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Buyers are valuing local green space, flexible floor plans and a holiday lifestyle more than ever.

Over the past 18 months, there has been a clear change in buyer preferences across Australia, with a home office, onsite amenities, local parks and waterways increasingly jumping to the top of the must-haves list.

Angus Moore, economist at realestate.com.au, says that as buyer checklists and preferences change, so too are the new developments looking to catch their eye.

“We’ve seen a big shift in the premium people put on an extra bedroom,” says Moore. “We’ve also seen a migration towards a kind of tree change or sea change as people put less of a premium on living right in the city.”

▲ Buyers have become increasingly willing to be a little further from the CBD in return for a waterfront lifestyle. Picture: Getty

Wentworth Point appeal

Wentworth Point — located around 13km west from the Sydney CBD on the banks of the Parramatta River — has seen an uptick in interest as buyers prioritise space and lifestyle over CBD proximity.

Views per listing for units on realestate.com.au were up 26% year-on-year to October 2021, with buyers seeing a waterside lifestyle, connectivity and affordability as an attractive combination, says Moore.

“You’ve got a lot of great lifestyle factors in really close proximity (around Wentworth Point),” Moore says. “Plus, you can get much more space for less than you would in the inner city, but it’s still an easy commute.”

▲ Stage one and two of the three-stage ONE the Waterfront are complete, with approximately 171 apartments in different sizes and configurations on offer. Picture: Piety Group

At Wentworth Point, a range of well-established restaurants, bars and shops means every day-to-day necessity is at your doorstep.

However, what really sets the area apart is its surroundings.

“It’s one of the very few waterfront suburbs in Western Sydney,” says Sam Elbanna, Project Director at Laver, the selling agent for Wentworth Point’s ONE the Waterfront.

“But it’s got one other thing that most riverfront areas do not have — acres and acres of park land.

“People want to be able to go for a walk outside the house, take their kids to go play, or work from home in a park atmosphere. And, at Wentworth Point, they’re not 20 minutes away — they’re literally at your door.”

Flexible floor plans

With Australians stuck at home for lengthy periods, demand for larger homes has surged, data from realestate.com.au shows.

The apartments at Wentworth Point’s ONE the Waterfront offer a variety of spacious floor plans that will appeal to young families, first-time owners and downsizers alike, says Nigel Farquhar, head of development at Piety Group.

The extra space means there’s greater flexibility to turn a room into a spare bedroom, gym or home office.

“There’s many different floor plans and styles to choose from to suit anyone’s personal needs and outlooks,” he says.

▲ The apartments are designed by Stanisic Architects, with interiors by Turner Studio. Picture: Piety Group

Another standout feature are balcony winter gardens, which allow residents to eat outdoors in any weather while enjoying the surrounding views.

“We’ve built seven buildings so far, all having really good views over to Sydney Olympic Park from Bennelong Parkway, or northwards over Bay Park,” says Farquhar.

Community connections

With travel restrictions in place for the best part of the last two years, it’s no wonder that many Australians have embraced the ethos of making the most of their holiday time at home.

▲ The Club One community hub has a range of resort-style amenities for residents. Picture: Piety Group

At ONE the Waterfront, the combination of the Parramatta River location and surrounding acres of parkland create a resort-style feel, explains Farquhar.

“It’s situated right at the end of the Piazza, which is a beautiful entry bay,” Farquhar says. “It has a tree-lined street with local shops and restaurants and leads to what we call Bay Park, which is our corner of Wentworth Point.”

Farquhar says while the award-winning parklands, water park features and riverfront paths are a standout, there’s much more to the community.

“We’ve also built a community club called Club One, which consists of a cinema, games room, pool table, kitchen and dining space,” he says.

The community-based PULSE Club consists of a gym, yoga studio, tennis courts and a swimming pool are also on site and available to residents, as well as a rooftop sky garden for hosting dinner parties and events.

▲ Prices for a one-bedroom apartment start from $545,000, two bedrooms from $669,000 and three bedrooms from $869,000. Picture: Piety Group

Amanda Panetta, head of marketing at Piety, adds there is a free shuttle service which takes residents to the nearby train station. On top of this, there is a footbridge that takes you across to the major shopping centre at Rhodes, where there’s a range of great restaurants, cinemas, transport links and shops, like DFO and IKEA.

“Generally, when people try and find an apartment, they want the train station to be right down the road and buses on your doorstep — it’s got all that connectivity, but it feels like it’s a little resort,” Panetta says.

“It feels like you’re on holidays when you’re at home — living on the waterfront really gives you that complete package.”

As seen on Realestate.com.au.