Blog

LIVING through a COVID lockdown on the Gold Coast was the push Alyce and Ben Thew needed to buy their dream home.

The Carrara couple, with two young daughters, decided it was the right time to upgrade from suburbia to acreage.

Alyce Thew and her daughters, Vayda, 5, and River, 3, at their Carrara home that is on the market. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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

Gold Coast property: Oxenford house takes inspiration from the Hollywood Hills

“We love our current home but it was never going to be our forever home,” Mrs Thew said.

“We want a bit more space for the kids as they get older and after being in lockdown earlier this year, we realised how much our dream was to be on an acre or more.

“We started going to a few open homes and noticed how quick the houses were selling so when we found our dream property we jumped straight on it and made an offer just hours after the very first open home.”

4 Avonbury Court, Carrara is on the market at interest over $595,000.

The pair this week listed their three-bedroom home at 4 Avonbury Court, Carrara, at interest over $595,000.

“As hard as it will be to let our beautiful home go, it is too good of a market not to sell,” she said.

“With this global pandemic so unpredictable, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity while the market is high.

“Spring on the Gold Coast is the perfect season to sell as it’s not cold and dreary or too hot to venture out to open homes.”

4 Avonbury Court, Carrara hit the market this week.

The post Gold Coast couple lists house in time for spring selling season appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Tom Gray on the balcony of his new beach house at Middleton. Picture: Keryn Stevens

TRAVEL bans and low interest rates are driving homebuyers to the Fleurieu Peninsula, as local real estate agents report strong sales and massive demand.

Harcourts South Coast principal Mark Forde said coronavirus had done little to deter buyers from seeking coastal homes and, if anything, had fuelled their hunger.

“We’ve had our best winter in years by a big margin,” Mr Forde said.

“It started the week before Mother’s Day, when we couldn’t do opens, and that weekend I had seven private appointments with cashed-up buyers wanting to buy waterfront property.

“Since that time, we’ve had good numbers at opens.”

Mr Forde said that demand had continued to grow, with strong inquiries from local buyers and expats overseas and interstate, particularly Victoria. That had driven down the average days on market from last year’s 102 to just 68 over July and August.

“People can’t travel and can’t go overseas for the next few years, so they think ‘let’s buy a beach house and get down the coast’,” he said.

According to realestate.com.au data, Victor Harbor’s median house price has increased by 11 per cent over the past three months to $365,000.

McLaren Vale houses are up by 11.5 per cent over the same period to $480,000, while houses at Goolwa, with a median of $360,000, are up 16.1 per cent.

Mr Forde said the area’s affordability and historic low interest rates were also a strong factor.

“Winter was great, this month has continued like the past three and it’s looking like that will continue throughout summer as well,” Mr Forde said.

Tom Gray on the balcony of his new beach house at Middleton. Picture: Keryn Stevens

LJ Hooker Fleurieu principal John McGarry said buyers were hungry for properties. “It would be very rare over the past three months to have been dealing with just the one hopeful purchaser,” he said.

Financial adviser Tom Gray bought a Middleton beach house for his family last month after struggling to find the right beach house to rent in recent years.

“I think with COVID, it’s going to get even harder,” Mr Gray said.

“So we bit the bullet and bought a place where we can holiday together and I’ll work down here part-time.

“The plan is to keep it for the next 20 years or so, so it should see some good value growth in that time.”

MORE: Port Lincoln mansion offers glimpse into the past

Best of the best: Adelaide’s top performing suburbs of 2019

Is this South Australia’s ultimate party house?

The post Big wave of seaside sales make Fleurieu Peninsula a hit appeared first on realestate.com.au.

THE once-quiet Hinterland suburb of Bonogin has catapulted on to the radar of property hunters, recording the biggest jump in demand on the Gold Coast over the past 12 months.

A report provided to the Bulletin by realestate.com.au reveals a 79.2 per cent surge of interest in Bonogin in the past year.

25 Kamala Court, Bonogin recently sold for $910,000 through Kahlee Townsend of Ray White Robina.

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

Gold Coast property: Oxenford house takes inspiration from the Hollywood Hills

Research is based on high intent buyer activity on property listings site realestate.com.au.

Families searching for a treechange and small acreage lots are drawn to the Hinterland suburb, according to agents.

“A lot of people are after space for their kids to run around,” said Ray White Robina agent Kahlee Townsend, who predominantly sells at Bonogin.

“I definitely think COVID has had an impact on that (buyers wanting a lifestyle change).

“Buyers are realising that Bonogin offers value for money and you can get a really good lifestyle change to raise a family in a great community.”

39 Whiteash Road, Bonogin is on the market through Ray White Robina agent Kahlee Townsend at $895,000+.

Ms Townsend said there was not enough supply to meet demand in the Hinterland suburb from local and interstate buyers.

“I would say most if not all of the properties I have sold recently have had multiple offers,” Ms Townsend said.

Amir Prestige agent Colleen Brunt, who also lists at Bonogin, shared a similar view.

“In the past four months we’ve seen a lot more buyer interest focusing on that area,” Ms Brunt said.

“It’s so central to everything – you’re 25 minutes to the Gold Coast Airport, you’re just down the road from schools and shopping centres, and you’re not even that far from the beaches.

Colleen Brunt of Amir Prestige is marketing 204 Carrington Road, Bonogin at $1.060 million.

“Bonogin allows homeowners to be close to the city and have access to anything within a few minutes while still feeling like they’re out of the hustle and bustle.”

Bonogin is 21km southwest from Surfers Paradise and nestled between Austinville and Tallebudgera Valley.

The median house price is $860,000, up 8 per cent over 12 months, according to realestate.com.au.

The post Interest in Gold Coast suburb Bonogin soaring as buyers look for treechange appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A PALM Beach penthouse touted as having the best rooftop pool on the Gold Coast is on the market with a $3.995 million price tag.

The two-level 450sq m apartment is in new development 77 Jefferson, which was completed last month.

The luxury penthouse at 9/77 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach is on the market.

Entertain in style.

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

Gold Coast property: Oxenford house takes inspiration from the Hollywood Hills

“It’s got such a point of difference compared to other penthouses on the Coast,” said Olindah Property Group’s James Meredith, who is marketing the property alongside Nicole Riley.

“Exclusive to the penthouse is a large pool, kitchenette, undercover barbecue, 5.4m stone bench, sunrise and sunset lounges, dining area and bathroom facilities.

“It’s an entertainer’s dream.”

The penthouse offers views south to Coolangatta.

Find a better spot to relax on the Gold Coast.

He said the outlook from the penthouse stretched as far south as Coolangatta and back to the Surfers Paradise skyline and beyond.

“As far as the view goes, you’ve got everything you could ever want,” he said.

The four-bedroom penthouse also features timber floors, glass stacker doors and a butler’s pantry.

Inside the luxury abode.

Views from every room.

Developer BluePoint Property is behind the 10-level apartment building, which features eight full floor apartments.

The project was designed by Bureau Proberts and built by Hutchinson Builders.

“The penthouse is the only apartment still available as all the others sold off-the-plan early on,” Mr Meredith said.

“It was under contract for a while but has recently come back on the market.”

Make a splash in the rooftop pool.

Mr Meredith expected strong interest in the penthouse as the spring selling season kicked up a gear.

“Palm Beach is obviously a hot suburb at the moment,” he said.

“To assist with the demand of interstate and foreign inquiry, the online listing includes an interactive virtual tour, along with a fly-through video to showcase the property.

“Some inquiries requested an inspection via Facetime and were comfortable purchasing a property at this level site unseen.”

The post Is this the best rooftop pool on the Gold Coast? appeared first on realestate.com.au.

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

A Heathfield home offers the ultimate Hills lifestyle and is ideal for entertaining and perfect for animal lovers, its owners say.

Michelle and Andy Madgwick bought the Cricklewood Rd home in 2008 and say it was a case of ‘love at first sight’.

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

“It’s a beautiful home and we just felt such a strong emotional pull to the property,” she says.

The couple bought it as a four bedroom cottage, and have since renovated it throughout – adding a spacious rear extension, a parents retreat for the master suite, a study, a side veranda, transforming a bedroom into a teenage retreat, opening up a dining room and lounge room, upgrading the gardens and fencing throughout the 1.7ha property.

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

The home has a formal living room towards the front and a covered terrace with a spa at the side, as well as an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area at the rear.

“We’ve kept the original part of the house and modernised the back and, given how well it flows from indoors to out, it’s absolutely amazing for entertaining,” Mrs Madgwick says.

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

“What really captures you when you visit the home is that amazing area out under the oak tree,” Mrs Madgwick says. “Sitting down in there, you could be sitting anywhere in Europe. And that breakfast bar in the kitchen – we made that double width so you can sit about 10 people around it. In the past 12 months we’ve added the deck at the side and then we’ve got the spa deck as well, so it’s a great entertaining house.”

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

Mrs Madgwick says guests are surprised to find just how much land they have, given they are just eight minutes from the tollgate.

“To able to have horses here this close to the city is great,” she says. “We’ve got the full-size sand arena which is floodlit and we’ve got beautiful stables and hot water wash bays, so whether it’s just for pleasure or whether you’re seriously competing, it’s got the facilities here.”

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

With the couple’s children now having moved on, the time has come to downsize, with the Madgwicks saying they have absolutely no intention of leaving the Adelaide Hills.

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

MORE: Port Lincoln mansion offers glimpse into the past

Best of the best: Adelaide’s top performing suburbs of 2019

Is this South Australia’s ultimate party house?

70 Cricklewood Road, Heathfield. Supplied by Williams Real Estate

70 Cricklewood Rd, Heathfield

Contact agent for price

Agent: Williams Real Estate in conjunction with Hunt Lifestyle, Dee-Anne Hunt 0411 555 774.

Land size: 1.7ha.

Expressions of interest: Close Tuesday, September 29 at noon.

The post 70 Cricklewood Rd, Heathfield: Heathfield haven perfect for both human and horse appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Original built in 1870s, 35 Villamanta St, Geelong West has been listed for sale for the first time in 70 years.

A sprawling landmark property considered one of the most significant homes ever built in Geelong West has hit the market for the first time in 70 years.

The circa 1870s brick Victorian villa offers a grand window into the past on a scale rarely seen in the suburb.

It occupies a 1400sq m block at 35 Villamanta Street which offers the rare luxury of dual street frontages, a swimming pool and private formal gardens that would make the perfect backdrop for a summer soiree.

RELATED:
Geelong West house beats price hopes by $87K

Darryn Lyons’ funky childhood home sells

First-home buyer friends buy neighbouring homes

Anyone for a Pimm’s on the veranda?

Owned by a family of musicians for decades, the ornate five-bedrom house is currently home to a set of bellowing pipe organs that once provided entertainment for visitors in the “ballroom”.

McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous has listed the property with a price guide of $2m-$2.2m.

He said the house was one out of the box and had well-preserved period features that would lend themselves to a modern-day restoration.

The bellowing pipe organ has pride of place in the “ballroom”.

The decorative detail is beautifully preserved in this loungeroom.

Bay windows feature in many of the original rooms.

“It’s a very, very special property,” Mr Cortous said.

“It has beautiful architecture and gardens and it’s on 1400sq m, with a 40m frontage to Villamanta St which is quite amazing.

“It’s a wonderful property. There isn’t another like it in Geelong West and probably not in Geelong.”

A return veranda with intricate tile work, symmetrical bay windows, marble fireplaces and high ceilings with decorative cornices are among the many period features that survive at the polychrome brick residence.

The entrance hall makes a grand statement.

Formal gardens surround the pool.

Properties of this size are few and far between in Geelong West.

The original section of the house has a series of large formal living and bedrooms, one of which comfortably fits a grand piano.

A 1970s extension includes a dining room, updated kitchen with marble benchtops and a home office.

Mr Cortous said the house was full of wonderful surprises, including an underground cellar below one of the front living room.

The kitchen is a more recent addition.

The dining room.

The walled garden offers great privacy.

The separate maids’ quarters could be converted into a separate studio or home business base.

He said the pipe organ in the ballroom added another layer to the home’s rich history.

“The father was an organist in one of the local churches so people all used to congregate back there, that’s the story of the pipe organ” he said.

“One of the daughters is in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.”

The post Significant Geelong West villa ready for its next chapter appeared first on realestate.com.au.