The four-bedroom house at 7 Bell Parade, Drumcondra, sits opposite Rippleside Park and close to the Corio Bay foreshore.
A beachside Geelong suburb has revealed the goldilocks zone for buyers looking to downsize without moving into a unit.
A Geelong West family that secured a renovated four-bedroom character home on Bell Parade in Drumcondra, in a $1.46m deal just three weeks after the property was listed for sale has exposed the secret to moving to a smaller property without foregoing outdoor space.
McGrath Geelong agent Jim Cross said the family was leaving a very large, rambling home in the nearby inner-Geelong suburb to relocate to the property opposite Rippleside Park.
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The Edwardian house occupies a 655sq m block, which is actually larger than the typical 445sq m block size found in Geelong West.
“They were looking to downsize but still wanted a house with land,” Mr Cross said.
“So they’ve downsize in the volume of the size of their home, but they’ve also bought a property that’s fully renovated. They don’t need anything to it.”
Contemporary living spaces accentuate the family zones.
A sunken living zone looks out through the garden to Rippleside Park.
Mr Cross said the demographic of downsizers tended to favour single, level period-style houses instead of opting for a townhouse which comes with a smaller land component.
“Obviously, there’s still a lot of downsizers buying townhouses, but some people still want that bit of grass under their feet, good garaging and a bit of space for when the older kids are home.
“It’s smaller in size, even though it’s not a smaller property.”
What made the property just right for the buyers was it’s sparkling renovation that builds upon the home’s period details.
The renovation throughout the house as created contemporary spaces, including the bathroom.
Picture windows frame the outlook from this main bedroom suite.
High ceilings, original timber floorboards, intricate ceiling roses and decorative archways are showcased throughout the home that offers expansive open‑plan living and dining zones, a sunken living room with views across the front garden to parkland beyond, while glass stacker doors extend the dining space to a generous covered outdoor entertainment area with a built‑in barbecue, kitchenette, heater panels and cafe blinds.
Among the features are premium appliances such as a 900mm Falcon cooker, a third living space that can function as a study, studio or fifth bedrooms, a luxe ensuite and built‑in robes to the main bedroom suite, ducted heating, a gas‑log fire and split‑system airconditioners.
Mr Cross said more people re seeing good value in fully renovated properties.
Clerestory windows add more natural light to the living zone.
Outdoor entertainment credentials include a built-in barbecue within the covered patio.
“People are purchasing something that’s already done in this market, more so than three years ago when people were buying the unrenovated properties and wanted to do the renovations, put their own flavour on it.
“With interest rate rises and the market being a little bit more challenging from a lending point of view, we’re finding not as many people buying unrenovated properties and spending the capital on the renovation.”
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