While their top sales range from $2 million to $7 million, three of Canberra's leading real estate agents say the ACT luxury market represents value for money.
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They say buyers are coming in droves from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, some with endless budgets and others with no preference on where to buy.
But all of them see Canberra as a place to secure high-end homes on sprawling, green blocks for a fraction of the prices seen elsewhere on the east coast.
To coincide with the new season of Luxe Listings Sydney, three of the ACT's record-breaking agents share why Canberra's luxury market is booming.
Mario Sanfrancesco - Blackshaw Manuka
Top sales:
- 6 Wickham Crescent, Red Hill - $7,100,000 (2021)
- 2 Grant Crescent, Griffith - $6,410,000 (2021)
- 55 Banks Street, Yarralumla - $6,050,000 (2017)
What sets Canberra's luxury market apart from others?
I have relationships with other agents that deal in the luxury market in other states ... and I think from communicating with them what's evident is, believe it or not, the Canberra market represents value at this level.
We have quality architecture, we have quality construction and there's many properties that are on large blocks such as [81 Dominion Circuit, Deakin] on more than 2000 square metres, which is just out of the realm of possibility in some cities.
Tell us about the most memorable home you've sold?
There's one that stands out which is 12 Hunter Street in Yarralumla. That was an estate-style property, it had a resort pool and full-size tennis court ... everyone that saw that property loved it. The buyers only saw it 48 hours before the auction. That was a great Sunday auction with Moet and a harpist - it was just a wonderful event.
How do you market a high-end home to ensure it stands out in today's market?
You get one chance of selling a property like this really well. I have a full-time employee, Lily, her role is a concierge, we get the house looking perfect. Our buyers are discerning. They holiday in beautiful places, so when they walk into a house like this, it needs to be beautiful before we can show them.
If you could sell any home, what would it be?
I can say that I've got a interstate buyer right now where budget is just not in the discussion; they just want the right property. The Canberra record is $8 million. That record, I think, will break soon and I think it won't be long before we see something sell for $15 million or $20 million in Canberra. There are a few properties that I'm aware of that would be worthy of those sort of results and I'd love to have the opportunity when those homeowners decide to make a shift to represent them.
Sophie Luton - Luton Properties Manuka
Top sales:
- 5 Hotham Crescent, Deakin - $5,750,000 (2017)
- 55 Arthur Circle, Red Hill - $5,000,000 (2021)
- 4/17 Trevillian Quay, Kingston - $4,125,000 (2021)
What sets Canberra's luxury market apart from others?
Canberra being the bush city that it is, our luxury homes tend to be on larger blocks that aren't really seen in other cities in Australia. You look at the average block sizes in the inner south, inner north areas in Canberra and then you look at that in the comparable suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and we're well ahead. Canberra allows for more sprawling gardens, larger residences and I guess that's why we're seeing so many people come to Canberra because you're getting more for your money.
Tell us about the most memorable home you've sold?
It's not a luxury property in Canberra, but 35 Wimbie Street was a high-end build in Surf Beach, just near Batemans Bay in NSW. Part of luxury properties in the ACT is South Coast holiday homes. That's become more and more popular in the last 12 months with people wanting to be able to drive to their weekenders rather than having to fly to their holidays. That was a unique, new-build on a block right opposite the beach and it was a high-end, luxury property. We had an online auction and on site ... it was actually a Canberra couple that purchased it.
Did you always have your sights set on luxury property?
I love high-end and I love luxury but I think it's really important to be relevant in all marketplaces. You never know where you're going to come across the buyer for that luxury property and then also servicing the buyer of the luxury property, what investment property they may need to be selling in the future, so it's a full circle.
Theo Koutsikamanis - Bastion Property Group
Top sales:
- 51 Jansz Crescent, Griffith - $4,750,000 (2022)
- 1 Miljanovic Street, Forde - $2,300,000 (2021)
- 47 Shingleback Street, Taylor - $2,001,000 (2021)
What sets Canberra's luxury market apart from others?
There's so many interstate buyers coming to Canberra. What I'm noticing from working with a lot of buyers from interstate is they say 'Find us the right home and we don't care where it is', because everywhere in Canberra is close by. You could show someone from Sydney a home in Gungahlin or in the inner south, to them they're still on the road commuting for 20 minutes. I guess that's why a lot of interstate people are even buying in Murrumbateman, because the commute is only half an hour.
Tell us about the most memorable home you've sold?
Probably in the last 12 months, 109 Hopeton Circuit in Yarralumla. That was a beautiful home, brand new and single level which is quite rare to be seen, with 400 square metres of living.
How do you market a high-end home to ensure it stands out in today's market?
I think the first inspection happens online. So if it isn't looking too appealing, if it isn't ticking the boxes online, I genuinely believe buyers just won't inspect. Video walkthroughs - I was very against them before COVID because I thought they could sort of dictate whether buyers were going to come through or not. But now I think they're one of the most important things that we're using for marketing.
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