Our Buyer’s Agent, Kylie Frearson, recently had fun exploring Newcastle with international football star and local Jets W-League legend, Gema Simon.
When Gema isn’t playing for the the Jets or travelling the world, these are some of the hot spots she likes to return to.
Who needs Summer Bay? | SWANSEA BAY
First up on our adventure with Gema was a visit to Swansea Bay. Stretching along the coast, Swansea Bay is a tranquil paradise away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Perfect for summer, Gema recommends Swansea Bay as the perfect place to bring your family, friends and pets to soak up the sun and enjoy the calm water.
Named in 1887 after Swansea in Wales, United Kingdom, this once small town is now one of the largest in the city of Lake Macquarie.
Adding to the appeal of the area is how quiet and family friendly it is, with plenty of early-childcare and schooling options available.
Kylie notes that those looking at property in the area should expect a median house price of $570,000, with 64.9% of properties owner occupied.
Based on five years of sales, the area has seen a compound growth rate of 6.4% for houses and 5.4% for units.
Perfect for families and those retiring, Swansea is a slice of paradise on the coast that should make its way onto your property radar.
Something for everyone | CROUDACE BAY
Continuing our outdoor crusade, we made our way to Croudace Bay Dog Park.
With her dog Romeo by her side, Gema loves to frequently pay a visit to this coastal park, where they can both run around, take a swim and appreciate the beautiful scenery.
“I’ve had Romeo for eight years and he’s just really good to help take my mind off things,” Gema said.
Located on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie, Croudace Bay was named after Thomas Croudace, who was an early landowner in the area.
Having grown a lot since those days, Croudace Bay is home to a skate-park and a playground for the kids, making it a great spot for everyone to enjoy.
Close to a range of award-winning cafes and ice-creameries, there is plenty to see and do after spending some time at the park.
Kylie says that Croudace Bay and outer suburbs like Eleebana and Warners Bay are quickly becoming an investor’s gold mine.
Median house prices in the area are $700,000, with 87.2% of properties being owner occupied.
Get your sweat on | GATESHEAD
It wouldn’t be a typical day for Gema without some exercise added into the mix.
Our last stop of the day was Urban Base Fitness (UBF), a fully equipped fitness facility located in Gateshead.
This gym pulls out all the stops. With a vast selection of equipment available, as well as team, individual and personal training, there is something for the heavy lifters as well as the newbies.
Focused on making sure its members get the most out of each session, UBF isn’t your typical gym, which is why Gema keeps on coming back.
“I love coming here, they allow me to do whatever I need to do. It’s just a really cool atmosphere here and there are some really nice people as well,” Gema said.
With top of the range facilities and plenty of space to work out, it’s no wonder this is one of Gema’s top local picks.
Kylie also notes that Gateshead is quickly becoming a great place for families to settle, with plenty of local parks and activities for kids. Gateshead is even home to the state-of-the-art Hunter Sports High School.
The median house price for the area is $438,00, with 53.1% of properties being owner occupied. An average 10% annual growth rate has been reported for the area over the past ten years.
A central part of the Lake Macquarie business district, Gateshead and its outer suburbs are home to 3000 plus people, with average monthly mortgage repayments in the area being between $1400 and $1799.
For renters, Kylie says that you’re looking at around average prices between $275 to $349 per-week.
We want to say a big thank you to Gema Simon for showing us around some of Lake Macquarie’s little slices of paradise. We had a great time and got to appreciate the outdoors and get that much needed vitamin D.
Check out the video link if you’re interested in seeing these amazing sites with your own eyes.
If our tour around the Lake Macquarie region has piqued your interest in looking for a property in one of these suburbs, contact our Newcastle Buyer’s Agents today.
