Latest news with #house
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Unique Templestowe house above 8m void hits market for $1m
A Templestowe house that soars above an about 8m-high drop has Melbourne homebuyers polarised. With a $1m-$1.1m asking price it's just a fraction of the $1.65m buyers typically pay for a perch in the suburb. But its unusual design, that leaves a significant portion of the residence and its balcony hovering above a towering void, has buyers asking if 'it's safe and secure'. Built by its owner architect in the 1990s and balanced on the bricks and mortar of its lower-ground garage and a series of Karri timber stilts, the 39 Lawanna Drive home is being sold for the first time since its construction. And Jellis Craig Doncaster's Chris Savvides said its vertigo-inducing views were the central focus for buyers, and its unusual design was the reason behind its bargain price tag — confirming the reserve would be within the quoted range on auction day next month. So far it's had 'strong interest' with 45 groups through its first open for inspection on Saturday — mostly a mix of inner-city professionals aged from their late 20s to 40s. While it wasn't for everyone, Mr Savvides said those who did like it were taking a very close look at the unusual residence. 'I've never seen anything like this, there's no comparisons … but people are intrigued by it,' Mr Savvides said. 'The view is amazing, but people are saying they're not sure (about how it achieves the view). 'And It's nor for young kids, or the elderly.' The agent said he's getting a lot of questions about whether 'it's safe and secure'. And is referring those questions to the vendors more than $120,000 effort to refit and renew the home's incredible rear balcony. The home has also stood in place since the early 90s, with its architect builder buying it as a steeply sloping block of land for just $88,300 in 1988 — then building the eye-catching residence. It's still standing after a number of earthquakes, one as nearby as Sunbury in 2023, as well as countless storms that have followed its construction. Mr Savvides said braver buyers in sturdy footwear had been walking down to the bottom of the block to get a feel for the mammoth height the home stands above ground — estimated to be around 8m and close to twice the height of the main residence. The previous owners very much embraced the height, with the living area and even the main bedroom both positioned to make the most of the views. Mr Savvides said the next owners were also likely to be looking at ways to fill in some of the negative space beneath the house — though the existing lower-ground level would already suit for conversion to a unit, home office or as is for a car enthusiast. The 966sq m property is slated for auction at 2pm on August 16.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Eufy security cam is nearly 50% off, and it's perfect for keeping things safe around the house
If you're in the market for a little security around the house, one of the best security camera deals going on right now is on the Eufy Security SoloCam S220. It's a heck of a buy right now, as it's marked down to just $67. That's nearly 50% off its regular price of $130, and it's good for $63 in savings. It's also available in 2-packs, 3-packs, and 4-packs, each of which is also seeing a fairly significant discount. Why you should buy the Eufy Security SoloCam S220 Some security around the house is always good for some peace of mind, and with the Eufy Security SoloCam S220 it's like having a second set of eyes on things. It has super sharp 2K video resolution that provides a great look at what's going on, and it even has Night Vision to keep an eye on things after dark. The camera's smart features include AI integrations, so it has enough smarts to recognize the difference between humans and other activity that may be going on. And while security is at the top of this camera's intentions, you can also use it to greet guests and determine if packages have been delivered. The SoloCam S220's two-way audio allows you to communicate clearly with anyone who may be at the door. It's even compatible with voice assistants, with Google Assistant and Alexa being able to control a lot of the camera's features. When it comes to setting up the SoloCam S220, it's a lot easier than some of the security cameras out there. It comes with a solar charging system built right into it, so there's no need to install any wires. The 0.9W solar panel requires just three hours of daily sunlight to maintain continuous operation, make it rare that you would need to take it down for a battery replacement. The Eufy Security SoloCam S220 regularly goes for $130, but while this deal lasts you can pick one up for just $67. As previously mentioned, you can also purchase this camera in multi-packs at a discount, making right now a great time to add several of these cameras to your smart home setup.
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Why do I still see my siblings as the people they were in childhood?
I am spending a lot of time at my late mother's house, sorting things out, wondering why she had so much asafoetida and thinking about the past. Every time I'm there, my sister asks me to water the garden, and I never do. Then she says: 'Please, just do the window boxes, otherwise the plants will die,' and I still don't. 'I may come and take the potted plants away, or you could take some, if you want to kill them in your own house?', she says, and still I ignore her, because I don't know anything about gardening. So it follows that, being my sibling, she doesn't either. No amount of evidence to the contrary – her own, frankly magnificent garden – can convince me otherwise. This is a two-way street. She is a fashion designer and exquisite draughtsperson – which I, also, after many decades, have yet to wrap my head around – but she can't drive, and if ever she is a passenger when I'm driving, she is on red alert, pointing out things – mainly other cars, pedestrians, trees – as if, without her intervention, I would plough straight into them. Our brother is a skilled decorator and, when he uses words such as 'primer' and 'dust sheet', I can't help looking at him as if a cat is talking. He is a photographer by profession, and, even if we point the same phone at the same object, he creates images that are unfathomably deeper and more pleasing than mine. I look on this not so much as a knowledge base he has that I don't, and more like an act of hocus-pocus. My other brother is a maths teacher, my other sister is a physicist, and I cannot describe how fanciful I find it that they may really be doing these jobs. Obviously, I have to pretend to believe it. I don't even know whether you get wired in childhood to think all knowledge is equally distributed because otherwise it isn't fair, or that every fine difference in skillset is just a question of whoever is younger catching up. But no amount of adulthood can overturn it. Anyway, I couldn't help but notice that, after it rained, the garden looked amazing. It's possible my sister is right on this one thing. Zoe Williams is a Guardian columnist
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Think You're Ready to Buy a House? Ramit Sethi Says This One Mistake Could Ruin You
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Many people view buying a house as a critical piece of the American Dream, but if you approach it in the wrong way, you can become house poor and wind up in a troubling financial situation. Financial personality Ramit Sethi wants to help people avoid that fate and has laid out some ground rules for buying a house. Even though housing prices have continued to soar, Sethi advocates for putting 20% down. He says that some people think the rule no longer applies to them due to rising costs and opt for 3% down payments instead of 20% down payments. Don't Miss: He offers a blunt analysis for anyone who is considering the 3% down payment route. "That is inviting disaster," Sethi stated. These are some important details Sethi mentions for aspiring homeowners. A House Is One Of The Biggest Decisions Of Your Life Sethi brings up the gravity of buying a house, labeling it as the biggest decision of your life. In the pecking order, deciding which house to buy may only fall behind choosing your spouse. A house is a substantial purchase, as it's the biggest expense item for most people. Monthly mortgage payments will eat up the majority of your budget. The 28% rule suggests that a mortgage shouldn't take up more than 28% of your budget. However, more people have been creeping higher than the 28% threshold for their purchases. Sethi doesn't tackle the 28% rule in this video, but he is also a fan of that rule. He explains that it's okay to inch monthly mortgage payments to a little above 30% of your budget if you have to, but you shouldn't extend too far beyond the 28% threshold. He's more direct in this video about making a 20% down payment. While it's easier and faster to buy a house with a 3% down payment, you don't want to rush to choose a spouse either. Saving money and delaying your path to homeownership will put you in a better position when you are ready to make a 20% down payment. Trending: With Point, you can get up to $500,000 in cash from your property with no monthly payments and no income requirements — even if your credit isn't perfect. What Happens When Your House Needs Repairs? Homeowners who only make 3% down payments on their homes will have higher monthly mortgage payments. They'll also have to deal with private mortgage insurance premiums until they have 20% equity in their homes.
CTV News
22-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Orillia's great flag challenge names most patriotic street
Orillia's great flag challenge resulted in one street being named the winner with 95 Canadian flags per house.
