A Christmas miracle in Dulwich Hill
The Clients
A young couple and first-home buyers, looking to purchase a home they could move straight into. They lived and breathed the Inner West and were keen to continue enjoying the Inner West lifestyle.
What Was Important to Them
Location, particularly close proximity to the Cooks River
Outlook: a sense of depth and/or a view—no staring directly into another apartment or having neighbouring balconies overlooking them
Storage: with future plans to travel and potentially convert the property into a short-term rental, strong storage options were essential
Renovation potential: the goal was to buy something liveable, with scope to renovate the kitchen and bathroom within five years to add value
The Search
Our search initially covered Marrickville, Earlwood, Dulwich Hill, and Ashfield. An early off-market opportunity in Ashfield showed promise, but ultimately it required too much immediate internal renovation and had a large upcoming strata levy for balcony remediation works.
The clients’ pre-approval was due to expire in mid-December, and they questioned whether it would be better to wait until late January to renew. While it’s true you shouldn’t keep renewing a pre-approval if you’re not a serious buyer, you should never discount the opportunities that can arise just before Christmas.
The Property
As mid-December rolled around, so did the apartment we ultimately purchased. The tenant was vacating on 18 December, and the owner was planning to take the property to market at the end of January.
This was an oversized two-bedroom apartment of over 100sqm in Dulwich Hill, featuring two large balconies—one north-facing with an open outlook over the street. It sits within a small strata block on a street with very few other apartment buildings, which is always a huge plus.
The apartment offered large bedrooms, a generous living area, and a separate kitchen and dining space. It also came with a large lock-up garage and a completely separate storage room—complete with power and a window.
Last renovated around 20 years ago, the property was in exactly the condition my clients were hoping for: comfortable now, with clear scope to improve later.
I was able to inspect the apartment before the tenants had vacated and arranged for my clients to view it the following day. We quickly organised a strata report, completed due diligence on neighbouring properties, conducted pricing research—and quietly hoped for a Christmas miracle.
The Outcome
Within 72 hours of first seeing the property, we had an unconditional offer on the table. By removing all uncertainty for the owner—no vacant holding costs over summer and no advertising or marketing expenses—we positioned ourselves strongly.
After a tough negotiation, we secured this Dulwich Hill gem for well under $1,000,000: two bedrooms, a lock-up garage, and a separate storage room—almost unheard of in today’s market.
