Who, What, Why?
When a young buyer and her mother stepped into 10/86 Darling Street Balmain East, it was more than just another property inspection – it was a full-circle moment almost four decades in the making. 

In 1987, her parents had walked through this very building, inspecting an upstairs apartment with an identical layout. At the time, the $70,000+ price tag was just out of reach, leading them to purchase their first home in Lewisham for approximately $50,000 instead.

Fast forward to 2025, and their daughter was intent on making this apartment her first home. What’s more is that the 5% deposit she paid was a near match to her parents’ Lewisham purchase price – a striking reflection of just how far Sydney’s property market has moved over the years.

It seems that this building was always meant to be part of their family’s story – just one generation later.

Pause, reflect, plan.
The sale itself was a lesson in patience and strategic timing, says BresicWhitney’s Jasmine Anglesey. First listed in October 2024, the property faced a market showing the first signs of consecutive interest rate increases. It also came at a time when wider Sydney was experiencing an uplift in property on the market – delivering more choice for buyers than in recent memory.

Knowing the owner was not in a rush to sell (the property was a stable investment for them, with strong leasing prospects), BresicWhitney suggested a strategic campaign pause. It was agreed the property would relaunch in the new year, when there was a widely anticipated uplift in buyer energy and momentum. It would however remain on BresicWhitney’s channels over the coming weeks with buyer appointments available for those looking to make a pre-Christmas purchase.

It turned out to be a move that delivered serendipitous circumstance.

“It’s not uncommon for there to be variety in open home numbers and buyer engagement from late October through to December in Sydney, even when you’re seeing strong market conditions. At the time, it was also the point of the cycle where we started to see the impact of continued interest rate increases, and I felt there was slightly less urgency from buyers as we approached Christmas. Many were predicting these conditions to be short-lived.

“So after time on market, we felt that a relaunch in January was the best course of action, where we expected an increase in open home numbers along with stronger competition and commitment from buyers.”

Not only would it likely help deliver a great result for the owner, she added, but it would also provide options for buyers who were likely to be active, and potentially new to the market, in those first few weeks of 2025.

New year, new look.
With the owner trusting the team’s advice, a partial restyle of the apartment was also deployed. “Being part of a converted manor, this property was quite unique. It had a particular aesthetic and a sort of a Spanish mission-type feel,” Jasmine said. “We focused therefore on making the space feel as flexible and adaptable as it could for all buyers. We brought in key pieces of furniture and art that brought the interiors together and helped build an emotional connection.” 

Jasmine notes that while creating an emotional connection should be sought in all homes – and is a key part of the BresicWhitney approach – homes with rare or more unique features often benefit from a more considered and nuanced approach to styling.

Uncovering buyers.
“When it relaunched in January, we saw the home attract a mix of interested parties – first-home buyers, downsizers, investors, and Balmain locals looking for a city pad to complement future plans of moving out of Sydney,” shares Jasmine.

“We had interest from Australian artists, lawyers, architects, researchers, and doctors. Many of them felt an immediate connection to the history and character of the building, with a handful having either grown up in Europe or spending time abroad.”

The shift in market conditions helped move the needle. “The change in dynamics and energy in the market was very noticeable – much stronger foot traffic through the open homes and there were many new buyers engaging with the market who we’d not encountered before. This was a reflection that there were a number of people waiting until 2025 to pursue their plans more seriously,” Jasmine said.

It was important to connect with all potential buyers, not just those enquiring directly on the home, she added. “We looked to our network of buyers who’d either submitted offers, inspected, or even purchased similarly unique homes. Even if and when market conditions are more balanced, we [as agents] need to be uncovering all possible streams of demand and interest.”

It didn’t take long for the intentions of this young buyer and the serendipitous nature of the sale to reveal itself. “I think it’s a story I’ll be telling for a while and I’m sure the family will too,” Jasmine concludes. She reports that both the former owner, and the new buyer, are happy with the outcome. The latter, nestled within the neighbourhood that her parents had fallen in love with, all those years ago.

View the listing.
Contact Jasmine Anglesey.