MEGA MILLIONS

House of the week...................................................... 4, 5

Commercial...................................................... 38, 39, 40

Open homes..................................................................36

HOW long is a piece of string?

This phrase comes to mind when wondering just how many $1 millionplus Tassie homes will be sold this year.

At 256 last year, Tasmania set a new benchmark for sales at this level and smashed the previous high by 75-odd sales.

But guess what? The Apple Isle has already snuck past last year’s total with six months left to run in 2021.

It’s just another example of how much has changed in the local market.

These sales results come as realestate.com.au data revealed a shift in buyer activity in Tasmania and greater Hobart in the past three years where substantially more people are searching in the more expensive price brackets.

Most of May’s 50 top sales remain undisclosed right now, which is the norm for the local market.

Among the top sales, No.1 Loscombe Ct, Moonah joined the homes that have set a new suburb high. It fetched $1.300001 million.

LJH Pinnacle Property partner Alison Rogers said the previous record sale for a single residential property in Moonah was a Beresford Place home that fetched $1.1 million and was set on 6000sq m.

And the story behind that curious looking $1 at the end of the $1.3m?

“We were overwhelmed with the level of interest the home generated. We had 50 groups through over the two opens and multiple groups wishing to make submissions,” Mrs Rogers said.

“Due to the heavy competition, I gave everybody an opportunity to adjust their offer.

“A couple, locals that live nearby, were the first to submit a contract on the property after requesting a private inspection before the open home.

“The couple decided to increase their offer to $1.3 million — unbeknown the them there was another contract at the same amount — and at the last moment, the wife decided to add the extra dollar, hoping it would make their submission stand out.

“When I rang to congratulate them and to say that their offer had been accepted, I let them know there was only a dollar difference in it!”

Mrs Rogers said seeing Tasmania record so many $1 million-plus sales was extraordinary.

She believes Covid-19 has been “somewhat of an equaliser” for Tasmania and has changed the way people view the state’s lifestyle and work opportunities.

“This has meant there are more mainlanders who are considering the move, perhaps earlier than they once would have,” she said.

“They can often do their job from a computer and a Zoom app and not have to wait until they retire before chasing their lifestyle dream.”

Among the many magnificent sales in May, two historic homes stood out: Hatherley House which fetched $3.25 million, the highest East Launceston house price on record, and the gorgeous No.11 Mona St in Battery Point, which has a ‘not disclosed’ tag currently but would certainly be one of the best sales of the year.