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17 Turquoise Court, Aldinga Beach. Pic: realestate.com.au

The humble Aussie backyard has been pushed into the spotlight in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

While many have shrunk over the years to cater to Australians’ changing lifestyles, widespread lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19 have highlighted their importance.

Children are among those who suffered most because they had limited space to play outside and burn off all their energy.

So on their behalf, we’ve found some of the best homes on the market with cubby houses and play equipment that will keep them entertained if we’re all forced to stay at home again.

17 Turquoise Court, Aldinga Beach

Price: $399,000 to $419,000

17 Turquoise Court, Aldinga Beach. Pic: realestate.com.au

Cubby houses don’t get much cuter than the one in this beachside home’s backyard.

With planter boxes hanging from the balustrades on its veranda and a bell by the front door, it’s mini owners will feel right at home from the moment they step inside.

There is also a sandpit attached to one side of the cubby house, while manicured gardens surround it.

17 Turquoise Court, Aldinga Beach. Pic: realestate.com.au

17 Acton Avenue, Windsor Gardens

Price: $515,000 to $535,000

17 Acton Avenue, Windsor Gardens. Pic: realestate.com.au

Children with lots of energy will be jumping for joy when they see the cubby house that comes with this three-bedroom home.

The two-storey wooden structure has a sandpit in the middle with monkey bars connecting the two sides.

A slide offers an easy way down from the top on one side, while there is space underneath to store bikes and other outdoor equipment.

17 Acton Avenue, Windsor Gardens. Pic: realestate.com.au

4 Rehn Court, Redwood Park

Price: $549,000 to 599,000

4 Rehn Court, Redwood Park. Pic: realestate.com.au

This one is for all the indecisive children out there struggling to choose between a playground or cubby house for their backyard.

The two-level structure offers the best of both worlds, with the cubby house on the bottom and a platform at the top to service the slide.

If that’s not enough, there is also a swing attached to the side of the gable-roofed structure.

4 Rehn Court, Redwood Park. Pic: realestate.com.au

47 Barker Road, Prospect

Price: $1,150,000 to $1,250,000

47 Barker Road, Prospect. Pic: realestate.com.au

Just like the home it shares the property with, this cubby house has character charm that will be envied by all the other kids in the neighbourhood.

A sloping green roof with small chimney and a wraparound deck make it look and feel more like a home than a makeshift cubby.

It’s also ideally positioned between a tree and the garage along the back fence to ensure the grassed area is free to be used for other activities.

47 Barker Road, Prospect. Pic: realestate.com.au

1 Barrow Road, Golden Grove

Price: $700,000

1 Barrow Road, Golden Grove. Pic: realestate.com.au

Children will be spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment in this five-bedroom home’s backyard.

A blue cubby house with a corrugated roof and small front deck offers the perfect spot to host tea parties and let their imaginations run wild.

On the other side of the backyard, there is a climbing frame with a spider swing, footholds and a rope to satisfy the more adventurous kids.

1 Barrow Road, Golden Grove. Pic: realestate.com.au

The post Top 5: Adelaide homes with fun-filled backyards children will love appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Art Deco Birtley Towers was built during the Depression in 1934.

When Rodney Hinde and John-Eric Xavier walked into a top-floor apartment in the Elizabeth Bay block Birtley Towers for the first time five years ago, they immediately saw its potential.

“We felt the magic,” says Hinde.

“My favourite thing was the dining room — it jumps out like a little belvedere … I have an antique dining table that I’ve been taking with me for 20 years and I thought it’s going to look great in here.”

They bought the 75sq m apartment at 86/8 Birtley Place on the eighth floor for $1,015,000 but have since transformed it. And because of their contacts and expertise, they estimate it cost just $100,000, with an extra $20,000 for the furniture.

Apart from the charm of the Art Deco apartment in the block that was built during the Depression in 1934 and designed by Emil Sodersten, the architect behind the Australian War Memorial and Colonial Mutual building, it was the incredible harbour views.

It’s now hit the market with Richardson & Wrench Elizabeth Bay’s Penny Timothy and Greg McKinley with a $1.69m guide ahead of a September 3 auction.

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BEFORE: The view from the lounge to the dining room.

AFTER: Shades of grey, french doors, new lighting and stylish furnishings and artwork add sophistication.

“It’s unrecognisable from the apartment they bought,” says Timothy. “They’ve done such an incredible job.”

Indeed, friends and others who lived in Birtley Towers were so impressed with the restoration that Hinde and Xavier were called on to redecorate several other apartments and their interior design business, Xavier Hinde Interiors, was born.

Says Hinde: “Our apartment was our first project together and literally our business started because everyone said this is amazing, so we thought let’s give this a go.”

The before and after photos reveal the extent of the changes.

BEFORE: The lounge has very little charm here.

AFTER: Now it’s a beautiful space.

The main differences — apart from the more appropriate furniture for the space — are the darkened floorboards and the introduction of timber panelling, which enhances the heritage as well as creating the illusion of higher ceilings.

Then there’s the colour palette: the grey tones create a sophisticated look and also make the space look bigger.

The single colour from the skirting to the cornice also create the illusion of taller walls and soaring ceilings.

Says Hinde: “The dark ceiling makes the ceiling feel higher — everybody does white ceilings, but dark ceilings actually recede.”

BEFORE: The dining room as it looked in 2015.

AFTER: The antique table, drapes and colour palette makes the dining room look very classy.

The curtains add not only glamour, but also provide a strong vertical which, again, make the ceilings seem higher.

And the mirrored wardrobe completely changes the main bedroom. “It’s probably the cleverest solution for the apartment,” says Hinde.

“In the study, we ripped out the daggy joinery, mirrored the wall and just furnished the room so it felt like a mini gentleman’s study and not such a purely functional home office.”

Adding to the appeal of the apartment are the famous arches windows, which are unique to level eight; the herringbone parquetry floors, European wall sconces and lighting and French doors with brass door hardware.

BEFORE: The master bedroom was functional but the joinery wasn’t appropriate for the Art Deco apartment.

AFTER: The new decor and mirrored wardrobe has transformed it.

The kitchen has a Miele built-in coffee machine, oven, gas cooktop and dishwasher, with Corian benchtops and plenty of storage.

And the large marble bathroom has a full bath and underfloor heating.

The couple consider the fact it’s restricted company title — meaning the apartments in the block can’t be rented out — rather than strata title as a bonus.

“There is something wonderful about it,” says Hinde.

“Everyone has been here for a long time and the residents take pride in the building, looking after their neighbours and respecting their privacy.”

BEFORE: The study looks a little plain painted white.

AFTER: The new paint job, curtains and improved joinery make all the difference.

As for Hinde and Xavier, they’re on the lookout for their next project.

“We can’t help feel like we want to do it all again, but perhaps something slightly different next time — maybe a 1910 building or something built in the 1940s.”

But they’re keen to stay in the same neighbourhood.

“We think that Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay are the best suburbs in Australia — everything is so available there and there’s a good mix of people,” he said.

“And you’re so close to the city.”

The post Elizabeth Bay Birtley Towers Art Deco treasure hits the market appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Mark Philippoussis’s old place at 15 Waters Edge, Williamstown is for sale.

THE former Williamstown home of tennis champ Mark Philippoussis has been served up to the market via an eBay-style auction.

The dual Davis Cup winner and grand slam runner up, known as Scud, sold the three-level beachside house at 15 Waters Edge to the current owners in 2009.

CoreLogic records show the property transacted for $835,000 then.

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Mark Philippoussis on board P&O’s Pacific Eden at Station Pier ahead of the Australian Open Tennis Legends Tournament. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Breakfast of champions.

Those owners have now listed the five-bedroom home with a $1.7-$1.87m price guide and an auction campaign via Openn Negotiation, a website that allows buyers place bids at any time. RT Edgar Inner West director Joanne Royston said the auction was due to end at 11.30am on August 22, unless the vendors received an attractive offer prior.

Ms Royston said the vendors had carried out a cosmetic renovation since buying the pad from Philippoussis, who grew up in the Williamstown area. They painted the interior and exterior, and updated the bathrooms.

The vendors lived at the property for the their first few years of ownership, particularly enjoying the “fabulous view” across Jawbone Reserve and Port Phillip Bay, but had rented it out since moving to Daylesford a few years ago.

Classy underfoot.

Motivating views.

The beach is just one minute’s walk away.

“Williamstown’s main swimming beach is literally a one-minute walk away, as is the lifesaving club with a private pool for members,” Ms Royston said. “You’re also right on the wetlands, and 30 seconds from Williamstown High School.” The agent also highlighted the property’s “deep backyard” and double lockup garage, which is crowned by a loft with a bedroom-living space, a kitchen and ensuite.

The main bedroom has a balcony, ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe. The open-plan living and dining space features a stone and stainless-steel kitchen, and opens out to a courtyard.

Philippoussis led Australia to Davis Cup wins in 1999 and 2003. He also made the 1998 US Open and 2003 Wimbledon finals, going down to Pat Rafter in the former.

A sizeable backyard and deck.

A versatile living space.

A luxurious bathroom.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

The post Mark Philippoussis: Former Williamstown home of tennis champ for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Victoria’s real estate industry has claimed “a couple of small wins” in its fight to continue operating as openly as possible during stage four lockdown.

Services relating to property settlement and end-of-lease arrangements have been approved as permitted activities during coronavirus stage four restrictions.

In a video to Real Estate Institute of Victoria members on Thursday night, president Leah Calnan said the allowances were “a couple of small wins” for the industry, which will almost entirely move online after private inspections were banned.

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Property settlement and end of lease services are still permitted.

“We are able to perform services relating to a property settlement,” Ms Calnan said.

“What we are interpreting that to be is that services related to things like the (property) valuation being completed between now and six weeks, pest and building (inspection), pre-settlement inspections and also allowing agents to go to the office to collect keys, paperwork, and go to the property to do a handover.”

She said contactless key handover practices should be adopted across the next six weeks.

“The second thing we have had a small win on is we are able to perform services relating to end of a lease. That includes a tenant, or a landlord or buyer organising a removalist,” Ms Calnan continued.

“That also allows for a property manager to go to the office, collect keys, files, do what they need to do in the office and go to the property to meet a tenant.

“That should also allow for a tenant to arrange a cleaner, arrange a locksmith and any of the other necessary processes and procedures relating to the end of lease process.”

REIV President Leah Calnan has updated members.

But she told the Herald Sun there was no specific guidelines that allowed new tenants to move home.

“It’s only buyers who fall under services relating to property settlement, so we’re still waiting to get official word about tenants,” she said.

“In other times we would probably have looked at the guidelines and assumed rules related to settlement also applied to tenants, but the fines are so horrendous so we want the government to be very specific.”

She said some tenants with plans to move into properties this weekend still don’t have the official green light.

Another “positive” was that directions were only in place until August 16, at which point they could be amended by the state government.

Ms Calnan said the industry body would “provide feedback” about the ban on private inspections in the hope the government may make “further exemptions”.

Agents have voiced concern about private inspections being banned under the latest lockdown rules.

RT Edgar Inner West director Joanne Royston said the ban was a cruel blow to agents who had been working hard to follow COVID-19 hygiene and distancing requirements.

“We’ve been taking our hand wipes and sanitiser out (to properties), we’ve been masking up,” she said.

“We’re also trying not to enter the houses to eliminate too many people being inside. And we’re maintaining social distancing to make people feel more comfortable.”

Buxton Hampton East agent Paul Sibley said the private inspection ban was “a bit bizarre”.

“July was one of our best months in a long time and we had a rush with buyers motivated to get their deals done,” Mr Sibley said.

“Any new campaigns will be put on pause, because I’d be very surprised if anybody buys a property without seeing it first.”

He expressed concern that some people who recently sold a property may not have anywhere to move in six weeks, if they had not bought before stage four lockdown.

An REIV member reference guide seen by the Herald Sun confirms people can move to a new primary residence if their contract is due to settle or if their lease is set to expire during the six week period.

It indicates that only one person can inspect a property for settlement purposes.

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The post Melbourne stage four: Real estate industry scores ‘small wins’ appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Auctioneer Damien Cooley said more sellers were considering pre-auction offers despite auctions doing well. Picture: Darren Leigh-Roberts

House hunters have been urged to have their financial ducks in a row given the recent trend of agents bringing forward auction dates over fears a second wave of coronavirus is coming to NSW.

The trend has been prevalent in the weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic resurfaced in Victoria and multiple NSW cases were reported from outbreaks linked to pubs and restaurants.

Buyer’s agent and Good Deeds Property Buyers director Veronica Morgan said agents were typically moving forward auctions by about one or two weeks.

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“We’ve been hearing agents in general are bringing forward dates claiming, ‘lots of interest’ and wanting to finalise deals for their clients sooner than later,” said. “In many cases it’s more a reaction to the possible threat of a second coronavirus wave.”

The co-host of The Lifestyle Channel show Location Location Location said the hastily rescheduled auctions meant buyers needed to be on the ball with due diligence.

“Buyers really need to be super organised, have their finances ready, do building and pest inspections early, do strata searches and have contracts reviewed early,” she said. “We’re now in a period where agents may change the direction of a sale at any given time.”

Ms Morgan added this was not the same mentality as rushing into purchases. “You need to know when to strike, but also when to walk away. Not every property for sale at the moment is A-grade and worth top dollar, some of them are actually rubbish.”

Were NSW to go into another lockdown, agents would be even more inclined to fast-track auctions, she said.

“As we’ve already had a lockdown period where agents had to do things online, they may ramp up things even more. Some will look to sell prior to auction and will move quickly if they get a good offer, so buyers need to be prepared.”

CoreLogic data showed the volume of Sydney auctions has been marching upwards over recent weeks and is well up on numbers reported over the same time last year.

There were just over four registered bidders, on average, at July auctions. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Last week there were more than 600 auctions and just under that number over the two preceding weeks. Over the same time last year there were about 350 weekly auctions.

Auctions have also been reasonably well-received from buyers considering the economic conditions – about 60-65 per cent of houses scheduled to go under the hammer over July sold.

The long-term success rate for Sydney auctions is about 65-70 per cent.

Winter is typically the quietest time of the year for auction volumes but the recent surge in sales was partly because of pent up seller activity.

Many would-be sellers pulled their properties from the market during the hard lockdown in April and are beginning to sale again.

CoreLogic head of research Tim Lawless said the market has remained resilient during the pandemic, with prices only falling 2.1 per cent since the peak in April.

Buyer’s agent Veronica Morgan.

“Record low interest rates, government support and loan repayment holidays for distressed borrowers have helped to insulate the housing market from a more significant downturn,” he said.

The test for the market would come when fiscal support was wound back from October, Mr Lawless said. “Urgent sales are likely to become more common as we approach these milestones, which will test the market’s resilience,” he said.

Ms Morgan said quarterly data suggested the volume of transactions in many suburbs was actually rising over the past six months due to a higher number of off-market sales.

Prices were generally holding up but some properties were an easier sell than others, she said.

“There is an abundance of one-bedroom apartments in particular for sale that are sitting on the books and not selling,” Ms Morgan said.

“Again, we think this is likely COVID-related. Buyers are likely wanting more space rather than less given how much they’ve been stuck at home this year, so that could be a reason they’re opting not to buy this sort of property.

Some agents may be wary of another lockdown, which would mean returning to digital only auctions.

Cooley Auctions founder Damien Cooley said a possible second wave in NSW was becoming a point of conversation among sellers who were wary of how their auctions might become affected if a second wave of infections caused another lockdown.

But he added pre-auction sales may not be justified at this stage. “There is uncertainty over what’s ahead but auctions are still getting good results. July was one of our best months in quite a while,” Mr Cooley said.

His auction house reported an average of 4.4 bidders at each auction last month, with bidders placing an average of 14 bids between them. Close to 60 per cent of the properties sold over their reserve price.

“The most important thing is to listen to the advice of your agent,” Mr Cooley said. “They will know from experience what’s best and it’s that experience that you’re paying for.”

The post Agents change sales tactics amid fears of second wave of COVID-19 in NSW appeared first on realestate.com.au.

1525 Riverdale Dr, Hope Island.

A grand Hope Island estate goes under the hammer tomorrow in what is shaping up to be the biggest auction on the Coast so far this year.

Hundreds of spectators are expected to watch the bidding play out on 1525 Riverdale Drive where a waterfront mansion occupies a point position on 11 titles.

Gilt columns, high arches and ornate ballustrading feature inside.

“It will be one of the biggest auctions on the Gold Coast this year, if not Queensland,” said marketing agent Mark Carew of Professionals Vertullo Real Estate.

“It’s scheduled for the 8th of the 8th which symbolises good luck for the Chinese owners.”

It is the first time the .4982ha holding has been open to the public in 18 years, with previous deals having been done off market.

“You can’t even see the house from the street as it’s hidden at the end of a driveway,” Mr Carew said.

“It took some convincing for the owners to agree to a public auction, but the campaign is already generating a lot of interest.”

The house wraps around a resort-style pool.

The current owners bought the Mediterranean-style mansion known as Harbour Point during the GFC in 2009 for $9 million, $390,000 less than billionaire property developer Lang Walker paid in 2004.

The house was built by national car-warranty business owner Gary and Suzanne Chuck who purchased the prime plot in 2001 for $2.1 million.

The estate is surrounded by manicured gardens.

The global campaign has attracted local, interstate and overseas inquiries ahead of the onsite auction which could see a new benchmark in the exclusive resort.

“This will be an auction record for Hope Island if sold under the hammer,” Mr Carew said.

“I really won’t know exactly who will be bidding until the day of the auction as last-minute registration is not uncommon.”

The current record for Hope Island is $16.5 million, paid in 2017 for a waterfront mansion built on three blocks in Virginia Drive.

The auction is scheduled for 1.30pm tomorrow.

Auctions on Saturday, August 8

4 Cabana Boulevard, Benowa Waters.

4 Cabana Boulevard, Benowa Waters

Kollosche’s Josh Mana is driving the campaign on this stylish single-level sanctuary on a 1180 sqm block with 24.69m of water frontage to the Nerang River. The auction is set down for 1.30pm.

20 Pipit Parade, Burleigh Waters.

20 Pipit Parade, Burleigh Waters

Ray White’s Troy Fitzgerald is marketing this four bedroom house on 656 sqm with a pool and self-contained guesthouse leading up to auction on Saturday at 10am.

132 Port Jackson Boulevard, Clear Island Waters

132 Port Jackson Boulevard, Clear Island Waters

Ray White’s Sam Guo and Julia Kuo are showcasing this three-level resort-style home with 29m of wide water frontage and skyline views. Online auction is on at Saturday 12pm.

The post Crowd expected as mega estate goes under the hammer appeared first on realestate.com.au.