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Belle Property Central Coast principal Cathy Baker looks at what’s driving the rise and rise of the Coast’s prestige property market.

WORDS SALLY MACMILLAN PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEF NALEVANSKY

It’s no secret that property prices on the Coast have boomed spectacularly over the past couple of years, across all sectors of the real-estate market. And although sales for properties at the mid to low end of the scale are slowing down, demand and prices at the high end continue to soar. A glorious waterfront home at 6 Bulkara Street, Wagstaffe exceeded the $13.5 million price guide and realised more than $15 million when Belle Property Central Coast sold it in February – setting a new record for Central Coast sales. This same home achieved a record price of $9.5 million in 2020, showing just how much has changed in two years. Another record-breaking sale for Belle Property Central Coast was the three-level, Mark Eastham-designed property in Toowoon Bay. It sold in 2021 for more than $9 million, the highest price ever for a beachfront property on the Coast. Cathy Baker, Belle Property Central Coast principal and a specialist in prestige properties, explains that there are several factors driving the phenomenon.

“Everything started to change when the covid pandemic hit in 2020,” says Cathy. “People were working from home and stopped travelling overseas and interstate. It was a paradigm shift; spending more time at home gave many of us a fresh appreciation of home and family life, and an insight into leading a different lifestyle. “The Central Coast was classified as part of Greater Sydney and with shorter travel times thanks to the NorthConnex, the region became an easily accessible sea-change destination for Sydneysiders. Homeowners in Sydney were also seeing massive increases in the equity in their properties, which allowed them to invest in a second property on the Coast. We’re now seeing the dual ‘Coast-City lifestyle’, whereby a house on the Coast can be both a base for work within easy distance of the city and a family holiday home for extended weekends.” A significant number of new buyers are Sydneysiders who formerly owned holiday properties in Queensland or interstate and decided to sell up because unreliable flights and border closures made access too difficult. “Both investors and lifestyle buyers can see the benefits of investing in high-end homes where they can enjoy the lucrative holiday home returns on offer and the impressive capital growth,” says Cathy. The limited supply of high-end, luxury properties on the Coast, coupled with buyer demand, have also forced prices to go higher – and they continue to rise. “Over the past 12 months we have seen a huge increase in buyer demand for properties in the $5 million-plus bracket,” Cathy says. “The gap between prices for prestige homes on the Northern Beaches and the Central Coast is narrowing all the time. “What I hear from our clients, though, is that the lifestyle on the Coast is just that little bit more relaxed and removed from the pace of the city than it is on the Northern Beaches. Once you leave the freeway you’re in a completely different environment, whether you’re on the beach, waterfront or in the countryside.” You just have to take a look at the stunning waterfront house on the next page, currently in Cathy’s portfolio, to see what the Coast lifestyle is all about. For more information, contact Cathy Baker on 0414 241 005, cathy.baker@belleproperty.com

To arrange a private inspection, contact Belle Property Central Coast principal Cathy Baker on 0414 241 005 cathy.baker@belleproperty.com

Resort-style deep waterfront at its finest

57 VILLAGE ROAD, SARATOGA

If you’ve been searching for your Central Coast dream home, this impeccable residence in the heart of sought-after Saratoga is ‘the one’. Perfectly positioned on a level, north-facing 2,000-square-metre block, this architecturally designed masterpiece spans 38 metres of water frontage and includes a private jetty, floating pontoon and slipway with drive-in access. With four well-appointed bedrooms, including a private first-floor guest suite and separate teenagers retreat (both with their own lounge, ensuite and kitchen), this resort-style home has ample room for a large family, several guests or even hints at dual-living potential (subject to council approval). Six luxurious bathrooms and two three-car garages with internal access add value to an already impressive 900-square-metre floor plan. Constructed to the highest standard, this property is built of Western Australian limestone with charming cedar joinery, high ceilings, timber flooring and marble features throughout – every detail has been thoughtfully considered. The property features multiple indoor-outdoor living areas, balconies, terraces, decks and a sunroom, all built around the home’s 15-metre heated pool and spa. A versatile and spacious family entertainer, this landmark residence offers endless lifestyle potential that must be seen to be believed, in one of the Coast’s premier locations and positions – and all only 90 minutes from the Sydney CBD.