Founder and director of L&M Home and co-owner of Armadale interiors store Fjord + Co Anna Lofts shares her globetrotting property journey — including the one town she regrets buying in.
In a contemporary two-storey townhouse built in 2001 in a Bayside suburb.
Homeowner and investor. I started buying investment properties some years ago, mostly two-bedroom units. I now have five and would probably have bought more if I had time to do more research. I also have a weekender on the Mornington Peninsula, which I’m renovating.
The openness of the kitchen, living and dining area and its connection to the outdoors. I love the generous scale of this space, which opens to a small courtyard. And I love the fish pond at the entrance that is visible from the dining zone.
I bought my current home when it was about 15 years old. The house has some very good architectural features, such as huge windows, so I didn’t need to do a lot. I updated both bathrooms, moved the laundry from the garage to the second bathroom and made minor cabinetry changes in the kitchen.
One more thing you’d change?
The garage entry is from a lane and can be a tight squeeze, but unfortunately this is not something I can change.
Wow, this is interesting: six in Oslo (Norway), three in London, four in Auckland, two in Sydney and seven in Melbourne.
A huge apartment in London shared by eight people and memorable for all the parties.
A tiny studio apartment in Oslo when I was 21.
Quite keen as long as it has the usual ingredients: good location and near schools, transport and workplaces. If it is for investment, it should also be low maintenance.
How many homes have you ever bought and ever sold?
Bought 11 and sold four.
Highlights of your property journey?
With time, an increase in assets.
A property in Gladstone, Queensland, which I didn’t research very well — the gas explorations stopped, the rentals dived and the property is worth much less than I paid for it.
Only listen to people who have some experience.
Do research and always try and add some value.
No immediate plans, but never say never.