Prestige market alive and well

PRESTIGE home builders are showing great confidence in Toowoomba with more of these owners recognising the value in investing in architecturally designed properties.

Builders and real estate agents alike agree that the value in these high-end properties lie in the lifestyle they create.

Peter Snow and Co principal David Snow said there was a much greater understanding of incorporating an architect designed home to take advantage of premium position.

“We have instances now where perfectly good homes that are between 25 to 40 years old have been demolished or removed to allow for a contemporary built home; a home of their choice in a location they desire,” Mr Snow said.

While Mr Snow acknowledged constructing these high-end homes was a comparatively expensive choice — with construction costs around $3500 per square metre versus $1100 to $1400 per square metre for a typical project home, it was an investment owners were willing to make.

“I do believe it demonstrates a confidence by these home owners in the medium to long tern of their investment,” he said.

Well-known Toowoomba builder Jeff Bubeck, principal of Downs Designer Homes, said much of the basis of these architecturally designed homes was all about lifestyle, indoor outdoor living, the flow proportion of spaces and most importantly in Toowoomba, the maximising of winter sun penetration into the home.

“Yet in summer providing cool indoor and alfresco areas, linked visually and physically to pool and recreation areas,” Mr Bubeck said.

“I find local clients are a discerning group of people who appreciate the best use of space and materials within the interior and exterior of their home.

“These clients are also requiring better amenities and higher grade finishes.

“I think, finally, clients are now seeing these high-end designed homes as valuable, tangible assets; and I believe this is a great reflection on Toowoomba and its transformation and growth.”

Mr Bubeck has won five regional House of the Year awards, among many others, and has built eight homes in arguably the most sought-after address in Toowoomba — Kara View Crt, which overlooks the escarpment.

He said he had been fortunate to have had a 20-year working relationship with internationally acclaimed architect, John Simpson, and in the ensuing years they had worked together on many prize winning projects in the Toowoomba region.

These have varied in style from Italian villas to contemporary homes across many price ranges.

“I have noticed more recently that people really do value the limited leisure time they have, and hence, they look to the design of their homes to provide these amenities, such as home theatres, gymnasiums, gourmet kitchen and butler’s pantries, pool and spas,” he said.

“All of these helps capitalise on their precious leisure time; some of these homes are mini resorts within themselves.

“I have observed a big change in the 25 plus years I have been building in Toowoomba.

“Back then if you even mentioned air-conditioning or swimming pools in Toowoomba you were laughed at; now they are almost a prerequisite in planning most homes.

“Things have certainly changed.”