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An aerial view of 297-299 Monaco St, Broadbeach Waters (far right).

FOR a fun-loving social couple with two young boys, home for Billy and Jackie Cross has been as much a space for family as for entertaining.

Having purchased their Broadbeach Waters plot with a knockdown house in 2009, the couple worked with Bayden Goddard Design Architects to bring their vision to life.

The house is well designed for entertaining, relaxation and play.

Their sprawling LA-inspired mansion, at 297-299 Monaco Street, has a relaxed elegance about it, with multiple areas for rest, exercise and play.

“It’s a big house with a lovely open plan, but the spaces still feel intimate,” said Mr Cross, who credits wife Jackie for the styling.

“Having two young boys, it’s been an amazing place for them to grow up in.”

The LA-inspired design gives off a relaxed sense of elegance.

There are multiple areas for relaxation and low-key socialising.

Full height stacker doors allow the indoor living areas to flow easily onto alfresco entertainment spaces, where the aspect takes in a pool, a tennis court and main river.

“We’re on nearly 2600 sqm of land with a park across the road and the main river at the back,” said Mr Cross.

“Laying out there watching the boats and jet skis go by on main river is a really relaxing place to be and a great space for entertaining.”

A tennis court, pool, gymnasium and river frontage create opportunities for recreation.

An outdoor kitchen is equipped with teppanyaki facilities and three wine fridges, in addition to the temperature controlled 2000-bottle cellar inside.

Entertaining is second nature for the vivacious entrepreneur, who shot to fame in the 1980s as the founding member of hit male stage show Manpower.

The outdoor areas offer views of the river and city skyline.

Mr Cross went on to run a string of nightclubs in Surfers Paradise and Las Vegas, where his Thunder from Down Under show has been a roaring success.

Waking up to a gym, steam room and massage room have made home workouts a breeze, while sons Nick, now 17 and Josh, 21 made the most of the tennis-come-basketball court over the years.

The man cave has been a favourite feature for Mr Cross.

But the hands-down favourite feature goes to the man cave, which Mr Cross describes as “one of the best on the Gold Coast”.

It’s kitted out with a bar, wine fridges, classic pub pool table and seven televisions for the ultimate sporting feast.

“You can watch the races, footy and AFL at the same time,” Mr Cross said.

“It has been a great space to have the boys over for punting sessions on a Saturday or late night parties.”

Wide glass windows allow for a connection with the outdoors.

An annual Australia Day gathering has been a longstanding event on the Cross social calendar, but with their sons now grown up, life is moving into a new phase.

“We’ve bought the penthouse in White at Main Beach, so we’ll be starting a new chapter close to the restaurants and cafes there,” Mr Cross said.

“I’m excited and emotional. I love the aspect of walking to the shops to grab coffee and bagels from the bakery in the mornings, and late night Thai or Italian.

“But at the same time we’ve spent 12 years in this house so we will miss it.”

Michael Kollosche is taking expressions of interest until October 7.

The post Inside the LA-inspired mansion of Manpower founder Billy Cross appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Competition for Gold Coast real estate is the hottest it has been in more than a decade with properties across the city reportedly being snapped up within days of hitting the market.

Agents across the Coast are reporting record attendance at open homes and auctions with multiple offers being made on quality properties in sought-after suburbs.

CoreLogic data shows the fastest-selling suburb is Pacific Pines where properties are changing hands 24 days faster in the three months to June than last year, with an average 21 days on market.

A five-bedroom house at 25 White Cap Close, Pacific Pines sold for $750,000 within 28 days on market.

Houses in Burleigh Heads are being snapped up in 23 days – 24 days faster than in 2019 – while the average days on market in Mudgeeraba was 25 – 11 days less than last year.

The super hot southern suburbs of Palm Beach and Tugun also featured in the top 10, while homes in Broadbeach Waters and Mermaid Waters are also selling quickly.

Leading buyer’s agent Jordan Navybox, managing director of Cohen Handler, said the Gold Coast market was the hottest he had seen since 2007.

He said his firm had seen a surge in requests from frustrated and desperate buyers asking for assistance to find a property and negotiate a sale.

“We’re hearing from lots of buyers who are missing out on properties in multiple offer scenarios or at auctions where there are 15-20 registered bidders,” he said.

A 1930s cottage at 50 Ewart St, Burleigh Heads sold for $1.35 million at auction following a 25-day campaign.

Mr Navybox said sale prices had jumped 10 per cent since COVID struck, which was catching out buyers who were basing offers on outdated prices.

“A lot of people use sales from six months ago, but property prices on the Gold Coast have increased by 10 per cent since the start of COVID,” he said.

“Buyers should be basing their price research on sales in the last 30-60 days.”

For those buyers wanting to get some skin in the game, the number one tip is to avoid a situation where you’re competing with multiple buyers.

“When you see a property come on the market that you like the look of, ring the agent and ask if you can see it privately that day,” Mr Navybox said.

“There are going to be 25 other buyers there on a Saturday, get in before them.”

A designer new build at 3 Lagoon Way, Mudgeeraba sold for $4.6 million within a week of being listed.

When it comes to auctions, Mr Navybox advises asking if the seller is in a position to sell today and start negotiations ahead of the auction.

“Waiting until the auction allows the agent three to four extra weeks to gather interest,” he said.

“Turning up at auction with your hand in the air puts you up against the competition.”

Buying in a hot market required different strategies, Mr Navybox added, with buyers advised to be guided by what the selling agent was telling you.

“If the agent says there are multiple offers on the table, in this market they probably are,” he said.

“When a property is listed for offers over on the Gold Coast, nine times out of 10 it will sell for over that price.”

Top 10 fastest selling Gold Coast suburbs

(Suburb / days on market 2020 / 2019)

Pacific Pines 21 (45)

Burleigh Heads 23 (47)

Mudgeeraba 25 (36)

Worongary 25 (45)

Palm Beach 27 (37)

Tugun 31 (38)

Broadbeach Waters 32 (56)

Highland Park 32 (30)

Elanora 33 (48)

Mermaid Waters 35 (65)

* Source: Core Logic April-June 2020

The post Fastest selling Gold Coast suburbs appeared first on realestate.com.au.

15 Mary Bale Dr, Tallebudgera.

There’s a very good reason why leafy Tallebudgera is among the top suburbs online house hunters are honing in on.

Less than 10 minutes after rinsing the sand off your feet at the beach, you can be stepping into the privacy of a peaceful bush setting.

Open plan living areas open onto a timber deck with a bush backdrop.

Nestled on 4748 sqm, this newly built two-level residence at 15 Mary Bale Drive enjoys a north east aspect where the surrounding treescape can never be built out.

Brisbane-based RC Designs teamed up with Empire Homes to deliver the modern industrial design, which was the most-viewed Queensland property on listings site realestate.com.au this week.

A wide window in the master suite reveals a sea of green.

Over-size windows and sliding doors offer a green vista at every opportunity.

Soaring ceilings add to the sense of space in the open plan living areas with polished concrete creating a consistent palette throughout.

The 13m magnesium pool is heated for year-round use.

A 13m heated magnesium pool allows for year-round swimming while bushwalking is an everyday option in the adjoining koala reserve.

“The floor plan, attention to detail and choice of high quality finishes really stand out,” said Ray White agent Karyn O’Dea, who is marking the property.

“The way in which they’ve combined nature into a practical, modern design is very appealing.”

The property is open for inspection on Saturday, 19 September, 11.30am-12pm while expressions of interest close on September 21.

The modern industrial design is drawing attention online.

The post Tallebudgera new build is Qld’s most popular house appeared first on realestate.com.au.