APARTMENT SALES SHOOT SKYWARD
PLUS MIDWEEK PROPERTY GUIDE INSIDE
Footy connections tie buyers to Newtown townhouse
A CLASSIC period home with three street frontages in one of Newtown’s most prized locations has sold for $1.82 million.
A Belmont family upgrading across the river plans to make 66 Virginia St its forever home.
The buyers’ sprawling new weatherboard house, with its own turret, is rich in heritage character and sits on 1142sq m of land.
The landscaped backyard comes with a resort-style pool house and there are plans and permits for a substantial renovation.
McGrath, Geelong agent David Cortous said the position, at the corner of Virginia and Pakington streets, put Newtown’s school precinct within easy reach.
“The local buyers have two girls at Geelong College, they are moving from Belmont,” Mr Cortous said. “They loved the location of the property — it will be their forever home.”
Modern alterations have turned the former doctor’s surgery into a flexible family home with a sense of grandeur throughout.
The house (below) offers four bedrooms, formal dining and lounge rooms and an openplan kitchen, meals and living area.
Outside, the pool house is a modern entertainment space with a full kitchen.
NEWTOWN
A PAIR of medicos have purchased a modern two-bedroom townhouse after auction.
Buxton, Newtown agent John Dunne said the property at 4 John Place sold for $610,000 to a young buyer from Ballarat.
“The young lady, along with her partner who is a doctor at University Hospital, will move in and enjoy the location so close to the hospital,” Mr Dunne said.
“They like the convenience of the Pakington St shops and cafe precinct — especially the coffee.”
Buxton, Newtown auctioneer Ben Riddle described the property as an A-plus piece of real estate near the Geelong version of Chapel St.
Mr Riddle opened proceedings with a $590,000 vendor bid and was about to pass the property in before the eventual buyer made a $600,000 counter offer.
With no more bids, the property was passed in at $600,000, with successful negotiations following immediately after the auction.
The low-maintenance, split-level house, set directly behind Pakington St, offers stylish and spacious inner-city living.
NEWTOWN
THE ties are strong in the family of Fox Footy commentator Brad Johnson who was looking on at the auction of a luxury two-bedroom townhouse in Newtown. The former Western Bulldogs star was among the 40-strong crowd watching Saturday’s auction at 28/12-14 Balcombe Rd. He was there to support in-laws Bill and Mardi Johnston, who were the eventual buyers of the modern residence within a gated community, where they will be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. Mr Johnston said they were selling up in Williamstown and moving to Geelong to be closer to family. “We like the position and quietness of the property and the gated community aspect,” he said. Wilsons auctioneer Guyon Wilson got the bidding under way with a $750,000 vendor bid, and knocked down the property at $825,000, after competing against the Johnstons, who were the only bidders.
SOUTH GEELONG
THE prospect of living on a busy road was no deterrent for several buyers attracted to a modern, low-maintenance property in Fyans St, South Geelong.
The three-bedroom house, built just four years ago, sold before auction for above the $600,000 to $650,000 quoted price range.
McGrath, Geelong agent Wayne Baker said the buyers were downsizers already living in the neighbourhood and looking for something smaller they could lock up and leave.
“It was a beautiful little townhouse that was very low maintenance that appealed to firsthome buyers and downsizers and it was downsizers that purchased there,” he said.
“There was great interest in the property, it was meticulously built and presented.”
The house, at 105 Fyans St, is within walking distance of South Geelong train station.
BELMONT
FLEXIBLE zoning that paves the way for future commercial opportunities was the key to the sale of a residential house in a high-profile location opposite Belmont Village.
Buxton agent Ben Riddle said 74 High St, Belmont, smashed expectations at auction on Saturday, selling for $60,000 above reserve.
He said Chinese investors paid $580,000 for the three-bedroom weatherboard character home on 520sq m of land.
“We had three bidders and it was the fact the house was zoned Residential 2, in the Residential Growth Zone, it had the flexibility for commercial use,” Mr Riddle said.
“The people who bought it are Chinese investors who run a business in the area.”
He said another local investor and a developer from Werribee were also keen to unlock the potential of the site.