Surf Coast Times
Tuesday 2 February 2010
VOL 8. No 05
EXPLORE PAKINGTON STREET > PG 15
www.surfcoasttimes.com.au
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7-PAGE FEATURE
> PG 77
www.coastal-properties.com.au
BELLARINE PENINSULA EDITION
A beach beauty
WINE | FOOD | GIG | S ARTS
56-PAGE PROPERTY LIFTOUT INSIDE TODAY
243 The Esplanade, INDENTED HEAD $859,000 This stunning home is situated on The Esplanade with lovely bay views across to the Melbourne skyline. Polished floorboards are a feature of this home. Three bedrooms, main with walk-in-robe and full en-suite. Downstairs are two bedrooms, one with built-in-robes, a living area and study. Upstairs there is the main bedroom. This adjoins the open plan lounge and dining room. The timber kitchen has a dishwasher, a gas hotplate and an electric oven. There is a large sundeck ideal for entertaining and sipping that glass of champagne on a warm summers evening. Low maintenance garden with double garage. Workshop to the rear of the property. Inspection: By appointment
WEDDING BLISS
> PG 17
The State’s best surf life saving rowing crews converged on Torquay on Saturday, with more than 40 crews attending the third round of the Navy Australian Surf Rowers League. Pictured making a splash during the competition was Fairhaven, one of a number of local clubs who took part. For more PETER MARSHALL photos, see Pages 13 and 92.
PROPERTY BOOM Surf Coast estate agents enjoying a summer of sales as investors flock to the market BY SARAH LAWRENCE THE APPEAL of living on the Surf Coast has never been stronger – that’s the opinion of local real estate agents who are enjoying a mid-summer frenzy of buying activity. Across the board, real estate agents are celebrating one of the strongest holiday seasons ever following a January to remember. Right along the Surf Coast, agents have reported a huge increase in sales figures from both local buyers and those looking for investment properties. “Sales-wise it has been almost a 250 per cent increase for us from the same time last year,” said Patrick Hayden from Hayden Real Estate. “Market confidence is increasing, the freeing up of funds by banks and a surge in investors entering
Surf Forecast
the market has all been a catalyst for the increase. “Property doesn’t seem to have as much volatility as the share market and the future of coastal properties looks very positive with the population projections and families discovering the benefits of living by the coast.” Principal of LJ Hooker Torquay, Bill Nairn, echoed these thoughts and said his company had enjoyed a great start to the new year. “We have had the strongest season I’ve seen in a long time because of the high demand for our properties in and around Torquay,” he said. “The bottom end of the market has improved out of sight and moved to another level. We have been selling to a third of people coming here to live permanently, a third for holiday houses and another third for investment.
“We have had an enormous inquiry on permanent rentals and more people wanting to come and live on the coast – people can see the ring road and the expansion of schools making it an attractive place to live.” In Lorne, Ian Stewart from Great Ocean Road Real Estate, said he had seen the same trend, with a strong summer selling period. For years a coastal retreat for investment buyers, Lorne’s appeal continues to be as strong as ever, according to Stewart. “We have had extra strong demand in the mid to upper level with a great number of house changing hands for in excess of $1million,” he said. “The market hasn’t been so strong since 2003-04. Our sales have far outstripped the values of the same time last year.”
Newer areas in Torquay such as The Sands and The Quay have also been fuelled by the housing demand, resulting in a high number of sales. “We had a release at The Quay last weekend and we sold 11 blocks in one weekend,” said Nairn. Lynne Hayden from Torquay Links Property has also seen buyers gravitating towards lifestyle estates for their added benefits. “Buyers are opting for more in value when buying a home,” she said. “Generation X and Y want everything and want it now. Estates like The Sands and OnShore are popular as they offer buyers added benefits of resort style living, including gym, pool, tennis courts, day spas, open maintained gardens and spaces.” For more property information, see our 56-page coastal properties and surrounds liftout.
WED 3ft+ peaky, ENE 29° THU 2-3ft clean, ENE 30° FRI 2-3ft+ lumpy SW 22° SAT 2-3ft peaky E 25°
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