House That! The 1970s style home in City Beach that sold for $3 million

A City Beach house that looks like a Mike Brady design from the 1970s has sold with a 2024 price tag of $3 million.

Its recent listing advert, by agent Scott Swingler, praised the home for its “chic contemporary renovation whilst retaining its just-too-cool period integrity”.

While the price is based mostly on land value for the 976sqm block in the exclusive South City Beach precinct, the new owners have no plans to demolish the home.

In fact, Swingler says, they love it just the way it is.

The decision to maintain it is a sign that mid-century homes like this one — which looks like the kind of house where Marcia, Jan and Cindy would have talked to their architect stepdad Mike — are back in vogue.

Why? Because life begins at 50, according to property guru Gavin Hegney.

Hegney says architectural eras tend to begin regaining influence from about five decades after their heyday.

He said there had been a noticeable return to ’60s and ’70s style architecture in recent years, with flat rooves, big windows and boxy additions.

Furthermore, 50 is the age when buildings start appreciating in value.

He said while land values appreciate every year, a building’s worth tends to drop by 1.5 to 2 per cent a year for 50 years, so that they are virtually worthless at the fifth decade.

They then start to appreciate in value for another 30 years as the architectural style undergoes something of a renaissance.

The exception to this rule was in exclusive beachside or riverside areas, where homes were usually demolished at 40 years.

The sheer size of this City Beach home — big enough for the Brady Bunch — probably saved it from the wrecking ball. It has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a study and three living spaces.

It is also close to a direct walking route to two City Beach tracks, and located by Bold Park — a nature reserve that is bigger than Kings Park.

Next in line for return fads is the faux Mediterranean style of the ’80s.

Let’s hope the shoulder pads stay in the past.