Neighbourhoods: Three of the best in Newport

Local agents are hoping Newport is entering catch-up mode as it lags behind the rest of Sydney  in price growth.

According to Domain Group data, house prices rose a still respectable 12.7 per cent in the six months to September, with the median now resting at $1.55 million.

LJ Hooker Avalon agent David Watson says Newport has seen “gentle growth” but nothing like the gains in other parts of Sydney.

“Our growth in the last two years has been behind the rest of Sydney and now we’re finding we’re starting to look quite affordable,” Watson says.

“There’s quite good demand for everything we’re selling, with buyers coming from the more conventional suburbs of the upper and lower north shore, a few from the eastern suburbs and a big recent swing from the Hills district.”

Raine & Horne Palm Beach agent Glen Lee says the suburb appeals to permanent buyers and discretionary spenders.

Lee is fielding inquiries  from upgraders keen for waterfront property and from Singapore-based expats hoping to cash in on the low Australian dollar.

Gordon Spring of LJ Hooker Newport says expat inquiry is at a five-year high, with the market above $2.5 million enjoying a long-awaited comeback.

Spring says Newport is favoured for its position “before the Bilgola Bends” and for its strong sense of community.

“It’s a lifestyle destination,” he says. “It has a lovely village with Coles, trendy boutiques, cafes and a number of restaurants. It’s got the Newport Surf Club and we’re very fortunate because we have two yacht clubs, the Royal Motor Yacht Club and the Royal Prince Alfred.”

Another local favourite, the Newport Arms Hotel, is undergoing a three-year makeover by new owner Justin Hemmes of the hospitality group Merivale. The first stage is expected to open in January under head chef Sebastien Lutaud with two bars, a burger shack, seafood kiosk and a Vinnie’s Pizzeria.

1. 7 Myola Road
About $11 million
3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Built 2006
Land 1149 square metres
Inspect By appointment
Agent LJ Hooker Avalon, 0414 441 111, co-agent Raine & Horne Palm Beach, 0416 205 996
Last traded for $750,000 in 1992

This unique home could have dropped straight from the pages of a high-end architectural magazine. Designed by Peter  Stutchbury for yoga devotee Eriko Kinoshita, the house fuses Japanese and Western influences while making the most of its beachfront location.

A Japanese garden provides a serene entry point to the property, which spans two, light-filled levels. At entry level, a north-facing family room opens on to the 22-metre lap pool and also provides access to the 1500-bottle cellar. The entry hall leads past a reflection pond and family bathroom to the open-plan living spaces where the glass walls along the eastern and northern boundaries slide back for seamless indoor/outdoor living. A tatami platform provides an excellent spot to enjoy the ocean views.

For elevated views, head upstairs to the decadent master bedroom. It   has a stunning en suite and bespoke joinery as well as a balcony  with beach views. 

Showcasing copper, bronze, timber, steel and concrete construction, the home includes solar panels, underfloor heating, designer lighting, a home automation system and a sleek gas kitchen with Italian Basalt benchtops.

Room for improvement: Lovers of colour might like to introduce a more vibrant colour scheme indoors.

2. 21 Calvert Parade
About $6.5 million
5 bedroom, 4 bathroom, 2 car spaces
Built 2012
Land 1170 square metres
Inspect Sat, 2.30pm-3.15pm
Agent Raine & Horne Palm Beach, 0416 205 996
Last traded for $2,075,000

Only three years young and still presenting as new, this oceanfront property capitalises on a north-east aspect over three luxury levels, with an internal lift for easy access. 

There are two separate living spaces on the first floor: a lounge with fireplace opening on to a west-facing terrace, and an open-plan living room with an island kitchen featuring stone benches, a suite of Miele appliances and a walk-in pantry. This space opens on to a covered travertine terrace where you’ll find an outdoor kitchen, a mosaic-tiled lap pool and the star attraction, front-row ocean views.

The master bedroom is also on this level and offers access on to the terrace, a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite with twin vanity.

Upstairs there are three more bedrooms and a multi-purpose living space with built-in cabinetry, including a sink.

There is lots of storage space on the ground floor, which also plays host to a double garage, a cool room and a cellar.

Room for improvement: Use existing plumbing to heat the swimming pool for year-round use.

3. 75 Prince Alfred Parade 
$2.8 million +
5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 car spaces
Built 1992
Land 513 square metres
Inspect by appointment
Agent LJ Hooker Newport, 0418 210 219
Last traded for $900,000 in 2007

Pittwater views are a magnet for home owners headed for the northern beaches, and this family home delivers a generous, north-facing serve from two, easy-living levels.

You’ll be able to enjoy the peaceful, boat-filled vista from nearly every room, with the best views reserved for the two balconies which wrap around the first and second floors.

There is internal access from the oversize double garage into a generous foyer. From here, head upstairs to the open-plan living and dining room which is framed in glass to make the most of the outlook. The stone kitchen with induction cooktop comes with a walk-in pantry.

An en suite bedroom on this level has its own balcony and is used as a media room, while the remaining bedrooms are upstairs and include a very big master with a built-in wardrobe and en suite.

Room for improvement: Consider a fresh colour scheme inside.