moko

A post-budget boing? That’s rarely heard. Yet Boing! it did. In the week after the budget, $320m+ changed hands in Toorak, including two homes which had been begging for attention for over 6 months (one reverberating to six expressions of interest, leaving five interested parties with pockets full of $20m wandering 3142 with nowhere to […]

There are sinkers and swimmers in the ever-intriguing river which is the top end. Swimmers are mostly underwater, out-of-sight sales made quickly and quietly. Down there, you are in the know or out in the cold. Sinkers? The no-ways. Save your grief and your money. Then come the litmus tests. The exceptions with the lot.

Sales that happen fast. Or don’t. Sales with crowds queuing. Or not. Sales that never happen because nobody moves. It’s the way it is. Or isn’t 39 Albany Road. No big move. “The prettiest house in Toorak,” according to someone we know. It didn’t go far for a buyer. It’s an address about 500m away.

For Sale flags fluttering by beaches from Flinders to Lorne and beyond. Why? Three letter word: T.A.X. The new land tax, payable when the homes you own number more than one. Holiday homes (and other land) are now in the treasurer’s sights. There’s one we know that was taxed $30k and is now staring at

The bloke in the red fat suit still hasn’t got a gig. The Grinch has elbowed him aside and is on the Salubria prowl muttering “No! No! No!” While the buyers are saying, “Too much!” and “Are you kidding?” 14 St George’s Road, Toorak No $50m. “No way.” 4 Erskine Street, Armadale “Fabulous block, great

It looks like we’ve entered the era of Ohmygod! Everywhere you look, unpredictability looms. That’s when everyone freezes? Well… 231 Kooyong Road. Sold last week at $12m against a reserve of $9.24m, leaving four wounded underbidders looking for four walls of salve. 6 McMaster Court. Sold at $16,088,000 to You Know Who, leaving us to

Buyers are hurting. Agents are hurting. Sellers are… Who? Spring was Wonderful gardens. Cheery people. Home after great home coming up for sale. Spring is Wonderful gardens. Desperate buyers. Agents with bare boards. Sellers in hiding. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink say no more aside, wherever you look there’s a whole lot of nothing going on.

The last few months has seen the least market activity in 10 years. Top end auctions? What are they? We live in interesting times 25 Hawthorn Grove went over the weekend for $8.02m against a reserve of $7.3m. $7.3m was the flame that drew three moths to bid. It duly burnt two of them. Underquotes

Tis the season to be jolly. Jolly somewhere else. Somewhere warm. Taking their cue from the plovers, snipes and stints, those top enders who have bought somewhere to move have hit the migrate button. Chasing them into Tulla’s First Class lounge are agents bearing contracts. It’s as close to a trip they’ll get because… Agents

You’re selling at the top end? Unless you’re divorcing, downsizing or dead, you’re not likely to go to auction. OK, you heard about 67 Hope Street blowing up over the weekend (3 beds, no parking, $5,110,000 — $2m over the quote) but that just gets its nose through the top end door and that pocket