Blog

From their interior decoration and the style of architecture to the layout of utility spaces such as the kitchen and bathroom, houses often reflect changes in society and this has never been more apparent than right now.

Set against the backdrop of massive changes brought on by the global health crisis, it’s clear that new home buyers are at the forefront of change when it comes to post-pandemic home design. From floorplans and the installation of additional safety and hygiene features to a new emphasis on more time spent at home, it’s clear that the homes of the future will be vastly different to those before.

While we’re still in the early phases, trends have started to emerge and the first big one, according to industry experts, is that liveability has never been more of a focus.

It’s likely that homes built in a post-COVID world will be vastly different to those before. Picture: realestate.com.au

While it’s true that owner-occupiers now represent a much larger part of the new home buyer market, it’s also apparent that established investors understand the need to create housing that’s comfortable, safe and convenient for the long-term benefit of its residents.

This has been driven by global market conditions due to COVID-19 and job security issues, explained David Milton, managing director of residential projects at CBRE.

“With the drop in volume, buyers now have more time to make a very considered approach to their property investment,” Mr Milton said.

Where once there was an ‘investment-grade’ style of home, tailored towards investors getting the most bang for their buck in the shortest amount of time, buyers now have more time to make better decisions around the liveability of a home, he explained.

“We were starting to see many more owner-occupiers in the market, even before the pandemic, but this has really ramped up lately. We’ve also found that the established investors, who are looking to buy amid COVID,  also really care about facilities that are being considered and how the tenant will live for the long term.”

Michael Lang from Castran Gilbert said there has been around five years of growth in six months within the industry during the pandemic.

“We were always going to get there but COVID has accelerated things, including the need for everything to be online yesterday,” Mr Lang said.

“For people thinking that we’re going to get back to normal, there is no normal now – everyone has to adapt and it’s not a bad thing. Change is slow until it happens, I always say.”

Top 12 ‘wellness’ features new home buyers want

Post-COVID trends are still emerging, but the most desirable features in December and January 2019 show that new home buyers were already concerned with wellness and security, indicating that this will likely continue.

Here are the top five themes broken down:

1. Technology

Mr Milton said that while many apartment buildings will start to be geared towards swipe card access, with no need to push buttons or touch any of the common surfaces, technology inclusions will have to be cost-effective as this is one of the most important deciding factors for purchasers.

“We like to think that technology will allow us to live like we’re in a spy movie, but costs will need to be kept down,” he remarked.

Jayde Pezet, director at KM Sales & Marketing on the Gold Coast, said while automation and smart homes are popular topics, technology these days plays a big part in how safe people feel in a building.

With domestic travel set to be huge once state borders are relaxed, coupled with a predicted spike in enquiries from interstate residents wanting to make second homes further north, destinations like Queensland’s Gold Coast could be hotspots for holiday makers, which means many buildings will be grappling with keeping permanent residents safe while also being able to service short-stay tourists.

The creators of one of KM Gold Coast’s developments, Flow, have devised an online booking system, which is completely contact free and is aimed at maximising the usability of the building while keeping residents safe.

Flow is an apartment building designed to keep residents safe. Picture: realestate.com.au

2. Working from home

Mr Lang said buyers are, without a doubt, looking for quality spaces to work, a selling feature he thinks will only intensify.

“I’ve dubbed it the ‘Zoom Room’,” he said. “Back in the day, your study would be filled with encyclopaedias (that you didn’t need) and shelves filled with books and manuals, but this went out of fashion when people started working on laptops.

“Now they’ve come back in because we need to have a room that we’re doing a lot more concentrated work in.

“These are spaces where we can do a higher level of work, where you can attend meetings and not see clothes hanging up or dirty laundry. Buyers are looking for nice natural light in these spaces and a bit of quiet.”

Mr Milton added that in the smaller homes, where residents are content with working from the kitchen table, utility spaces can be added so that work equipment can be quickly and easily stowed away, making for a smarter, more flexible home.

There’s a renewed priority for home offices and studies as more people work from home than ever before. Picture: Getty

3. Outdoor features

Wellness amenities were becoming more popular before COVID hit, according to Mr Lang, and there has been a steady move away from “bling” features, like pools and gyms, in favour of outside walking spaces.

“Pools and gyms were the bling that attracted buyers for a time, but soon they realised they weren’t using them that much and paying exorbitant amounts for them, and they were crowded,” he explained.

Especially in the time of COVID, where hygiene is important, people are less inclined to want to share gym equipment when they can just purchase their own, said Mr Lang.

Mr Milton added that balcony spaces, pleasant views and convenient locations are now more important to buyers as they consider the reality of needing to spend more time in their homes.

“Buyers will be drawn to things like a balcony with a view, that doesn’t suffer privacy issues from neighbours.”

Convenience and comfort are now the vital deciding factors for purchasers, according to Mr Milton.

4. Hygiene

If nothing else, 2020 has been a lesson in hygiene and the housing market is embracing this trend as residents try to maximise safety.

Mr Pezet says hygiene measures have become more stringent with developments embracing the use of beautiful sanitary devices in lifts and all common areas.

Especially in residences that cater to both long and short-term residents, he said the need to protect every resident and allow for sanitary habitation will become paramount.

Housing developments of the future will enable residents to have contact-free delivery. Picture: Castran Gilbert

5. Shared amenities

Shared amenities are changing in the time of COVID-19, too, with cool rooms and storage for grocery deliveries, contact-free parcel drop off facilities and a commercial-grade business working space all becoming priorities for some buyers.

Mr Pezet said his company has recut floorplans on projects to turn third bedrooms and multi-purpose rooms into a home office that can house printers and other equipment. Even mini business centres are being incorporated into the common areas of new builds, similar to co-working spaces with high-level printing and photocopy facilities available for residents.

The post New home buyers are changing the face of future housing developments appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 76 Kambala Road, Bellevue Hill, has a $9.25m price guide.

The former Morgan Stanley banker turned F45 executive, Damien Rayner, and his investment manager wife Arabella have listed their Bellevue Hill mansion for sale with a $9.25m price guide.

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom home with double garage on a 506 sqm block at 76 Kambala Road is with Pillinger principal Brad Pillinger in an expressions of interest campaign.

The couple, who are understood to be looking to buy an even larger home, managed to flee Los Angeles, where Damien was the president of sales and business development for the gym franchise for its planned US expansion, ahead of the pandemic travel restrictions.

MORE:
Banker’s $7.8m Darling Point dazzler

Epic mansion comes with 14-car garage

Comfort zone.

The well-appointed kitchen.

They’re now holed up at the Palm Beach holiday home of parents, and by the look of Instagram posts are having plenty of family fun.

They’d rented out the Kambala Road home at $3500 a week during their LA sojourn, but if they don’t get their price they’d be quite happy to move back in themselves.

And why wouldn’t they be.

Set in private landscaped grounds and with a pool, the luxurious two-storey residence is designed to maximise natural light and offers an attractive indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

There are both formal and casual living areas that flow to entertainment terraces.

The master bedroom …

… And the terrace with full city, Bridge and harbour views.

The upper-level bedrooms open to balconies and the master has a separate study, internal dressing room, spacious ensuite and a private balcony with full city, Bridge and harbour views.

The secondary bedrooms also have north facing sun-drenched balconies and an ensuite each.

And families will appreciate that there are four separate living areas.

The gas kitchen has direct access to both internal dining areas, there’s plenty of storage and an additional sunny courtyard.

The double garage has internal access.

Formal dining.

There are 5.5 stylish bathrooms.

The property is located in the very best section of Kambala Road with outstanding views.

Pillinger said: “It’s simply impossible — apart from no 76 — to find a manageable quality affordable home in the very best part of Bellevue Hill in a primary street enjoying much-sought outlooks.”

F45 co-founder Rob Deutsch also had his eastern suburbs home up for sale briefly in April with hopes of beating the Bronte $11.2m price record, but pulled it from sale shortly after and has apparently now decided to keep it.

The post F45 exec Damien Rayner lists $9.25m Bellevue Hill mansion appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The sign at the centre of the Queenwood School for Girls Muck Up Day prank.

A creative group of Queenwood Girls School students have eschewed the traditional egging and shaving cream gags for a hilarious Muck Up Day prank.

Led by year 12 student Sophie Nell, they ‘listed’ their school’s 2452sqm campus in Mandolong Rd, Mosman, for auction.

MORE: Rosselli-designed beauty sells in seven days

Hot pink Versace palace has quirky ‘zebra’ room

In their marketing material they claimed the campus had been rezoned for a nightclub, brewery and minimum security prison.

They reportedly set a price guide of $150 million and even ran an open inspection and private auction, although the results have not been disclosed.

Sophie enlisted the help of neighbour Megan Thomas, a sales executive at O’Gorman & Partners in Mosman, to give the prank some extra polish.

O’Gorman & Partners sales executive Megan Thomas (left) with student Sophie Nell and their fake for sale sign.

With the help of the agent, they erected a signboard on Wednesday with details of the forthcoming auction. It read:

Ms Thomas said the sold sticker went on the signboard on Thursday, before the board was removed today.

“It was only up for a bit over 48 hours,” she said.

The sold sticker goes up.

But in the three days it was up, she received as many calls from developers legitimately interested, if a tad confused, in the opportunity.

“When I explained, it was all taken in very good humour,” Ms Thomas said. “It went down well – we never had any negative feedback.”

Ms Thomas said the students paid for the $275 signboard and helped with the design. They also sought permission from the school, she said.

“They were really good about it,” she said. “I was really pleased to see that the school were such good sports and approved it. I love a good prank and it really did lighten the mood. And in these times with COVID we really need that.”

SIGN UP HERE FOR THE NSW REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER

The post Private school girls ‘sell’ campus in creative Muck Up Day prank appeared first on realestate.com.au.

No. 29 Waite St in Farrer is for sale.

You might find yourself humming John Williamson’s iconic tune Give Me a Home Among the Gum Trees when you set foot in this peaceful piece of paradise in Farrer.

Designed by renowned Canberra architect Roger Pegrum, the home at 29 Waite Street opens out to a private deck surrounded by a stunning natural landscape including towering trees and a rockery with views across Isaccs Ridge and Mount Taylor.

Peace and quiet.

MORE: Top Canberra sales rake in more than $6m

Bespoke abode in Watson to go under the hammer

“It’s one of those homes, as soon as you walk into it you just fall in love with that special feel,” said selling agent Steven Lowe, from Agent Team – Belconnen.

“You feel calm, the deck provides a nice place to relax. I guess that’s why they call Canberra the bush capital.

A gorgeous view.

A peaceful outlook.

“It’s a Roger Pegrum-designed home and what I particularly like about it is that from the kitchen you have views to the west to Mount Taylor and views to the east over the bush reserve, so standing there you get the sunrise and sunset from that one place in the house.”

Built in 1971, the three-bedroom, two-bathroom, split-level home in Farrer offers floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that make the most of the natural outlook.

Perched on a 1184sqm block, the residence has been freshly painted and carpeted. Additional features include a study nook, double glazing and solar panels.

Modern interiors.

“It’s a turnkey property so there’s nothing left to do to it, other than buy it and just enjoy it. Properties like that are rare,” Mr Lowe said.

The home, which is due to be auctioned on Saturday 26 September at noon, is expected to fetch in excess of $1.1 million.

The post Natural landscape holds centre stage in this Farrer delight appeared first on realestate.com.au.

1525 Riverdale Dr, Hope Island.

A GRAND Gold Coast mansion built on 11 titles has sold sight unseen to an interstate buyer who bagged the estate for millions less than it fetched in its heyday.

A $5.75 million contract on the Riverdale Drive residence known as Harbour Point went unconditional last night, with the sale due to settle in December.

1525 Riverdale Dr, Hope Island.

Professionals Vertullo Real Estate agent Mark Carew said the interstate buyer was one of several who made offers to buy the estate sight unseen.

“The borders being closed made it harder for interstate buyers,” he said.

“There were multiple offers from parties outside of the Queensland who see the value.”

The 1800 sqm trophy mansion sits on a 4982 sqm point position making it the biggest residential holding within the prestigious Rosebank Gardens Estate.

The Mediterranean-style home was built by national car-warranty business owner Gary Chuck and wife Suzanne, who fetched $9.39 million when they sold the prize home in 2004.

MORE: Penthouse bigger than most houses hits the market

Australians urged to ‘buy more property now’

Hemsworths put their Malibu home on the market

1525 Riverdale Dr, Hope Island.

The estate was sold again five years later for $9 million, this time to Chinese buyers capitalising on what was a GFC market.

An auction last month saw the property passed in, with $4.5 million the best bid from one of four registered bidders.

The property was then listed for offers over $6.5 million.

Mr Carew said the sale was the highest in the Hope Island Estate this year and the latest in a string of $3 million plus sales.

“This sale is a record for the Hope Island Resort this year,” he said.

“Property on the northern end is really going strong.”

The estate was passed in for $4.5 million at auction last month. Photograph: Jason O’Brien

The new owner intends to renovate the 16-year-old residence before moving in, allaying fears among local residents that the house might be bulldozed.

“It will be renovated and restored to its former glory, maybe even better,” Mr Carew said.

“It is good news for Harbour Point as a lot of people wanted to knock it down, but this buyer plans to restore it.”

The three-bedroom house features towering gilt columns, decorative dome ceilings and ornate balustrades which were in vogue at the time.

1525 Riverdale Dr, Hope Island.

The post Iconic Gold Coast trophy mansion sold to FaceTime buyer appeared first on realestate.com.au.

This Hunter St property sold for $3.15 million.

Canberra’s appetite for high-end property is showing no signs of abating with the city’s top two sales last week reeling in $6.3 million alone.

The two elite addresses – at 63 Mugga Way, Red Hill and 18 Hunter Street, Yarralumla – each sold for $3.15 million, with numerous bidders vying at each auction on Saturday.

The Red Hill property, set on what Canberrans dub the ‘Golden Mile’, represented a rare opportunity to purchase a 2081sqm landholding with a five-bedroom, original, single-level home in one of the city’s most prestigious enclaves.

MORE: Forrest residence offers a rare slice of history

Griffith home fit for an epic house-warming

The Hunter St home has five bedrooms.

The Mugga Way home.

Set on an 1800sqm block, the Yarralumla property was of similar ilk with five bedrooms, a swimming pool, outdoor entertaining terrace and garaging for four cars in a blue-chip location.

Mario Sanfrancesco, who marketed 63 Mugga Way, said it appeared buyers in Canberra’s prestige market had been undeterred by the economic fallout of the pandemic.

“The market at the top end is very healthy at the moment,” said Mr Sanfrancesco, from Blackshaw – Manuka. “There’s strong inquiry activity and we’re finding there is a fair bit of interest at that level. It’s probably as active as it’s ever been.”

Mugga Way had five bidders register.

He said 63 Mugga Way attracted five registered bidders on auction day.

“The types of buyers were both live-in owners who might have done something with that property and there was some interest from families who might have rented it for a period and then built a new home there,” he said.

“It’s a substantial parcel of land on what is regarded as Canberra’s ‘Golden Mile’.

“The top three residential sales in Canberra are all in that street. The highest residential sale in Canberra is $8 million and the other two sales are in the $7 millions, so this was a fair offering to get into one of the city’s best streets.”

The Euree St home.

Richard Luton, who sold 18 Hunter Street, said his agency’s auction clearance rates had been almost perfect in recent weeks.

“Last weekend at our auctions we sold eight out of eight, the weekend before we sold eight out of nine and the two weekends before that we sold ten out of ten and nine out of nine,” said Mr Luton, from Luton Properties – Manuka.

“So, there is certainly demand out there. There aren’t hundreds of buyers but there are still good buyers with pre-approved finance.”

This Reid property sold for more than $2 million.

Mr Luton said last Saturday’s auction of 56 Euree Street, Reid netted more than $2 million, another significant sale, but he warned the market was still fickle.

“It’s a good market at the moment, but it depends what happens in spring and if there is a spring rush of properties as to whether this continues,” he said.

“Nationwide, there has been a downturn in the number of listings on the market definitely over winter and we still have so many pre-approved buyers. If the market gets flooded with homes, that could change.”

The post Canberra’s top two weekend sales pull in more than $6 million appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Rooftop views from Caydon Property Group’s Due North development in Preston.

A Preston development that has embraced an inner-city love of rooftop pools and fitness hubs has worked out a way to cut through lockdown to attract prospective buyers.

Caydon Property Group’s Due North project is winning praise for the inclusion of a work-from-home ethos, added just before it launched amid stage four restrictions in August.

Set to stand a dozen storeys high and feature 107 apartments, the development’s elevated rooftop will include an outdoor gym and yoga space, as well as cabana-like private dining booths with barbecues.

RELATED: Melbourne developments evolve for work from home demand

Union Quarter, Spotswood: Build-to-rent project to have perks

R.Iconic South Melbourne features running track, band room, karaoke

In the development’s lobby, a co-working space will join street art by former Melburnian and now New York-based artist Brolga.

Caydon sales and marketing director Steve Williams said a handful of apartments were now reserved, despite the display suite never being able to open to the public.

The open-plan apartments will be oriented for views and natural light.

Mr Williams said many buyers had commented on location and the price, but rooftop amenity was the highlight for most.

“The rooftop living is a real drawcard; it’s more of an inner-city or south of the Yarra feature, but people are really jumping at it,” he said.

Set amid eclectic boutiques, bars and eateries at 70 High Street, Preston, the development is walking distance to trams and trains.

The Preston address is convenient for those looking to embrace a vibrant local community.

The tower’s exterior architecture is guided by the suburb’s working-class past, with exposed brickwork and concrete driving the aesthetic.

Interiors will be adapted for a post-virus world with study nooks and desks to be included in some apartments’ joinery. The developer also plans to convert several second bedrooms to home offices. Floorplans range from 50-60sq m in one-bedroom units, up to 124sq m for the largest three-bedroom.

All will feature stone benchtops and splashbacks, European appliances and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sleek kitchen designs are a standard feature in all apartments.

Open-plan living zones will open to balconies of up to 49sq m, some with CBD views.

One-bedroom apartments are priced from $341,000-$497,500, two bedrooms from $584,000-$774,000, and three from $984,000-$1.039m.

MORE: The Castle: Hamilton’s main street landmark home for sale

Stage four lockdown cuts Victoria’s new home sales by 14.4 per cent

Melbourne’s fastest-selling suburbs: Viewbank, North Warrandyte top list

The post Due North, Preston to feature rooftop pool, fitness hub appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Western Australia’s peak real estate industry body has slammed a decision by the WA Government to extend the coronavirus eviction moratorium for residential properties, warning of a looming rental crisis with vacancy rates already at a record low. 

The Real Estate Institute of Wester Australia pesident Damian Collins said extending the emergency period tenancy legislation for all residential properties made no economic sense and would ultimately lead to higher rental prices and a shortage of rental properties.

The laws ignored the needs of landlords and would make it even more difficult for renters to find a property, he said.

The backlash comes as Perth’s vacancy rate dropped from 2% to 1.3% in the past two months, according to REIWA.

Perth’s eviction moratorium and freeze on rent increase are set to stay in place for at least another six months. Picture: Getty

Last week, Commerce Minister John Quigley announced that the freeze on rent increases and some evictions would stay in place for another six months until 28 March, 2021.

Mr Quigley said while WA was entering a period of economic recovery, the threat of a second wave of COVID-19 was still real.

“For residential tenancies, low vacancy rates for rental properties have, and will continue to force rents to rise. This, together with the current unemployment rate, as well as changes to JobKeeper, means families may find themselves in financial hardship,” Mr Quigley said.

But Mr Collins said the WA Government had used the pandemic as an opportunity “to introduce rent control and meddle in the free market”.

“We already have a shortage of rental stock and reducing supply further by dissuading landlords will ultimately mean tenants will find it even harder to get a property,” he said.

He said instead of a blanket extension, criteria should have been added to the legislation so that only those impacted financially by COVID-19 received support.

“The McGowan Government’s short-sighted decision to extend the emergency period for all tenancies is making a difficult problem even worse,” Mr Collins said.

“Unfortunately, sitting tenants are unlikely to move or adjust household size as they are paying below market rents. In addition, we are seeing an influx of people trying to find a new rental property in a market with a very low vacancy rate.”

WA tenants are struggling to compete for homes with very low vacancy rates. Picture: www.realestate.com.au/rent

Steve Radi, director at Radi Estates – Inglewood, said the blanket policy was unfathomable given barely 1% of tenancies in WA were impacted by COVID-19.

“This policy is absolutely hypocritical. We are not interested in the politics of what is playing out one little bit at the moment. It’s simply garbage,” Mr Radi said.

“Owners are missing out on money after sticking by the market through five years of economic downturn; and now we have politicians playing politics with people’s money and their lives. Not to mention costing the country an insurmountable amount of lost taxes due to interfering with the free market forces.

“We have one landlord who is terminally ill. She’s got kids, she’s got financial commitments and needs to sell her own home and move back into one of her investment properties. Without going to court to get an order to give the tenant notice to vacate, she cannot ask them to move out until the end of the emergency period.”

Mr Radi said the move would further ostracise investors and was out of sync with government stimulus to boost the construction industry in the wake of the pandemic.

The extension to the eviction ban has be criticised as “out of sync” with the WA Government’s stimulus to boost the construction industry. Picture: Getty

“(Landlords) can’t do what they want to do with their properties in a free market, yet the government goes and throws out $20,000 to the building industry. They have totally overheated it and allowed them to increase prices for new homes incredibly. Where is the government’s intervention in the free market here? It is a complete double standard.

“That Building Bonus has absolutely been dwindled in the wind. I have sold land for significantly more in the last two months than what identical blocks have sold for in similar locations in May and June before the announcement.

“The policy is a blatant socialist intervention into the free market…If the government had the best interest of tenants and landlords at heart, they would have let the free market play its course.”

The post Fears extension to WA eviction moratorium will cause “rental crisis” appeared first on realestate.com.au.

2/7 Loftus Rd, Darling Point, has a $7.8m price guide ahead of an October 21 auction.

The grand design and impressive city skyline, Bridge and Opera House views of investment banker Jeff Hall and Sharon Grey’s Darling Point apartment will wow buyers this spring.

LJ Hooker Double Bay’s David Malouf has a $7.8m price guide ahead of an October 21 auction for the luxury three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with double garage at 2/7 Loftus Road.

On level one of developer Terry Younes’s five-unit X-Pace designed Aloft building, the apartment offers 235 sqm of internal living space plus 72 sqm of terraces.

MORE:
Art dealer’s $1m discount in Bellevue Hill

Former Lord Mayor sells in Point Piper for $18m

High above the boat-studded waters of the Cruising Yacht Club.

Hang about and enjoy the view.

Set high above the boat-studded waters of the Cruising Yacht Club, the apartment’s bespoke lighting and cutting-edge architectural detailing helps create an instant mind-blowing first impression.

And the sunny entertainment terrace and views across Rushcutters Bay aside, the state-of the-art contemporary fittings help set this apartment apart.

Luxurious finishes.

Bespoke lighting.

These include a Gaggenau gas stove/oven, dual Liebherr fridges, a Miele dishwasher, Ziptap and Butler’s pantry and innovative sliding screens.

Other attractions are the grand harbour-view master suite and the luxury bathrooms adorned with floor-to-ceiling marble.

Wake up to this.

Lavish bathrooms.

There’s zoned ducted airconditioning and plenty of integrated storage.

The couple, who bought the apartment for $3,495,000 in 2017 off the plan, have some high-net-worth neighbours.

These include the art collector and entrepreneur Rachel Verghis — partner of a London – based asset manage, Sigurdur Arnimsson — who paid $7m for the penthouse.

And Dion Rivkin, the financial adviser son of the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, and his wife, model Anna Rivkin, bought in for $2.9 million.

The post Investment banker Jeff Hall and Sharon Grey list Darling Point pad with $7.8m price hopes appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The motocross track at Alligator Creek

There are homes and then there are fun houses – properties so cool they are in a league of their very own.

And sometimes they can even provide an opportunity to earn a quick buck.

MORE NEWS: One Nation identity’s Yeppoon property listed

Madam Butterfly’s big $3.055m payday

Cattle station sold for massive $35m in online auction

In North Queensland there is no shortage of properties with some serious wow factor – for both the kids and the kidults.

Here we take a look at, arguably, some of the coolest properties on the market in North Queensland right now.

***

1. TOWNSVILLE: A designer house on a sprawling 13 acre block hit the market this week, complete with its very own professional motocross track.

Located in Alice River, the property is listed for $1.35 million and also comes with an activity room, a huge theatre, a large outdoor entertaining area complete with an outdoor kitchen and built-in gas barbecue, a gym, dam and a large in-ground swimming pool.

RELATED: Designer home and acreas complete with motocross track

The swish house comes with its own motocross track

The property is owned by Steve Hannah of Hannahbull Hydro Excavations and wife Sharni (nee Williams), the granddaughter of Alexander Park (AP) Williams, who founded AP Williams & Co in 1932 but passed away several years ago.

The family continue to run the business today.

“I designed the house and we built it in two stages, the first in 2010 and the second in 2015,” Mrs Hannah said. “It has heaps of louvres to catch the breezes, and is big and open.”

Mrs Hannah said they had the motocross track professionally designed and constructed for their son Lachlan, who is now 23 and living in Brisbane.

One of Ms Hannah’s nephews in action

Townsville-born world Moto-GP champion Jack Miller has taken a spin around the track, as has Mrs Hannah’s nephew Kayden Downing, who is now competing in the US.

“That’s why we bought the property, really,” she said. “So we would have enough room to build the track. Our daughters (Mylee, 12, and Jordan, 9) have also enjoyed it.”

But the time has come to move on, with Mrs Hannah admitting it was tough to sell the property.

“It has been an awesome place to raise a family,” she said. “The open spaces, the parties with the music cranked up at 2am and no one close enough to hear it.

“It gave us a great lifestyle but we still enjoyed being close to town.”

The property is listed with Open Property Townsville.

***

2. TOWNSVILLE: The iconic Barra Fun Park – arguably Australia’s best backyard – was listed for $2.5 million earlier this year.

Owner of Barra Fun Park Brent Stevenson PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

On 25 acres, the property is currently run as a red claw and barra farm, but also boasts cable skis, an inflatable water park, a huge water slide, a jumping pillow, fishing, cafe, commercial kitchen and a modern home.

The Barra Fun Park is listed for $2.5 million

Dubbed the “Best Backyard in North Queensland” at the very least, it is listed with Property Now.

***

3. KURANDA: Atreehouse set among three acres of rainforest has also just hit the market in Kuranda for offers over $399,000.

Designed and built in 2004, it has Turpentine poles, Cypress walls, and mixed rainforest hardwood flooring, a handcrafted wooden kitchen and a spa on the deck.

Your very own treehouse in the rainforest

Also in Kuranda is a resort-style house with a separate, self-contained granny flat on almost six acres.

But it is the huge undercover deck overlooking a private lakecomplete with its own waterfall and surrounded by spectacular gardens that would make it the ultimate adults retreat. It is listed with Ray White Cairns Beaches and is on the market for offers over $839,000.

Or perhaps your own lakehouse.

***

4. MISSION BEACH: If fishing is your thing, here is your chance to turn that hobby into a business.

Catch your own dinner at this barra farm

A barramundi farm has been listed for sale at Mission Beach and includes a house, a resort-style pool, a huge shed, nine aquaculture ponds, three of which are stocked, and the business, which stocks a number of local restaurants and sells direct to the public. It is listed for $1.5 million.

Yes please!

Also at Mission Beach is Sails, the “quintessential beach house” on a 4000sq m rainforest block.

This beachhouse comes with some cool artworks

The architect-designed house has 300sq m of decks alone, and is being sold complete with its unique inventory of furniture, artworks and furnishings.

Including its own whale sculpture

Located at Garners Beach, 10 minutes from Mission Beach, it is listed with Ray White Mission Beach and is on the market for $2.5 million.

***

5. MAREEBA: Life could be pretty sweet if you owned Emerald Creek Ice Creamery at Mareeba.

We all scream for ice cream!!!

Zoned as rural residential, the 355sq m business sites on 5.31 acres and is listed for $930,000.

It has operated for 12 years, but the owners are ready to retire, with the option to buy the family home, located on a separate title, also on the table.

***

6. MAGNETIC ISLAND: Who doesn’t love koalas? The Bungalow Bay Koala Village at Horseshoe Bay is listed for sale for the first time in 17 years.

Some furry ‘housemates’ and their keepers at Bungalow Bay Koala Village

It comes with an award-winning eco village comprising of 37 bungalows and 35 bush camping sites, a koala park, a deck bar, reception. laundry and camping facilities.

It is listed with Savills Brisbane.

Bungalow Bay Koala Village is listed for the first time in 17 years

***

7. SOUTH MISSION BEACH: It is all about luxury at this swanky, three-level, 7-star energy efficient house.

Features include glass turrets above the living area, an internal marble stairwell, an infinity pool and barbecue pavilion with ocean views, a fully self-contained second level for teens, grandparents or guests and a 5083sq m block surrounded by rainforest.

This modern castle has its own turrets

And some seriously spectacular views!

It is listed with Andersons Real Estate for $3.55 million.

***

8. PINNACLES: Offering about 68,500 hectares, Springfield Station offers wide open spaces and plenty of cool “toys” to explore it
.

About 8500 cattle are included in the sale of the property, which includes a large, 1960s built homestead with plenty of room for guests to help you explore its vast terrain.

The house has six bed quarters plus two staff cottages.

Springfield Station comes with quadbikes, a truck and tractor and its own air strip

The property also has its own registered 900m airstrip and hangar, sheds, horse agistment and training facilities, huge verandas and outdoor areas for entertaining, including an outdoor kitchen and heaps of trail rides to explore, all just a short drive to the Bartlett Park Rodeo Complex.

A diesel truck, a tractor, ride-on mowers and quadbikes are also included in the sale, with the property listed for $950,000 with Explore Property.

***

9. BOWEN: If you go troppo for mangoes, this ocean frontage property could be just the right medicine.

It has a fully established mango orchard, ripe for the picking, and is listed for $3.1 million.

Offering eight acres with spectacular views, the architecturally-designed four bedroom house also has tropical gardens, stone terraces and its own private boat launching facilities.

See the mango orchard to the left of the house ….

***

10. TRINITY BEACH: This award-winning residence is packed full of features, including its very own aquarium.

Cooler than most nightclubs, just saying …

Offering almost 850sq m of living space, the house features spectacular light features throughout, a sunken lounge, casual living and dining spaces with glass features that showcase the 20m saltwater swimming pool, a rear terrace with a built-in barbecue, landscaped tropical gardens, a media room, a fish pond feature at the entrance, internal access four car garaging, and smart home technology, all on a 1100sq m block.

Just simply cool …

The built-in aquarium is located in the entry foyer. On the market for $2.95 million, it is listed with FNQ Hot Property.

***

The post Cool properties on the market in North Queensland right now appeared first on realestate.com.au.