Inside the ‘unlivable’ Townsville home with a $430,000 price tag – realestate.com.au

A one-bedroom house on a 1012 square meter block in Townsville is on the market for $430,000, but there’s a catch: a big problem.

It is “unliveable”, according to what was summed up by Lynham & Co agents Graham and Shelley Lynham.

“Unique in today’s market – that’s the only way we can describe this property,” the listing said.

“Let’s get the hard part out of the way: the house that was originally the residence of the owner’s grandparents, as you can see, requires major renovation or demolition.

“It’s unliveable.”

16 Patrick Street, Aitkenvale, is considered unliveable

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But the “benefit”?

The house at 16 Patrick St is on a 1012 square meter block in Aitkenvale and has a shed, electricity, city water and a well.

According to the latest REA Market Trends report, the average house price in Aitkenvale is now $560,000.

Prices in the established suburb have risen 110.3 per cent in five years, up from 19.8 per cent in the past 12 months alone.

The average sales price five years ago was $266,250.

But it’s the photos of the Aitkenvale property that will leave you feeling nauseous and tempted to contact the nearest demolition company.

The kitchen is a horror show

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And the external photos point to the carnage inside.

In what appears to be the kitchen, walls are covered in peeling paint, black grime and possibly rampant mold.

The kitchen from a different angle doesn’t make it any better

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There appears to be insulation on the wood floors and black mold on the carpeting.

A bedroom perhaps, a bedroom full of nightmares

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And the corrugated iron roof is visible.

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It has one bedroom and one bathroom and is offered for a negotiable price of $430,000.

But it’s certainly not the only unviable shack to hit the Townsville market, and judging by past sales, there is a market.

In 2024, a hamster house at Burramugga Cresent 3 in Kirwan sold at auction for $255,000 with as many as 27 registered bidders.

3 Burmugga Cres, Kirwan

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In 2023, 28 buyers registered for the auction of 126 Pinnacle Drive in Condon, described as an “Alladin’s Cave,” which sold for $220,500.

There was even a rusted ship’s hull in the Pinnacle Dr yard. 126, Condon

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Also in 2023, 41 registered bidders are signing up for the auction of 34 Halstead St in Gulliver, which was described as a ‘Jumanji’ house.

It sold for $270,000.

There is a house in it. What 34 Halstead St Gulliver looked like when it was auctioned

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The latest PropTrack Home Price Index shows Townsville house prices have risen by more than the average Queensland wage over the past year to $605,000, up from about $80,000.

The garrison city has been repeatedly cited as one of the country’s strongest markets for price growth.