The four-bedroom house at 62-64 Reflections Crescent, Lara, sold to first-home buyers for $675,000.

A homebuyer’s first step onto the property ladder in Lara is set to help a Geelong charity provide crisis accommodation for the next four years.

Samaritan House Geelong received the financial boost after the $675,000 sale of the four-bedroom house in Reflections Crescent, Lara.

Bisinella Developments donated the 518sq m Lara Lakes Estate lot to Samaritan House Geelong, facilitating the Hamlan Homes construction, with styling by Moda Interior Styling. Landscaping was arranged and funded by Bisinella as a further donation to the project.

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Coulter Legal, a longstanding supporter of Samaritan House Geelong, provided the conveyancing for both the land donation and the property sale.

The property was purchased in May by first-home buyers from Altona Meadows for $675,000 and the property was expected to be settled in late June.

The four-bedroom residence has two bathrooms and an open-plan living, dining the kitchen area that opens to the back yard.

The galley kitchen has stainless steel appliances and stone benches.

The bright living zone opens to a covered area and the backyard.

The proceeds from the sale will support the Samaritan House Geelong’s work providing crisis accommodation and essential services to men experiencing homelessness in the region.

Samaritan House Geelong Director Wally Pelaccia said Bisinella’s contribution was “deeply impactful”.

“The success of this project is a reflection of the power of community partnerships,” he said.

“Bisinella’s donation will underpin our operations for the next four years, giving us stability and allowing us to plan ahead.”

Bisinella Developments director Richard Bisinella said it’s an important cause.

“Homelessness is a critical issue across Australia that Bisinella Developments and our partners are committed to solving at a local level,” he said.

The main bedroom has a built-in wardrobe and ensuite.

The four-bedroom house at 62-64 Reflections Crescent, Lara, sold to first-home buyers for $675,000.

Samaritan House Geelong fundraising director Wally Pelaccia, left, with Bisinella Developments Lino Bisinella and the land he donated raise funds to help fight homelessness. Picture: Alison Wynd

“Supporting organisations like Samaritan House is one way we can help make a real difference to people’s lives.

“We are grateful to have been a part of this fantastic initiative and look forward to welcoming the new homeowners into our Lara Lakes Estate.”

Mr Pelaccia said Samaritan House Geelong, which was established in 2012, offers much more than shelter.

“It’s a space to reconnect, to build friendships and to believe in a better tomorrow,” he said.

“Guests often form bonds that lead to shared work opportunities and long-term housing, helping to break the cycle of homelessness.

“Support of Samaritan House Geelong enables those men who have fallen on hard times a chance to breathe and re-evaluate their lives.”

Inspired by the success of this initiative, Samaritan House Geelong has placed the idea of a second home build on its agenda, although no immediate plans are in place.

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A New South Wales homeowner has taken drastic measures to protect a blue-tongue lizard living under her patio, after selling her property to a developer.

The woman, who has lived on the family property in NSW’s Sutherland Shire for the past 10 years, became friends with the reptile who moved in under her backyard patio, and occasionally emerged to bask in the sun.

However, after selling the lot to a developer, she began to fret about the welfare of her mate and called local snake wrangler Tyler Gibbons to relocate the reptile earlier this month. Despite several attempts, the elusive creature remained hidden.

The homeowner’s anxiety peaked when the settlement date was unexpectedly advanced, leaving her with little time to act.

In a bold move, she spray-painted a message on her garage, alerting incoming construction workers to the lizard’s presence, complete with an arrow indicating its likely location and Gibbons’ contact number who has shared the heartwarming story on his facebook page.

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A woman spray painted a desperate message to tradies on her garage before her home was demolished. Source: Shire Snake Wranglers

Blue tongue lizard are commonly seen in the area.

“A few weeks ago, we got a call from a lovely lady who was preparing to hand over her family home to a developer for a duplex build. She had lived there for years and had grown quite fond of a blue tongue lizard that regularly visited her backyard,” the facebook post read.

“With demolition day fast approaching and the lizard still unaccounted for, she asked us to come out and help relocate it. We searched high and low – under the slab, in garden beds, and around the entire yard – but couldn’t find it.

“When it came time to hand over the keys, she made sure the new owners didn’t miss the message… and gave them some very clear instructions.

“We visited the site again this week and had a chat with the crew. They told us they took extra care removing the slab, just in case the lizard was still hiding underneath. Thankfully, it looks like it had already moved on—possibly spooked off by the vibrations of the excavator.

A great outcome for a caring local who just wanted to make sure her backyard friend stayed safe.”

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Shire Snake Wranglers regularly share stories of their work on social media.

The post has amassed over 1300 likes and doesn’t of comments from followers applauding both the owner and the tradies’ kind act.

“We need more people like this, what a lovely lady,” one follower wrote.

Another wrote: “Thank you to this beautiful soul for caring to go to this extent to ensure the little one was safe. And thank you for coming out to see the crew,” while a third replied: “I love this that she tried to make sure nothing happened to the lizard they are such beautiful creatures.”

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Melbourne rentvestors Rob Bright and Siobhan Freeman live in Hampton but bought in Ripley, QLD — where prices have more than doubled in a decade. Picture: David Caird

Smart buyers aren’t choosing between super and property, and this Melbourne couple proves the most successful investors aren’t picking between super and property, they’re doing both.

And Rob Bright and Siobhan Freeman are living proof.

The Melbourne couple, who rent in Hampton but own in booming Ripley, Queensland, say they’ve already seen the pay-off of thinking differently, and they’re not done yet.

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“We live in Hampton and own in Ripley in South East Queensland,” they said.

“We bought in Ripley as a rentvestment in March 2021 and have lived in Hampton the whole time.”

According to PropTrack data, Ripley house prices have jumped from $320,000 to $749,900 over the past decade, an average annual increase of 8.9 per cent, beating the 5.7 per cent average return delivered by Australia’s top-performing super funds in the same period, according to SuperRatings.

Their $320k Ripley home is now worth $749,900, proving some investors can beat super returns with the right growth corridor strategy. Picture: David Caird

And with Melbourne’s market rebounding, the couple said they could now be eyeing suburbs like Cobblebank, 11 per cent, Weir Views, 10.9 per cent, Aintree, 10.4 per cent, and Mickleham 9.9 per cent for their next investment.

“We definitely feel the market has changed and we are eager to get back in,” they said.

“We love where we live, and we’re building equity somewhere else,” the couple said, as they could eye booming suburbs like Cobblebank and Mickleham with Melbourne’s market resurgence. Picture: David Caird

For the couple, the strategy has always been about flexibility and smart planning, not chasing the status quo.

“Rentvesting was always part of our plan. It works for us.”

OpenCorp chief executive Cam McLellan said the most successful investors weren’t choosing between superannuation and property they were combining both.

Rob Bright and Siobhan Freeman say rentvesting gave them flexibility and financial growth, without compromising on lifestyle in sought-after Hampton. Picture: David Caird

“You don’t have to choose super or property. Smart investors are doing both,” Mr McLellan said.

“That’s how you future-proof, multiple levers working together.”

Mr McLellan added that many buyers underestimated the leverage and tax benefits of owning strategically, especially in growth corridors.

For Rob and Siobhan, the focus is on what works, not what looks good on paper.

OpenCorp chief executive Cam McLellan says savvy buyers aren’t choosing between superannuation and property, they’re using both to build long-term wealth.

“We’ve just found that rentvesting gives us the best of both worlds,” they said.

“We love where we live, and we’re building equity somewhere with strong returns.”

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Each month, hundreds of real estate agents, brokers, executives and investors report on what they’re seeing in their corner of the industry. Add your insights. Take the survey.

Aussie homeowners are sitting on a goldmines, making more money from their properties than their superannuation funds, new research shows.

Finder analysis of SuperRatings data revealed the country’s super fund performances with a few surprises on the list.

It comes as Finder research showed 23 per cent of Aussies – equivalent to 4.6 million people – admit they don’t have enough money in their super fund or other investments to get by in retirement.

The average 10-year performance across all super funds is 5.7 per cent a year, according to the data, which measures 113 publicly released super fund products.

On a state level, Hobart was the top performer at 6.9 per cent – 1.2 per high higher than the national average, followed by Adelaide (6.7 per cent), Brisbane (5.9 per cent), Canberra (4.9 per cent), Sydney (4.5 per cent), Melbourne (3.8 per cent), and Perth (3.2 per cent).

However, the federal government’s First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) could help boost savings and help first-home buyers get their foot on the property latter sooner – yet many are still aware of the scheme and how it could benefit them.

If eligible, buyers can withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary super contributions plus associated earnings to put towards a home deposit

Here’s a closer look at some of Australia’s key states and how Super returns compares to property prices.

VICTORIA

A growing number of young Melbourne homebuyers are using a little-known super hack to beat the city’s property market – but hundreds of thousands are still missing out.

Finder analysis of SuperRatings data revealed 190 Melbourne suburbs where house prices failed to keep pace with the 5.7 per cent average annual return delivered by super funds over the past decade.

These include affordable homes in Docklands, Carlton, Parkville, St Kilda West and Cranbourne South.

Other suburbs were houses outperform superannuation include Cobblebank, Aintree, Mickleham, Fraser Rise, Bonnie Brook and Wollert.

And for the 16,500 young Victorians who have used the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) to boost their savings and cut the tax hit on their interest gains, the stronger growth has helped them keep up with or exceed property price rises.

Despite the state’s market entrants accounting for almost 45 per cent of the 27,000 Australians who withdrew a combined $370m in voluntary contributions to help buy their home, according to latest Australian Taxation Office figures, experts have warned it is still underused.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that across the 2018-2024 financial years covered by the scheme, there were more than 231,000 new loans to first-home buyers in the state — meaning almost 93 per cent missed out.

Read the full story here.

10 year annual compound growth rate in median sales price (12 months). Source: Finder

QUEENSLAND

According to Finder, homeowners in 166 suburbs across Brisbane recorded bigger annual returns on their homes than the country’s average super fund return, although the data does not take into account the ongoing costs of home ownership.

When comparing property returns, house values in Chandler, in the city’s east, had the highest 10 year annual compound growth rate in median sale price at 11.8 per cent, following by Roberston (10.9 per cent) and Anstead (10.6 per cent).

Around the state, Beechmere, in Moreton Bay, recorded more than double at 19.2 per cent.

On the Sunshine Coast, Shelly Beach reined supreme with 13.4 per cent, while on the Gold Coast Surfers Paradise was king with 12.9 per cent.

The highest super fund return in Australia hit 8.79 per cent.

Read the full story here.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

According to Finder.com.au analysis, 488 suburbs and towns outperformed the average superannuation fund.

Adelaide’s northern suburbs dominated the list of suburbs outperforming super returns, with the two leaders being Elizabeth North and Unley Park houses.

Both of these have increased by 12.4 per cent over the past 10 years, significantly outperforming even the top performing growth fund.

Growth funds returned as much as 8.79 per cent per year over the decade, balanced funds delivered returns of up to 7.84 per cent while conservative funds returned as much as 5.98 per cent per annum.

Other star performers include Elizabeth South, Elizabeth Downs, Davoren Park, Elizabeth Grove, Smithfield Plains and Roxby Downs in regional SA.

Read the full story here.

Finder analysis of Super Ratings Data on the top 10 ‘Growth’ super funds with the highest 10-year performance returns, as of March 2025 compared to the 10 year annual compound growth rate in median sales price (12 months).

NEW SOUTH WALES

NSW homeowners in over 200 suburbs could be building retirement wealth faster than their super fund, new research reveals.

Australian Retirement Trust’s super savings high growth fund had the highest returns, with a 8.79 per cent annual 10 year return, yet there were over 200 suburbs in NSW that out performed that.

Houses in Millfield, Lockhart, Brunswick Heads and Clareville were among the top performers, growing by an average of 11-16 per cent annually over the past 10 years.

The average 10-year performance across all super funds is 5.7 per cent a year, according to Finder, while Sydney’s 10 year annual compound property growth rate was 6.4 per cent.

Read the full story here.

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