With house values on Castle Hill soaring 28 per cent in the past 12 months, Frank and Sofia Santagada decided the time was right to sell their sprawling family home.
But they say the decision to list 8 Yongala Court was a bittersweet one.
“It’s a big house … it’s time,” Mrs Santagada said, adding they had considered selling last year but held off to see what the market would do.
“We are emotionally invested, it has been our home, so we will probably think its worth more, but the market is strong so we feel good.”
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Sofia and Frank Santagada at their home at Yongala Court which is up a sale. Picture: Evan Morgan
Prior to building their home, which was completed in 1999, the family lived in a large residence at Rangewood.
It was their dream home, but the commute to school, work and sports took its toll.
Mr Santagada said it was a lifestyle move to Castle Hill, with Mrs Santagada adding that they had loved everything about their Rangewood house.
“We couldn’t build a single level house but we worked with an architect and essentially had that Rangewood house built here,” she said.
8 Yongala Ct will go to auction
The couple recalled hosting parties on the lower deck and their daughters – one now a doctor and the other completing her medical degree – enjoying the playroom, complete with its own disco ball.
But with the playroom, swings and pool now rarely used, Mrs Santagada said it was time to downsize, adding she often felt sad walking past their daughters empty bedrooms.
“We like the idea of being able to close up and go,” she said.
“It is time for someone else to enjoy it.”
It has views of the iconic Castle Hill
Listed with M Property agent Martin McDonough, the Santagada’s Castle Hill house will go to auction on August 31.
Situated on a 995sq m block, the residence has an impressive 550sq m under-roof floorplan with spectacular views.
There are four bedrooms including an upstairs parents retreat with a huge walk-in wardrobe, luxurious ensuite and access the outdoor entertainment area with views of the city, Strand and Port.
One of the four bedrooms
The chef’s kitchen features granite benchtops, servery options, sand quality appliances and finishes.
There are views from the kitchen
The dining space boasts elegantly designed bulk heads and flows into the formal sitting area which also features a chandelier.
The dining space with chandelier
Downstairs there is a grand built-in-bar that opens onto the oversized terrace that flows out to the pool and lush greenery.
Other features include high ceilings, a ‘bunker’ that can be used for a teenagers retreat, guest space or an additional living area, three bathrooms, a study, ducted airconditioning, a theatre room, a built-in speaker system for the downstairs patio, an internal laundry and a storeroom.
The pool also features a waterfall, solar heating and an outdoor shower.
The formal sitting area
The median house price on Castle Hill is now $1,097,500, with values in the city’s most expensive suburb climbing 28 per cent in the 12 months to July.
That’s up from $857,500 a year ago, but slightly down on the $1.15 million during the last property boom a decade ago.
But the Covid-19 and low interest rate-led property boom has seen many sell for higher prices.
Recently, an outback family splurged $3.2 million on a weekender at 33 Yarrawonga Drive.
RELATED: Outback family splash out $3.2m on a ‘weekender’ in North QLD
The pool is surrounded by tropical gardens
In October last year, 1300 Smiles managing director Daryl Holmes bought former car king Adam Carmichael and wife Daniella’s Stirling Drive mansion for a record $6 million, with the property settling on February 15.
The theatre room
A house on Braemar Crescent sold at auction in April for $1.545 million, and former Cowboys coach Paul Green’s house on Stirling Drive sold for $1.85 million.
There are currently 12 houses listed for sale on the iconic hill.
The master suite
The study
The bar
The post House values soar 28 per cent on Townsville’s Castle Hill appeared first on realestate.com.au.
Frank and Sofia Santagada have mixed feelings about selling the family home they designed and built on Castle Hill over 20 years ago. But they say the time, and market, is right.
The post House values soar 28 per cent on Townsville’s Castle Hill appeared first on realestate.com.au.
