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Clint Luna and his family have avoided large energy bill rises during COVID-19 because they have solar and battery power. Photo: Mark Cranitch.

Thousands of Australian households will face eye-watering energy bills this winter as a result of COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, energy usage across the country has increased by 105 per cent, according to data from Natural Solar — Australia’s largest installer of solar panels and batteries.

Average daily energy consumption has skyrocketed to 33.9kWh, compared with 16.5kWh at the same time last year.

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Working from home and COVID-19 lockdowns have caused energy bills to skyrocket.

As a result household energy bills for the past quarter could be more than double, with the average household paying $800, up from $406.75.

Those households with higher than average power usage can expect bills of up to $1800 a quarter.

Natural Solar chief executive Chris Williams said during COVID-19 Australians got a taste for what it was like to work and study from home, which had created a generational shift in where, how and why we use electricity.

“We envisage the trend for higher usage is going to continue, and while it may be at a lesser rate than during COVID-19, even a 30 or 40 per cent rise will have a significant impact on household bills,” Mr Williams said.

While the majority of Australian families will be hit hard by the increases, he said there were pockets of homeowners set to make it through the ‘COVID Quarter’ unscathed.

Natural Solar’s Chris Williams with the SonnenBatterie that can save residents $2000 a year in electricity bills.

Homeowners using solar power, combined with batteries to store unused power, have less reliance on the grid and greater chance of reducing or eliminating their electricity bills.

For Clint and Christina Luna, who own a four-bedroom family home and have three children aged six, four and two, installing solar panels and a battery has allowed them not only to eliminate their energy bills but to earn money back.

Mr Luna, who has two electric cars, said that with the cost of solar and battery power falling over the years, he realised that upgrading to a 40kWh solar system would allow him to run his house and the two cars at minimal to no cost.

“My post COVID-19 energy bill was $200 in credit, so I actually made money back,” he said.

“Solar is a bit of a no-brainer. It will give you payback in about three to four years.

Clint Luna also has two electric cars. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

Where else can you get a 70 per cent return on your money? If you add battery power to that, the payback is a little bit longer, but it’s still going to pay for itself in about five or six years.”

Mr Luna, who runs an international business from his home office, said having alternative energy sources had other benefits beyond monetary savings, including the security of uninterrupted power.

“If the area has a blackout, for instance, we still have power. We can just carry on as normal, which is really important, especially in these times when more people are working from home and relying on having power, no matter what.

“Anyone who has the roof space and doesn’t have solar is pretty crazy.

“I don’t have to worry about fluctuations in anything, not power prices, nor energy bills, nothing.”

Solar panels help the Luna family charge their two Tesla cars as well as their household energy needs. Photo: Mark Cranitch.

With the increased frequency of natural disasters — such as the recent bushfires and floods, followed by the coronavirus pandemic — Mr Williams said that there has been a general shift in people wanting self-sufficiency when it comes to powering their homes.

He said improvements in technology had made power sources such as solar and battery more affordable, with households saving money almost immediately.

“If the use of solar power reduces energy bills by even 10 per cent and bills rise by 3 or 4 per cent per annum, it makes absolute sense,” he said.

Meanwhile, for those who have been affected by COVID-19, some energy companies are trying to help customers through the period of “bill shock”.

Origin senior external affairs manager Paul Duboudin said the energy company would be providing tailored support, including payment extensions, payment plans or referrals, for those customers affected by COVID-19.

“We have also paused all late payment fees and are not disconnecting or default listing any customers in financial distress until at least July 31,” he said.

A Sonnen home energy battery management system is one way you can reduce your energy bills.

10 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR ENERGY BILLS

1. Turn appliances off at the power point when they are not in use.

2. Keep your air conditioner or heating at a stable temperature; in summer keep it above 18 degrees, and below 24 degrees in winter.

3. Turn off unnecessary lighting during the day or invest in energy-efficient bulbs.

4. Use your clothes drier sparingly, it uses a lot of energy.

5. Be mindful of the energy star rating when buying appliances. Paying more for an energy-efficient appliance will make you a more significant gain over time.

6. Only use the washing machine when you have a full load.

7. Consider portable solar lighting in your outdoor areas.

8. Monitor your electricity usage. There are cost-effective tools you can buy that can show your consumption.

9. Shop around for the best possible energy deal.

10. If you can afford it, invest in solar panels and a battery storage system; it could save you up to $2000 a year.

Source: Natural Solar

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Tasmania’s agent of the year Leigh Jordan and RateMyAgent sales executive Natasha Moss.

WHILE the Tassie market — and every market — has had some ups and downs in 2020, an award-winning agent from Devonport sees a bright future for the Apple Isle.

Devonport’s One Agency Collins senior sales consultant Leigh Jordan said the COVID-related downturns for sales volume could be just a blip on the market’s radar.

Leigh is positive about the Tassie property market’s future.

“I think our market will continue to flourish and perform strongly,” he said. “Prices will hold and I think once our borders open we will see a flood of interstate buyers coming down here to live.”

Tasmania’s RateMyAgent agent of the year Leigh Jordan.

Leigh has been a leader in the property market for decades and a winner of Real Estate Business and Real Estate Institute of Tasmania awards.

This year he was named Tasmania’s Agent of the Year at a national showcase, the RateMyAgent Agent of the Year Awards.

Leigh took home the top gong for the Apple Isle at the fifth annual RateMyAgent Agent of the Year Awards held at Melbourne’s Metropolis Southbank.

He also ranked 12th nationally.

Leigh said he was “truly humbled” and excited to win the award.

He said the key to success was hard work and dedication.

“It is important to listen carefully to people’s needs and wants,” he said.

“Constant feedback and communication with clients is paramount.

“I absolutely love what I do and look forward to going to work every day to help buyers and sellers achieve their dreams.”

RateMyAgent chief executive Mark Armstrong.

At the state level, agents Harry Coomer of Charlotte Peterswald for Property, and Petrusma Property’s Jake Towns, Sam Towns and Teagan Rainbird rounded out Tassie’s top five.

Charlotte Peterswald for Property was the number one agency followed by Petrusma Property’s Hobart/Sandy Bay, Howrah and Lindisfarne offices, alongside One Agency Collins in fifth.

Ray White Hobart won the Property Management Agency of the Year award for Tasmania.

RateMyAgent chief executive and co-founder Mark Armstrong said the awards acknowledge agents like Leigh who go above and beyond for homeowners and landlords.

“With performance-based reviews as a qualifier, receiving an Agent of the Year Award means to have received the highest satisfaction rating across the country — and this is something our winners should be tremendously proud of achieving,” he said.

The full list of winners can be viewed at ratemyagent.com.au

The post When boarders open: A flood of interstate buyers appeared first on realestate.com.au.

38 Eldernell Terrace, Hamilton

Brayden Larkin of Zephr Industries has designed and built a lot of houses.

Yet Blanco, a three-storey monolith cascading down the side of Hamilton Hill, was always going to be extra special, because it was going to be his family home.

The hiuse’s cladding is made from a special Scandinavian wood that gives a weathered look.

“I designed and built Blanco to how I really wanted to have a house,” Brayden said.

“It is a big suspended concrete slab construction. I wanted the structure to appear like it was almost levitating off the side of the hill. I also wanted it to encapsulate the views from each of the three levels.”

The use of concrete was always going to create a raw industrial feel, but by introducing soft tones, Brayden has managed to turn Blanco into a warm, family home for himself, wife Jess and their two-year-old son.

The house has more than 900 sq m of covered living space.

“I always wanted to do like a Palm Springs kind of home, like you would see in California but then I also liked the idea of having a floating pool and fire pit, like you would see in a Bel Air mansion, so I tried to blend the two to create something different.”

What is evident is the time and effort that has been put into the design of the five-bedroom home covering more than 900 sq m under roof, which for a minimalist structure has some outstanding details.

The use of wood brings a softness to the concrete structure.

Take the internal staircase that ascends from the middle, entry level of the house to the master bedroom retreat above. Built with a concrete stringer down the centre, the timber treads extend from either side secured by an invisible metal plate and finished with a metal balustrade.

“I haven’t seen stairs like that before, where everything is seamless,” he said.

Also on this level is a limestone wall that runs the length of the house.

These intricate touches extend outside to the home’s facade, which is clad in a special timber sourced from the Netherlands that has been kiln dried to extract all the water.

The suspended pool costed $250,000 to build.

“This gives the wood a slightly weathered look that you would normally only ever achieve with time,” he said.

Around the back of the house, the pool features lighting that emulates a starry night sky.

The lights, Brayden tells me, are the same ones used in a Rolls-Royce car.

The limestone wall and concrete stringer staircase.

“The pool cost about $250,000 to build because you have 60 to 70 tonnes of water floating in the air above Hamilton Hill, so we had to retain the structure and tie it back into the house to make it look seamless. A lot of work goes into it. I just hope that whoever buys the house can see and appreciate the level of those details,” he says.

With Hamilton a predominantly heritage suburb characterised by listed buildings, Brayden said he snapped up the last two remaining blocks of land about two years ago. Blanco and Noir, a five-storey show-stopping home Brayden is building a few doors down, will probably be among the last two new homes to be built on the hill.

The house has views of the city from every level.

For the buyer of this multigenerational home, one thing is certain — they will not have to move again for some time.

“I have young children so I had to build a house that would suit that, but I’ve also designed it to be a house that will grow with any family. We have the pool, two living areas and a bit of grass on one level and bedrooms on all three, so you can use as much or as little of the space as you need.

Polished timber wood floors feature throughout.

“The fact that all three levels are serviced by a lift means you can easily live here until you are 80 or beyond. It’s also super-low maintenance. All the gardens are irrigated with desert-style plants so you literally don’t have to do anything but mow the grass.”

While Brayden has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Blanco, he says, as a designer, the itch to move on and build something new never fades.

Now, with a new baby on the way, he says the time has come for the family to move closer to his parents-in law in Newport where Brayden will design and build what he is adamant will be their forever home.

The building is an architchectural feat.

The post Functional family home has real wow factor appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Broome Cottage, at 3 The Avenue, Ocean Grove is listed with price hopes of $3.3 million after a major restoration.

A landmark Ocean Grove property saved from the wrecker’s ball seven years ago has been listed for sale after a showstopping renovation.

Broome Cottage, circa 1890, has been transformed into a classic stately home that’s expected to fetch about $3.3 million.

The owners have spent the past few years restoring the grand two-storey residence, which offers expansive views over the Barwon River estuary, Ocean Grove beach and the Surf Coast.

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The double height entry makes a grand statement.

There’s a more modern feel to the kitchen, which has stone benchtops and a marble-look splashback.

The renovation follows an unsuccessful application in 2013 to demolish the building.

The City of Greater Geelong knocked back the bid on the grounds the house was heritage listed and was deemed to be of historic significance.

A small cottage, known as Imbool, was originally built on the site, at 3 The Avenue, Ocean Grove, in the 1890s with the larger dwelling that survives today added in the 1930s.

The house has six fireplaces, including this one in the loungeroom.

The sunroom has fabulous views beyond the adjoining law.

Not a bad backdrop for outdoor entertaining.

Bellarine Property, Barwon Heads agent Ben Roberts said it was significant home that attracted overseas inquiry within a day of hitting the market.

Mr Roberts said the five-bedroom, four-bathroom house on a 1066sq m block was in a league rarely seen on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“When you walk in the door it has a great feeling and you feel the history of the home,” he said.

“It is one of those houses, you might find a few of them in Geelong and maybe Queenscliff, but they are not necessarily on the coast.

“Here, if you are lucky enough, you can be in a premium street in old Ocean Grove, within walking distance of the shops.”

There’s three living areas to choose from.

The main bedroom has a private balcony.

Imagine waking up to this view every day.

Even the study gets a river vista.

He said almost every room in the house, which has three living areas plus a bluestone paved sunroom, offered a spectacular views towards Geelong and along the Great Ocean Road.

Many original features, including the timber balustrade on the staircase, crystal cut glass door knobs, brass push plates, open fireplaces and decorative cornices have been retained.

But there’s plenty of luxe modern features, starting with the open-plan living zone that has parquetry flooring and a designer kitchen with all the bells and whistles.

Broome Cottage before the renovation.

The original cottage on the site was built for Geelong merchant Thomas Hawkes and the property’s tennis court, which no longer exists, was frequently used by David Cup tennis player Jack Hawkes and his contemporaries.

A Heritage Victoria citation also states Gladys Bell, who donated the first boats to the Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, instigated construction of the current home in the early 1930s.

The post Ocean Grove’s Broome Cottage restored and awaiting new owner appeared first on realestate.com.au.

New listing – 36 Mandolong Rd, Mosman.

COVID-19 has brought plenty of changes to the way real estate agents conduct their auctions and open homes.

Keeping track of who comes through the door, making sure they maintain correct social distancing and ensuring surfaces are regularly checked can make managing large numbers a logistic challenge.

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Adam Vernon and his team at Vernon Partners got a first hand experience on the weekend, when they opened the front door of 36 Mandolong Rd, Mosman.

It is the first time the property has been offered for sale in 54 years. The owner is downsizing, and her home, which has been immaculately maintained in original condition, is set for an August 1 auction.

“It’s like a time capsule there, it really is,” he said.

The 514sqm property has a north to rear aspect and is located just footsteps from Balmoral Beach.

36 Mandolong Rd, Mosman.

There is a studio in the back yard.

The home itself has high coffered ceilings, frosted glass windows and decorative finishes, as well as formal and casual living spaces, and a rear studio or home office. There is driveway parking for up to two cars.

With a $3.6 million auction guide, a prime location and endless potential, Mr Vernon was expecting a big turnout at the open house. And he wasn’t disappointed.

Some 50 people turned up, patiently waiting their turn to go through the home. Staff were positioned at the entry and exit as well as inside the house.

The original kitchen.

Formal lounge.

The inspection took about double the usual time, but Mr Vernon said he had allowed for that, and the whole operation went off without a hitch. Six contracts were issued and he already has strong interest.

Time warp bedroom.

The location.

The majority of lookers were young families looking to upsize and capitalise on the location.

“I think the buyers out there are genuinely ready to buy,” Mr Vernon said.

“The market seems really strong over the last three or four weeks – there’s really a lot of buyers out there looking. I think COVID has changed the way people are thinking about how they want to live and they are wanting to make changes.”

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Allison Gough from Explore Proeprty has listed 8 Waterview Drive, Bushland Beach. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Step through your back fence and onto your own private patch of beach and the pub is only a short, sandy stroll away.

That dream could be yours at Bushland Beach with an absolute beachfront home 8 Waterview Drive on the market for just under $1.2m.

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It is a Miami-inspired beach house, combining the perfect blend of family and entertainment areas.

8 Waterview Drive, Bushland Beach is on the market for $1,190,000. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

Architecturally designed, the open-plan home features five bedrooms and two bathrooms along with activity room and theatre room opening onto a private bar, pool and outdoor dining area.

With the home’s striking red, natural timber kitchen, listing agent Allison Gough from Explore Property says it’s a unique property that makes the most of the views of the ocean and islands.

8 Waterview Drive, Bushland Beach is on the market for $1,190,000. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

“It has that crisp, clean white ­facade and it has all those beautiful lines out the front, it’s not a traditional gabled roof home,” she said. “The kitchen brings a lot of colour into the home, which is also something you find in a lot of those Miami or Florida oceanfront homes.

“As a traditional Townsville house should, it caters well for big football nights because you can be in the pool, you can be in the bar and still see the big screen.”

8 Waterview Drive, Bushland Beach is on the market for $1,190,000. PICTURE: SUPPLIED

The post Live the dream with this unreal Bushland Beach home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Demand is sky high for luxury Brisbane apartments. Image: AAP/Darren England.

CASHED-UP locals looking to live the high life in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis are paying big money for luxury apartments in Brisbane’s inner-city suburbs.

Tens of millions of dollars have changed hands in recent weeks for units in new residential developments in New Farm, Newstead, Teneriffe and Kangaroo Point, with investment in major infrastructure projects luring buyers.

New research provided exclusively to the Sunday Mail reveals there has been an 85 per cent month-on-month increase in searches for apartment projects in Brisbane via property portal realestate.com.au.

The Queen’s Wharf development is under construction in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: Richard Walker.

The top five most visited projects in the past three months include Queen’s Wharf Residences in the CBD and Brisbane 1 in South Brisbane, where one of the two remaining penthouses is still up for grabs for just over $2 million.

While sales have slowed in most apartment projects amid the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, high-end units are selling like hotcakes.

Almost all of the 128 apartments in Cavcorp’s 17-level Le Bain development in Newstead were settled during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, with the project’s eight penthouses totalling more than $21 million.

The rooftop of Cavcorp’s Le Bain residential development in Newstead. Image supplied.

Cavcorp managing director Damien Cavallucci said the settlement of 95 per cent of apartments in the project in the midst of a global health pandemic was an achievement.

Mr Cavallucci said buyers were a mix of downsizers, first-home buyers, upsizers and local and international investors.

“Le Bain’s unique features captured strong interest from current residents of Cavcorp’s earlier buildings, which resulted in an incredible phenomenon of renters turning into buyers,” Mr Cavallucci said.

“Over 10 per cent of the presales at Le Bain originated from interest and inquiry from existing rental tenants in Cavcorp buildings.”

The lap pool and magnesium spas on the rooftop of Le Bain in Newstead. Image supplied.

In neighbouring Teneriffe, inner-city professionals have bought 60 per cent of the apartments in Visie Properties’ new submarine-inspired development, Obsidian.

The collection of 13, three and four-bedroom apartments and penthouses range in price from $1.3 million to $2.5 million.

The penthouses offer terraces, lofts, individual wine cellars, five-metre high ceilings and four car parks.

“Coincidently three of the eight units purchased have gone to dentists,” Gap Development Sales director Grant Plummer said.

“The development has struck a chord with city professionals due to its location just three kilometres down river from the CBD, artistic design and spacious living.”

Designed by award-winning architects Hayes Anderson Lynch, Obsidian is a submarine-inspired apartment development in Teneriffe. Photo supplied.

Inside one of the apartments in Obsidian in Teneriffe. Photo supplied.

In Kangaroo Point, Simon Caulfield of Place Kangaroo Point is in negotations to sell a full-floor apartment in the new ‘Thornton’ development for $6 million.

The project at 11 Thornton Street by JGL Properties will see thirteen full-floor, north-facing residences built on the peninsula.

During COVID-19 restrictions, Mr Caulfield said his agency had sold nearly $15 million worth of apartments, including the $4.3 million sale of 701/21 Pixley St, Kangaroo Point and the $3.2 million sale of 1E/39 Castlebar Street in the same suburb.

This apartmetn at 701/21 Pixley St, Kangaroo Point, has sold for $4.3m.

In New Farm, a penthouse-style whole floor apartment in Tom Dooley’s Aquila complex has sold for $4.8 million to a local buyer.

The 418 sqm residence in Moray Street attracted five written offers, including one from a Hong Kong expat.

Selling agent Sarah Hackett of Place Bulimba said the apartment sold for $300,000 above the asking price.

Mrs Hackett said buyers who could afford to upgrade were doing so, and wanted the assurance their investment would stand the test of time.

She said the downsizer market was taking advantage of the growing number of boutique developments being constructed through Brisbane’s inner city.

This unit in the Aquila development at 3/81 Moray St , New Farm, has sold.

Mrs Hackett has also sold three, four-bedroom apartments in the Seymour Group’s riverfront apartment project, The Oxlade.

The apartments all sold to local buyers, totalling more than $10 million.

Inside the unit in the Aquila development at 3/81 Moray St, New Farm.

Over the next six years, inner Brisbane residential projects are set to benefit from the $2.1 billion redevelopment of Eagle Street Pier, the completion of the Brisbane Live entertainment precinct and Cross-River Rail.

The state government has announced it will fast-track the planned Kangaroo Point pedestrian bridge to bring forward investment and drive employment.

The $190 million bridge, set to link Brisbane’s eastern suburbs with the CBD, is one of five announced last year.

At Breakfast Creek, a pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting Kingsford Smith Drive Riverwalk will also move ahead.

Two further pedestrian bridges in West End — one from Toowong to West End and the other from St Lucia to West End — are also being considered.

Work on the Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek green bridges is scheduled start next year and be finished in 2023 — two years ahead of the initial 2025 date.

BRISBANE’S MOST IN DEMAND APARTMENT PROJECTS

1. Brisbane 1 South Brisbane

2. Queen’s Wharf Residences

3. Halo

4. Montague Markets & Residences

5. Atlas South Brisbane

(Source: Realestate.com.au)

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The original guide on 20 Ray Ave, Vaucluse, was $20m. It sold for $15,625,000, today’s settlement records reveal.

Dentist Vincent Phung and his BT financial consultant wife Susan have extracted a good deal on the $20m Vaucluse mansion of former Westpac boss Brian Hartzer, paying $15.6m.

The Michael Dysart-designed home at 20 Ray Ave was first listed on February 27, back when the market was rock solid ahead of Easter with the optimistic guide.

Updated property title records today revealed the identity of the purchasers along with the final price.

When contacted tonight, listing agent Brad Pillinger of Pillinger refused to discuss anything to do with the sale, which occurred at the start of April.

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The street facade of 20 Ray Ave, Vaucluse.

Formal dining.

Though under the circumstances of the time, he did well to sell it for what he did.

When the deal was done, the market was in a confused state, with open homes banned and both buyers and sellers wary.

It’s since improved considerably.

Just two months later, Pillinger locked in a $30m sale in Bellevue Hill, when Shay Lewis-Thorp, daughter of the late property developer Bernard Lewis, sold her five-bedroom mansion in an off-market deal to her neighbour Louise Christie.

For the Vaucluse home, Pillinger had dropped the guide to $18 million and had several parties lobbying to buy it.

Japanese influences.

Multiple places to relax.

The home has six-bedrooms, six bathrooms, a home cinema, a gas-heated pool, barbecue courtyard, rumpus room, sauna, a simply amazing temperature-controlled wine cellar and even an eight-car garage with internal access.

But best of all, was the view.

When the home appeared as the Wentworth Courier House of the Week on March 13,

Pillinger had given me a guided tour, offering me a seat on the rooftop terrace.

It’s the highest point in the whole of Sydney’s eastern suburbs and in every direction, there’s a spectacular view.

What a view!

A spacious kitchen.

Right in front was the city, Opera House and Bridge. I could also see Manly and the Heads. Then the ocean and even Bondi Beach.

The Hartzers also own a Pittwater holiday house that they bought last year at Mccarrs Creek for $6.8m.

Their Vaucluse home had previously sold in 2014 — the year Hartzer was promoted to the top job — for $12.75 million.

Hartzer left the bank last November with a $2.69m payout.

The post Dentist Vincent Phung buys former Westpac boss Brian Hartzer’s mansion for $15.6m appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Eighty Eight development in Travancore will be built with a legacy in mind.

A Travancore developer is aiming for a legacy first and profit second, with a new project that’s closer to his heart than his bottom line.

Eighty Eight replaces the long-time office of builder-turned-developer Bold Projects.

Director John Newbold said after owning the inner-city site for almost 30 years — running his family construction business from it for much of that time — he was determined to leave something of value behind.

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“We have a commitment for the site to be a bit of a legacy for us,” Mr Newbold said.

“We’re certainly using high-end finishes and natural materials. I’ll spend too much on it — but this has always had our name on it.”

Opposite Debney’s Park on Mt Alexander Road, the project’s architecture stands out with irregular angles to provide privacy to the cantilevered balconies, maximum natural light to the residences and a unique street appeal.

Apartments have been designed with residents’ comfort in mind.

Each apartment will feature high quality appliances and finishes for an enviable kitchen.

Open-plan living spaces overseen by interior designer Allison Pye will include timber floors, glass sliding doors and expansive windows that streamline the connection between the outdoors and indoors. ILVE appliances add a touch of class.

Castran Gilbert director Mark Forytarz is handling sales for the apartments.

He said the project’s “hidden-gem” location, in the little-known suburb between Parkville and Ascot Vale, had been popular with first-home buyers and downsizers.

The development’s common spaces have been designed with a classy atmosphere in mind.

Spacious dimensions will extend from living spaces to the bedrooms.

But it was the price point that had rapidly begun to attract purchasers. Particularly given Mr Newbold had agreed to a $25,000 rebate for buyers.

“It’s price point driven, but it’s also 4km from the CBD and it will be complete within 15 months,” Mr Forytarz said.

Even the bathrooms will feature bold design elements.

A render showing how the apartments are expected to look from street level.

A dozen of the project’s 46 apartments have sold, with a handful more reserved by interested buyers.

One-bedroom floorplans cost between $455,000-$520,000, and two-bedroom units are priced from $560,000-$690,000.

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The post Eighty Eight, Travancore: Project to be legacy for former office appeared first on realestate.com.au.

From the outside, this Victorian terrace in South Yarra doesn’t give much away  – but inside, a modern renovation packed with luxurious features can be found.

7 Howitt Street in South Yarra is currently seeking a new tenant who will appreciate a little bit of luxury during lockdown.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is architecturally designed for a modern lifestyle while still maintaining its historical charm through features including original fireplaces, high ceilings and pinewood floors.

The living area is perfect all-year-round with a fireplace and bi-fold doors. Picture: realestate.com.au/rent

Two bedrooms are located on the ground floor, which leads to the sleek family living area.

The kitchen is fitted with Miele appliances, including a built-in coffee making machine, 1,200 bottle temperature controlled wine cellar and marble benchtops.

Adjoining the kitchen is a separate concealed laundry with a basin and clothes drying area outside.

Meanwhile, a well-appointed study nook in the living area makes it perfect for working from home.

The kitchen features marble benchtops and Miele appliances. Picture: realestate.com.au/rent

The open-plan living area would be the go-to spot in the house all year-round – an open fire can be had during the colder nights, and during the summer, large bi-fold doors open out to a carefully designed courtyard featuring a built-in barbecue and off-street parking.

The outdoor area is perfect for summer entertaining with a built-in barbecue and off-street parking. Picture: realestate.com.au/rent

Upstairs is the master bedroom which feels like its own private sanctuary. The walk-in wardrobe has more than enough space for a true fashionista and the ensuite bathroom comes with its own freestanding bathtub and walk-in shower.

The upstairs master bedroom will accommodate any fashionista with a huge walk-in wardrobe. Picture: realestate.com.au/rent

The home is also a short stroll from Hawksburn Village, which has some of the top restaurants and shops in Melbourne including Bistro Thierry and Husk.

It’s also close by to Toorak Primary School, Loreto Girls School and Hawksburn train station.

Priced at $2,000 per week, the home is available now and can be inspected privately through Jellis Craig.

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