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South East Queensland sits ready to welcome the many home seekers who are expected to head there when the coronavirus tempest passes. Be it properties close to the beaches or hinterland offerings, they represent a cheaper housing option as well as a more relaxed lifestyle.

There’s value for money on Brisbane’s fringe and on the Gold Coast – both likely to prove tempting compared to what’s available in Sydney and Melbourne.

John McGrath, founder of McGrath Estate Agents, believes there will be a surge in demand in luxury homes away from the bustling suburbs in our major capitals when the country bounces back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I anticipate that rural and regional luxury homes within two hours of the big cities will see a surge in demand as they did post 9/11, when many people reassessed their priorities and lifestyle became top of mind,” McGrath says.

McGrath Bayside Manly agent Joseph Lordi says that Queensland offers tremendous opportunity and value.

“Queensland offers a large variety of properties and the lifestyle is unmatched,” Lordi says. “Within only a handful of kilometres of the Brisbane CBD there are many large land parcels and gorgeous traditional Queenslander-style homes.”

Lordi says Chandler, about 20km from the CBD and airports, and considered an inner-city acreage suburb, is one of the most sought-after areas in Brisbane. He says he’s recently seen a high influx of interstate buyers from Sydney and Melbourne but there are typically only 20 or so properties for sale each year. The tightly held suburb has an average hold rate of 24 years for each property, with the median sale price growing by about 30 per cent during the past five years. However, at $1.55 million, it remains significantly cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne’s inner ring. Properties in the suburb are typically on at least 1ha.

Lordi is marketing Chandler’s former record holder, on the high point of the dress circle London Road. The grand 1ha estate last sold for $3.85 million in 2018.

A stone driveway behind wrought iron gates leads to the solid concrete home’s porte cochere, past manicured hedges and landscaped gardens. With more than 900sq m of internal living space over two levels, the no-expense-spared residence features marble staircases and Spanish Crema Marfil marble flooring. On the ground level is a formal living and dining space, six-seat home theatre, dance room, home office, games room and a gym.

The upper level has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. The master suite features a walk-through wardrobe, ensuite with dual vanity and access to two Juliet Cover story

Fifth-level apartment in the M3565 block at Main Beach on the Gold Coast developed by

Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page

Taking stock Buying beyond the major centres is expected to become a trend as people reassess their priorities in the wake of the virus

Above: Exterior and pool at the property in Chandler, left, and its piano room Below: The lounge area of the property in The Southport School precinct, left, and its exterior as seen from above

balconies. There are a number of courtyards accessed through French doors and a 20m lap pool flanked by lawns.

PRD Nationwide’s chief economist Dr Asti Mardiasmo says many buyers in South East Queensland come from Sydney and Melbourne, as they are able to secure more for their money.

“If they are thinking of it for an investment property, it’s quite the jackpot,” Mardiasmo says, citing the lower entry price, higher rental yield and comparable vacancy rates as drawcards for buyers from the southern states.

Strong buyer interest is also apparent as a trend on the Gold Coast. Ray White veteran agent Andrew Bell saw NSW and Melbourne buyers kick off 2020 in the prestige apartment sector.

“Their activity accelerated over the Christmas/New Year period, with a decision not only to gain financially from the sale of their properties in southern states in what was a very strong market and to pocket significant cash from the difference between Sydney sale prices and Gold Coast purchase prices, but from a very noticeable desire to enjoy something of the more stress-free lifestyle the Gold Coast provides,” Bell says.

“Most of these downsizers were moving out of homes they had been living in but they did not want to move into houses here on the Gold Coast. However they could not fit into small apartments, and so one-per-floor apartments, very sizeable three-bedroom apartments and sub-penthouses became their preference.”

The apartment offerings around Main Beach have always had the owner-occupier in mind, as opposed to the neighbouring Surfers Paradise, which caters for the holiday renter.

Ray White Prestige Gold Coast agent Robert Graham is marketing the fifth-level apartment in the Main Beach block M3565, developed by Harvey Norman chief executive Katie Page. Graham recently secured the sales of two of the seven apartments, at $4.5 million and $4.75 million, to leave just two apartments on the market in the boutique beachfront block.

The full-floor apartments, which are not allowed to be let to holiday-makers, each comprise four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Graham is asking $5.85 million for the level-five apartment, which spans 315sq m.

Graham is also marketing a sixth floor Bayden Goddarddesigned apartment in Sea for $5,975,000. “Main Beach hasn’t had anything of this calibre built since 1991, so it’s been received quite well,” Graham says on Sea. “It’s a highly prized location on Main Beach and there is no vacant land along the strip so you can’t buy and build, you have to go for something existing.” Graham says 90 per cent of top-end sales in the past year have gone to downsizers.

The Gold Coast’s $3 million-plus apartment market has performed exceptionally well during the past six months, according to Graham. “For $3 million, the apartment you will get today is far inferior to what you would have been able to buy three or four years ago,” he says. “This market is driven almost exclusively by locally based buyers from the Gold Coast. They are almost all mature buyers downsizing from homes on the Gold Coast to luxury apartments so they can travel and not be committed to the maintenance of a home. Most are empty nesters who want room for the kids and grandkids to come and visit periodically.”

Graham says the supply line for these types of apartments is drying up, however. “Demand is the highest I have seen in almost 20 years and there’s a shortage of owners wanting to sell.”

There is still a market on the Gold Coast for upsizers. In the neighbouring Southport, inland from Main Beach, Lucy Cole Prestige Properties Broadbeach agents Jim Sherrah and John Cole are marketing a sprawling 3900sq m estate with a recently renovated 1990s home. The home, in the sought-after The Southport School precinct, has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a home cinema, two offices and a gym. There are two master suites, each with private terraces, walk-in wardrobes and marble ensuites. In the grounds is a swimming pool and cabana.

PRD’s Arit Mardiasmo says in South East Queensland you get much more square metreage, bigger blocks of land with backyards and bigger bedrooms. “If you look at the milliondollar houses you are getting sweeping staircases and higher ceilings, and bigger walk-in robes. You don’t see this in Sydney and Melbourne (for the same price).

1RAVENWOOD DRIVE 8 SERENITY CL, NOOSA HEADS 3 MAHER TERRACE SUNSHINE BEACH

Dam fachuit. Eque praecri turimen terivita reo vo, consum halic reissilic iste nonfex me forae consuam tam prae, Patu quem iam atod nonsis. Hocaes iam ad consulem iam inverma nductat, mo vit; Catis occhuid mus omnit plisterio, ina, cutemul arestiam tere, estuam Romnem vitus comnequerum ne que aucerid epsesse renium opubliquod ad aveme tam larius am te facturore inatien terfecri se publicur patur inc vivenati, Spectacular artworks claim the spotlight in an idyllic beach house, seducing escapes to a salty life three minutes away from toes-in-the-sand. With ocean breezes and a monochromatic palette, all evocative of when the hustle stops, and summer begins every day at Sunshine Beach. Casual entertaining with two dining areas, three living areas and a green tranquil backdrop from every aspect.

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Price From $7.4m Auction Saturday 17 March 1pm View Saturday 11.00am - 11.30am Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512 Agent Nic Hunter 0421 785 512 Price $2.55M Agent Rebekah Offermann 0413 044 241

offermann.com.au

NOOSA’S HOME OF PRESTIGE PROPERTY

CLOVELLY 1 Greville Street

Aptly named The Stables, this former early-20th century horse stable has been converted into a true one-of-a-kind residential masterpiece by former TV producer and Fiji resort operator Henry Crawford. Combining timeless architecture with warehouse proportions, bespoke renovations and globally sourced materials, this exceptional residence showcases a unique island resort quality and is almost certainly unlike anything else available on the market.

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For Sale Expressions Of Interest View By Private Appointment Ben Cohen 0400 501 544 Mark Goldman 0411 193 299