GOING GOING GONE
Sun Herald
Sunday August 2, 2009
NORTHJust what the buyer wantedAN APARTMENT with a garden on the hill above Ivanhoe Park at 3/100Sydney Road, Manly, was snapped up for its asking price of $779,000 last week after just one viewing by a buyer who knew exactly what she wanted.Listed by Georgi Coward of Cunninghams Property, the three-bedroom apartment had been updated recently to include bifold doors opening to a deck.The 121 sq m property, which is at the rear of a 22-year-old block, last sold for $645,000 in 2005, Australian Property Monitors reports.The strata levy is about $800 a quarter and the unit has a lock-up single garage with internal access.EASTKing of the castleA THREE-BEDROOM Californian bungalow at 15Beulah Street, Kingsford, was auctioned yesterday with a price guide of $1.1million-plus €“ just above the suburb's $1 million median house price for the past year. The median price for the previous year was $905,000, Australian Property Monitors said.Listed through Theo Felekos of Century 21 South East, the house last sold for $835,000, in 2002. A quiet tree-lined street and an open-plan layout were its best features, MrFelekos said. The house was renovated seven years ago and is on a 410 sq m block. It has two car spaces. Result: Sold for $1,125,000.In Coogee a single-storey Federation semi at 44Ritchard Avenue was auctioned yesterday through Peter Starr of McGrath Eastern Suburbs with a price guide $730,000-plus.Young couples were interested in the unrenovated house, built in 1936 on a 220 sq m block. Result: Sold for $775,000.INNER WESTLooking up, Victorian-styleTHIS late-1800s house with a mezzanine rear addition at 2Theodore Street, Balmain, was auctioned yesterday through Richardson & Wrench Balmain's Mike Fraser. The price guide was about $1.7million. The house last sold for $660,000 in 1997.The four-bedroom house has an attic extension and two bathrooms on its 320 sq m block.The renovations were carried out in 2000. Result: Sold for $1.76 million.In Rozelle a two-storey weatherboard semi at 77 Foucart Street was auctioned yesterday through Monique Dower of Sarah Lorden Real Estate with a price guide of $500,000-plus. The two-bedroom, 90-year-old, unrenovated house on a 118 sq m block, has not been sold before. Result: Sold for $571,000.SOUTHFamily value in right placeA FOUR-BEDROOM house close to schools at 282Willarong Road, Caringbah, was auctioned yesterday with a price guide of $880,000-plus through Noni Stuart of Peter James Realty.The two-storey house last sold for $920,000 in 2004. It has an in-ground pool on a 701 sq m block. Result: Passed in at $850,000.In Lilli Pilli 20 contracts were issued before the auction of 649 Port Hacking Road through Luke Barbuto of Payne Pacific Real Estate with hopes of $720,000-plus. It last sold for $695,000 in 2006.The three-bedroom house is on 695 sq m. Result: Sold for $805,000.Ex-commune attracts big bidsA CHANCE to buy a creative piece of real estate led to a crowd of registered bidders, neighbours and locals flocking to yesterday's lively auction at 136 Shepherd Street, Darlington.The property, a two-bedroom multi-level warehouse conversion with myriad staircases, rooms, an upstairs terrace and parking, had an initial price guide above $800,000, but was revised closer to auction to between $900,000 and $1 million.The home sold $340,000 over reserve for a staggering $1.28 million €“ despite having asbestos problems in its roof.During the four-week marketing campaign, more than 350 groups visited the property, lured by its 270 sq m of floor space, creative vibe and potential to revamp.Agent Charles Touma, of BresicWhitney, was not surprised by the level of buyer interest."This place is beyond the standard terrace homes found throughout Darlington," he said. "There's a big difference between a 4-metre-wide terrace and a seven-metre wide warehouse because here you have the ability to create something different to everything else in the suburb."Australian Property Monitors' median house price for the suburb is $594,000 €“ reflecting the sales of smaller semis and terraces in the area.At auction, 25 of the 30 contract holders registered to bid among the large crowd that stopped traffic on the busy street. An opening bid was made at $780,000 with follow-up bids coming in $10,000-$20,000 increments. By the time the price reached $1 million, the crowd was struggling to keep up with the fast-paced calling of bids until auctioneer Damien Cooley, of Cooley Auctions, dropped the gavel at the unexpected selling price.Vendor Paul Worstead bought the property with five friends in the late '70s for $50,000. It was a commune until 1999, when it was subdivided into two homes for Mr Worstead and another friend. As a former designer for Mambo, Mr Worstead decorated the property with his artworks that he plans to take with him to a new home near Camden."I'm going back to old hippie, living in the country," he said."Half the people here are friends I've made in the area over the years and I'll miss that."
© 2009 Sun Herald