Blog

Valle Vista is a brand new complex with eight apartments at 76-78 Intake Road, Redlynch.

AN incomparable suite of apartments has entered the market in Cairns’ second most searched suburb, in a brand new luxury complex.

Built by Plos Constructions, eight quality apartments now stand tall in the Valle Vista complex at 76-78 Intake Road, Redlynch.

All apartments have been exclusively listed with LJ Hooker Edge Hill’s Kim Ryan with the first four targeting residential buyers now on the market, with the second lot of four, catering more for holiday letting, to be listed in the future.

Valle Vista is a brand new complex with eight apartments at 76-78 Intake Road, Redlynch.

MORE NEWS

Ten FNQ family homes under $250k

Most viewed homes this year

Aussies unsure how to turn property dream to reality

The spacious apartments each include three bedrooms, two bathrooms including master ensuite, open-plan living areas and double lockup garages with storage, listed at $645,000 negotiable.

With each apartment varying between 189sq m to 194sq m, Ms Ryan said there was nothing comparable at Redlynch when it came to large, luxury units.

“They’ve been designed for anyone looking for a low-maintenance lifestyle, each apartment is ‘turn key’ – everything is ready,” Ms Ryan said.

Valle Vista is a brand new complex with eight apartments at 76-78 Intake Road, Redlynch.

“There’s not many new apartments coming on in Cairns and especially Redlynch. The closest you’ll get are the larger complexes, but in terms of floor space and quality of finish, there’s nothing like this.”

With an onsite lap pool, there is also a shared entertainment area, but each apartment also enjoys privacy inside the gated complex with individual private balconies.

The sustainable complex also has solar power and elevator access to the apartments.

Valle Vista is a brand new complex with eight apartments at 76-78 Intake Road, Redlynch. The waterfall island bench in the kitchen with the illuminated glass panel.

Each apartment is tiled throughout, with a central living area and a kitchen featuring a waterfall island benchtop including a bespoke, illuminated glass panel.

“You can print a really nice photo and have that placed in front of that kitchen benchtop, inside that panel,” Ms Ryan said.

The complex is only minutes to Redlynch Central Shopping Centre.

The apartments will be open for viewing on Saturday, August 22, 11am-1pm.

The post Brand new apartments in luxury Cairns complex now for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

PRESTIGE buyers are trading the beach for the bush as the demand for luxury acreage estates hots up in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The COVID-19 crisis has seen a surge in inquiry for rural real estate and cashed up high end buyers are joining the queue for well-appointed homes in the hills.

The Bluestone estate at 128 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba.

A first-class rural sanctuary in Guanaba, 30 minutes north west of Surfers Paradise, has drawn instant interest since it hit the market for $3.5 million this week.

“In less than 48 hours the property had around 1000 views online,” said Kollosche’s Kara Evatt who is leading the Bluestone campaign with Eddie Wardale.

“We’ve been hearing from people who are looking to sell their waterfront properties and upsize on more land.”

Honey, I’m home! Bluestone has its own helicopter pad and hanger.

Spread out over 4.32ha, 128 Guanaba Creek Road boasts a helicopter pad and hanger for easy access along with a cobblestone driveway that’s custom-made for prestige wheels.

The six-bedroom residence has been upgraded and extended by the current owners to include an airconditioned gym with martial arts mat, sauna, bar and a showroom style eight-car garage.

Champagne at twilight overlooking the estate.

The extensive grounds include a championship size tennis court, heated swimming pool and spa, stables, two lakes, organic vegetables gardens and an established orchard.

“There’s nothing else like this in the area,” Ms Evatt said.

“This property is six-star with all of the luxuries you could need. It has a real celebrity feel about it.”

Bluestone’s features include gardens, lakes, a tennis court and pool.

While agents on the northern end report strong interest out of Brisbane for acreage retreats in and around Tamborine Mountain, interstate buyers are focused on southern parcels.

“From Burleigh to Bilinga, we’re finding the level of inquiry is crazy, particularly for acreage properties,” said Ed Cherry of Sophie Carter Exclusive Properties.

“That interest for retreat-style properties is mainly coming from Sydney and Brisbane, where buyers are looking for a weekender or to relocate.”

795 Tomewin Mountain Road, Currumbin Valley sold for $1.55 million.

Late last month, buyers from Batemans Bay paid $1.55 million for a designer five-bedroom home on almost five acres at 795 Tomewin Mountain Road, Currumbin Valley.

Here’s a selection of amazing acreage properties on the market right now.

475 Tallebudgera Connection Road, Tallebudgera

475 Tallebudgera Connection Road, Tallebudgera

475 Tallebudgera Connection Road, Tallebudgera

Surrounded by landscaped gardens, this resort-style sanctuary offers three acres of land on which to relax in peace and privacy.

Inspired by Colorado mountain chalets, the four-bedroom residence features high ceilings, exposed timber beams and natural stone finishes.

Outdoor rustic recreation is covered by a pool, vegetable garden and tree hut for the kids.

Price: $2.2 million

Agent: Ryan Ward, Kollosche

76-82 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain

76-82 Main Western Rd, Tamborine Mountain

76-82 Main Western Rd, Tamborine Mountain

The Mediterranean-style residence known as Laurel Lane is secluded on 1.2ha of lush lawns, country garden and ponds in the heart of Tamborine Mountain.

Tasmanian Oak and Jarrah ceilings feature inside the main residence while travertine and red marble lines the floors in the open plan design.

You can grow your own food in the vegetable gardens and orchard where automated irrigation keeps the maintenance to a minimum.

Price: Contact agent

Agent: Colleen Brunt and Nick Zhang, Amir Prestige – Paradise Point

186 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba

186 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba.

186 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba.

This hinterland manor may feel like it’s a world away, but in 10 minutes you’re on the M1 and in 30 minutes you’ll hit the sand.

The five-bedroom Rembrae Downs homestead is set back from the road on 8ha where rolling hills give way to 150m of Coomera River frontage.

Luxury appointments include a pool, heated spa, gazebo and bar, while a stable block on a separate title caters for four-legged friends with three large stables, tac room, office, feed shed and store room and wash bay.

Price: Contact agent

Agent: Emma Gregory and Amir Mian, Amir Prestige – Mermaid Beach

Wildlife drop by for a feed at 186 Guanaba Creek Road, Guanaba.

49 Bramley Dr, Tallebudgera Valley

49 Bramley Dr, Tallebudgera Valley.

The nine-bedroom residence is one of the largest in Tallebudgera Valley.

This grand nine-bedroom chateau is surrounded by virgin rainforest, waterfalls and wildlife.

“This is one of the biggest homes available in Tallebudgera Valley,” said agent Ed Cherry.

“Every bedroom has a courtyard coming off it.”

The estate lends itself to income opportunities such as a boutique hotel, weddings, health retreat or a high-end bed and breakfast.

With all the charm of a bygone era, the estate features a 4000-book library, wine cellar, open log fireplace and a pool looking out to the forest.

There are two self-contained staff quarters, a separate guesthouse and provision for another house to be built on the property.

Price: On application

Agent: Ed Cherry, Sophie Carter Exclusive Properties

300 Monaro Road, Mudgeeraba

300 Monaro Road, Mudgeeraba

300 Monaro Road, Mudgeeraba

Marketed as a Federation eco retreat, this two-storey Queenslander on 4.79ha has panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Springbrook hinterland.

Located within eight kilometres of the Mudgeeraba township, the accommodation includes two self-contained guest suites, a master suite and a separate self-contained three-room studio, ideal for working from home.

Inclusions list a pool, spa, steam room and gym, while the grounds encompass an enclosed organic vegie garden, free range chook run and fruit trees.

Existing approval for a health retreat also allow for future business opportunities.

Price: Tender by September 4

Agent: Lyn Newcomb and Jodi Russell, Harcourts Mudgeeraba

61 Gibsonville Street, Tallebudgera Valley

61 Gibsonville Street, Tallebudgera Valley

61 Gibsonville Street, Tallebudgera Valley

This near-new house is located on one of Tallebudgera Valley’s most sought after streets.

A tree-lined driveway sets the scene for a prestige acreage lifestyle in a relaxed rural setting.

The four-bedroom house on 2.25ha is designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living with bi-fold doors connecting the living areas to the entertainment deck, gardens and dam.

There’s ample parking for cars, boats, caravans, trailers and more with a double shed and a double garage.

Auction: August 25, 6pm

Agent: Matt Micallef and Erika Zatyko, Ray White

The post Prestige buyers trade the beach for the bush appeared first on realestate.com.au.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

Breathing new life into one of SA’s oldest homesteads has been “a labour of love” for Ian and Fiona Traill.

But with work drawing them back to Sydney, the couple are now reluctantly saying goodbye to historic Woodley House, which has been a feature of the Glen Osmond landscape since being built by Osmond Gilles – the colony’s first treasurer – in 1843.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

The couple purchased the sprawling 5884sqm property in 2017, attracted by the grand Victorian style villa’s grandeur, location – and car parking space.

“We were living in Sydney in a terrace in Paddington … we wanted to have a car park and that turned out to be an extra million dollars,” Mr Traill, an architect, says. “And we saw this home advertised for about the same price as the value of our terrace in Paddington – and this one had about 15 carparks and was a beautiful property.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

“So we flew down and basically purchased it on the spot, without thinking too much about its existing condition,” Mr Traill says.

The couple have since taken on major interior renovations – bringing the six-bedroom mansion into line with contemporary living expectations – as well as replanning and replanting the expansive garden area.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

New works included a replanned kitchen and pantry, three ensuites and two powder rooms and new plumbing. The home has also been completely rewired – allowing for excellent internet coverage throughout – while roof attic space has been converted into two bedrooms with ensuites.

Mr Traill says it was important to respect the building’s heritage. “We wanted to change things as we went, and we got heritage approval and started peeling it back, trying to get the true character of the property,” he says.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

“We stripped off a lot of the plasterwork internally and exposed a lot of the old stonework, which is lovely. The house had some good bones and there was the opportunity to express that more. It’s been good – it’s come together and it’s full of nice finishes. It’s still got a very strong character and we’ve kept all the original features where we could.”

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

Some of these features include high ceilings with ornamental cornices and ceiling roses, high skirting boards, imported solid French Oak panelled windows, double hung and casement windows and french doors.

Interior highlights include the chef’s kitchen, a 1000-bottle wine cellar, library and gymnasium – while the LED-lit tennis court, beautiful gardens and wood-fired pizza oven help make entertaining a breeze.

MORE NEWS

Chance to restore a piece of history to its former glory

Where you can buy a house for $80,000

Historic church’s impressive transformation

Another standout feature is the property’s peaceful location – complete with plenty of birdlife and its own resident koalas – and its stunning views of the city and beyond.

“People come here and are shocked by the closeness of the city,” he says. “There are some places higher up that have got a drone view, whereas this gives you a fantastic panorama of the city and the gulf.

2a Playford St, Glen Osmond. Woodley House. Picture: Jonathan Kissock

“And it’s very nicely located at the base of the foothills – it’s close to Burnside Village and only 15 minutes drive into the city.”

Mr Traill says he and Fiona had had second thoughts about moving. “Everyone says ‘why are you selling it, how could you give it up’,” he says. “It’s been a labour of love but it’s got 16 rooms and there’s only two of us so realistically, what are we going to do?

“As we’ve got to this point, we’re kind of thinking ‘do we really want to sell it?” but it’s more of a logistics thing with work going on in Sydney.”

2A Playford Street, Glen Osmond

Contact agent for price

Agent: Booth and Booth Real Estate, Jamie Brown 0413 000 887. Land size: 5884sqm. Expressions of interest: Close Tuesday, September 15 at noon. Open: By appointment.

The post Set in stone: Glen Osmond’s Woodley House is built to last appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The HomeBuilder Grant could shave $25,000 off your new home building project.

There’s no question that this year has been a strange one, both socially and economically. Many of us have been spending a lot of time at home in recent months, which has brought the shortcomings of our living arrangements into sharper focus.

In June, the federal government announced a new scheme aimed at helping homeowners renovate or build a new house, providing stimulus for the housing industry as we power up for 2021 and beyond.

The HomeBuilder Grant offers $25,000 towards the cost of building a new home or substantially renovating an existing home, as long the homeowners meet the criteria.

For new-home builders, the value of the house and land cannot exceed $750,000. For those seeking to renovate, the value of the existing property cannot exceed $1.5 million.

The value of the renovation work must also be at least $150,000 to be eligible.

Grant applicants must also meet income criteria, which is capped at $125,000 for an individual applicant and $200,000 for a couple.

Housing Industry Association managing director Graham Wolfe says those interested in applying should get a move on.

“You should be talking to a builder or builders as soon as possible as to their availability to do the work, as well as site contractors and financial lenders,” Graham says. “This is federal government funding distributed by Revenue NSW and you can do the application online.

“But you need to have a contract signed by the end of the year.”

Work needs to start within three months of the contract being signed, with the grant being paid once evidence is submitted that work has begun and the first payment has been made.

HIA managing director Graham Wolfe says you should get a move on if you’re hoping to apply for the HomeBuilder Grant.

While some parts of the economy have been sluggish during the pandemic, Graham says the building industry has been more of a mixed bag. Occurrences such as the recent storms on the south coast could mean that trades may not be as readily available as you might have thought.

Finding a suitable block of land to build on or getting a development application through council also takes time.

The HomeBuilder grant allows for an extension of the work starting for up to three months if it is due to “unforeseen circumstances”. This could include delays in getting council approvals, delays due to bad weather and difficulties in obtaining materials or subcontractors.

However, for those who have been putting off building work because of the pandemic but have already done the groundwork, Graham says the grant represents a great opportunity to upgrade or build a new home.

“A lot of people have had the time and the motivation to think about their accommodation and ask themselves if it is sufficient,” Graham says.

“If you have been delaying work on your house in NSW, there is capacity to take on this additional work to get a contract signed.”

Special provisions have been made in the HomeBuilder Grant in areas affected by bushfire. Picture: Toby Zerna

There are also special considerations for those who lost their homes in last year’s devastating bushfires.

For the purposes of the grant, rebuilding in an area ravaged by the fires is deemed a “substantial renovation”, with the option to access the grant and build a house up to the value of $750,000.

More: revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/homebuilder

hia.com.au

The post A quick guide on how the $25k HomeBuilder grant can help you renovate or build your home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

79 Camelot Pl, Bridgeman Downs, has its own lake crowned with a wooden bridge.

Picture it. It’s a lazy Sunday morning on what is set to be another hot summer’s day. You’re stretched out by the pool catching up on the day’s news, when the sound of laughter draws your attention to the nearby lake. You see your children jump in a boat and row themselves across the water, setting off on their next big adventure.

It sounds like a memory formed on an unforgettable family holiday, right?

The house sits beside its own private lake in a tightly held street in Bridgeman Downs.

Yet for Mick Foley and his two daughters aged 13 and 12, it is a scene they could recreate every weekend.

The family have owned 79 Camelot Place, a sprawling house with six bedrooms in a tightly held street in Bridgeman Downs for the past four years.

The property stretches to more than two acres and is made up of the house, manicured gardens, trees and lawns, where Mr Foley, who owns two helicopter charter companies, among other businesses, is able to land his personal chopper.

The house has mulitple living spaces.

Helicopters aside, the property’s biggest attraction has to be its picturesque lake, crowned with an arched wooden footbridge.

Mr Foley said the family had spent a lot of time on the lake over the years and he would miss it greatly.

The kitchen is the heart of the home.

“It’s a very quiet spot, and there’s the fountain and lights on it at night, and the fire pit on the other side where I used to sit with the girls. It’s a special place,” Mr Foley.

While the sheer enormity of the house may appear overwhelming, Mr Foley said that once you start living in it, you grow into the space and the floor plan has allowed the home to retain a sense of cosiness.

There are plenty of places fro which to take in the lake views.

“When you walk into it, it feels like a normal home, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. It’s northeast facing, perfectly positioned on the block, it just ticked all the boxes for me.”

Three of the home’s six bedrooms reside on the upper level of the three-storey house, including the main which has an ensuite and walk-in robe. From this level you can capture stunning views of the lake.

The remaining three bedrooms can be found on the middle storey, where again, you are hit with lake views.

The bedrooms are generous in size.

All the living areas, including the chef’s kitchen with stone bench tops, which Mr Foley said was the heart of the home, are on the lower level.

An informal eating area and family room adjacent to the kitchen has floor to ceiling glass walls to maximise on the lake views and natural light. Both these areas open out to an outdoor entertaining pavilion and deck, framed with balustrading for lakeside dining and

The house has a cinema room.

entertaining. Descend a set of stairs and follow a meandering path to the infinity edge pool, set on the edge of the lake. There is also a free-standing pavilion, for hosting parties, family and friends.

Built in the late 1990s, the only thing that belies this home’s age is the terracotta tiling throughout, which Mr Foley admits to having become too busy to replace. Elsewhere, the house is timeless in its design and architecture.

The house suits alarge family who want room to move.

Unfortunately Mr Foley said that with the family’s schedule becoming far more busy, he felt the property wasn’t being used to its full potential and so made the difficult decision to

put it on the market.

“I think it suits a large family with early age kids that want the space, and I hope someone enjoys it as much as our family has. It really is a house in which memories can be made.”

And who doesn’t want that?

The property will be auctioned on Saturday, August 29 at 11am.

The post Brisbane home has it’s own private lake appeared first on realestate.com.au.

30 Avoca Street, Lindisfarne. Picture: SUPPLIED

FOR anyone hunting for a picture-perfect family home at Lindisfarne, this property could be the one.

It offers an abundance of space that would suit a variety of family demographics, plus it boasts a private position and those views that the suburb is noted for.

This low-maintenance home is being offered for sale for the first time since being built by the current owners.

Set on the sunny Eastern Shore.

Warm and inviting.

Its spacious and versatile floorplan boasts five double-size bedrooms, including a ground floor master suite with an ensuite and a walk-in wardrobe.

Next to the master there is a study or home office for those working from home. Or, if desired, it could be used as a formal dining room.

Just across the hall there are a couple more bedrooms with built-in wardrobes and the family bathroom with a corner spa bath.

An expansive open-plan kitchen, living and dining area — with far-reaching suburban, mountain and river views — is ideal for a family to come together.

The bonus of a balcony positioned alongside the kitchen and dining area will allow for that coveted indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

In the kitchen there are European appliances and gas cooking, which match perfectly with the home’s polished oak flooring and bespoke joinery.

Let your light shine.

A place to relax.

Reverse-cycle heating and cooling is backed up by Nobo panel heaters to keep the winter chill at bay.

The lower ground floor features two further bathrooms, a large rumpus or second living zone — which could be the perfect teenagers’ retreat — and a garage with internal access and abundant storage. This storage space could be developed as a cellar.

There is additional off-street parking to complement the garage.

Outdoors, the gardens are low maintenance and there is a choice of entertainment areas.

Avoca Street is walking distance from Lindisfarne Primary School and minutes’ drive from Gordons Hill Nature Recreation Area or popular Simmons Park.

The cafes, eateries, retail and services of Lindisfarne Village is about a four-minute drive from this home.

Take a nap.

What’s for dinner?

Per realestate.com.au figures, Lindisfarne’s median house price has been strong in the past 12 months with more than 9 per cent growth across 77 sales. Compared to three years ago, like many suburbs, Lindisfarne’s median is up by a huge 31 per cent.

Houses fetch $500 a week on average, REA’s data shows, with investors making a yield of 4.33 per cent.

No.30 Avoca Street, Lindisfarne is listed with St Andrews Estate Agency and priced at “Offers over $790,000”.

The post Superb views and heaps of space appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Townsville’s property market has outperformed Australia’s three biggest capital cities, posting a bigger increase in median sales prices over the past three months.

New data shows that the Townsville LGA recorded an increase in median house sales prices of 2.1 per cent in the past three months, and 3.1 per cent in 12 months.

MORE NEWS: Where to bag a bargain before vendor discounts dry up

Townsville property market at ‘start of recovery’

The result has seen the overall median house price in Townsville creep up to $330,000, a $10,000 increase on the same time last year.

Over that same three month period, Brisbane recorded a 3.1 per cent drop in its median house sales price.

The median sales price in Melbourne also fell 0.7 per cent, while Sydney recorded no growth in sales prices.

Brisbane’s median house price fell 3.1 per cent over the past three months.

REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee said regions with strong ties to the resources sector were performing strongly despite COVID-19.

And in many cases they were outperforming the capital cities.

“Mining may be a factor in Townsville but it is a big city supported by other job drivers such as defence, education and the medical sector,” she said.

“It could also be benefiting from people wanting to leave the bigger cities (due to COVID-19).

“Affordability would also be a selling point for Townsville.”

Ms Conisbee acknowledged that Townsville’s property market had “taken a few knocks” in recent years, but there were signs that confidence was returning.

“The very low rental vacancies in Townsville at the moment is also probably reflective of population growth,” she said.

“That usually means there is some good things happening in the local economy and when there is economic nd population growth, the market can bounce back quite quickly.”

REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee

But what suburbs in the Townsville region (SA4) are batting above average?

The data shows that houses at Forrest Beach in the Hinchinbrook shire are going gangbusters, posting a whopping 67 per cent increase in median sales prices over 12 months, with 17 houses sold during that period.

The median sales price has jumped from $173,684 to $290,000 in just 12 months, according to realestate.com.au.

Buyers are also snapping up vacant land at Forrest Beach, according to CoreLogic RP Data.

Current listings in Forrest Beach range from $850,000 for a house with water views on 2.37 hectares to a three-bedroom house on a 809sq m block for just $150,000.

Mary Venables of Venables Real Estate Forrest Beach said the higher median sales price was likely influenced by a few big sales, rather than being truly reflective of the average house price.

But she said Forrest Beach was indeed seeing a renewed interest from buyers, especially from Victoria.

“The houses I am selling at the moment are more in the lower price bracket so good buys,” she said.

“We are also seeing a lot of vacant land sales here.

“There is just people coming out of the woodwork down south, and they are buying with the intention to relocate.”

Walkers on The Strand. Picture: Evan Morgan

In Townsville, Jensen recorded a 33.2 per cent in its median house prices in the past 12 months, likely driven by the new residential estates being constructed in the area.

There, the median house price has risen from $390,000 a year ago to $519,500, with 16 properties sold in that 12 month period.

Again, new home builds and acreage sales have lifted the median house price, with some bargains under $300,000.

In North Ward, the median house price has jumped from $505,000 to $665,000, a 31.7 per cent increase.

The sought-after bayside suburb saw 21 houses change hands over the past 12 months.

Sally Elliott of Smith & Elliott Real Estate is selling a stunning character home packed full of traditional features at 64 Paxton Street. It is listed for $760,000.

Character PLUS!!! 64 Paxton St

Ms Elliott said a few big sales could be skewing the percentage increase, but she agreed with the current median house sales price.

She said some pockets of North Ward could yield sales over $1 million, but buyers could still get a bargain in the picturesque suburb.

“I am seeing a lot of interest from interstate buyers in particular,” she said. “And they have the cash to spend.

“I would say they (interstate buyers) are looking in that $900,000 to $1.2 million bracket mostly.”

But one of the biggest influences on the North Ward market was the low vacancy rates and the “extraordinary” rental yields being achieved.

“We have a waitlist just for rentals,” she said. “We just haven’t seen the transition out of Townsville that we would usually see, the people travelling, relocating.

“We are seeing locals upgrading, and quite a few professionals from outside of Townsville looking to relocate here.

“There is definitely more positivity in our market.”

Another drool-worthy North Ward home

***

TOP 20 SUBURBS FOR MEDIAN SALE PRICE INCREASES (12 months) – TOWNSVILLE REGION

Suburb/Increase/Current Median Sales Price

Forrest Beach +67% $290,000

Jensen +33.2% $519,500

North Ward +31.7% $665,000

Rasmussen +19.3% $210,000

Alligator Creek +18.6% $492,000

Ayr +15.6% $185,000

Vincent +11.6% $240,000

Mount Low +11.4% $370,000

Heatley +10.7% $238,000

Alice River +10.2% $498,500

Pimlico +8.8% $307,500

Nelly Bay +8% $351,000

Mysterton +7.6% $387,500

Condon +6.9% $256,500

Gulliver +6.1% $260,000

Balgal Beach +6% $265,000

Cranbrook +5.9% $263,500

Thuringowa +5.8% $275,000

Bushland Beach +5.1% $385,750

West End +4.3% $360,000

(Source: REA Market Trends report August 2020)

Nelly Bay-style Bali

Can’t trafvel? Don’t have to with this Balinese-inspired beauty at Nelly Bay

The post Townsville outperforms the major capital cities on house prices appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Great Ocean Road, Big Hill, was the most-searched street in the Geelong region in the past three years.

A look into the Geelong region’s most popular streets shows buyers are searching for lifestyle and checking out some amazing trophy homes.

Data from realestate.com.au revealed the region’s most searched street over the past three years — the Great Ocean Road at Big Hill, near Lorne, show how amazing homes can attract huge interest.

A luxury home previously owned by celebrity chef Shannon Bennett and actor Madeleine West was the only residence traded in the locality since 2017.

RELATED: Black ‘dragon scale’ house stands out from crowd

Price point drives bids for rare Geelong home

Clifftop house has private beach access

The 1000sq m, five-bedroom house at 1200 Great Ocean Road sold for $4.025 million in late 2018.

Realestate.com.au chief economist Nerida Conisbee said there’s always an element of stick-beaking as people search for bigger, better homes.

An incredible home previously owned by Shannon Bennett and Madeleine West at Great Ocean Road, Big Hill.

“There is a certain percentage of those searching that are stickybeaking and want to check out certain homes and certain streets,” she said.

“They might have a much better view, nicer houses or something else desirable that tends to lead to higher levels of interest.

“Sometimes it might be that a super-popular house in that street can lead to an incredible surge of activity,” she said.

Homes in Jarosite Rd, Bells Beach have attracted significant interest, including the long-time former home of Nicky Buckley and Murray Bingham.

Newtown agent Dale Whitford said the top streets near central Geelong were quiet areas.

“In Patten Court, (Newtown) there is no through-traffic — you wouldn’t go there unless you had a reason and most people don’t even know where it is,” Mr Whitford said.

“Mont Albert Rd (Geelong) is a bit like that — a nice tree-lined street, close to everything but really quiet and no really big traffic problems.”

Mr Whitford said schools, water and other amenities were big drivers of where people searched for property.

This former Costa family home in Whyte Court, Newtown attracted huge interest.

“Or you’ve got people who do the complete opposite and want to buy a small acreage out of town at Ceres, for example.

“What we’ve noticed in the recent past is people wanting to migrate out of Melbourne down here even more than they used to,” Mr Whitford said.

“When Stage 4 lockdown finishes in Melbourne, I reckon we are going to see the influx down here will be huge.”

Holmwood Ave is a short walk to the river and shopping centre at Anglesea.

Richardson, Newtown agent Matt Poustie said more people were looking for lifestyle properties, for a tree-change to a bush block at Wensleydale or Anakie or a hobby farm closer to the shops and schools of Geelong.

Mr Poustie said most buyers were from Geelong but lifestyle properties were rising in popularity with Melburnians.

“We find a lot of the Melbourne buyers are attracted to being somewhere between Geelong and Torquay. It’s not too far, it’s just off the freeway, so it’s perfect, and the land sizes are not too big (at 5 to 10 acres),” he said.

Luxury amid a rustic lifestyle area offered buyers a chance for a tree change at Gum Flats Rd, Wensleydale.

“People who really want seclusion, they want a proper bush block and a tree change, so they really want to be off the grid, part of the environment.”

Other homes linked to celebrities and business identities included Surf Coast couple Nicky Buckley and Murray Bingham’s former residence at Jarosite Rd, Jan Juc, which sold in early 2019 for $2.95m, and a sprawling five-bedroom Whyte Court mansion with a swimming pool, tennis court built by Frank Costa, but sold for more than $5m after daughter Suzanne and husband Tim Cleary completed a massive renovation.

4A Patten Court, Newtown offers panoramic views across the Barwon River valley.

TOP 20 STREETS – GEELONG

Great Ocean Road, Big Hill

Harry Lane, Anakie

Hardings Road, Freshwater Creek

Seahaven Place, Jan Juc

First Avenue, Anglesea

Charlemont Court, Ocean Grove

Gum Flats Road, Wensleydale

Glen Avon Drive, Bannockburn

Jarosite Road, Bells Beach

Frog Hollow Drive, Torquay

Whyte Court, Newtown

Mont Albert Road, Geelong

Holmwood Avenue, Anglesea

Larcombes Road, Modewarre

Richmond Court, Geelong

Patten Court, Newtown

Maldon Place, Ocean Grove

Clifton Avenue, Leopold

Mill Race Road, Highton

Bluestone School Road, Connewarre

*Search data from three years to August 1, 2020. Source: realestate.com.au

The post Geelong’s most wanted streets reveal our search for lifestyle and trophy homes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Keyes and Co Property Director Damien Keyes.

Mundingburra has been revealed as Townsville’s most tightly held suburb, with the average homeowner clinging on to their home for almost 18 years.

The leafy suburb, which has a mix of pre- and post-WWII houses, new builds and a range of shops, amenities and parks, is just 4km from the CBD, with new data showing residents are holding on to their homes longer than ever before.

MORE NEWS>>>

• Cane farmer Peter Poppi still critical after freak Ingham workplace accident

• Townsville fishing: Father, son get hit in a GT ‘ambush’

• Arthur Doubleday given good behaviour bond for part in national child abduction ring

The data shows that the average hold period for the suburb has risen by more than two years, up from 15.5 years to 17.9 years, according to the latest REA Market Trends report for August.

But some owners have held on to the same home for decades.

Margaret Hill of Helen Munro Property has a property that is on the market for the first time in 41 years.

Located at 21 Coorong Avenue in Mundingburra, the flood-free California bungalow sits on a 1664sq m block and boasts a full tennis court, pool, shed and gardens that include mango, pawpaw, grapefruit, mandarin and banana fruit trees.

Listed for $550,000, roughly the median sales price for a house in Greater Brisbane, the property offers plenty of space with the possibility of subdivision.

Damien Keyes of Keyes & Co Property said the reason why residents were so reluctant to leave the leafy suburb was due to its proximity to the river, amenities, its central location and parks. “There are also some very good schools so families tend to target that area, to get in to the school catchments,” he said.

Keyes and Co Property Director Damien Keyes is getting ready for Open Houses to pick up after COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

He said that with more interstate buyers looking to regional cities, tightly held suburbs were only going to become more sought after.

REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee said buyers bought into and stayed in certain suburbs for prolonged periods for various reasons.

“What you will start to see is some of these tightly held suburbs regenerating as the empty nesters move out and the new generation move in,” she said.

“It leads to a resurgence in the suburb with younger buyers renovating and extending older homes, or building more modern houses.

REA chief economist Nerida Conisbee presenting at the Kickstart 2020 at the Ramada in Ballina.

“This then has a flow-on effect to property prices.”

In Thuringowa, Townsville’s third most tightly held suburb, First National Real Estate agent Natalie Marr has a renovated three-bedroom house listed for $285,000.

Built in 1970, it has only ever had one owner.

The average hold period in Thuringowa is 15.5 years.

Looking ahead, Mr Keyes said with restrictions eased in Townsville, he expected to see more interest from interstate.

“People drive markets and I think regional areas will see a (population) strike like never before,” he said.

“Covid has made people realise that being close to family is the most important thing and more people are working from home so where they live has become more flexible.”

The post Townsville’s most tightly held suburbs revealed appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Newcastle is one of NSW’s strongest growth regions.

Regional housing values have held firm through the COVID period compared with the capital cities across Australia.

New research from CoreLogic shows dwelling values across the regional areas of Australia slipping by only 0.1 per cent between March and the end of July, while capital city home values are down 2 per cent over the same period.

MORE: Housing shortage emerging in key Sydney areas

What Aussies do when they’re home alone

It has especially been the case to the immediate south and north of Sydney. The Illawarra region is the standout performer. The Illawarra recorded the largest annual rise in regional housing values across Australia, up 12 per cent. It also saw the biggest jump in home sale volume over the past twelve months, with activity up 14 per cent over the year.

The Hunter Valley region saw values rise 2.8 per cent. Credit: Destination NSW

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie was NSW’s next best performing region. Its house values were up eight per cent, on the back of a seven per cent hike in sales activity.

Elsewhere, the Hunter Valley region, excluding Newcastle, saw values up 2.8 per cent annually. Its sales activity level was up six per cent.

The heightened sales activity was evident in the NSW Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, where the house sales volume increased by 12.7 per cent. Values in the region grew by 3.2 per cent annually.

The latest quarterly regional report analysed 25 of Australia’s largest non-capital city regions, including 10 from NSW, looking at performance of both house and unit markets. Of the 50 house and unit markets included in the analysis, 37 have seen values rise over the 12 months to July.

Houses were the better performer over the year, with 20 regions recording a rise in the value of houses, while five regional areas saw house values decline over the 12 months, with two in NSW.

They were the Riverina area and the New England and North West region. The latter had the longest days on market over the year, with houses taking close to 100 days to sell, on average.

Across regional unit markets, 17 regions across Australia recorded a rise in values over the year to July.

While the region by region data shows diversity, Tim Lawless, the head of research at CoreLogic, suggests relatively steady conditions in regional markets were partly due to the areas being less affected by stalling overseas migration.

Markets south and north of Sydney are performing the strongest. Picture: John Appleyard

“Close to 85 per cent of Australia’s net overseas migration flows into the capital cities,” Mr Lawless advised.

Mr Lawless also reckons the latest data shows some momentum in the trend towards rising demand for lifestyle properties. “It was prevalent prior to COVID-19,” he added.

Regional areas certainly offer up a variety of advantages and risks compared with their capital city counterparts. Housing prices tend to be lower, providing a more affordable entry point to the market.

For instance, there is a $588,000 median around Newcastle, $590,000 in the Southern Highlands and $704,000 in the Illawarra.

Mr Lawless warns regional economic conditions can be more volatile, especially those areas that are heavily dependent on a single industry for economic prosperity.

There have been signs regional growth rates peaked in late 2019, and could head into negative territory later this year without significant improvement to economic conditions or a demonstrated shift in demand side factors like population growth.

The post Regional cities have performed stronger than capitals throughout COVID-19 crisis appeared first on realestate.com.au.