Mum with prize unit reveals surprise dilemma
A Sydney mum has given an insight into the common dilemma facing ranks of the city's homeowners - who want to sell their properties but have also become emotionally attached to them.
Natalie Wells snapped up her oversized one-bedroom apartment just before the Covid-era property boom and will go to auction Saturday. She revealed why she's walking away from a property she once saw as part of her retirement plan.
Ms Wells bought the top-floor Newtown unit on Enmore Rd in 2019 for what she admits was 'more than it was worth' at the time. Now, she's set to cash in on years of capital growth — but said the decision hasn't been easy.
'It's unique,' Ms Wells told The Daily Telegraph. 'It gets incredible northern sun, it's bigger than most two-bedders, and it's got this massive wraparound rooftop veranda that looks over Newtown. It's hard to let it go, but it's time.'
She bought the home as a city bolthole while raising her kids on the North Shore, but always planned to keep it as a long-term investment. That plan changed after a few unexpected years off work.
'I was thinking about retirement,' she said. 'But when I stopped working, I had to rethink everything. And now, well, the market's changed. Life's changed.'
And so has Enmore Rd and the surrounding area. Once known for its cheap rent and student shadehouses, the area has exploded into one of Sydney's hottest lifestyle hubs.
'It used to be the affordable end of the inner west,' Ms Wells said. 'Now, it's wine bars, top restaurants, and premium properties. It still has the same soul, but it's grown up.'
Adrian William's Michael White, the real estate agent listing the property, said the market has 'totally transformed' in the past five years – especially for one-bedroom apartments, which were hit hard during Covid but have bounced back strongly.
'This building's not your standard block,' Mr White said. 'This apartment is A-grade. High ceilings, loads of light, huge layout — it's even attracted buyers looking for two-bedroom homes.'
He said the property's dual appeal to both investors and downsizers had driven intense interest since listing. 'It's one of those rare finds that suits everyone — from first homebuyers stretching their budgets, to couples downsizing from houses in the east.'
According to him, the inner west shift is real. 'People who would've never considered this part of the inner west — Surry Hills and Redfern types — they're all here now.'
Located on the top floor of a boutique block, Ms Wells' apartment boasts rare features: a full-sized kitchen, large bathroom, sprawling living area, and a rooftop-style veranda that wraps around the apartment.
'It's bigger than most two-bedroom units I've seen,' Ms Wells said. 'It just has that vibe.'
'It's going to be hard to let go,' she added. 'But sometimes, even when something's great, you know it's time.'
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