Modernist gem sets hearts aflutter in Belmont

IT was love at first sight for a Geelong woman who paid $555,000 to secure the keys of a quirky two-bedroom home set on 581sq m in a tightlyheld Belmont pocket.

The buyer had her heart set on 7 Sommers St as soon as she laid eyes on the 1950s era house and can’t wait to move in and start renovating.

She was one of many admirers of the retro gem, which Modernist Australia featured during the auction campaign, describing it as a “killer with a north-facing wall of windows, stone freestanding fireplace and jaunty roofline”.

It was a family affair at Saturday’s auction, with the buyer’s daughter in the crowd on bidding duties. They outlasted a young couple the secure the property that last sold for $65,000 in 1997.

Buxton auctioneer, Rob Nelis kicked things off with a $470,000 vendor bid before the buyer and the underbidders chimed in with a flurry of $5000 bids, swiftly taking the price past the expected range of $485,000 to $530,000.

Mr Nelis said interest was strong with 110 inspections during the campaign.

“It was a really good result for the buyer who loved it from day one when she saw it, and the vendor is really happy, too,” he said.

“The buyer is a Geelong woman that currently lives here … she loved the location and charm of the property and will be a moving in and renovating.”

GEELONG WEST

THERE will be no dodgy uni digs for the children of a Melbourne couple who bought a Geelong West property for their offspring to live in while they study at Deakin University.

The out-of-town buyers pounced on the three-bedroom weatherboard at 71 Gertrude St, paying $625,000 at auction on Saturday.

Newtown agent Graeme Taylor said the buyers had a sentimental connection to that particularly area of Geelong West, which made the property even more attractive.

“His grandfather lived around the corner, he played around there all the time,” Mr Taylor said. “They just wanted it.” He said the buyers had been looking for the right property for two years and sympathised with the underbidders, first-home buyers, who missed out on the day. The two parties made 18 bids between them. “The buyers had missed out at many Melbourne auctions then decided to buy one in Geelong for their kids,” Mr Taylor said.

“One of their kids is coming down to study at the waterfront.”

GEELONG WEST

A YARRAVILLE family relocating down the highway has fallen for the charms of an impeccably renovated california bungalow in Geelong West.

The buyers paid $1,170,500 for the lovingly renovated circa 1922 house, known as Mossgrey, just a short walk from Pakington St.

Described by the vendors as a “california bungalow on steroids”, the four-bedroom house combines a rear extension with beautiful period detail including a striking leadlight skylight in the formal loungeroom, timber panelling and original sliding glass doors.

Hodges, Geelong West agent Marcus Falconer said the couple and their two children had been looking for the right property in Geelong West for six months and were captivated by the history of the house.

“I guess the most important thing about that home was the fact it was built after the war, when there was shortage of materials, and the quality of it has held it apart from a lot of other houses,” Mr Falconer said. “In 25 years I haven’t seen anything like it.”