A growing suburb that boasts location, infrastructure and services is attracting a host of home buyers with its more affordable prices.
Sippy Downs is 12 minutes from Mooloolaba Beach and includes the University of the Sunshine Coast, shopping precincts, jobs hubs, restaurants, schools, parklands, sports facilities and a proposed hospital.
About 120 houses and 75 units have been sold there during the past 12 months, despite a general slowing of property in the greater region since the highs experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stack & Co Property Consultants agent Jack Ryan said more than 50 groups recently attended an open house inspection for a four-bedroom home with a pool on 700sqm. Eight offers were submitted, including three sight-unseen.
“The property hit the market strongly and inquiries were non-stop. My phone was blowing up,” he said.
No.74 Fitzwilliam Drive was ultimately purchased for $1,285,000: the suburb’s highest sale price this year.
My Ryan said the buyer initially looked in other suburbs nearby before they were told about the home at Sippy Downs and watched a video of it.
“They pretty much put in an offer straight away,” he said.
Mr Ryan said it was a common theme for people to eventually opt for homes at Sippy Downs after scouring more noted neighbouring suburbs.
“Sippy Downs is not the first place they look at when they look at the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“People know Mountain Creek and Buderim, which are nearby, so their search starts there, but then they come to understand the surroundings and what Sippy Downs has to offer.
“They realise it’s not too far away, and a property in Mountain Creek or Buderim would probably be $100,000 to $200,000 more.
“They do their research and come and look at Sippy Downs, where they can buy a home for less and can get more for their money.”
He said Sippy Downs had almost everything to accommodate buyers.
“There is the university, Coles, (recently opened) Junk, parklands and it’s only a 12-minute drive to the beach and you can easily get on to the highway to Noosa and Brisbane.”
And he expected the suburb to keep growing.
“There is more land here and more units and apartments. I believe there will be more shops too.
“The area is attractive to a lot of people: retirees, young couples, university students, all demographics.”
The neighbouring development at Palmview has also led to home sales in Sippy Downs.
“People look at Harmony but then see older properties on bigger blocks in Sippy Downs,” he said.
Mr Ryan said homes were moving quickly in the suburb.
“Pretty much all of the properties we list are under contract within three to four weeks.”
The affordability factor has become more pronounced this year.
About 17 $1m-plus homes were sold in the suburb last year, compared to about “six or seven” this year.
According to realestate.com.au, the median house price at Sippy Downs is $775,000, down 3 per cent during the past 12 months but up from about $500,000 in late 2018.
The price is significantly lower than that of Buderim ($1.1m in the past 12 months) and Mountain Creek ($930,000).
Mr Ryan said No.74 Fitzwilliam Drive, listed by agents Michael Stack and Mr Ryan, was a highlight within Sippy Downs.
It recorded the highest sale price for a non-lakeside home in the suburb.
It’s believed to be only one of two Craig Cleary-designed homes in the area.
“It’s got the pool in the middle, and it’s got that resort style,” Mr Ryan said.
“It has big windows throughout and is quite Bali-inspired.”
The previous owner sold two properties in Sippy Downs to relocate to a large property in Rosemount, while the new owners are a family from the Gold Coast.
Sippy Downs was established in 1993, three years before the university was opened, and it has in recent years experienced a boom, with an influx of people moving to the suburb and an array of infrastructure and services developing in the area.
Auction results
19 Kerenjon Avenue, Buderim
Sold under the hammer for $834,000
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Buderim), Brodie Rodgers
508/59-75 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba
Sold under the hammer for $1.77m
2 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Car
Ray White (Mooloolaba), Peter King
17/18 Edward Street, Alexandra Headland
Sold under the hammer for $2.28m
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 3 Car, Pool
Ray White (Mooloolaba), Candice Contencin
4 Sunpointe Street, Maroochydore
Sold under the hammer for $1.18m
3 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Maroochydore), Pam Thomas and Megan Murray
8 Sumatra Court, Kawana Island
Passed in at $1.08m
4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Mooloolaba), Michael Chapman and Will Van den Dungen
56 Hillcrest Avenue, Nambour
Sold prior to auction for $705,000
4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Nambour), Michael Scott
35 Kurrajong Crescent, Meridan Plains
Passed in at $1.02m, on the market for $1.08m
5 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Kawana), Adam Budd
175 Esplanade, Golden Beach
Passed in, now listed at offers over $1.9m
4 Bed, 2 Bath, 2 Car
Ray White (Caloundra), Andrew Garland
616/102 Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland
Sold under the hammer for $817,000
2 Bed, 1 Bath, 1 Car
Ray White (Maroochydore), Pam Thomas and Sarah Olsen
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