House Prices Fall Across 40% Of Sydney

The first three months of the year has seen dwelling values drop in nearly two of five Sydney suburbs, while almost half of all Melbourne suburbs analysed posted value declines according to data from CoreLogic.

The market downturn appears to be gathering pace with 917 Sydney suburbs analysed and 354 recording a fall in median dwelling values. House prices in 189 Sydney suburbs slumped while 165 unit markets weakened during the same period.

Melbourne saw dwelling values across 303 suburbs drop during the same 3-month period — 154 house and 149 unit markets positing price falls.

According to Eliza Own, CoreLogic’s head of research, the largest price decrases were found in some of the most affluent parts of Sydney and Melbourne.

Areas such as Beaconsfield, Newtown and Camperdown notched up some of the sharpest house price falls, 7.2%, 5.8% and 5.7% respectively.

In Melbourne, Cremorne posted the largest house price decline of 6.4%, followed by South Yarra (-4.8%) and Toorak (-4.4%).

“High-end and inner-city areas are emerging as the first suburbs to experience this shift in market conditions,” Ms Owen said.

“It is likely that slightly tighter lending conditions and higher average fixed rates are hitting the very top of housing markets first.

Interestingly, this trend isn’t Australia wide with Brisbane posting a rise in median values across all 337 house markets analysed while only one out of the 171 unit markets posting a decline.

So too in Adelaide, where all 314 house markets in the analysis saw price increases and only two from the 105 unit markets saw a drop in values.

Elsewhere, Canberra saw dwelling values in seven out of 134 house and unit markets analysed record price decline while six from 55 house and unit markets In Hobart posted a drop.

Perth saw 13.4% of all suburbs analysed record a decline while 18% of the market logged value declines in Darwin.

Tucked away in Byron Bay’s coveted hinterland, Whimsy Farm is a traditional rural homestead surrounded by more than 16ha of lush fertile grounds with equestrian facilities and a host of whimsical additions including a fairytale-inspired maze.

Just listed with Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay, agents Denzil Lloyd and Will Phillips are running an expressions of interest campaign on the glamorous getaway with a price guide of $5.25 million to $5.75 million.

The romantic estate in Federal, 25 kms from Byron Bay dates back more than a century, but has been meticulously renovated by its current owners to attain modern day dream home status.

Back in 2016, the enviable property even featured on Foxtel’s short-lived reality TV show I Own Australia’s Best Home. The picturesque parcel has also been appreciated by location scouts and has appeared in a long list of fashion brand and magazine shoots such as Country Style and Queensland Homes.

Owner Melinda Boundy, founder of boutique interiors firm Melinda Boundy Design, was instrumental in reviving the historic Federal homestead. She has described the rural property as a “a respite from the world” where she and her husband have raised their two sons over the past decade.

“I brought my boys down 10 years ago to nurture their creativity, their boyhood,” Boundy said in a recent Instagram post announcing the impending sale.

“We found our farm with its double-storey treehouse and 40 acres the perfect place for two young boys to thrive.”

In addition to hiring out the estate for formal events, Boundy said the family had celebrated several milestones at the address.

“Many parties, sleepovers, friends staying and events have been held [here]. It has seen the filming of a TV show or two, music videos, location shoots and weddings,” she added.

“Now it’s time to pass the baton to another family to share the magic and wonderment of this beautiful compound.”

Lloyd agreed that the listing is a magical estate, ripe for the picking.

“It’s a wonderland. There’s the maze, but it’s also got the treehouse, teepee, dams, beautiful established veggie gardens and it’s perfect for those who love horse riding,” Mr Lloyd said.

“It really is an oasis with plenty of classical charm as well. It’s not an ostentatious home; it’s an original Queenslander from 1910.”

Living up to its storybook name, Whimsy Farm is home to a preserved traditional Queenslander residence with five bedrooms, plus a freestanding guest cottage. There is also a separate pool house and a combined shed or office on site, all capturing scenic hinterland views.

The main single-storey residence has a choice of entertaining spaces inside and out as well as bedrooms opening to private alfresco areas. A grand kitchen and the large living room both open to a vast terrace and pool area.

In the primary bedrooms suite there is a bay window overlooking the natural surrounds, an ensuite with double vanities, and out on the covered deck an outdoor bathtub is an idyllic spot for soaking under the stars.

The playful property has also operated as a holiday rental and offers up unique bonus features including a solar-heated semi circle pool, a double-storey treehouse, a teepee, horse stables, paddocks and a an Olympic-sized dressage arena.

A true tree change destination, the Federal address is home to 10 acres of regenerated forest, eight water tanks, two lagoons, extensive raised veggie gardens and a citrus orchard.

It is conveniently located a scenic 30-minute drive to Byron Bay and 20 minutes to Bangalow.

Whimsy Farm at 711 Federal Dr, Federal is listed through Sotheby’s International Realty Byron Bay through an expressions of interest campaign closing February 20, 5pm.

House Prices Fall Across 40% Of Sydney

The market is feeling the effect of a slowdown.

Whimsy Farm is a playful period estate positioned in Byron Bay’s picturesque hinterland.