Strong resale values and high demand are turning some residents from first home buyers to upgraders within a matter of years at Mirvac’s $1 billion master planned community Everleigh at Greenbank.
Fourteen Everleigh buyers have already purchased multiple properties - a total of 31 between them – since the first residents moved into the award-winning community in mid-2019.
Another 25 Everleigh buyers are repeat Mirvac purchasers, having bought one or more properties in other master planned or apartment projects by the publicly-listed developer.
One resident who is prospering from Everleigh’s popularity is Aaron Day, who has significantly upgraded his home while only increasing his mortgage by five percent.
“I sold my first Everleigh home, paid off my loan, purchased a new car and bought a new block. I am now living mortgage-free while I build my second home,” said Mr Day who lives with his teenage sons, Carter and Malachy and his border collie, Cuddles.
“It’s a financial position I never dreamed I’d be in when my two sons and I first moved into Everleigh in May 2020.
“I’d been out of the property market for seven years and had little borrowing capacity but wanted to give my boys an opportunity to move into a ‘forever house’.”
Mr Day said he loved Everleigh from his first visit, putting a deposit on a block immediately and diligently saving for a house.
“We built a very basic home and moved into it with concrete floors as we couldn’t afford tiles and carpet at the time,” he said.
“Everleigh is still our ‘forever home’, but fast forward a few years and we’re on the verge of moving into our dream house with all the bells and whistles.
“I’ve got a considerably bigger block with uninterrupted views to the 25-hectare sport and recreation precinct, a home that’s 100sqm larger with all the extras and my mortgage has barely changed. It’s unbelievable.”
Everleigh is located 38 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD with 37 per cent of its 481-hectares dedicated to open space including conservation bushland, bicycle paths, sporting fields, regional parks, and wetlands.
Most residents are within walking distance of the new Everleigh State School and a future neighbourhood centre, and everyone lives within a five-minute walk of green space.
Almost 200 homesites have settled in Everleigh in FY23, with lots in the latest release available from $297,000.
Mr Day said resale values were strong at Everleigh because ‘quality was guaranteed’.
“Everleigh has quality homes in a quality community, because Mirvac has such high standards in terms of covenant requirements, so it’s a highly desirable place to live,” he said.
“The standard of living in Everleigh compared to other communities is clearly evident – I have friends who live in an estate nearby who come to Everleigh to use the facilities and enjoy the greenspace and parklands.
“People are also paying good prices for pre-existing homes in Everleigh because demand is so high.”
Mirvac General Manager Residential Queensland Warwick Bible said repeat buyers and upgraders had been a trend across Mirvac projects for decades with over 1,000 repeat purchases across Mirvac’s Qld sites including the Waterfront Newstead masterplan and Gainsborough Greens in Pimpama.
“We’re proud of these numbers and grateful to our loyal buyers who help shape our communities and drive us to uphold the high standards to which they’ve become accustomed,” said Mr Bible.
“Repeat buying is evidence of the enduring value Mirvac creates through thoughtful masterplans, dedicated conservation areas and green space, connected communities, generous amenities and superior construction.
“In addition to developing projects, Mirvac develops relationships through robust stakeholder engagement and open, ongoing communication with buyers to ensure their customer experience is world class.
“We also work to create relationships within communities through programs like the one at Everleigh, where our affiliated community engagement team Enriching Communities Greenbank personally greets and invites every resident to join in the myriad of free activities and events held on site.”
Everleigh’s community program and vast open spaces have been embraced by Mr Day and his family. He said his boys lived outside, playing soccer in the park with neighbourhood friends.
“It’s the old-school way of life,” he said.
“It’s what I had growing up as a kid – instead of playing video games you would hang around outside with your mates.
“It’s a safe environment with a country atmosphere. There’s a real community feel here and that’s part of what makes it so desirable, especially for families.
“My parents, sister and niece all built in Everleigh and we couldn’t be happier.”
Mr Bible said Everleigh’s amenities, location and various price points had appealed to a range of buyers including first home buyers, empty nesters, upsizers and right-sizers.
“The ‘Everleigh lifestyle’ has wide appeal resulting in a diverse community with a shared desire to live in a friendly neighbourhood,” said Mr Bible.
“Community spirit is always on display at the well-attended organised events, group gatherings in Everleigh’s public spaces and children playing in our many parks and sports fields.”