There are highly contrasting tales of wonder and woe in this week’s feed of ‘quirky’ property stories. 

There’s the Queensland tradie who’s planning to retire at 40 and live off his property portfolio and the formerly impecunious postie who now has $1.7m worth of property.

At the other end of the scale, there’s the teacher whose mortgage shock had her moving into a van.  She should have checked out the tent for rent at a measly $300 a week.

There’s the strangest things people have seen at open homes and the properties with water slides, bowling alleys and skate ramps and the usual parade of sports stars’ and celebrities’ properties.

But it’s not all fun and games. In our weekly feed of curios from LeftField Communications, Melbourne’s most-loved hater, Karen from Briiiiighton, explains how the apartment blocks in her patch will soon be full of drug addicts and prostitutes.  There’s no cure for stupidity.

Gold Coast tradie, 24, plans to retire early with property portfolio
A 24-year-old construction worker has revealed how he’s leveraging Australia’s booming property market to achieve financial independence and retire by the age of 40.

Teacher quits job, moves into van after mortgage shock
What do you do when the dream of owning your first home feels impossible? For Sophie Vallis, the answer was radical: she quit her job, gave up on buying a house, and moved into a van.

How Sydney postie went from no savings to $1.7m portfolio
An Australian postie went from “feeling stuck” and unable to save any money to now being worth more than $1.7 million.

The weirdest things Aussies have spotted at open homes
An open for inspection is one of the rare times you get a glimpse into someone else’s life.

Waterslides to skate ramps: Inside Australia’s funnest homes
When it comes to the ultimate ‘entertainer’, there are certain homes that go above and beyond — offering hours of amusement for the young, or young at heart. From private bowling alleys, water slides to life-size rooftop chess, these homes boast playful and unparalleled inclusions.

‘Dan the drug dealer’: Karen’s war on Brighton’s apartment invasion
Trust Karen from Briiiiighton to tell us what the Bayside ‘burb really thinks about Jacinta Allan’s potential plans for 12 storey plus high rise apartment developments in the area.

Shocking rental price revealed for tent in popular NSW beach town
In a backyard near Brunswick Heads, northern New South Wales, a tent is being advertised for rent at $300 a week.

Justin Hemmes’ $148m Melbourne hospo empire stalls
Justin Hemmes has sunk more than $148m into Melbourne’s pubs and landmarks, but three years on, the Sydney bar king has little to show beyond a stalled pub, a delayed tower and a $55m car park he can’t touch until 2037.

Ex-Knights captain sells Merewether pad, complete with man cave and 2Pac mural
Retired rugby league player Mitchell Pearce has offloaded a property in Merewether four years after departing the Newcastle Knights.

Golf star Cameron Smith’s secret splurge sets new $10 million penthouse record
He’s got millions in prize money, a flashy LIV Golf contract, and now a Brisbane bolthole that screams luxury living.

Disconnection by Design: Why ‘Untech’ is the Next Big Amenity
The average Australian spends around 5.5 hours on their phones each day—around 33 per cent of their waking hours. So completely unplugging might make some people’s palms sweat.

Beef baron’s Gatsby-esque mansion to go under the hammer
A glamorous riverfront estate built for one of Queensland’s richest families is going under the hammer.

MrBeast exec lists insane Noosa estate with record hopes
The former right hand man of YouTube’s biggest star, MrBeast, has put his Noosa hinterland mansion on the market to take up a new job opportunity in the US.

Pikster inventor lists ‘Sydney’s best kept secret’
Entrepreneur and dentist Dr Craig Erskine-Smith is sending off his long time Balgowlah Heights home with price expectations of $9 million to $9.9 million through Kingsley Looker of Clarke & Humel.

Software founder buys $36m estate next door to Chris Hemsworth
The buyer of a $36 million luxury beachfront estate in Broken Head in northern New South Wales has emerged as software entrepreneur Karen Cariss, co-founder of human resources software firm PageUp.

‘Blood, sweat and tears’ renovation fails to deliver a profit for Chrissie Swan
Radio and TV presenter Chrissie Swan has finally sold her Hollywood-inspired dual residence in Melbourne after taking it to market in May.

Convicted ex-MP Gareth Ward names asking price for South Coast home
Ahead of his sentencing process beginning later this week, convicted rapist and former Kiama MP Gareth Ward’s South Coast home now has an official asking price.

Ervin Vidor’s Legacy: A £10 Kindness Repaid Across Cities
Ervin Vidor arrived in Australia in 1949 as a 17-year-old refugee from Hungary, a country scarred by war and under communist rule. A welfare worker gave him £10 and told him only to remember the kindness.

Architect Shaun Lockyer selling The Lighthouse at Bardon at auction
The architect behind some of Australia’s most luxurious homes is parting with his own masterpiece – a Brisbane property he spent two decades perfecting.

‘Baz Luhrmann mansion’ sold for $37.5m
Last year, an inner-Sydney mansion previously owned by Hollywood royalty sat unsold for five months; this year there were four buyers fighting over it and the deal was done in just 12 days.

Former Church of Christ now a heavenly home
A contemporary church conversion with $4m price expectations has come to market through Chris Davies and Robert Bacic of Ray White Lower North Shore.

Jen Hawkins’ mansion sells as four-year construction continues
Model Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall’s Whale Beach mega mansion is still under ongoing construction after four years, while a savvy neighbour has purchased the lot in an off-market deal.

The one bathroom detail that could be costing you thousands
It took just over a minute for thousands of people to pay attention. With a photo of an old, off-white toilet as her backdrop, Charlie Killorn started talking.

A medieval castle in suburbia with its own knight in shining armour listed for $1.5 million
A NSW property that looks like it’s straight out of a King Arthur tale is on the market with a price guide of $1.5 million.

The Domain Listing Challenge is officially back: Scott Cam’s $50k announcement could change everything come Auction Day
Get ready to cast your votes — The Domain Listings and Buyers Jury challenge is officially back!

Inside the home of Australia’s most reclusive billionaire, Angela Bennett
Reclusive billionaire Angela Bennett has listed her stunning West Perth penthouse for sale after stepping down from the boardrooms of seven mining companies.

Paul Weightman, Stephen and Jody Gosling fight to block Burleigh Pavilion revamp
Wealthy residents of a luxury Gold Coast apartment block are fighting to block a multimillion-dollar transformation of Burleigh Pavilion.

Rebel Wilson selling Balmain investment home via sister Anna
Actress Rebel Wilson has stuck with her estate agent younger sister, Anna Wilson, in the relisting of her redundant Balmain investment property.

Ex-NRL star Mitchell Pearce sells Newcastle home for $1.98m
Retired NRL champion, and new father, Mitchell Pearce has sold his former home-turned-investment property near Newcastle.

Melbourne’s mouldiest areas: What you need to know
Melbourne has been ranked as the fourth-mouldiest capital city in Australia but it could soon be moving up the list thanks to the upcoming spring weather forecast.

The Sell: Sydney radio star selling home for $4m after split
NOVA FM drive time star Tim Blackwell and his ex-wife Monique ended their 14-year marriage two years ago — and now their inner west matrimonial home is up for sale.

Stunning poolside manor next to Harry and Meghan’s home asking $52m
A poolside trophy home neighbouring a British royal has hit the market in the US.

Local buyer splashes $12.35m on Tamarama home with a ‘better view’
An eastern suburbs’ buyer, upsizing in the same suburb of Tamarama, paid $12.35 million for a home with a “better view” at auction on Saturday.

James Bond’s London home hits market for $13 million
A posh townhouse with a link to literary royalty has hit the market in London. The elegant Chelsea apartment is said to be the address of the iconic fictional spy James Bond.

Fashion queen who sold 38,000 of one dress is now selling her $16m home
Fashion designer Shona Joy Thatcher, of the eponymous clothing brand, and her property investor husband, Marty McGrath, are offloading their Mediterranean-inspired family home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs with a guide of $16 million.

Rebel Wilson lists her Sydney investment property for $2 million
Beloved Australian actor Rebel Wilson is selling her Balmain pad for $2 million, shrinking her portfolio in the neighbourhood.

Inside High-rise Harry’s all-in bid to sell penthouse
He’s built more high-rise apartments than anyone in Australia — now Meriton boss Harry Triguboff is pulling out all stops to sell the one closest to his heart.

Inside Whoopi Goldberg’s lucrative real estate portfolio
The View host Whoopi Goldberg has claimed she “can’t afford” to retire from the hit talk show — blaming her three failed marriages for her need to continue working.

Nancy Bird Walton’s former home takes flight
The historic one-time home of Nancy Bird Walton in Turramurra is seeking its next custodians after a full makeover by serial renovators, Telstra senior executive David Burns and Edwina Burns.

Inside Chrissie Swan’s $2.5m+ Hawthorn East property sale
Radio and television queen Chrissie Swan has farewelled her quirky mid-century Hawthorn East pad for more than $2.5m.

Zac Efron’s Ricky Stanicky movie house sells for $6m+
The Surrey Hills house used to film Hollywood comedy Ricky Stanicky starring Zac Efron, John Cena and William H Macy has sold for more than $6m.

Vanilla Ice’s cool $19.3m Aussie mansion deal
With Zombie Plane’s premiere upcoming, Mr Fleri has revealed the behind-the-scenes action that closed the mansion deal. “We had a buyer who had been sitting on a contract for a stunning riverfront property at Surfers Paradise for 10 days,” Mr Fleri, of Amir Prestige, said.

WATCH: Take a tour of Simon Cohen’s $7million Potts Point apartment sale
Leading buyer’s agent, My Reno Rules judge and View.com.au property expert Simon Cohen has made headlines after selling his luxury Potts Point apartment for a cool $7 million.

Abbie Chatfield and the ‘affordable’ $300 gold paper towel holder that broke the internet Abbie Chatfield has never been one to shy away from strong opinions from democracy to decor, she’s got it covered.