Suburb Alert: Rippleside 3215

A suburb wedged between two parks, boasting stunning Victorian and Edwardian era homes just 2.5km from Geelong’s city centre with beach access is one of our favourite underrated suburbs of 2017.

Rippleside is one of Geelong’s tiniest suburbs; with less than 500 inhabitants and a mere ~200 homes gracing its pretty streets.

Nestled between even-tinier Drumcondra and North Geelong, this sleepy little waterside gem is tightly held, highly prized and brings in a crowd whenever a resident decides to sell at auction.

Yesterday’s adventures took us to beautiful Victoria St for a gorgeous family who had missed out prior some months ago in the same neighbourhood and this time wanted to give themselves their best fighting chance at securing  a double fronted, three bedroom Edwardian home with right of way via a rear lane way. Knowing we’d be facing some competition we researched carefully to glean any information we could about our likely auction contenders.

Rippleside’s strong family appeal, proximity to city and good schools, stunning beach and park access and picturesque leafy streets explain why the relative supply to demand balance is so strongly in favour of vendors.

Sourced from REA

Aside from offering authentic period appeal and car access to the rear, the overwhelming highlight for this particular property was the street. More namely, what sat at either end of the street. A mere four properties separate this house from the waterfront, and at the other end of Victoria Street sits the North Geelong Train Station; an easy 300m walk.

It was no surprise that this family had made the decision to commute from Geelong. 

They had every item on their wishlist ticked.

Period houses adorn the streetscapes                 Bound by St Helens and Rippleside Parks

The bidding opened at $700,000 thanks to a young buyer in the crowd. Nerves were palpable and I had identified some five possible buyers in the crowd just by observing their energy. The clicking of a newspaper photographer’s camera didn’t steal my attention, nor did it seem to phase the auctioneer who had to work the crowd to keep the bidding rolling. With three bidders in the race at $760,000 the property was not yet on the market and bids had been broken down from ten thousand dollar increments to five. Slumped shoulders from one of the bidders indicated that the race was slowing down. Another bidder consulted with his parents at the $765,000 mark and the remaining bidder anxiously raised his hand at $770,000, looking reasonably pained when the property was declared on the market and I followed immediately with a fast five thousand dollar bid.

I was surprised to see him shake his head when the auctioneer called for another bid.

Glancing sideways from behind my sunglasses, making sure I hadn’t missed identifying any other possible opponents, I realised that the hammer was indeed likely to fall on my bid.

Clapping from the crowd and a friendly journalist pouncing forward for a photo and buyer interview signified the start of a new life for my lovely clients.

Wishing them years of happiness and joy in their incredible home.