Restored 1950s Belmont home offers haven for first-time buyers

The original timber cabinetry has stood the test of time.

A 1950s retro throwback in Belmont has provided a housing haven for first-home buyers moving in from the Surf Coast.

The mid-century modernist style house at 71 James St sold recently for $647,000 after the seller credited the residence with saving him through Covid lockdowns.

The property was listed with $650,000 to $700,000 price hopes.

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The vendor had plans for the outside but is handing the baton onto someone else.

Ray White Highton agent George Politis said the mood in the market improved after the first interest-rate cut in February, but buyers were still wary of houses where they believed they may need to do some structural work.

“There has been a it more positivity in the marketplace since the interest-rate drop,” Mr Politis said.

Mr Politis said it was a good property and interest spiked after the home was featured on a Retro Houses for Sale Facebook page.

“There’s a fair bit of popularity behind those (homes) at the moment,” Mr Politis said.

The first-home buyers were moving in from the coast where homes were less affordable for young purchasers, he said.

Modern comforts like split system heating and cooling have been installed, alongside sympathetic mid-century light fitting.

The vendor is a keen op-shopper who is always on the lookout for interior pieces.

This mid-century gem at 71 James St, Belmont, is generating lots of attention, particularly among first home buyers.

The owner bought the property in 2019 when it was billed as ripe for renovation.

But he had other ideas and slowly set about bringing its timber cabinetry and vintage kitchen back to life.

“I’ve always been a fan of retro and the Atomic ranch style and I didn’t think I’d find one in Geelong,” the vendor Ben told the Advertiser previously.

“The big windows, the flat roof, the wooden features – there was a lot of things like shaggy blue carpet that a lot of people would have looked past so I was lucky to be able to get it and during lockdown I had a lot of time not being able to do much so that allowed me to work on it.

“I always say to people I didn’t renovate, I restored it.”

He pulled up the carpets to reveal timber floors, repaired the individual architraves in each room and refreshed the bathroom, still retaining the original curved vanity.

He even kept the separate shower room, rather than turning it into an ensuite.

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