Brisbane Lions star Ryan Lester is selling his home and renting is his next option

BRISBANE defender Ryan Lester need not worry about losing his spot in the AFL team but he suspects he may struggle to get back into the housing market once his Camp Hill home is auctioned.

Lester and his wife Emi spent the best part of three years upgrading and transforming the quaint Queenslander which goes to auction on February 27.

And with the arrival of their first child last September, the couple are looking for a bigger house to grow their family.

However, they have yet to purchase another home and could be at the mercy of the rental market during the first half of the AFL season.

The 144-game veteran, who in December signed a new two-year contract with the Lions, said they could very well be renting by the time the house settles.

“We haven’t bought another place yet,” Lester said.

“We’re fairly open to renting in the short-term although I understand the rental market is also quite competitive.

“We will be able to make-do with a unit for a few months, so we are not too concerned as we are excited about what can come about the sale of our house and what’s next for us.”

Lester bought the house in Princess St, Camp Hill in 2014 although back then it only had one bathroom, no pool or a makeshift ‘one-hole’ putt-putt green installed by an amateur greenkeeper.

Instead of completely tiling the pool area, there’s a large patch of grass to one side which has an added feature.

“We put the pool and redesigned home for our lifestyle more so than considering the next buyer because we enjoy spending time sitting out there (next to the pool),” he said.

“I put in a golf hole in the corner so I can have a putt occasionally, but it’s not a professional job at all.”

It took the couple a few years to renovate and reinvigorate the house which included a new colour scheme, kitchen and fittings.

A second bathroom was a necessity because a new recruit would often be billeted to Lester’s home each year when they arrived at the club.

“One of the main things we wanted to do was add a second bathroom because of the three or four years we’ve had a few young players live with us at various times,” he said

“So to accommodate them best and for our lifestyle, we really wanted an ensuite which we added.”

The upgrade was completed a couple of years ago, so the couple have certainly made use of their improvements and haven’t just renovated and repainted for the sake of selling.

“The main reason for selling is looking to just get something bigger because we’re looking to expand our family,” Lester said.

The house is much understated from the street, although that has not deterred prospective buyers.

The first open home on February 12 attracted 26 groups of buyers while two days later more than 80 interested parties walked through the property, said Ray White Real Estate agent David Treloar.

He said the house was attracting so much interest because it is highly likely to sell in the market’s current sweet-spot of between $800,000 and $1m.

“They’re incredible numbers to attend an open house,” he said. “There’s just so much depth in that price point and I think it will be sub one million.

“The amount of buyers shopping in the $800,000 to a million bracket is real active.”

He said it would suit a professional couple who like to entertain or someone looking to start a family.

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