‘ll be honest, the only sport that would get me out of bed at an ungodly hour these days is UFC. My wife grew up in Switzerland, where the FIFA World Cup is a proper national event — flags off balconies, crowds at public viewings, the lot. Her enthusiasm’s worn off since moving to Brisbane a decade ago, but I’m still surprised she didn’t wear her Swiss jersey to the office following Switzerland’s win last week.
The more I watch the tournament unfold, the more it looks like a masterclass in property strategy wearing shin pads. So indulge me. Here’s what six weeks of World Cup football can teach you about buying and selling in this market.
(THE CASE FOR BLUE-CHIP PLAYERS AND PROPERTY)
At 39, Lionel Messi is still the player teams build their game plan around — delivering quietly and consistently, without needing to prove anything. That’s blue-chip real estate in a nutshell. New Farm and Teneriffe haven’t been the cheap entry point in a long time, and the people who bought in decades ago are rubbing their hands together now. That’s what blue-chip is supposed to do: weather the downturns and keep delivering long-term capital growth.
One to note is 9/22 Florence Street, in the Winchcombe Carson Woolstore; one of Teneriffe’s most iconic conversions. North-facing and full of light, the three-bedroom layout wraps around a central living and dining space beneath a striking exposed timber beam. Floor-to-ceiling doors open onto a generous covered balcony that overlooks the complex’s pool and gardens — indoor-outdoor living done properly. It’s the kind of floor plan that rarely comes up in a building this tightly held — this is one to move on.
Blue-chip doesn’t have to mean one type of buyer, either. At 45/6 Merthyr Road, you’re buying position — a riverfront address in the River Gallery Apartments, with river and city skyline views from two separate balconies, private Riverwalk access, and everything from New Farm Park to James Street within an easy stroll.
In the Powerhouse Terraces, 30/176 Sydney Street, a meticulously renovated one-bedroom with the same New Farm postcode, the same lifestyle on the doorstep, and craftsmanship throughout that punches well above its size, could be your next home. Different buyers, same fundamentals: prime position, considered design, and the kind of long-term hold value blue-chip is known for.
(THE CANNERY: TENERIFFE’S DARK HORSE)
Every tournament has a team that was slept on for years before suddenly everyone’s talking about them. In Teneriffe, that’s the Cannery. For a long time it sat quietly in the shadow of its more famous Woolstore neighbours — a bit of an undervalued secret among the people who actually knew the building.
That’s starting to change, with more buyers who’ve done their homework specifically asking about it. That’s the dark horse pattern, on the pitch and in property: the savvy buyer gets in before the crowd notices. Despite making its way into the spotlight over the past year or two, the Cannery still offers incredible opportunities to get your foot in the Teneriffe lifestyle door.
Right now, the one to snap up is Unit 141 — a beautifully proportioned 74 SQM, one-bedroom apartment that balances the building’s industrial heritage with updated interiors. Whether you’re after a considered first home or a brilliant investment, this one ticks every box.
Two more are quietly moving in the background. Unit 193, a split-level apartment on the top floor, is in its final preparation phase and will hit the market later this month — one to keep an eye out for. For those who like to move before the crowd, a rare split-level ground floor apartment in the building’s heritage wing will be launching soon. Reach out if you’d like further details.
(THE APPEAL OF A BLANK CANVAS)
A nation of half a million people held Spain to a 0-0 draw in the group stage. No footballing pedigree, no household names, but they held their own on the pitch.
That’s the blank canvas property, every time. Some of the best homes we sell are in beautifully neutral or original condition: nothing overdone, nothing dictating a style that isn’t yours. That’s not a compromise, it’s an opportunity — the next owner shapes the space entirely around their own taste, rather than paying a premium to undo someone else’s choices. What can’t be changed, especially in an apartment, is the structure, aspect and position. Get those right, and the rest is up to whoever moves in.
That’s exactly the opportunity at 209/88 Macquarie Street — a freshly renovated, 135 SQM three-bedroom apartment in the Dakota Woolstore. New oak flooring, fresh carpet throughout, and a clean, neutral repaint mean every renovation headache has already been sorted; walk straight in, or hand the keys to a tenant. The heritage bones — exposed brick, timber beams, soaring ceilings — remain fully intact, giving this blank canvas real character to build on rather than a clean slate to fear.
Keep an eye out, too, for Unit 606, a split-level apartment in the W4 Woolstore. Unobstructed river views from the upper level, a broad city skyline panorama from the balcony below, and a layout that lives more like a house than an apartment, with gentle, considered upgrades that leave plenty of room for a buyer’s own imagination. More to come on this one soon.
(THE VALUE OF KNOWING THE TURF)
The USA, Canada and Mexico have leaned hard into home advantage in this tournament — familiar conditions, local knowledge, crowds on their side — and it’s shown. It’s a good reminder of the value of a team that actually knows the turf.
Alongside our sales, we’ve been quietly building out our PPG Rentals portfolio right here in 4005 and the surrounding inner-city postcodes — the patches we know inside out. If you’re a landlord weighing up management options, our local network is worth a conversation. Reach out any time — Josh and Lou would love to work with you.
Finally, there’s been no shortage of roaring crowds and packed fan zones this tournament — and we had our own version of it last Friday. A full room, plenty of eyes on the result, and the kind of energy that only shows up when there’s genuine competition for an incredible property on the line. We sold this entirely reimagined Teneriffe Village Woolstore under the hammer for $1,903,000. At a time when clearance rates around town aren’t exactly cracking, a strong result on auction day is something we’re genuinely proud of.
My favourite part of the story? The sellers have moved across the hall to become the new owner’s neighbours. We got to raise a glass with all of them after the hammer fell — buyer, sellers, and soon-to-be neighbours. That’s a pretty good reminder of why we do this.
On that note, I’ll leave you to enjoy the next round of the World Cup wherever that may be!
Talk soon,
Ben
