Living large in Sydney’s most family friendly developments

Many of us still believe that when our family expands, we need to upgrade from an apartment to a house. This generally requires a move away from the area that we love to somewhere often unfamiliar where we believe we’ll get more bang for our buck. The Great Australian Dream of the quarter-acre block with a Hills Hoist has been drummed into us since time immemorial, so considering other options seem unideal.



Just by re-evaluating our assumptions, we can be happier remaining living where we know and love. Most of our lives are so busy now, that the Australian Dream, should it be realised, involves an awful lot of extra work. However if we trade that extra space for convenience and access to amenities in our favourite stomping ground, we often benefit greatly. Don’t forget, agents have not been using the old real estate adage “Location, location, location” for nothing.

So if we are to look at growing our family in an apartment/residential development context, the smartest master-planned developments have common facilities that allow families a number of outdoor recreation spaces. The smart developers recognise the fact that if families are going to live in apartments, their project is best placed close to local parks and sporting facilities. The three bedroom apartments to look out for are ones with spacious living areas that flow out to large balconies or courtyard gardens. They should have an intelligent floorplan that maximises space and sleek, streamlined interior design for ease of cleaning. Look for good sized kitchen and storage cupboards and bathroom cabinetry that facilitate organisation.



Three bedroom apartments are ideal for growing families but if your budget will only extend to a two bedroom apartment, then look for a master bedroom spacious enough to set up a little nursery, for if and when you have a new addition. Then once sleeping is more settled, your little one can move into the second bedroom with its sibling if it is large enough to accommodate two single beds or a single and cot. With good organisation, this set up is very doable so don’t rule out a two bedroom apartment if you are thinking of having another child.

Premium developments sometimes have modern terrace homes that feature ample floorplans and several on-title outdoor areas. Terrace homes are fabulous, as they have the space for a growing family, good sized outdoor areas without the high maintenance of a house and garden, giving more time for family fun pursuits. 

Cramer have an outstanding selection of family friendly property options to suit your family’s needs. So think a little outside the house and garden square and find the perfect home for your family where you don’t need to compromise on location.

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What’s not to love about Alexandria and Rosebery

What’s not to love about Alexandria and Rosebery

The Grounds of Alexandria

Over the last few decades, Sydney’s Inner East suburbs of Alexandria and Rosebery have undergone one of the most radical transformations in our city. What were almost exclusively industrial areas have been dramatically gentrified are now teeming with some of Sydney’s most popular eateries, boutiques and artisan purveyors galore. 

Three Blue Ducks

Archie Rose Distilling Co

Many of the original warehouses have been brilliantly converted and repurposed as trendy bars, urban distilleries, food emporiums, funky cafes and one of Sydney’s most iconic destinations, The Grounds of Alexandria. Our favourite eateries are Bread and Circus Wholefoods Canteen, Three Blue Ducks, Sushi Jones, Yulli’s Brews, No 5 Restaurant and Bar, Pino’s Vino e Cucina, Zeus Street Greek, Mentmore and Morley, Black Star Pastry, The Cannery, The Drink Hive and Archie Rose Distilling Co – so much to love! 

Koskela

Living Edge

Utterly lovely homeware stores abound; the divine Koskela – where everything is designed and made in Australia; ultra-modern Scandinavian and British homewares at Living Edge; mid-century modern at Blu Dot; Brosa Studio +; and the homeware institutions of Coco Republic, Matt Blatt and Space. Or journey through the past at Mitchel Road Antique and Design Centre – a 2,300sqm antique and collectable bazaar where you can easily lose yourself for half a day. 

Mitchell Road Antique & Design Centre

Need to give your wardrobe a facelift but don’t want to spend a fortune? Look no further than the plethora of high fashion outlets such as Camilla and Marc, Zimmerman, Springcourt, Sambag, Incu, Dunning Avenue Outlet for denim and Seafolly for swimwear. And for covetable shoes, pay a visit to Wittner, Puma, New Balance, Reebok, Rockport, Lacoste and Ben Sherman outlets. And if you are in need of the most glorious bouquet, visit Mr Cook, the florist with some of the best blooms in Sydney.

Outlet Stores Alexandria

Feeling daring, energetic or both? Want to reconnect with your inner child? Look no further than Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq for bumper cars, bowling, arcade games or a little laser tag. Switch to adult mode as the Cirque turns to a cocktail bar by night. You can even indoor ski at In2ski. Care to channel your inner Viking? Try an axe-throwing competition at Kiss My Axe. And nature lovers can walk, run, cycle or picnic through the 40 hectares of green space that make up Sydney Park.

Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq

Kiss My Axe

For a slower pace, visit the underground Green Square Library. There are more than just books in this masterpiece of urban design. Featuring a subterranean garden and open-air amphitheatre, or you could hire the music room that comes complete with its own Baby Grand. Public transport is fast and effective from Green Square Station – zip to the CBD or Sydney Airport in 10 minutes either way.



If you are loving the sound of these vibrant, fun-filled suburbs, why not live in the thick of it with all the action at your doorstep 24/7. Teneo apartments in Alexandria offer superbly crafted, contemporary designer apartments and terraces where you can live the dream everyday.

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Increase your wellbeing and make village life your new normal

Make village life your new normal

Emerging from the two years of covid restrictions, lockdowns and isolation, so many of us are desperate to have a strong sense of community again. Given we are social creatures, this sense of belonging and engagement in our community is critical to our wellbeing. And the world over, village life promotes this sense of belonging and engagement.

Village life has multiple benefits. Living where everything you need is close to home allows you to live small, walk everywhere and shop local. This frees up time that would otherwise be spent driving and parking and it’s far lower impact on the environment. The close-knit sense of community that a group of people living small in a thriving village is highly uplifting. Village life creates a sense of safety, where you know your neighbours and the shopkeepers, offering a feeling of protection. And perhaps best of all, people in villages seem far friendlier and happier.

With so many of us living in large cities, we can be forgiven for thinking that this village life is unobtainable and feel rather anonymous and disengaged. However, within cities, there can be a strong sense of village life and connectedness – you just need to know where to look. And there are a few progressive developers who are creating purpose-built villages within our city in an effort to improve our quality of life and provide an instant sense of community.

 

Surry Hills Village by Toga

Innovative and highly respected developer, TOGA, have pioneered modern, architecturally superb urban villages that provide the best of all worlds for their residents. With artisan providores, restaurants, cafés, boutiques and workspaces, the village life is well and truly at your doorstep. Surry Hills Village offers a beautiful European-style retail arcade and a vibrant market-style laneway. For ultimate convenience, there is a brand-new Coles supermarket and a Vintage Cellars. And to top it all off, there are lush green spaces throughout where you can find a spot to chill out, read a book or sit with friends.

Wicks Place Marrickville by Toga

Another superior example of a strikingly hip village development is Wicks Place on the Park in the dynamic suburb of Marrickville. This urban village precinct is bursting with energy and vitality, offering an imaginative retail and dining experience that will greatly benefit its residents and locals alike. Wicks Place features cafés, restaurants, boutiques, reimagined warehouse spaces and lush landscaped gardens and lawns, all in a friendly walkable neighbourhood. And the pumping cafes, restaurants, craft beer houses and eclectic, creative culture of Marrickville is just around the corner.

Marrickville Library

TOGA has been mindful of selecting locations where there is already a fantastic sense of community and an incredible public transport system that enables its residents to easily access wherever they want to go in Sydney. Marrickville and Surry Hills have both been voted by TimeOut magazine as the coolest neighbourhoods in Australia. In fact, Marrickville made the top ten coolest neighbourhoods in the world! So, if you are looking for a cutting-edge property in the perfect village setting, look no further than Surry Hills Village and Wicks Place on the Park, where you will not only own an exquisitely crafted apartment, but you’ll be living your best village life.

Here are some of the architecturally extraordinary apartments available to purchase now:

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Why off-the-plan property is making a comeback

When looking to purchase property, the rush, pressure, sense of urgency, built up hopes and consequent disappointments can create a very stressful scenario. Saturdays become all but consumed by rushing from open to open, and then finally when we find a property we wish to purchase, hopes are raised and then invariably come crashing down when we are outbid due to the incredibly high demand and vastly inflated sales price that comes with competitively charged bidding on auction day. 

Conversely, having time up our sleeve to save more, plan for the future, get our head around and prepare for a purchase and then the subsequent move, generally makes buying property infinitely less stressful, far less competitive and far more organised. Off-the-plan is the method of sale that allows for this luxury and in Sydney’s heated market, more and more of us are choosing this least stressful option and buying off-the-plan.

With off-the-plan sales, you can select from an assortment of properties that best match your wish list and price point. The price is fixed meaning there are no surprise price hikes, such as are regularly seen at auction where a property goes for far more than the price guide indicates. And with only a 10% deposit required to secure your property at the time of purchase, you have additional time to save towards settlement, which usually gives you between 18 months to 2 years from when you put down the initial deposit.



Having milestones in place that will get communicated to you regularly by your agent also adds to your peace of mind. Knowing that construction is underway and a completion date set makes it even easier to plan your future and it’s pretty exciting to watch the countdown until the day you can move into your new home. For investors, top quality off-the-plan property in Sydney invariably ends up with superior capital gain between the time the property is deposited and the completion date. And with a requirement of only 10% deposit until completion, investors’ funds can be freed up for shorter term investments in the interim.



When considering off the plan property, make sure you choose a reputable developer and builder with a proven track record. Choose developments with highly acclaimed architects with excellent quality completed projects. Look for future-proof locations that have existing or upcoming infrastructure. Ideally properties that are close to public transport and in burgeoning, exciting and popular locations are the best bet. Cramer Property are renowned for selling only the best quality, architecturally superior apartments in burgeoning locations from the most reputable developers.

We have three major projects at present that are all commencing construction with a 2023 delivery, giving you time to plan and save for your property future. These projects offer a wide range of price points and locations and all have been vetted with Cramer Property’s discerning eye for quality, design, location and value; Wicks Place, Marrickville, Surry Hills Village and Splendour, Bellevue Hill:

Wicks Place Marrickville

Located in the Inner West’s most exciting new development, Wicks Place on the Park, these brilliantly designed apartments take living to a whole new level. Surrounded by an imaginative retail and dining precinct that echoes the character and variety of Marrickville, and shaped around green spaces, walkable neighbourhoods and re-imagined warehouse spaces, each apartment feels intimately connected to this outstanding urban village yet offers a home base that will fast become your oasis. A variety of one, two and three bedrooms available.

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Surry Hills Village

Located in one of the Inner East’s most diverse, creative and vibrant areas, Surry Hills Village is a masterfully designed development creating an entirely new community within this historic area. Featuring generous green spaces, a new public library and an arcaded laneway positioned within European styled architecture, residents will get to enjoy the best of all worlds. Seductive archways add drama, as do the restored heritage-listed components of this development. The location already boasts the most hatted restaurants in one location, a brand new Coles supermarket and some of Sydney’s best cafes, bars and boutiques along nearby Crown and Dank Streets. One, two and three bedroom apartments selling quickly in this prime location.

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Splendour, Bellevue Hill

North-facing atop a dramatic cliff overlooking 38 acres of Cooper Park, Splendour Bellevue Hill is a boutique development of exquisitely crafted apartments inspired by their idyllic natural surrounds. Designed by a team of multi award-winning architects, interior and landscape designers, these extraordinary properties offer a life of serenity and supreme beauty in the rarest of locations. Effortlessly elegant, aesthetically outstanding and perfectly positioned, each Splendour home is a finely tuned work of architectural art and refined simplicity. The spectacular outlooks are beautiful beyond imagination and so rare in the inner suburbs of Sydney. Views extend across the soon-to-be heritage listed Cooper Park tree canopy or beyond to the city skyline, Harbour Bridge and Opera House. A range of properties available but this penthouse apartment is the cream of the crop:

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To learn more about Off the Plan developments, contact the Cramer team today.