1. Title Battle: Deeds or Tattle?

    Once again, Chancellor and his team at Tattle takes the crown. It was close though, namely because Margie over at Title Deeds broke news of the sale of The Radical Terrace’s favourite home north of the Bridge - the twice-featured Mandolong House - in Mosman. Setting a non-waterfront record for the suburb (but far off the non-waterfront record in Sydney; that honour goes to the $32.4m Craig-y-Mor sale in Point Piper), 17 Mandolong Street clocked in at $18m selling through Brendan Warner, whom Margie quickly points out is responsible for three other $10m+ sales in the suburb. The Radical Terrace thinks it may see where Margie’s tips are coming from…and we like it! Margie also represented the Eastern Suburbs with news of Nicole Hunter’s Olola Avenue house in Vaucluse selling around the $11.9m mark. Seeing that Hunter purchased the home for $8.5m in 2002 and hope to fetch $15m+ for the abode today, we can only guess she’s a bit disappointed with the massively discounted sale. 

    But Title Tattle didn’t fail to impress; most noteworthy was their subtle notice of a depression in Hawthorn prestige prices, noting the ~$8m sale of a Scotch Hill “original” that previously sold for $9m in 2007. The home was featured on The Radical Terrace last month. Chancellor’s Tattle continued on their Victorian property binge reporting on the sale of Mt Martha’s rather odd ‘Glynt Manor’, the even more peculiar mansard-roofed Coburg mansion ‘Kalimna’ (that we featured last week), and the tough-to-sell Newport weatherboard of Scott Pendlebury. However, what really gave Title Tattle this week’s edge was a much-appreciated Radical Terrace shout-out and a LIST! You know we love lists, and even better: a list of 2011’s most expensive suburbs. Chuck in a tale of ‘Swifts’ property drama in Darling Point (this time it’s a noise complaint; the mansion is a sponge of drama), and you’ve got yourself a winner with Title Tattle.

    The Scorecard: Deeds: 4 // Tattle: 11

  2. Awesomeness Can Be Yours for Only $17m+!!

    Remember this kick-ass, renovated Victorian mansion in Mosman we covered last month? The Smart Design Studio-refurbed home is now available for the taking! Brendan Warner of Raine & Horne Mosman has the listing. 

    Upside: Smart Design Studio is the best-of-breed out there these days, and a Victorian in Mosman on such large grounds is just about unrepeatable

    Downside: No views

    The listing: 17 Mandolong Road, Mosman

  3. Victorian Stunner in Mosman Renovated by Smart Design

    In a suburb otherwise known for its omnipresent Federation homes with their red tiled roofs, Victorian homes are usually found hugging Military Road and have long since been converted to commercial spaces or incorporated into schools (SCEGGS Redlands). However, a few old stalwarts lurk around, and I recently stumbled upon Mandolong House at 17 Mandolong Road, just behind Mosman Village. Renovated in the last few years by the talented firm Smart Design Studio and its lead architect William Smart, Mandolong’s 1885 bones morphed from an Art Deco renovation into a modern masterpiece (as far as I’m concerned). Enjoy the above photos from Smart’s website, or more information here and a Belle Magazine article on the house here.