Manor News

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that many of us are able to work efficiently from home. Some organisations are encouraging their employees to do this moving forward, which will allow families greater flexibility. It also opens up the possibility to embrace a change in lifestyle, away from the stress of the city. Whether you see yourself living inland, in the mountains or on the coast, there is no better time than now to make a change. Regional towns offer: close knit communities, fresh air, open spaces, the ability to buy quality fresh produce locally, and a slower pace of life. Check out these hotspots that might jump out to you as a possible tree or sea change destination.

Inland hotspots: Mudgee, Barrington Tops, Laguna

Mudgee has a host of great wineries and eateries and is set on the banks of the Cudgegong River. The town boasts an observatory to gaze at the clear night sky, and Wollemi National Park is close by for walks in the wilderness. Sydney is a three hour drive away via the gorgeous Blue Mountains.

Barrington Tops boasts an ancient forest, museum, cinema, mines from the Gold Rush era as well as excellent food and wine. There are ample opportunities to bushwalk, kayak, bikeride and abseil. The area also hosts festivals, country shows and rodeos which ill entertain you all year round. Barrington Tops is just a few hours drive north from Sydney and is a quick trip to Newcastle and Port Stephens.

Laguna, in the Hunter Valley, is only two hours from Sydney and is known for producing outstanding wine since the 1820s. It has more cellar doors than any other wine region in Australia which could account for its wide variety of high quality wines. The area is also home to hatted restaurants, a zoo, championship golf courses, the World Heritage listed Yengo National Park and the Finchley Culture walk which celebrates indigenous heritage and rock art.

Blue Mountains hotspot: Little Hartley

Little Hartley, is a small village east of Hartley on the Great Western Highway in the Blue Mountains. If you are after rural living, it may just be the place for you. Little Hartley is 150 kilometres west of Sydney and 20 kilometres southeast of Lithgow. Build your forever home amongst the Blue Mountains and enjoy the serenity it has to offer.

Coastal hotspots: Taree, Old Bar and Ulladulla South

On the north coast from the Great Lakes to Manning Valley, there is a beautiful coastline, wilderness and waterways. This area offers opportunities to bushwalk, scuba dive, kayak and participate in dolphin cruises. Choose between Taree, a riverside town, and Old Bar, by the beach. The towns are under four hours drive from Sydney and only an hour from gorgeous subtropical rainforest. Enjoy local food, wine, festivals and markets.

On the south coast, Ulladulla similarly offers delightful beaches, picturesque lakes and national parks. Set in a fishing harbour that has been operating since 1859, the town boasts delicious seafood and all the best of watersports. Ulladulla is three hours drive from Sydney.

Snowy mountains hotspot: Jindabyne

Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountain region offers a beautiful mountain backdrop and views of Lake Jindabyne. It is a great base to explore Mount Kosciuszko and to access snowboarding, skiing, hiking and mountain biking. Embrace the country life and become involved in local music festivals, country shows and rodeos.

Benefits of a new build:
If you are moving to a new area and investing in a new lifestyle, why not choose to build? There are many benefits to building your own home in terms of: choice, value for money and the quality of your home.

Build exactly what you want:
If you are making the move to a regional town and a different lifestyle, it is likely that you will have more space and can truly build your dream home. Whether you desire a traditional ranch house in the countryside or a Hamptons style home by the beach, you can build your forever home with no need to worry about renovating in the future.

Less stamp duty:
If you are buying an established home you will need to pay stamp duty for the entire property including the house and the land. However, if you are building from scratch, you need only pay stamp duty for the land.

HomeBuilder grants
There is currently a grant for owner/occupiers and first time home buyers to access $25 000 for a new build or renovation. A Knock and Rebuild qualifies as a ‘renovation’ and hence allows the grant to be obtained where the property was worth no more than $1.5 million before the renovation. Otherwise, for a new home build, the maximum value is $750 000 for home and land. (Obviously all the other criteria needs to be satisfied for the grant to be obtained).

Easy maintenance and high quality:
Another benefit of a new build is that it will be easier to maintain than an older, established home, and the quality of the materials and building process is also significantly better. Manor Homes prides itself on a defect-free finish of its homes but a six year major defect warranty still applies for the peace of mind of our clients.

Modular build benefits:
And of course, if you build with Manor Homes you have the benefits of a modular build. The factory build process ensures a more sustainable, higher quality and faster build than that of its traditional counterparts. Manor Homes offer a wide variety of plans and styles to choose from but also enables you to use your own plan if you wish.

Take control of your life and invest in a brighter, more relaxed and sustainable future for your family: make the change to a more comfortable lifestyle and a home that you look forward to coming home to, and truly living in!