Village Homes Realty
We are excited to introduce Village Homes Realty (VHR): a brand-new real estate agency that is now operating from the Witchcliffe Ecovillage sales office in the Community Centre. VHR is a separate company from Sustainable Settlements (the co-developer of the Ecovillage) and holds the triennial certificate real estate license that enables the VHR sales team to sell privately owned lots. VHR Real Estate Representatives, Jo Thierfelder and Michelle Sheridan have appraised and listed a range of Ecovillager-owned lots and one established home, which is currently under contract.
A percentage of lot resales are always expected in all new subdivisions, and we’ve been thrilled with how few we’ve had to date. But, it’s no surprise, given the added challenge of this economic climate, that we have been approached by a few Ecovillage owners who have made the (often-difficult) decision to sell. For some lot owners who may have relied on earlier budgeting, the cost of increased interest rates and building prices over the last 18-months has now made building their homes untenable. Unfortunately, it’s a sad but widespread state of affairs. We sympathise with these owners and are keen to do whatever we can to facilitate an easy transition.
Creating a real estate agency to on-sell private lots and established homes is an obvious evolution for WEV and a business that will carry on long after Sustainable Settlements has finished the development. The Ecovillage is a unique and complex development that requires in-depth, specialist knowledge that only our project team holds. It’s a big ask for a real estate agent to familiarize themselves with our sales contract documentation and strata bylaws, and the numerous details and nuances of the Ecovillage itself, let alone sell the vision with passion! We are also receiving the vast majority of enquiries and sales directly to the WEV office through our established marketing channels and expansive database, not via traditional advertising utilized by real estate agents.
Buying a previously owned titled lot offers prospective buyers the opportunity to join a cluster with established community garden infrastructure, landscaping, street trees, strata processes and communication with neighbours. This will help new buyers build and get established in the community much faster, a huge benefit that’s hard to put a price on. Like any lot on the open market, the price will be set by the owners in consultation with the VHR sales team and will reflect the inherent value in these established clusters.
Whilst stages 1-3 have the benefit of two years of landscape, home construction and community establishment, many lots in Stages 4-5 have the benefit of beautiful dam/forest views.
For more information about Village Homes Realty, and to keep up to date on new properties that come to the market, including established homes, please visit the page on the Ecovillage website.
Short stay property management agency
VHR will also eventually be the umbrella company operating the short stay property management agency that will offer its services to the 55 short stay property owners who plan to rent out their homes to tourists. All of the Ecovillage short stay properties must be actively managed to ensure they comply with the strata bylaws and uphold the sustainability ethos of the development. VHR is uniquely placed to offer owners a suite of services that ensures the properties are well managed and fit seamlessly into the Ecovillage community.
We will have more information on this property management service in due course with the aim to have it operational by the time the first short stay homes are built and ready to be rented.
