Blog

No. 5/41 Roslyn Street, Rushcutters Bay, has a $225k price guide.

It’s just a tiny 31 sqm space in a rundown state but parents are considering this Rushcutters Bay studio with a $225k price guide as a first home for their children.

“We also had investors considering buying it with their super,” says ~ Delaney of BresicWhitney of Saturday’s open home.

Delaney had 60 inquiries on the first day that 5/41 Roslyn Street hit realestate.com.au.

There’s also been considerable interest from builders seeing the potential of the company title unit in the character-filled building.

MORE:
$18m Bronte house passes in

Ex healthcare chief sells for $11.5m+

The apartment has built-in wardrobes and a pull-down bed.

The apartment has high decorative ceilings, a stained-glass window, built-in wardrobes, a pull-down bed and shared rooftop with district views.

They’re thinking they could do a cheap reno and on-sell it at a much higher price.

There were 15 groups through Saturday’s open home. “We also had a couple of lowball offers, with one guy offering $150k,” Delaney said.

“It’s quite run down so that’s turned a few people off.”

On the positive side, it’s in a good location close to the city.

Builders are considering it as something they could do up cheaply and on-sell for a higher price.

It’s an easy walk to the harbour, CBD and Kings Cross station.

Some of the older people viewing the property liked that it was close by St Lukes Private Hospital.

The current owner had lived there for 18 years, but has recently moved into aged care.

The apartment is scheduled for October 8 auction.

The post Studio in exclusive Rushcutters Bay up for sale with $225k price guide appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Peterhead property at 104 Mead St starred on House Rules in 2014. Pic: Ray White Woodville

The ink has dried on the sale of a Peterhead character home that attracted national attention when it starred on House Rules.

The villa at 104 Mead Street, which featured on Channel 7’s 2014 season of the reality renovation show, sold for $695,000 shortly after its auction and settled this month.

Selling agent Jonathon Kiritsis, of Ray White Woodville, said a local buyer snapped it up following strong competition.

It was rundown and tired prior to its renovation. Pic: Ray White Woodville

Now it has a modern chic style. Pic: Ray White Woodville

A white palette and wood floors give it a fresh look. Pic: Ray White Woodville

“After auction, there were probably about three to four key parties who made contact that were interested in the property,” he said.

“In the end that buyer was actually a whole new buyer who didn’t come through the auction campaign.

“They wanted something (of) character that was renovated already.”

Mr Kiritsis said demand for the five-bedroom home was strong from the moment the campaign kicked off, with three househunters making offers after it was passed it at auction.

MORE NEWS

The renovation you need to see to believe

Big wave of sales make seaside region a hit

Character home offers colourful blast from the past

“At auction, we had a huge crowd and we had two parties that were bidding live,” he said.

The 1910-built home, which property records show last sold for $331,160 in 2013, has come a long way since it appeared on House Rules six years ago.

Owner Mel Chatfield planned to restore the property from the day she bought it but the show gave her the chance to transform it into her dream home.

Imagine relaxing in this bath. Pic: Ray White Woodville

Now that’s a feature wall! Pic: Ray White Woodville

“There were holes in the floor, the windows were boarded up, there was no electricity in the back of the house and no hot water – but I could see the potential,” she said when it hit the market in July.

“I was genuinely passionate about restoring the character of the home and making it into a big, warm, family home, and the plan was to do this slowly.

“I was then approached by House Rules and it was a great opportunity for me to fulfil my dreams for the home – so I accepted the offer and the journey began from there.

“I’ve since applied the finishing touches to the inside of the home and spent a lot of time fixing up the outside as that wasn’t part of the show.”

Ms Chatfield decided to sell the home so she and her daughter could downsize.

The post South Australian character home that starred on House Rules sells appeared first on realestate.com.au.

This house at 128 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington sold at auction fro $1.262 million.

COVID-19 cancelled his August wedding but Jackson Tobin was determined to buy a house for his would-be bride at auction on Saturday, far away from where they are currently in lockdown.

“It’s been raining all morning,” Mr Tobin said from his home in Melbourne. “We’d just had breakfast and decided to go back to bed, wait for the rain to stop and bid at the auction before we do our one hour of exercise together.”

A relaxed back deck with views over the neighbourhood.

Mr Tobin was one of 12 bidders to register to buy the three-bedroom Queensland cottage at 128 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington, at auction, with Ray White Paddington’s Judi O’Dea calling him her “favourite lockdown person”.

Interested parties gather in the backyard before the auction begins.

RELATED

Melburnians invading the Far Northern property market

Queensland’s suburban buying boom

“I’m determined to find him a house,” Ms O’Dea said. “And this is a hot property, particularly with families.”

“He bid at an auction last weekend, he’s been looking for three months and he had to cancel his wedding a couple of weeks back because of the lockdown.”

128 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington

As soon as auctioneer Justin Nickerson called for the opening bid, Mr Tobin threw $800,000 on the table, via a phone bid.

“I know first-hand, people are telling me straight up that they’re moving to Brisbane as soon as they can,” Mr Tobin said. “It’s at the point where I’m not even showing them the houses we’re looking at in case they go for the same property, and I’m pretty sure they’re doing the same thing.

“May the best person win and may that person be me.”

An answering bid of $900,000 came from a couple under the swing set in the backyard of the 357sq m inner-city property.

Mr Tobin answered with $950,000 and then a third bidder raised the property to $1m, already more than double the price Jonathan and Jessica Grealy paid for the property in 2005.

Jonathan and Jessica Grealy with their daughter Mya, 9, sell their home at 128 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington.

“I always wanted to create something that feels really comfortable and homely and relaxing and that is how it’s been for all of us,” Mrs Grealy said.

Brett and Rita Lawrie were also standing under the swing set. They were looking for their next family home in proximity to a block of units which Rita’s parents had built in the area.

“We live just down the road,” Mr Lawrie said.

The kitchen at 128 Kennedy Terrace.

At $1.175m Mr Lawrie entered the auction, joining five other active bidders among the crowd of more than 60 gathered under the back deck, on the kerb and in the backyard.

Five minutes into the auction a seventh bidder, on the phone from Taringa in Brisbane’s inner west, entered the auction with a bid of $1.22m.

Auctioneer Justin Nickerson looks toward the Taringa phone bidder during the auction of 128 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington.

“He was in love with this property,” Ms O’Dea said. “Not the typical profile, the family is a little older.”

At $1.255m with the family from Taringa in front, the auction was paused to seek instructions from the sellers. The house was announced on the market and after a short volley of bids, the house sold for $1.262m to the family from Taringa.

“That’s okay, we’re looking at Gordon Park and Nundah next, with the help of in-laws who are our eyes up there,” Mr Tobin said.

SEE WHAT’S FOR SALE IN GORDON PARK AND NUNDAH

“The bids started to creep up, it was about $100,000 over where we wanted to go.

“Those more sought-after inner-city pockets are getting a bit more up there.”

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

The post Wedding cancelled but Melbourne bidder determined to move to Brisbane appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Debra Wilmot at her home, which was stranded on the market due to the physical inspections ban. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Melbourne homeowners and tenants facing homelessness and financial strife are pleading with Premier Daniel Andrews to allow physical home inspections to resume.

The crucial element in the buying and leasing processes has been outlawed in Melbourne since early August.

The government plans to extend the ban to October 26, assuming Victoria records fewer than five daily coronavirus cases over the two weeks prior.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said the harsh ruling had been made despite none of the state’s coronavirus cases being directly linked to real estate activity.

RELATED: Melbourne lockdown real estate restrictions leave homeowners in limbo

Billions to be wiped from Victorian economy as spring market ban extends

‘Grim day’ as Melbourne’s real estate lockdown extended

Ms Calnan said the institute met with the government last week to push for private inspections to be brought forward to the second step on the state’s road map to reopening, due to kick in from September 28.

She said the road map announcement had sparked dozens of “heartbreaking” calls from buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords, including people who had already bought new homes and now couldn’t sell their old ones.

“Tenants, too, are needing to move out to meet new COVID-19 budgets but they can’t view properties,” she said.

“Providing shelter should be an essential service.

“In the meeting, we also raised that … we’ve continually mentioned to the government if they’ve heard of any cases (linked to real estate activity), please let us know. But we haven’t heard of any cases.”

Mr Andrews said on Sunday he was “happy to have a look at” reviewing the inspections ban in certain circumstances. But he added: “People are buying houses they haven’t seen. Online auctions are still happening.”

OBrien Keysborough director Darren Hutchins said very few people were willing to “take on property they can’t physically inspect”, and many of his vendors and landlords were “struggling” as a result.

Debra Wilmot’s Postregna Way, Skye home was left stranded on the market by the ongoing private inspections ban.

Debra Wilmot’s Skye home of 13 years was stranded on the market due to the “ridiculous” private inspections ban.

Ms Wilmot said she “had to sell” after being stood down from her catering and events job as she “didn’t know if I’d get my job back at all”.

She was initially delighted when it appeared her house had sold after six days on the market, but the deal fell through when the purchasers couldn’t get finance.

Her agent, Ray White Langwarrin’s Nicholas Cassidy, told her not to worry at the time as he had “people lined up ready to inspect” when the ban was lifted. But that is now several more weeks away.

“I was very stressed by it all,” she said.

The owner of 19 Coowarra Way, Berwick, spent $130,000 renovating the house to sell, but then Melbourne’s stage four lockdown got in the way.

Ronen, who declined to provide his surname, fears he won’t be able to settle on a Gembrook investment property he bought earlier this year, after the sale of his Berwick house stalled.

The father of three said he poured about $130,000 into renovating 19 Coowarra Way and listed it “the day before stage four” restrictions kicked in.

“The property is just sitting there (and) settlement for the other house is coming up. The vendor agreed to delay it (to November 31), but they said they can’t do anything more after that,” he said.

“There’s no way, with the current road map, we’ll be able to sell before then. I’m trying to get bridging finance, but that’s a challenge.

“What the government is doing with lockdown is the right way to go. But the ability to do one-on-one inspections, I don’t reckon is going to risk the community.”

MORE: How to present your house for sale during stage four lockdown

Melbourne lockdown to drive exodus to regional Victoria, interstate

Treasurer Tim Pallas hints at real estate lifeline

samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Melbourne lockdown: Homeowners plea for inspections ban to end appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Little Bay Amanda White said she was particular about cleaning. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us all obsessed with cleaning, according to new research.

A study of households across capital cities revealed Sydneysiders devoted the most time to cleaning their properties and were more likely to get into arguments over household chores.

Harbour City residents also spent the most time ironing and washing up, with about a third of those surveyed admitting they spent an average of more than six hours every week doing these activities.

MORE: Sydney’s most popular suburbs to buy a home

Woman weds previous owner of her house

How to snag a property at auction this spring

Adelaide residents were the messiest measured by the amount of time they spent cleaning, with Brisbane residents close behind. About 77 per cent of residents in these cities said they spent less than three hours cleaning their homes each week.

The time Perth and Melbourne residents spent cleaning their homes was marginally lower than in Sydney, according to the poll of more than 1000 Aussies by Fantastic Services Group.

The cleaning firm’s CEO Rune Sovndahl said housing styles in capital cities may also have an influence on different cleaning priorities.

Sydney residents tended to have the smallest properties, which may explain a lower tolerance for clutter.

Housing costs were also higher — an incentive for Sydney residents to be more aware of the upkeep of their properties, Mr Sovndahl said.

Sydneysiders spend the most time vacuuming their houses.

“It could be that Sydney residents feel a sense of pressure to maintain these high standards, or perhaps are just more house proud than our other capital cities,” he said.

Little Bay resident Amanda White said she could empathise with that sentiment.

“You go to work and most of it’s to pay the mortgage. You want to be proud of your house so you want to keep it neat and tidy. We do a lot of cleaning,” she said.

“It easy for clutter to build up and, I wouldn’t say I’m OCD, but I really don’t like that.”

Mr Sovndahl said there was a general sense of increased concern and anxiety over the cleanliness of surfaces because of COVID-19.

Sydneysiders’ lower tolerance for clutter could be due to the smaller units.

“Due to the pandemic, we’ve noted many of our clients have wanted to increase the frequency of their cleans, going from fortnightly to weekly,” Mr Sovndahl said.

This often resulted in unusual requests, he said.

“One of our cleaners recently sanitised every single individual toy in a clients’ home … it took hours.”

The most effective cleaning for COVID-19 focused on high traffic touch points such as the kitchen, light switches and door handles, Mr Sovndahl said.

The post Study reveals which Aussie cities have the cleanest and dirtiest homes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Single mum Chris-maree Wilson has found a buyer for the Newcomb house she renovated with help from daughters Paris and Zara. Picture: Peter Ristevski

A single mum’s DYI renovation effort has set a new price benchmark for a Newcomb street on the border of East Geelong.

Interior design enthusiast Chris-maree Wilson sold her revamped character home for $660,000 after a bidding war between two buyers.

The sale of the four-bedroom, two bathroom weatherboard house at 33 Boundary Road beat the previous top price in the street by $100,000.

RELATED: Why buyers are chasing these Geelong hotspots

Buyers desperate to see inside ‘Blade House’

New estates launched in Armstrong Creek, Leopold

33 Boundary Rd, Newcomb is on the border of East Geelong.

The kitchen blends old and new features.

Ms Wilson and her daughters Paris and Zara spent a year restoring the house and turning the double garage into a ‘she-shed’.

McGrath, Geelong agent Wayne Baker said a local couple outbid Melbourne buyers who inspected the 723sq m property early in the campaign before the capital’s second lockdown.

He said it was great result that set a benchmark for the area.

The house has a great outdoor connection.

The main living has another fireplace.

“It was a great size property with a great street frontage, a beautiful character home,” Mr Baker said.

“A lovely couple looking for this style of home bought it.

“They were living in an urban modern home and they have always loved character homes and they loved what they saw.”

Ms Wilson’s renovation blends restored period features, like original timber lining and open fireplaces, with a sympathetic kitchen update and the addition of a second bathroom.

The Wilsons have made great use of their ‘she shed’ during recent lockdowns. Picture: Peter Ristevski

The new owners can bathe inside …

… or out.

There are four bedrooms at the front of the house, a central kitchen/dining room and a large living room at the rear with french doors onto an outdoor entertainment area.

Other features include garaging for six cars and an outdoor claw foot bath.

“It was very quirky,” Mr Baker said.

The property was last traded in 2014 for $390,000, CoreLogic records show.

Newcomb’s median house price is $453,000, up 4 per cent on 12 months ago, according to Hometrack data.

MORE NEWS:

Geelong West house beats price hopes by $87K

How to build a low-cost sustainable house

Landmark Geelong West heritage villa on market

The post Single mum’s Newcomb renovation sets price benchmark for street appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Singer and Actress Willow Smith has reportedly bought her first home. Picture: Realtor

The teenage daughter of Hollywood superstar Will Smith has made big splash on her first venture into the property market.

Singer and actress Willow Smith has a new spot to whip her hair back and forth, after purchasing a scenic LA retreat for $4.3 million (US$3.1 million).

The daughter of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, who also hosts her own talk-show, picked up the cool coastal pad last month.

RELATED: Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke is selling LA house

Friends star Matthew Perry is selling his ‘kickass Malibu house’

Inside Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez’s new $45 million island home

Singer and Actress Willow Smith has reportedly bought her first home. Picture: Realtor

Singer and Actress Willow Smith has reportedly bought her first home. Picture: Realtor

Built in 2011, the single-story pad has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, spanning across 280 sqm of living space, on just shy of a 2020 sqm of land.

The home had previously sold in 2013 for US$2.6 million, according to Realtor records.

A previous listing noted that the property had also been available to lease for $18,000 a month.

The modern abode has glorious Pacific Ocean and mountain views, and boasts an open floor plan, with a sustainable space built with solar power, energy-efficient appliances, and a greywater recycling system.

Will Smith, Willow Smith and Karl Lagerfeld attend the Chanel Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2016-2017 show in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Singer and Actress Willow Smith has reportedly bought her first home. Picture: Realtor

Singer and Actress Willow Smith has reportedly bought her first home. Picture: Realtor

The upscale amenities include surround sound, power shades, floor-to-ceiling windows, sliding doors that open to a private yard, and security cameras.

The main bedroom with fireplace has includes a spa-style bath in the ensuite.

Other home details include a three-sided fireplace, French oak wood floors, and custom windows with window seats.

MORE: Aussie house sells for eye-popping $95 million

New Block rule that could ruin the season

Mum reveals her simple strategy to building a 20-house portfolio

Willow Smith and Jaden Smith in New York City in 2016. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

The spacious covered patios and decks have unobstructed ocean and mountain views.

Smith also is not too far from her parents, who own a massive 150-acre estate in the hills of Calabasas.

The 19-year-old Smith is already a highly accomplished star. In 2007, she made her acting debut in the blockbuster film “I Am Legend,” with her father in the lead role.

Her debut single, “Whip My Hair,” hit No. 11 on the Billboard Top 100 chart in 2010. Last year, she released her third studio album, “Willow.”

The post Will Smith’s daughter Willow Smith buys her first house for $4.3 million appeared first on realestate.com.au.

474 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills is a former display home with plenty of wow factor.

Be in your element at this “artful and daring” house where earth, wind, fire and water were the cornerstone in the design.

Built as Comdain Homes’s Akasha display home, the property at 474 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, blends modern Australian architecture with timber, stone and metal to create a luxe living domain.

It also embraces passive-solar design principles and features solar panels, a Tesla battery and array of high-end, energy-efficient elements.

RELATED:
Surrey Hills house turned from ‘rabbit warren’ to wonderland

Balwyn North house designed around infinity-edge pool for sale

Elmhurst House, Kew: Storybook charm goes up a gable

Luxury is taken to new heights at the modern home.

The front yard definitely makes a statement.

The property is on the market with a $3.95-$4.34m price guide.

Marshall White’s Eva Gyorodi said “wow factor” presented at every turn of the “flashy” home.

She added a buyer could also opt to purchase the furniture, which was all custom made for the property.

“You can’t get these pieces anywhere else, everything is made for the home to fit the area,” she said. “It fits like a glove.”

The sexy black marble kitchen.

Pool views from the living room.

The custom home, designed by architect Nicholas Orfanidis, features an infinity-edge pool in the front yard which takes full advantage of the north sun.

Full length windows maximise the light inside, and the property is orientated to capture the sun and its warmth in winter, while keeping the home cool in summer with natural breezes.

A fireplace encased in a double-height feature wall in the dining area and a fire pit in the outdoor entertainment area will be popular places to host guests.

Natural materials were used throughout the design.

Ms Gyorodi said the sleek black marble island bench in the kitchen and a marble feature wall with gold specks behind the main bedroom’s freestanding bath were highlights.

“The marble is stunning,” she said. “That was the first thing that grabbed me when I walked in.”

Black and gold feature heavily in the main bedroom’s ensuite.

Other luxury additions include a showcase wine cellar, executive study and C-Bus home automation system, which allows everything to be controlled through an iPad.

The opulent kitchen is another standout, thanks to its top-line Miele appliances including an induction cooktop, steam and pyrolytic ovens, a warming draw, a vacuum sealing drawer and a coffee machine.

Comdain Homes described the former display home as a project that was “artful and daring” and “unique and thoughtful.”

“This design turns traditional thinking on its head,” the home builder stated.

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

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

COVID-19 quarantine hotel: Rydges on Swanston, Carlton sells

The post Surrey Hills house inspired by earth, wind, fire, water appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 66 Townson Street at Blakehurst is not your average home.

With a mini golf course, 4K cinema, a hand built fire pit and a heated lap pool, this Sydney house will no doubt be the talk of the town.

The custom built house at Blakehurst with flashy walk-in wardrobes, an aquarium and mood lighting is for sale after recently being completed.

MORE: Inside Karl Stefanovic’s new waterfront mansion

Mansion with insane Swarovski chandelier to shatter record

Lavish dance studio estate to shatter records

Listed with Ray White — Georges River agents Haydon Sacilotto and Fraser Glen, the four-bedroom residence at 66 Townson Street is expected to sell for around $4m via private treaty.

The fire pit can hold 14 people and is one of the main features of the house.

The extravagant home was completed by the vendor after he purchased the property three-quarters finished from a friend. Mr Sacilotto said the owner had plenty of input into the finished product, including the hand built sandstone fire pit and putting green.

Mr Sacilotto has had more than 100 inquires on the Townson Street dwelling and close to 2000 page views on realestate.com.au since it came up for sale last week

“You’d be stoked to have 100 inquires over the course of a campaign, but to get that in the first week is incredible,” he said.

No expense has been spared.

This cinema is certainly going to be popular with the family.

Mr Sacilotto said buyers have loved the uniqueness and that the home is not a traditional “cookie cutter house” built by a developer.

“Everything here has been done for the family and there are so many features that a regular builder wouldn’t dream to do,” he said.

All four bedrooms are oversized and feature walk-in wardrobes and ensuites. The main bedroom is complete with water views and a stunning ensuite with a freestanding stone bath, shower and his/her vanity, while two other bedrooms have private lofts.

The kitchen has a butler’s pantry, breakfast bar and designer appliances.

The main living space has a fireplace and fish tank.

The main living space is open plan in design with feature ceilings, an aquarium and a built-in fireplace. This is connected to the high-end kitchen equipped with a butler’s pantry, Miele appliances, and Calcutta benchtops.

Behind the central hub is the rear entertaining desk with a built-in barbecue, pizza oven and bar fridge. This overlooks a stylish backyard with a custom 14-seater sandstone fire pit and a heated pool.

Mood lighting can be found in the walk-in wardrobes that also have display cabinets.

The main bedroom has water views.

The double garage features the other highlight of the house — a cinema with a 130in screen, 4K projector, surround sound and a fully stocked bar.

Mood lighting can be found right throughout the property, including in the bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes, the cinema and at the front where there is a multi-hole mini golf course equipped with obstacles and bunkers.

CoreLogic records reveal the home would be one of the most expensive properties to ever sell on Townson Street is sells for around $4m.

SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER

The post Extraordinary Blakehurst home has mini golf course and hand built fire pit appeared first on realestate.com.au.