I’ve been wanting to buy a property in Sydney for quite some time and while I was in Australia last July, I organised the finance and started looking for properties. I was looking in Manly, mainly because I think it’s a great location with its popular beach, loads of cafes, and easy ferry access into the city. Being such a popular suburb, I’m sure prices will go up steadily (the long term average increase is 8%) and it should be easy to rent.

The other thing is that even though I have no immediate plans to return to Australia, I’m sure I will one day, and I think I will probably move to Sydney or Melbourne if/when I do. It’ll be nice to have the option to live right near the beach.

I was working with a Perth real estate agent I know and he flew to Sydney in December to look at properties for me. He found an absolutely gorgeous art deco apartment which I desperately wanted but I got outbid at the last minute and had to let it go. It probably wasn’t a great investment anyway.

In the end I got a 2 bed, 2 bath, 1 car bay modern apartment (10 years old) just off the corso, half way between the beach and the harbour. Perfect!

The apartment never actually went on the market (which is why I think I got such a great deal) but an almost identical apartment in the same building was for sale. Here is how it was described in the listing:

Perfectly positioned between the beach and harbour, this stunning top floor, split level security apartment offers the perfect lifestyle choice. Showcasing the sophistication of an inner city apartment, an open plan lounge/dinning and designer kitchen with soaring 3 metre ceilings flows to an entertainers balcony, perfect for capturing sea breezes. Accommodation includes two spacious bedrooms with built-in robes, main with ensuite, internal laundry, storage, lift and security carspace. The apartment is tastefully appointed with stylish roller blinds, polished floorboards and stone feature walls. Step out to enjoy a superb selection of cafes and restaurants. This is Manly living at its best.

I don’t have photos of the actual apartment but it looks just like this:

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