A renovated former Department of Housing property in sought-after East Bulli will go under the hammer later this month.
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The property at 27 O'Brien Street, Bulli will be auctioned on March 27.
Sitting on 603sqm, the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home has a price guide of $1.6 million to $1.7 million.
Kristen McDonald and her architect partner Davin Turner bought the now 50-year-old home, a former Department of Housing property, at auction in late 2014.
"The Department of Housing sold off a bunch of different houses at that time, and it was just something we saw advertised," Ms McDonald said.
"I think they had vacated the previous tenant about six months prior.
"We felt like it was a bit of a secret oasis, that street... We walked up O'Brien Street and thought it was an amazing little street, as it looks down across to the escarpment."
Ms McDonald said as first home buyers, they initially thought the property would be out of their price range.
However, they enjoyed some luck.
"We were fortunate, because they moved the auction, and it was on a Tuesday night when it was rainy and off-site," she said.
"We just think that lots of people maybe didn't turn up because of that, so we didn't have that many competitors for it."
While having a limited budget, the couple spent plenty of weekends undertaking extensive work on the home.
The work included removing all the asbestos; re-cladding, insulating and installing solar panels to make it more energy-efficient; an interior renovation with the kitchen and bathroom; and building a shed using leftover timber from a relative's property.
"There wasn't a single plant on the property, there was no vegetation," Ms McDonald said.
"That was one of the biggest things we did. We both love gardens, and so that was my labour of love over the next five years, growing an extensive native garden.
"We're proud of how it turned out in the end."
Ms McDonald said now having a family of five, they had essentially outgrown the property.
In the meantime, they're enjoying the change of renting in Thirroul at a property that affords additional space, while they ponder their next move.
"We thought it'd be fun to live there for a while, and since moving here we've decided we might just stay as long as we can," she said.
"Because the market's gone so hot, we thought now would be a good time to try and take advantage of that while we can."
Selling agent, McGrath Thirroul's Vanessa Denison-Pender said the property was attracting interest from predominantly Sydney-based buyers.
"That location is always very popular - I think it'll continue to attract strong interest," she said.
"That pocket of East Bulli is particularly sought-after."
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