Western Sydney apartments on the market with highly desirable defects insurance
Ophora at Tallawong is one of the most affordable developments to come with coveted latent defects insurance
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Blacktown Council’s first apartment development with 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) went on the market on the weekend.
Apartments at Ophora at Tallawong are being sold off the plan with LDI, which provides insurance for defects for up to 10 years after construction is complete. According to SHC Insurance Brokers, Ophora is one the city’s most affordable developments to come with the new LDI. It is a key part of the NSW Building Commission’s strategy to give buyers assurance that the property they are purchasing meets the highest standards.
“Gaining LDI is no mean feat,” said SHC Insurance Brokers founder Stefan Hicks. “It’s offered selectively to developers and builders with a quality building history, and it requires both parties to employ an independent inspection service throughout construction.
“While this insurance is well-established around the world in about 40 countries, in Australia we’re typically seeing high-end buildings covet LDI. The fact that Ophora has joined this exclusive list of quality-assured builds is a coup for entry-level home buyers.”
But it is not the only aspect of this mixed use development that makes it outstanding.
When completed later this year, Ophora will include 81 one, two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at attracting a wide range of residents, from investors and couples to families and downsizers. Designed by Architex, the concept for five-storey $50 million development is holistic, with attention given to sustainability and liveability in a village environment. Features include beautifully landscaped gardens, EV charging stations, ground floor apartment courtyards and a stunning rooftop terrace.
Internally, residents will have access to high speed FIBER internet and video-intercom systems ideal for working from home undisturbed.
Positioned on a corner block, the site enjoys easy access to public transport, including a bus station a two-minute walk away and the new Tallawong metro station and Schofields train station less than 2km away.
Given the level of interest expressed on the weekend, the development is already beginning to resonate with buyers.
Prices start from $475,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, $625,000 for two-bedroom and $745,000 for a three-bedroom home.
Development manager for KDMC Ronnie Rahme said Ophora not only represented value for money, it offered families and first homebuyers the chance to live in a landmark development.
“We’ve been determined to deliver affordable luxury apartments built to an outstanding standard with additional peace of mind to buyers by providing the highly-sought-after LDI,” he said.
Early indications from several big regional real-estate boards suggest March was overall another down month.
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A heritage-listed Federation estate with tennis court, pool and studio, Marika offers timeless elegance and modern family living in the heart of Hunters Hill.
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A grand old dame who has stood the test of time, Marika is a slice of Hunters Hill heritage transformed for modern-day living.
Meticulously renovated between 1981 and 1983, with several updates since, Marika made it onto the heritage register in 1999 just in time to signal a new millennium. Today, the modernised mansion is on the market with an auction price guide of $7.5 million, marketed through BresicWhitney’s Nicholas McEvoy.
“The home is a fantastic opportunity for a discerning buyer to get a grand family estate-style property, with a pool, tennis court and grounds, for a price that’s much more affordable than expected,” McEvoy says.
Sitting pretty on the corner of Augustine St and Ryde Rd, the stately Federation residence occupies a sprawling 2472sq m block, which was once part of a 30-acre land grant handed to Frederick Augustus Hayne in 1835. In 1902, he sold it to Dr Leopold Augustus Carter, a local dentist. Two years later, Marika, then known as “Ryde”, appeared in the famed Sands Directory – the social media of its era – a symbol of its architectural significance.
Surrounded by manicured gardens with sculpted hedges, a pool and full tennis court, Marika is a prime example of Federation style with contemporary elements.
Inside, the single-level five-bedroom home showcases intricate craftsmanship, from its decorative gables, period archways and bay windows to the coloured glass panels on multiple doors and windows. Elegant formal rooms have high ornate ceilings that are a preserved nod to Marika’s past, while the more modern spaces are relaxed family-friendly zones.
Thanks to a pavilion-style addition, the L-shaped layout measures 450sq m internally and wraps around a central courtyard that plays host to the alfresco dining terrace and pool, while a wide veranda frames the original front rooms of the house.
Primary living spaces, including the dining area with integrated bar, open to the great outdoors via stacker doors and the 21st century kitchen has a large island bench and a butler’s pantry with hidden access to the triple lock up garage. There is also a dedicated media room, a library or home office, plus a separate family room with a beautiful bay window.
All bedrooms feature built-ins while the main retreat, and a second bedroom, have shower ensuites. The shared bathroom houses convenient twin vanities and a freestanding bathtub.
Beyond the interiors, Marika delivers resort amenities with a full-sized, floodlit tennis court, the pool, barbecue terrace and a self-contained studio apartment with the added bonus of Harbour Bridge glimpses.
Added extras include a converted loft storage space, a large laundry with side yard access, ducted air conditioning, multiple fireplaces, solar panels with a battery backup and modern insulation.
Accessed via Augustine St, Marika is close to St Joseph’s College, Boronia Park shops, local ovals and city transport.
Marika at 59 Augustine St, Hunters Hill is set to go under the hammer on April 26, on site at 9am with a price guide of $7.5 million. The listing is with Nicholas McEvoy and Narelle Scott of BresicWhitney Hunters Hill.
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