After five years in Cowes on Phillip Island Tracey and Brian decided they were ready for a new chapter, one that would offer them more convenience, modern amenities, and a break from neighbouring Airbnbs.

Their search led them to Manor Lakes and a new home that’s closer to public transport, shopping, the footy and family.

Tracey and Brian had lived in Pakenham, a suburb to the east of Melbourne that’s developing as the city grows.

“It just got too busy,” Tracey explains.

“It lost that country feel, and everywhere you went, it was crowded. We wanted something different, something quieter.”

The couple considered relocating to Queensland, but on a whim, they decided to take a day trip to Cowes on Phillip Island.

“We came here for a day, and we just fell in love with the place. We decided to build a house and move here,” Tracey recalls.

Their time in Cowes wasn’t as peaceful as they’d hoped. It has lost its island charm and it’s a popular tourist destination. They soon found themselves surrounded by properties for rent.

“We had seven Airbnbs just in our little strip,” Tracey says.

“It got noisy, especially with people coming and going all hours of the day and night.”

In addition to the noise, the lack of infrastructure and the distance from essential services took a toll.

As time passed, Tracey and Brian realised that Cowes, while beautiful, wasn’t the ideal place for them anymore.

Brian said they needed to be closer to family and services.

“My parents live in aged care in Sunbury, and our daughter is in Werribee. So, we started looking for something more convenient.”

Discovering Manor Lakes

Tracey and Brian’s search for a new home took them westward.

“Brian’s discovered Google in the last five years,” laughs Tracey.

“We looked at a lot of places we’d never even heard of before. And then we came across Manor Lakes.”

The couple was drawn to the amenities and lifestyle offered by the area.

“We liked the look of the community,” says Tracey.

“We wanted somewhere that wasn’t too busy but still had everything we needed.”

In October last year, they met Annetha and Alyx, the Sales Team at Manor Lakes, who set up a visit for Tracey and Brian.

“They were both so helpful. Annetha took us through the display homes, and we were really impressed with the layout and the design of the houses,” says Brian.

“It was exactly what we wanted,” says Tracey.

Their new home features an open-plan living space, modern kitchen, and generous storage.

The practical design, combined with its proximity to everything they need, made it an easy choice.

“The house had great storage, modern finishes, and was close to all the things we needed. And with the double garage, we had plenty of space.”

They felt the Reside Collection Villas perfectly suited their lifestyle and what they want at this stage of their lives.

“We didn’t want a massive garden to take care of, but we still wanted enough space to enjoy our time in the backyard. And the Reside Collection Villa was perfect,” Brian says.

“It’s not downsizing, it’s nice-sizing.”

“The price suited us,” Tracey adds.

“And we liked the idea of paying the rest on settlement rather than having to do progress payments.”

The Reside Collection homes are available at a fixed price with no extra costs.

Building approvals are taken care of and they require only a 5% deposit. The balance is paid when the home is complete with no progress payments along the way.

Support from Annetha and Alyx

Tracey and Brian felt supported throughout the entire home buying process.

“Annetha and Alyx were fantastic,” Tracey says.

“Annetha was always quick to respond to Brian’s texts, and Alyx kept us updated with emails. We felt like we were in good hands the whole time.”

One of the highlights of the process for Brian and Tracey was the final inspection.

“Annetha even picked us up from the train station when we came for the inspection,” Tracey says.

“It was such a nice touch, and we really appreciated the effort they put in to make sure everything went smoothly.”

“We’re excited to finally be in a place where we can have a peaceful, comfortable life.”