Words by Kylie Dulhunty, Herald Sun Real Estate
November 23, 2018

A BOUTIQUE collection of contemporary terrace homes in Melbourne’s north is expected to sell quickly as buyers continue to ditch the large house and traditional quarter acre block in favour of turnkey options.

Developers MAB and GPC have launched Crafted Townhomes at the Merrifield estate in Mickleham, a collection of eight two-storey townhouses that offer two or three bedrooms, generous open-plan living spaces and landscaped yards.

Merrifield project director Matthew Planner said an earlier release revealed strong demand for townhouse living, with all 30 properties snapped up.

“The first release showed that there is a strong desire among young buyers for a stylish turnkey townhome that delivers contemporary design to suit a modern, urban lifestyle, but is also very competitively priced,” he said.

“Townhome living, traditionally popular in inner and middle parts of Melbourne, has experienced a migration to growth areas as a desirable form of living.

“Fringe areas were once perceived as part of the great Australian dream where you buy a quarter acre lot and build a large home, but year by year we’re seeing lots getting smaller and townhomes, previously not considered or offered, are becoming desirable.

“Affordability as well as a shift in buyer attitudes and tastes as well as a demographic shift towards younger buyers is fuelling the change.

“Our Crafted Townhome range aims to deliver architecturally designed terraces at an affordable price point in a great location, which is truly compelling for buyers in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor.”

The Crafted Townhomes are priced at $385,000 for two bedrooms, or $375,000 with the First Home Owners Grant.

The three-bedroom townhouses are priced at $449,900 and $475,000.

Designed by Rothelowman Architects for Soho Living, the townhouses come complete and ready to move into with features such as stone benchtops, panel heating to the living areas and bedrooms as well as landscaped gardens including instant turf at the rear.

Kristy Prasad and her partner Brayden Carriera bought one of the townhouses released earlier this year and saw it as a great opportunity to enter the property market at an affordable price.

“We were looking for a double-storey house and we had a budget so we were told we’d be unlikely to find anything,” Miss Prasad said.

“But this had three bedrooms and a study, enough room to expand as a family, it’s close to the park and schools and there may be a potential hospital linked to The Northern Hospital built nearby and I’m a nurse.

“We also liked that it was turnkey and while we still had options of colour schemes, it comes with everything finished and we had enough money left over to get some of the extras that we wanted such as stone benchtops and additional power points.”

Mr Planner said buyers were also drawn to the amenities that will be on offer at Merrifield including schools, parks, retail and up to 30,000 new jobs at the business park.

“We’re not just another residential subdivision, we’re building a whole city,” he said.

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