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Viewbank has been crowned Melbourne’s speediest property market, with houses typically flying off the shelves in less than three weeks.

Houses sold in a median of 17 days over the past year in the popular suburb, which agents say is being buoyed by leafy streets and top schools.

Realestate.com.au data shows North Warrandyte and Seddon houses were also snapped up at rapid rates, notching sales at a median of 18.5 and 19.5 days respectively.

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Properties in Melbourne’s northeast dominated the list of the city’s fastest-selling suburbs, with speedy deals also recorded in Watsonia, Heidelberg and Heidelberg Heights.

Jellis Craig Eltham director Aaron Yeats credited Viewbank’s quick transactions to the area’s top-quality schools.

“Viewbank College is particularly very sought after, and even the local primary school is highly regarded,” Mr Yeats said.

“It definitely is selling a little faster than the suburbs surrounding and I think the reason is the suburb and the school zone are quite tight. So when properties do come up, people are keen to buy when they can.”

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee agreed, noting the fast-selling suburbs pointed towards strong interest in family homes.

“Particularly with the suburbs in the northeast – they are all areas that are leafy and have great access to public transport, but also offer great affordability,” Ms Conisbee said.

Viewbank houses have a $980,000 median sale price, according to realestate.com.au data.

While she expected Victoria’s stage four real estate restrictions to extend the time properties spent on the market, she said it wasn’t curbing buyer interest.

“The issue isn’t demand, because we can see people are still looking at houses,” she said. “It’s just increasingly difficult to make that transaction at the moment.”

For units, Sunbury scored the fastest sales of the past year in a median of 22 days, followed by Clifton Hill and Elwood at 27 days.

Blackbird and Wren Real Estate director Ben Roberts said demand had been strong for several years for Sunbury units, which were attracting first-home buyers and those looking to downsize.

“It’s not unheard of for a well-placed unit in Sunbury to sell after just a few days or a week on the market,” Mr Roberts said.

He said the market might see an upswing in fast-paced sales after lockdown, as budding first-home buyers who had been forced to put their purchasing plans on hold flooded back into the market.

christina.karras@news.com.au

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HOUSES

(Suburb, median number of days on market)

1. Viewbank, 17

2. North Warrandyte, 18.5

3. Seddon, 19.5

4. Watsonia, 19.5

5. Dingley Village, 21

6. Murrumbeena, 22

7. Heidelberg, 23

8. Woori Yallock, 23

9. Bayswater, 24.5

10. Heidelberg Heights, 24.5

UNITS

(Suburb, median number of days on market)

1. Sunbury, 22

2. Clifton Hill, 27

3. Elwood, 27

4. Balaclava, 27.5

5. Balwyn North, 29

6. Bayswater North, 29

7. Bentleigh, 29.5

8. East Melbourne, 30

9. Ferntree Gully, 30

10. Kew, 30

Source: realestate.com.au

The post Melbourne’s fastest-selling suburbs: Viewbank, North Warrandyte top list appeared first on realestate.com.au.

WHEN Frank Bowling and Barbara Makepeace designed their dream home on Tasmania’s East Coast they truly left no stone unturned.

From sustainable living building principles to carefully selected materials, from the inspired floorplans to the orientation of the house, every inch of the property was well considered and then built with a craftsman’s eye for detail.

The definition of a dream home will vary from person to person, and for Frank and Barbara this ocean-side coastal home was their dream.

They bought the land about five years ago after finding it “almost by chance”.

Frank said they knew it was the place for them immediately after laying eyes on the glorious, almost 180-degree ocean views.

“We designed the house with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise those views,” he said.

“It is paradise. You can watch the waves breaking and the whales swimming past each year.”

Frank described the home as particularly well built.

“With its insulation properties, orientation and passive solar design we don’t need any heating or cooling, aside from occasionally running a fire if there is an extended run of wet weather, ” he said.

“The walls of the house are about 500mm thick and are made from a rather attractive looking rammed earth and concrete block that looks similar to sandstone.

“Some of the internal walls are lined with limestone, which makes large feature walls.

“And we have a sliding barn door design for the internal doors.”

Frank said the home had a large thermal mass and was completely soundproof, too.

“To hear the waves you have to open a door or crack a window open,” he said.

“The windows, a German design, have a two-way action to swing open or lean back.”

Barbara and Frank named their property Wombat Cove, inspired by the location and the visitors that come by the property.

Less than two hour’s drive from Launceston, 15 minutes to Scamander or 20 to St Marys, this property feels peaceful and private, yet not isolated.

Its absolute coastal frontage includes private beach access.

Indoors or out, there are myriad vantage points from which to enjoy the location.

Inside the house, living and dining areas are highlighted by spotted gum floors that flow to fabulous decks.

One in particular that grabs they eye is a sheltered retreat that is the ultimate indoor-outdoor room.

The house has tall ceilings that give the interiors a spacious, light and airy feel.

An entry foyer is positioned near the centre of the home.

To one side there is a laundry and then the master bedroom suite with an impressive ensuite and the luxury of a walk-in wardrobe.

On the other side of the foyer there is a splendid median room/home office, the main bathroom, a bedroom — both bedrooms boast unforgettable views — and the open-plan living zone, including the kitchen.

Equipped with European appliances — Miele and Siemens — the chic kitchen features stone surfaces, an island bench and ample storage.

The home office is enhanced by 60Mbps fixed wireless broadband and the property has ethernet cabling and Wi-Fi connectivity throughout.

Back outside there are landscaped areas, a dam filled 24,000-litre water tank, an automated irrigation system, a secure double garage and a workshop.

There is a separate self-contained studio (calling all handymen and artists, this spot’s for you) a 7.8m x 5.7m space with a sun deck and the property’s third bathroom.

Barbara, a trained horticulturalist, has created absolutely spectacular gardens, primarily with Australian natives, alongside extensive vegetable gardens inside pest-proof enclosures. And there is a small vineyard, too.

The orchard is home to cherries, figs, apricots, lemons, passionfruit, berries and much more.

While the impressive features of this property also include 90,000 litres of rainwater storage, three-phase underground power, extensive solar panels, historic sealers’ walls, a Nectre fireplace and a pizza oven, it might be the location and the views that are the elements that stay with you the longest.

No.21428 Tasman Highway at Four Mile Creek is listed with Knight Frank and will be sold by expressions of interest.

The post Watch whales swim by from your deck on the East Coast appeared first on realestate.com.au.