Alice and Robbie Calcutt, with their children, Olivia, Alex, and Maia, at the home they are selling in Chelmer. Photo: Steve Pohlner.
When Alice Calcutt put her home on the market three weeks ago, she didn’t know it would coincide with the start of a war.
But despite fears of a property slowdown, the Brisbane mother-of-three is banking on global uncertainty helping to sell her Chelmer house under the hammer on April 1st.
This four-bedroom house at 7 Hurlton St, Chelmer, is scheduled for auction on April 1.
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“I’ve got a firm belief that when there’s uncertainty around world issues, people tend to move their investments into houses,” Mrs Calcutt said. “The saying ‘safe as houses’ is what we’re relying on.
“I also think that there’s such a huge need for housing in Brisbane that it’s going to take something pretty big to upset that. It hasn’t stopped us from wanting to buy a new home, so I can’t see it stopping anyone else.”
Her confidence comes despite fresh warnings Queensland’s property boom is losing steam, with affordability pressures and rising interest rates starting to bite. But not everywhere is feeling the chill.
The back deck at 7 Hurlton St, Chelmer, overlooks a leafy backyard.
New data from property investment company, Hotspotting, shows while much of Brisbane is slowing, Chelmer is one of the few suburbs where sales activity is still on the rise.
The Calcutts, a family of five, have lived in their four-bedroom home at 7 Hurlton St for the past seven years, but with the kids now almost all at university, their needs have changed.
“When we moved into this property, we had primary school aged children,” Mrs Calcutt said. “We were very much connected to the community and the area and had lots to do with the local school and families. Now, seven years later, we’ve got uni students and everyone’s travelling out of the area, and life has just changed for us.”
This four-bedroom house at 7 Hurlton St, Chelmer, is scheduled for auction on April 1.
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Set just 100m from Chelmer train station — and with 50-cent fares now in play — the home ticks the boxes buyers are increasingly chasing.
“You can walk to everything you need,” she said. “It’s quiet, leafy, and you’re close to the city, but far enough away from the hustle and bustle. Plus, the large block sizes around here are hard to find.”
The family has deep roots in Brisbane’s inner-west, leaving at one point — only to come straight back.
“We moved away for a few years and missed it so much we returned,” she said.
Alice and Robbie Calcutt, with their children, Olivia, Alex, and Maia, are selling their home in Chelmer, where new data shows sales have been rising. Photo: Steve Pohlner.
Even flood risk hasn’t been enough to dent demand long-term.
“We’ve seen floods impact the area, but it really only affects prices for a short time,” she said.
“They bounce back quickly — which says how desirable the area is.”
Now, with their children grown and heading to university, the Calcutts are ready for their next move — chasing more space and a semi-acreage lifestyle.
They’ve listed their home with Cameron Crouch and Douglas May of Ray White Sherwood.
Mr May said
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