HOMES FOR WINNERS
BE A BLOCKHEAD:
WHEN Cairns’ The Block winners Tess Cattana and Luke Struber get a chance to work out what to do with their “life-changing” $730,000 in prizemoney, there will be plenty of real estate options in their hometown.
With the city’s average property prices sitting at about $400,000, just over half their winnings, the newlyweds could choose a luxury pad and live mortgage free and buy a few, more affordable properties and start building an impressive portfolio.
Belle Property’s Vanessa Robinson, who is friends with Ms Cattana and Mr Struber, said the couple also did well with the sale of their Moody St home recently.
After buying the Manunda home for $269,000 in 2014, it sold last month for $410,000.
“So let’s say they have a budget in the mid-700,000s,” Ms Robinson said.
“We have two beautiful properties just on the market – 1 Duffy St, Freshwater, for some classic charm, or a more contemporary home, at 47 Iridescent Dr in Trinity Park.
“They could take a break from renovating for a year or two or get something they could improve on and make a motza, like 11 Martin St, Freshwater. It’s a bit of a plain Jane but has good bones and is a comfortable five-bedroom, three-bathroom home loads of potential.
“I’ve already thought about how you could remove the wall between the kitchen and dining area and open that up to the view. It’s a great one for young couples to buy and get a foothold in one of our blue chip suburbs.”
Quaid Real Estate’s Tom Quaid said $730,000 was “literally life-changing money when it comes to a home in Cairns”.
“It will give them the opportunity to do everything from living mortgage-free with money to spare, lift them up to an exceptional home with only a little to pay each fortnight or give them a base to leverage into multiple properties to create and maintain their own property portfolio in our low vacancy/high yield market,” he said. “What a position to be in.
“If they were looking to make the most of their funds and never lift up tools again while staying close to town, they could look at 9b Denbeigh St in Parramatta Park at $725,000. This is a brand new home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a high quality of construction that has just come to market.
“Alternatively city views could be theirs from a modern home at 42 East Parkridge Dr in Brinsmead on the market in the mid $700,000s.
“Staying aspirational but putting their skills and flair for design to work, they could pick something more affordable such as 7 Pheasant St in Bayview Heights, with a solid home in a well-regarded street. This one has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a pool, taking it to the next level and staying well under budget with initial outlay of just $525,000.” editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost