A TOP End developer is bringing some old-school Darwin back to the real estate market, offering five-acre blocks with retro elevated homes.
Chin and Associates have released 52 blocks as part of stage one of Blackmore Village, their rural subdivision near Berry Springs.
The father and son duo behind the company, Ernie and Seth Chin, said they felt Darwin was crying out for affordable rural properties and what better homes to put on the blocks than ex-RAAF Base Darwin houses?
More than 400 elevated homes have been removed from the base since last year to make way for new housing.
The younger Mr Chin said by using those houses they could offer ‘as is’ properties from $490,000 and turnkey properties, which had been “spruced up”, from $520,000 on a minimum five-acre block.
“People can buy an empty block or a new house and land package (at Blackmore Village) but it’s the ex-RAAF homes that really offer tropical living,” – he said.
“You can open them up to allow airflow and you’ve got all that space downstairs.
“It’s great to be able to re-use an older home and they’re much cheaper than the cost of building a new elevated house.” The elder Mr Chin said the ex-RAAF house and land package, which came with power and bore, was perfect for buyers at the lower end of the market.
“It’s an opportunity for people to get into an affordable home and then do what (improvements) they want themselves,” – he said.
“It’s just a shame we can’t get the (Territory) government to approve them for the First Home Owners Grant.”
The elder Mr Chin said they had carefully planned the Blackmore subdivision, including bitumenised roads, which would be completed this month, and restrictions on bore water use.
“We’re the only subdivision in the rural area that has a maximum limit on water,” he said.
“Residents can only use what is needed for a residential block but that’s still the equivalent of 40 44-gallon drums a day.”
Chin and Associates has sold six of the blocks and is aiming to have titles early next year.
