A Little Post for My Dad

This week’s blog post is for one of my biggest critics and one of House Nerd’s biggest personal fans (well, at least I like to think) – MY DAD. He’s probably reading this right now while grumbling to himself, ‘When is she going to get a real job?’ however, one of the bonuses of me not having a typical job is that I can do stuff like this… like shamelessly plug his investment property for sale. Yes, this is definitely not my usual kind of house story which are usually about houses and the people who live in them, however, my dad does a ton for us and I thought I’d do a little for him. (This is actually what I used to do every week for years for The West Australian – visit properties all over Perth and write reviews on them. I know I am definitely a house nerd because I can honestly say it was so much fun).

So here is the place my dad just popped on the market – Apartment 10, 43 Mews Road, Fremantle. It is a lovely, light-filled two bedroom, one bathroom serviced townhouse right that faces right onto the fishing boat harbor in Fremantle port. My sister Simone of Mile High Images took this amazing picture which shows the apartments, the harbour and the ocean beyond.

On a Crown lease, the townhouse is part of the Harbour Village Serviced Apartments complex which means no, you can’t live in it right now – but that is also what makes it an attractive investment, guaranteed money. Every year! For 75 years! It is leased to Harbour Village Holdings up to May 2093 (yep, that’s not a typo) by which point I imagine we will all have flying cars and the apartments will be heritage-listed. Just imagine. Fly to your heritage-listed seaside townhouse, dock your car in the water (cars will also float and double as boats) and kick back while your robot pours you a crisp glass of SSB. Very romantic.

The townhouse is on the market for $425,000 and receives a total return of $25,471 pa from the Harbour Village lease – a figure which represents a decent 6% return on investment. (Mr Nerd and I actually thought about buying it ourselves as an investment for OUR super until we realised it’s not the right timing for us ie: I’m too poor). But it’s ideal for people wanting something for their self-managed super or for investors who want to enjoy the benefits of a 6% return on investment and a property where you literally have to do nothing. Not just low-maintenance but no-maintenance,

The awesome location makes it an attractive buy, especially with Fremantle getting more and more popular as a place for work and play. No rates, taxes or other outgoings payable – these are all paid by Harbour Village operators.




Inside, the interiors have been recently renovated and are lovely and light, with a new kitchen and bathroom. Communal facilities in the complex include a spa and barbecue, if people ever get tired of eating out (as if). We LOVE Fremantle – one of my favourite places in the world – and like many port cities it has so many things to do and a chilled-out vibe with the tang of salt on the air that always makes me feel like I’m having a mini-holiday. There is just something about Freo that so many West Australians love.

Me with my Mum (left) Little Nerd, my aunty Sue and Miss Nerd getting fish and chips and icecreams in the harbour.

Even though theoretically you can’t live in the apartment, if I DID live here, these are the things I would do on a regular basis… all things within five minutes of the apartment.

  • Get fish and chips from Cicerello’s or Sweetlips by the beach and watch the sun set over the ocean, like we did recently for my birthday (pictured).
  • Cycle down to South Beach and jump off the pontoon then get eggs benedict and cappuccino at South Beach Café.
  • Walk up to the Round House.
  • Have a Pale Ale or apple cider, the best lamb and feta pizza and bowls chips with aioli at Little Creatures, one of the best (and most family-friendly) pubs in Perth.
  • Go to comedy nights at Little Creatures Loft.
  • Breathe the fresh sea air which always makes me feel extra hungry and healthy and makes me feel like I can justify extra helpings of whatever kind of food I want.
  • Fish off the rocks. I feel I’ve heard you’re not legally meant to do this, but you always see people do this so…
  • Work myself into a sugar coma at Baskin Robbins on the Boardwalk.
  • Stroll across the Esplanade to the Cappuccino Strip and have coffee at Gino’s.If you’re interested in Apartment 10 at 43 Mews Road Fremantle, get in touch with agent Paul Rogers of PDC Pty Ltd West Perth on 0418 818 988.
Maya-Anderson-House-Nerd

Author: Maya Anderson

When Maya Anderson was thinking of a name for her homes and design blog, nothing seemed more fitting than House Nerd. Obsessed with everything to do with houses, renovating and interior design, Maya is a features journalist by training with a background in print and a focus on homes and real estate. She has been renovating her 1970s house since forever, loves dogs and can eat her body weight in dumplings.

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