Casting your eye over Canberra's property market performance in 2015 it's hard to ignore the pervasive and typically territorian notion of the north south divide.
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Nothing but southside addresses featured on the list of top 10 sale prices across the capital, however the suburbs of Belconnen dominated when it came to fastest selling suburbs.
It was a grand seven-bedroom home at 9 Baudin Street, Forrest, sold by Berkely Residential's Bill Lyristakis for $3.7 million, which topped the sales list for a detached home, according to data provided by Allhomes.
The prized property, on a 2892sqm block with heated indoor pool and tennis court, was hotly followed by a four-bedroom Forrest home, also sold by Mr Lyristakis, at 15 Tennyson Crescent which went for $3,222,000.
He said once skittish buyers had renewed confidence.
"There is definitely a lot more competition and buyers are acting a lot quicker," Mr Lyristakis said. "The demand has been there for a good couple of years but a lack of bad news has prompted buyers to act and act well."
Half of the top 10 most expensive houses sold were in Forrest and the coveted list ranged between $3.7 million and $2.32 million.
However it was Kingston that dominated when it came to top-dollar apartments, units and duplexes.
A three-bedroom penthouse with views over Lake Burley Griffin was far and away the highest price paid for an apartment during the year.
Sold for $2.41 million 104/13 Eastlake Parade, Kingston topped the list by a margin of $760,000 followed by 503/50 Quayside Eastlake Parade, Kingston at $1.65 million.
Allhomes data analyst Nicola Powell said
it was no surprise to see a large group of north side suburbs such as Cook, Hawker, Aranda, Kaleen and Giralang make the top 10 quickest selling suburbs.
"I call Belconnen the affordable heartland of the ACT," she said. "It's the Australian dream to buy a detached house on a block of land and Belconnen offers that in many of its suburbs."
Griffith, Narrabundah, Kingston and Forrest were the top four fastest selling suburbs for units, however days on market prior to sale for this stock ranged from 77.1 to 120 days.
HIA chief economist Harley Dale said 2016 would likely deliver a return to growth in the ACT market.
Admittedly starting from a far softer base than Melbourne and Sydney, Canberra was the third fastest growing property price market in Australia, he said.
"An easing of public sector concerns and a very low borrowing cost environment is coming together to drive an increase in demand," he said.
"We saw that really emerge in the second half of 2015 and I think we will see it continue next year."
Top 10 sales prices in 2015
Detached houses
- 9 Baudin Street, Forrest - $3.7 million
- 15 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest - $3,222,000
- 24 & 26 Gawler Street, Deakin - $2.9 million
- 9 Terrigal Crescent, O'Malley - $2.8 million
- 35 Hicks Street, Red Hill - $2.68 million
- 2 Baudin Street, Forrest - $2.66 million
- 13 Northcote Crescent, Deakin - $2.45 million
- 59 Mugga Way, Red Hill - $2.4 million
- 82 Dominion Circuit, Deakin - $2.35 million
- 22 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest - $2,322,000
Units, apartments and duplexes
- 104/13 Eastlake Parade, Kingston - $2.41 million
- 503/50 Quayside Eastlake Parade, Kingston - $1.65 million
- 1/71 Novar Street, Yarralumla - $1.49 million
- 2/71 Novar Street, Yarralumla - $1,448,000
- 502/50 Eastlake Parade, Kingston - $1.4 million
- 8/110 Giles Street, Kingston - $1.35 million
- 56/11 Eastlake Parade, Kingston - $1.35 million
- 64/14 National Circuit, Barton - $1.31 million
- 94/13 Eastlake Parade, Kingston - $1.3 million
- 5/120 Giles Street, Kingston - $1.3 million
