 Steinton St, Ms Bates went on to sell 15 Jamieson Ave, Fairlight, to a couple upgrading from an apartment in Manly.

The couple paid $2.175m for the three-bedroom semi-detached house after coming out on top against an expat based in Singapore looking to return to Australia.

Entry level buyers loved 54 Edwards Rd, Wahroonga.

A Wahroonga family looking to upsize in the same suburb edged out four other bidders to pay $1.4 million for a charming cottage.

The strong result was $150,000 reserve and came after more than 60 groups inspected 54 Edwards Rd during the campaign. Majority of inquires for the home came for buyers after an entry-level house in the prestigious upper north shore suburb.

Ray White Upper North Shore agent Rowan Lazar said the buoyant result comes as stock levels continue to remain low in the area.

“Anyone thinking about selling should consider listing their property now to take advantage of the competition in the market.

No. 197 St Johns Rd, Forest Lodge, had two active bidders.

The luxury terrace had contemporary stylings.

A luxury terrace sold at Forest Lodge sold to north shore downsizers for $150,000 above the reserve at $2.65m.

They edged out an underbidder from Europe, who had not been able to see 197 St Johns Rd in person due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ray White Erskineville associate director Matthew Carvalho said more than 100 groups inspected the renovated contemporary terrace.

No. 5/130 Brook St, Coogee, sold to downsizers.

The apartment is right near the beach.

Downsizers paid $1.64m for a beachside apartment that had been owned by the same family for 50 years.

The downsizers had to deal with plenty of competition over the seven minute auction, with eight other parties registering. Spirited bidding between the bidders saw the 5/130 Brook St sell for $140,000 above the reserve.

The Agency’s Bernadette Summers was not expecting so many registrations, but said the unit was attractive with it being 400m from the beach.

“With everyone working from home, it means people now want to live and work in the same area — especially if it is by the beach,” she said.

Featuring older interiors such as wallpaper and shag pile carpets, Ms Summers said the new owners plan to renovate the residence.

No. 10 Yalumba Pl, Edensor Park.

A family’s first and final bid of $1.35 million has landed them the keys to a highly sought after house near the shops at Edensor Park.

The knockout bid was a $35,000 jump from the previous highest bid placed and knocked 11 other bidders out of contention. It was also $50,000 above reserve.

Blaze Real Estate’s Blaz Dejanovic said more than 100 buyers inspected the property over the course of the campaign.

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER

The post Sydney auctions: Manly semi sells over reserve as buyer joins at halfway point appeared first on realestate.com.au.

14 Mirimar Ave, Bronte, is expected to sell soon following today’s auction.

The stunning Bronte home of global cancer specialist GenesisCare founder Dan Collins and his wife, Cassandra, has passed in on a vendor bid of $16.5m at a private auction today.

PPD Real Estate principal Alexander Phillips had three registered bidders for the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with five-car garage at 14 Mirimar Avenue. It has breathtaking ocean views.

Phillips wasn’t quoting a guide during the short campaign, but was using the suburb record of $17.9m — set on July 7 — and last June’s previous top of $16.8m as reference points. There’d been hopes this home may beat the record. But the rumour is that the reserve today had been set at around $17m.

Phillips says one of the three who’d registered was an entrepreneur who’d come back for a second look at the property only today. It’s expected he’s going to make an offer around the vendor bid of $16.5m.

He said others who had been interested at the $15m to $16m mark have been calling since the 12.45pm auction wondering what happened.

When auctioneer Clarence White called for bids, someone tried to make a lowball offer, which was rejected.

MORE:
Celebrity chef Pete Evans sells in Malabar

$11.5m+ sale in Tamarama

Incredible design.

Wake up to this.

Dan and Cassandra Collins had purchased the home for $14.5m just four years ago.

If anything was going to beat the price that green energy entrepreneur Carl Prins and his wife, Kate, paid in Gardyne Ave on July 7 in an off-market deal — also through Phillips with Ray White TRG’s Oliver Lavers — this had looked to be it.

It truly is a special home, with far superior views than the Gardyne St property.

For the Wentworth Courier House of the Week, Cassandra confirmed she and her husband had just finished 18 months of renovations, but are now moving to the US after GenesisCare’s $1.6 billion purchase of 200 cancercare centres there.

The heated mineral pool is bathed in northerly sunshine.

Great outdoors.

“We’ve made it our dream home, but of course nothing is ever really your forever home” she’d said.

Both the Mirimar Avenue home and the Gardyne Street home have five bedrooms and four bathrooms and are designer residences with ocean views, though the Mirimar Avenue property had a five car-garage rather than two.

And it was a cut-above in design terms and features along with the views.

Knockout views.

The home offers lift access from the garage to all three levels.

The Mirimar Avenue home was previously owned by Peter Scutt — founder and CEO of Mable, an online service to help the aged or disabled find support workers — and his wife, Nadia Jacob, the founder and director of CrEight, which specialises in residential design.

They rebuilt an old apartment block — bought for $3m in 2013 — to create this incredible new home that was snapped up by Collins in an off-market deal via Pauline Goodyer of Goodyer, who’s now selling Scutt and Jacob’s next home in 22 Thompson Street with a $14m-$15m guide.

The Mirimar Ave home is a custom-built residence on a vantage point between Bronte and Tamarama beaches, with views across the full sweep of the beach and the ocean horizon to Mackenzies Bay.

The temperature-controlled wine cellar has room for 720 bottles.

The five-car garage was a standout feature.

Built by award-winning Master Builder Mardini Constructions, it offers the latest in home technology with level lift access from the garage to all three levels.

Walls of glass maximise the ocean vista. The super-stylish interiors are by Amy Sharma of The Design Spot.

The top floor is devoted to living and leads out to a poolside entertainer’s haven, with heated mineral pool, bathed in northerly sunshine.

Sleeping accommodation includes four bedrooms on one level and a self-contained lower level apartment. The private master retreat has a dressing room and a stunning ensuite that includes an Italian bathtub with a view.

Other highlights are the nine-metre terraces that extend from three levels; the wide oak floorboards; and an aether marble kitchen with butler’s pantry, Wolf dual fuel range and Subzero fridges.

The four luxurious bathrooms have underfloor heating, Gessi appointments and heated towel rails.

There’s also C-Bus lighting, sound and airconditioning, electric blinds and a temperature-controlled wine cellar for 720 bottles.

It’s only 150 metres to the sand, sea and surf.

The post Bronte house shooting for $18m suburb record passes in on vendor bid of $16.5m at auction appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Waterfront buyers were able to amalgamate blocks to get their dream home right at Stockland Newport.

Land buyers in a development in Brisbane’s north have been able to design their own block of land on which to build their dream home.

Buyers in Stockland’s Newport project on Brisbane’s Redcliffe Peninsula were able to choose the size of their block under the developer’s new ‘Design Your Lot’ program. Prices are based on the number of square metres acquired.

MORE: Cattle station sold for massive $35m via online auction

Homeowners could save thousands switching to better mortgages now

Auction set for epic Gold Coast mansion once listed for $45m

Stockland Newport under development in Brisbane’s north.

With more than 3,500 sqm of the development facing a 22-hectare lake, buyers had the option of a private mooring and could tweak the size of their water frontage.

Stockland senior development manager Blair Britton said Newport’s ‘Design Your Lot’ was created in response to customer demand.

“We have had a huge increase in demand for wider block sizes that allow people to build a bigger home and also incorporate a bigger yard, swimming pool, fire pit or space to store a caravan or boat.”

He said the program was a first for Stockland and put buyers in the driver’s seat, allowing them to customise their lot to a home design and lifestyle they want to build.

Buyer Shane Newcombe said his goal was a large home when he amalgamated his site at Stockland Newport.

“While the Design Your Lot promotion is now closed, Newport continues to offer a range of land options, including lakefront blocks, with private moorings, that can be amalgamated for those wanting wider frontage.”

Shane Newcombe, who amalgamated his site in Stockland Newport, said his goal was to have enough space to build a large home.

“We really wanted to build a big family home, but there weren’t any large blocks available to suit the home we’d already designed. After a lot of searching, we decided to amalgamate two lots in Stockland Newport.

“A larger lot gave us the opportunity to build the perfect home in a community right on the water with everything you need on your doorstep.

“There is no other place like Newport – to have access to the canals, the lake and to be able to hop on your boat and be in Moreton Bay within minutes is a huge opportunity.”

LATEST QLD REAL ESTATE NEWS

The post Would you design your own dream home plot if you could? appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A local buyer from Malabar has paid $3.366m for the Sydney home of Pete Evans.

Controversial chef Pete Evans and his wife Nicola Robinson have sold their luxury southeastern Sydney home ahead of a move to Byron Bay.

The five-bedroom Malabar property with a skateboard half-pipe, a lap pool and a four-person spa sold at auction on Saturday for $166,000 above the reserve at $3.366m to a local buyer.

MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s new waterfront mansion

Mansion with insane Swarovski chandelier to shatter record

Lavish dance studio estate to shatter records

Auctioneer Damien Cooley received a $3m bid to open the auction in front of a sizeable socially distanced crowd.

A relaxing retreat for the whole family.

Three of the five registered parties traded several dozen bids between them during the course auction that took place at the front of the Austral Street house.

Listed with NG Farah Real Estate’s Peter Goulding and Theo Karangis, the property had plenty of interest from locals and other Sydney-based buyers during the campaign.

The controversial Evans is selling up ahead of a move to the NSW north coast, where he has a multimillion-dollar health retreat. He will soon be opening a healing clinic in Byron’s new commercial precinct, The Habitat.

RELATED: Pete Evans lists stunning beachside pad

Chef Pete Evans is planning to move to Byron Bay with his wife. Picture: Tara Croser.

Backyard fun for the whole family.

Property records show that Evans purchased the property near Malabar beach in 2014 for $1.27m before building a new house in 2018.

The home, on a 588sqm block, also has a wellness studio with infrared sauna and a tea room, while there are Tesla solar panels and a powerwall in the double garage.

As expected, the kitchen is at the heart of the home while there is also an edible garden with herbs.

The swimming pool.

Evans was axed from his rumoured $800,000 a year gig on Channel 7’s My Kitchen Rules realty program in May. He had been on the show for all 11 seasons since 2010.

The news came not long after Evans and Robinson sold their other Malabar home in an off-market deal worth $2.76 million.

Evens has come under fire during the coronavirus pandemic for plugging a $15,000 device known as a biocharger to help cure COVID-19.

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER

The post Celebrity chef Pete Evans sells Malabar home at auction for above reserve appeared first on realestate.com.au.

1/114 White Street, Kilmore has been overhauled for sale this spring.

Amid a global pandemic it’s easy to worry finding a buyer for your home will be a hard sell.

But from washing your dog more regularly to updating your garden, there are ways to help your place stand out in tough times.

LJ Hooker Pakenham’s Loren Popovits said while COVID-19 restrictions might limit other parts of your life, there was nothing stopping you from getting your garden looking its best.

RELATED: Melbourne spring market: Property market goes private amid COVID

Melbourne stage four: How to get ready to buy this spring

Melbourne lockdown to drive exodus to regional Victoria, interstate

“Outdoor space is definitely an area you can do, and add a lot of value and appeal with,” Ms Popovits said.

Tidying your lawn, ordering some fresh mulch and replacing old outdoor furniture to help prospective buyers imagine themselves enjoying it were among the easiest steps to take.

A tidy backyard that’s easy for buyers to imagine themselves enjoying can add value.

More advanced projects include built-in bench seats or barbecue areas with benchspace.

“Anything that will look like an outdoor room, or improve the presentation,” she said.

Inside, kitchens and bathrooms should be a high priority — and not everything has to be left to the pros. Most home handypersons would be able to replace fixtures and fittings, from tap and shower heads to towel rails, she said.

Better skilled renovators could even tackle a vinyl or laminate floor replacement.

But things such as worn cupboard doors and cabinetry should be replaced if at all possible.

“Family buyers are prepared to pay a premium if everything is done and presented really well and they can just enjoy,” Ms Popovits said.

Buyer’s agent and Real Estate Buyers Association of Australia president Cate Bakos.

Cate Bakos Property buyer’s advocate Cate Bakos said decluttering was vital, but home renovations should be approached with caution.

“When it comes to tarting up a home, as soon as a buyer feels you have done something on the cheap they will be suspicious of the rest of the house,” Ms Bakos warned.

“Do it properly or don’t do it.”

Especially don’t ask tradies to do “cashy” jobs without warranties or certificates, she advised.

But as buyers “really notice a garden when it is horrible” she did recommend embracing your green thumb.

Lots of people love dogs, but few will want to smell yours when inspecting your home.

Otherwise, lockdown is a great time to hunt down all your paperwork, from water and rates bills to manuals and warranties for appliances. Unit owners should also include getting a copy of the minutes from the last owners corporation meeting.

You should also be thinking about addressing any smells in your home before you go on the market. Bathe the dog more regularly, clean out teenagers’ rooms and reconsider pungent meal choices. Lingering smells could take a long time to air out, Ms Bakos said.

Barry Plant director and chief executive Mike McCarthy.

Barry Plant chief executive Mike McCarthy advised maximising natural light by clearing overgrown gardens from windows, and if the home still seemed dark to add some lamps — especially if you’re planning a video walk-through.

He also advised going room by room to make a list of “hidden features” that might add value to your home but can’t be seen with the naked eye, and discussing this with your agent.

“And talk about what you love about your home,” Mr McCarthy said.

And don’t be surprised if you’re advised your “bright orange feature wall isn’t to everyone’s taste”.

The goal should be to leave buyers to imagine their own furniture in the home and not repainting, he said. Even loose doorhandles or overflowing gutters can be a distraction.

An attic or roof cavity could be an easily accessible storage spot during lockdown.

If you need to store things on the cheap it may be worth investigating sub-floor and roof spaces that could suit short-term with some chipboard as a floor and a sheet to keep the dust off.

“And don’t go to the extreme of putting in a pool or an extension,” he said.

It took COVID-19 restrictions to finally get Michelle Duggan and her partner Anthony Sammut to give their Kilmore home an update.

And it all paid off, with the 1/114 White St house listed for sale earlier this week and attracting requests for inspection within a few hours.

Anthony Sammut updated aspects of his home’s kitchen and has buyers hooked.

A capable handyman, Mr Sammut updated just about everything in the home’s main bathroom except the floor tiles and the bath tub for less than $1000. He also gave the kitchen an overhaul.

“I believe the money we spent on the bathroom will come back three-fold, because nobody wants to do that reno — it’s a dirty and thankless task,” Ms Duggan said.

The pair also painted and decluttered, and recommended both as low-cost ways to make finding a buyer easier.

“We’d painted one room and didn’t want to do it, but the lockdown forced us to do the rest of the job,” Ms Duggan said. “And it’s an instant improvement once it’s done.”

Fresh paint provided an “instant improvement” to the pair’s home.

They also refreshed their garden with some new bulbs that will flower in the next few weeks.

MORE: Blade House: Ocean Grove dream home Melburnians desperate for

COVID-19: Treasurer Tim Pallas hints at real estate lifeline

Noel Jones runs competition to help pay winners’ rent, mortgages

The post How to present your house for sale, using stage four lockdown appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Fringe suburbs Clyde and Wollert have joined trendy Prahran among Melbourne’s hottest markets for houses.

Buyer demand for houses has almost doubled in these pockets over the past year, according to realestate.com.au.

Also rising rapidly up the ranks of househunters’ wishlists were West Footscray, Brayside, Heatherton, Monbulk, Aberfeldie, Kingsville, and “diamond in the rough” Frankston North.

RELATED: Melbourne spring property market awaiting eased restrictions to bloom

Ballarat, outer Melbourne suburbs facing most forced home sales

Melbourne lockdown auctions: Silent start to spring selling season

62 Hartleigh Street, Clyde is for sale.

46 Pitt Street, West Footscray was snapped up quickly in August.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said government housing grants were boosting demand for greater Melbourne’s affordable pockets.

“More broadly, we’re seeing very strong interest in house and land packages off the back of first-home buyer activity and HomeBuilder,” Ms Conisbee said.

She added “a lot of buyers” were also eyeing “relatively cheap” West Footscray closer to the city.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee.

Realestate.com.au calculates demand based on “serious buyer activity” on the site, including the number of visits to a listing, looking at photos on a listing multiple times, saving and sharing the property, and inquiring with the agent.

Lendlease head of development Tom Trevaskis said inquiry for Wollert’s Aurora development had increased 135 per cent in the past year, with a noticeable spike after the federal government announced the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant.

“People are looking for quality places with open space, community and education facilities, which have all been designed as part of a masterplan,” Mr Trevaskis said.

“That’s been the case through areas like Clyde, Wollert and established communities near Melton and Werribee.”

Treetops Park at Wollert’s Aurora development. Picture: Lendlease

A flurry of development has built up Wollert. Picture: Nearmap

Other suburbs were attracting attention by shaking off shady reputations from times gone by.

This was the case for Frankston North, which Ray White Frankston agent Trent Harrison called “substantially undervalued” compared to neighbouring areas.

“People have realised it’s a diamond in the rough, because everywhere else around it had a surge in value in 2017,” Mr Harrison said.

“First-home buyers are now buying properties and renovating them, which is really improving the perception of the area.”

3 Huon Court, Frankston North sold in August.

Frankston North has been called a “diamond in the rough”.

The agent said he had received “overwhelming” interest for Sarah Opie and Cassie Torcasio’s Frankston North family home, in the form of 59 inquiries and seven offers, before selling it in August for $490,000.

Ms Opie said she was impressed with the result for her renovated four-bedroom home, which she bought for an “extremely reasonable price” in 2013.

“The only issue with the suburb is a stigma still attached, but it’s not as warranted as it previously was,” Ms Opie said.

“It’s never going to be as popular as Frankston South or Seaford, but we still happily raised a family here and have seen massive changes over time.”

Sarah Opie and Cassie Torcasio and their son Archer outside their Frankston North house. Picture: Tony Gough

The family raised their son at the house.

There are big blocks available in the suburb.

Units in Caroline Spring, Deer Park and Lalor also experienced major upticks in demand.

Buyer’s advocate Cate Bakos said while first-home buyers were still desperate to break into on-trend suburbs like Brunswick, Northcote and Thornbury, many were noticing “lower-price-point areas”.

“First-home buyers love to buy with the stamp duty concession, and some have access to the deposit saver scheme too. But they are only fully active up to $600,000,” Ms Bakos said.

“When you look at value for money, you can buy a three-bedroom unit or townhouse in Caroline Springs or Lalor for about $550,000 to $600,000 and still be in an established area near transport and shops.”

Demand has spiked for units in Deer Park.

Blue-chip suburbs like South Yarra, Hawthorn, Northcote and St Kilda remained Melbourne’s most popular suburbs among buyers overall, but did not have the same annual surge.

READ MORE: Melbourne lockdown to drive exodus to regional Victoria, interstate

Better air filtration needed for offices to help prevent illness

COVID-19: Treasurer Tim Pallas hints at real estate lifeline

HOUSES
(Suburb, jump in year-on-year demand to August 2020)

1. Clyde 99.5%

2. Wollert 98.0%

3. Prahran 97.1%

4. West Footscray 69.5%

5. Braybrook 69.2%

6. Heatherton 68.8%

7. Monbulk 68.1%

8. Aberfeldie 67.8%

9. Kingsville 65.6%

10. Frankston North 65.3%

UNITS
(Suburb, jump in year-on-year demand to August 2020)

1. Caroline Springs 136.5%

2. Chadstone 95.0%

3. Deer Park 94.8%

4. Bulleen 94.4%

5. Lilydale 84.3%

6. Oakleigh 82.6%

7. Macleod 76.2%

8. Endeavour Hills 72.7%

9. Lalor 71.8%

10. Ormond 71.0%

Source: realestate.com.au

The post Clyde, Wollert among suburbs with surging demand appeared first on realestate.com.au.

New Town is, increasingly, where home buyers want to be. Picture: EDDIE SAFARIK

BUDDING sellers in New Town have the best prospects of securing a big sale price when heading to the market this spring, says fresh data from realestate.com.au.

In its Spring Report Card, released today, the property website has revealed that city fringe New Town has seen a huge uptick in demand on the site.

Compared year-on-year, demand in this city fringe suburb has grown by over 50 per cent.

New Town’s increasing popularity comes as little surprise to Petrusma Property director Daniel ten Broeke.

He said while New Town had always been a popular area, the sharp increase in demand over the last 12 months was likely a case of buyers realising that the suburb offers just as much, if not more amenity, than suburbs that are only marginally closer to the CBD, such as North Hobart, West Hobart or Glebe.

These suburbs are typically a little more expensive than New Town, he said.

“It is also no coincidence that Hobart City Council have invested substantially in New Town over the last 12 to 18 months including a modern refurbishment and upgrade of New Town Road, which has certainly raised the profile and appeal of the area.”

New Town property owners sitting pretty in spring.

Buyer interest increased here more than any other suburb.

Mr ten Broeke said there was “absolutely no doubt” that homeowners in areas that ranked high on REA’s demand charts were in a fortunate position if springtime selling was being considered.

“Prices in these areas and some others in Hobart are still “at peak”,” he said.

“Having some confidence in the market amid so much uncertainty — domestically and overseas — is very pleasing.”

Chief economist at realestate.com.au, Nerida Conisbee, said demand was often a good indicator of price growth.

She said suburbs with big family homes on large blocks were faring well, but the best performers continue to be premium suburbs.

“We are seeing a flight to quality on realestate.com.au with premium markets holding up best due to high levels of buyer demand,” Ms Conisbee said.

“This recession is not a typical one because money has not dried up.”

Chief economist at realestate.com.au Nerida Conisbee.

Petrusma Property director Daniel ten Broeke.

Mr ten Broeke said New Town’s popularity stems from the broad range of property types and its lifestyle benefits.

He said it has proximity to the CBD, great schools, shops and services, alongside magnificent historic homes and new townhouses.

“The area appeals to first home buyers, families and retirees to investors and executives — every target market,” he said.

REA’s data showed a 52.3 per cent change in demand levels year-on-year in New Town houses followed by Risdon Vale 41.5 per cent, Kingston 30.8 per cent, Rosetta 27.4 per cent and Midway Point 26 per cent.

The most in demand house suburb list reads like a who’s who of popular Hobart suburbs: Sandy Bay, South Hobart, Taroona, Lindisfarne and West Hobart.

The fastest selling suburbs were Rosetta (houses) at 23.5 days on market and Sandy Bay (units) at 17 days.

BIGGEST YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH

Houses

1 New Town 52.3%

2 Risdon Vale 41.5%

3 Kingston 30.8%

4 Rosetta 27.4%

5 Midway Point 26%

6 Brighton 23.5%

7 Mount Nelson 23.1%

8 Dodges Ferry 22.4%

9 Montrose 22.3%

10 Sandy Bay 22.2%

Units

1 Kingston 31.7%

2 Claremont 24%

3 Howrah 22.4%

4 Bellerive 11.2%

5 N/A did not meet minimum requirements

Source: realestate.com.au 12 months to August 31

The post Property hunters are making a beeline for these areas appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Catherine Gregory who moved into her home in New Town — Hobart’s best ‘burb for demand growth — a week ago. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

FIRST homebuyer Catherine Gregory was undeterred by busy open homes when buying her New Town property.

She says while the inspection was a case of “love at first sight”, she kept her calm, sought advice, made lists of questions for the agent and returned to the house multiple times to ensure all of her boxes were ticked.

“I moved in one week ago after 12 years living in share houses,” she said.

“I wanted a house rather than a unit because a house feels more “yours” to me.

Catherine Gregory who moved into her first home last week. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“The price feels great compared to what my siblings would be looking at in London and Sydney, and my home is also large enough that I could rent out a room or two to help with the bills.”

Ms Gregory, 31, moved to Tassie this year after stints overseas and in Melbourne and Canberra.

When house hunting, she started out looking in Hobart city but found homes of a similar price were smaller, or a “renovators delight” compared to the house she bought just minutes up the road in New Town.

Ms Gregory’s city fringe home with heaps of yard space.

“I wanted space, some greenery and a place to grow vegetables,” she said.

“New Town is so close to restaurants, cafes, the supermarket — it is convenient.

“Another part of the draw to Tasmania was IMAS and the chance to study — which I was missing — plus nature, trekking, surfing, diving; everything is at your fingertips here.”

The post First homebuyer gets foot in door of desired suburb appeared first on realestate.com.au.