Can you picture what the most viewed property on realestate.com.au in your suburb looks like?
According to data from realestate.com.au, it’s likely to be a large, historic house with luxe features, on a coveted street with the potential to break price records.
No surprise then that the most viewed property listing in Potts Point is 29 Challis Avenue.
We’re proud to currently have this show stopping property on the market. It’s already clocked up over 29,522 views on realestate.com.au – and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. After all, it hasn’t been on the market very long and buyers will have also viewed it on numerous other property portals, as well as our own website.
Back in 2016, we sold the same property – 29 Challis Avenue – for what was, at the time, the record-breaking price of $13 million, so we’re not surprised it’s attracted a lot of attention.
It’s a truly amazing property with plenty of stories to tell. But, more importantly, what can the most viewed listing in Potts Point tell us about the property market?
The house itself: 29 Challis Ave
Be warned, ‘Saraville’ is no ordinary property – it’s a freestanding terrace with grand proportions in the Victorian Italianate style.
A decade ago, designer Heidi Onisforou undertook a total renovation and transformation after she purchased the run down terrace for $5.25 million. The home now offers original features with stunning contemporary touches.
Each of its four bedrooms has an ensuite, there’s a three car garage with storage and rear access from Rockwall Lane and several outdoor terraces.
Here are some of the highlights of 29 Challis Avenue.
1. Location is everything
There really is no better location in Potts Point than Challis Avenue, one of Potts Point’s most desirable addresses.
Set right in the heart of the suburb, it takes its name from John Henry Challis, a successful merchant from the mid-nineteenth century, who, in 1850, purchased Adelaide Cottage – one of 17 original allotments in the area.
At its Macleay Street end, Challis Avenue is home to several of our area’s best restaurants, like Fratelli Paradiso and Fei Jei.
2. A touch of high-end luxury and a unique history
According to realestate.com.au, 29 Challis Ave is in good company, with the most viewed houses across the country sharing many of its characteristics.
It says: “historic homes on blue-ribbon streets, luxury estates with sprawling grounds and newly-built residences with all the mod-cons were among the properties Australians clicked on the most.”
29 Challis Ave ticks those boxes.
3. Buyers love Potts Point’s houses and terraces
In recent years, demand for Potts Point terraces have been growing in popularity. That’s especially true where they feature many of the benefits of a freestanding house, such as privacy and space, but offer lower maintenance due to smaller block sizes.
Potts Point terraces typically have architectural appeal and charm and sometimes heritage value too. And they’re rare. Just 0.3% of properties in our area are free-standing houses (nationally, it’s 72.3%). Meanwhile, townhouses, terraces or attached dwellings only comprise 9.4% of all local dwellings, according to the last Census.
The fact that they’re in such short supply in Potts Point makes buyer demand even stronger. When terraces come onto the market, buyers pounce.
4. Stunning renovations
I’ve talked before about the power of a designer renovation in attracting buyer interest, and this home is a case in point. Renovations aren’t just about creating space, they’re also about making space more stylish and liveable. Having the right designers and architects create an original residence for you and your family can add serious value to a home.
As already mentioned, Heidi Onisforou was behind the stunning renovation at 29 Challis Ave and we often see big names like hers, or Luigi Roselli, Juliette Arent, Iain Halliday and Alexandra Kidd generating enormous interest from buyers.
5. Parking can add value and appeal
Potts Point is so walkable and well-connected that you don’t really need a car. But if you have one – or two – the million dollar question is where are you going to park it? There’s no doubt that parking can add serious value and appeal to a property, particularly a house. We see single car spaces and garages change hands for hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. 29 Challis Ave offers off-street garage parking for three cars, a rarity in our area and something that is very sought after by buyers.
Want to know what else buyers were looking for?
The second most viewed property on realestate.com.au over the last year was a five bedroom terrace at 9 McDonald Street, that we also marketed in 2024. This was followed in third place by an one-bedroom entry level apartment at 2/2 Tusculum Street. Fourth place was a two-bedroom apartment at 19/24 William Street. In fifth place was another one-bedroom apartment at 1/10 Tusculum Street.
Overall this shows the popularity of large houses, but also small, entry level city crash pads that are very well priced and appeal to investors, out-of-towners, and first home buyers.
Find out more
We currently have 29 Challis Ave on the market for expressions of interest, in conjunction with Harriet France from Sydney Sotheby’s. Find out more about this amazing property here.
