What was once the dream family home for AFL star Lachie Neale and his wife Jules has become a poignant symbol of their separation, but it may also deliver a significant financial windfall. A leading local property expert suggests the Brisbane residence could now command over $3 million on the market, potentially netting the former couple a shared profit approaching $1 million just three and a half years after purchase.
A Property's Profitable Transformation
Lachie and Jules Neale purchased their newly renovated family home in the peaceful eastern Brisbane suburb of Seven Hills for $2.43 million in July 2022. The property, secured at auction, boasts five bedrooms, three bathrooms, three car ports, a pool, an expansive backyard, and an alfresco dining area.
According to Will Torres, CEO of the high-end agency Torres Property, the home's value has soared. "Given the result at 12 Dante Drive Seven Hills, a similar property that we sold for $3.165m, we believe it would be worth something in the low to mid 3 millions today," Mr Torres stated. This valuation indicates a potential profit of nearly $1 million if the now-separated pair decide to sell promptly.
From Modest Purchase to Multi-Million Dollar Asset
The property's remarkable increase in value is underscored by its recent history. Records from realestate.com.au show the same land was bought for just $760,000 in September 2020, though the dwelling at that time was completely different from the glossy, aspirational home the Neales acquired less than two years later.
Realestate.com.au itself projects the property has increased in value by 21 per cent since July 2022, estimating its current worth at just under $3 million. With the median house price in Seven Hills over the past year sitting at $1,828,750, the Neale residence is considered one of the suburb's higher-value properties.
A Home Vacated Amid Personal Turmoil
The potential financial silver lining comes after a difficult period for the Neales. The dual Brownlow medallist and his wife, who share two young children, have vacated the home and announced their separation. The split followed a statement from Jules in December where she revealed an "unimaginable betrayal."
Jules Neale, a Perth-raised former salon owner, plans to return to Western Australia with their children, while Lachie is also believed to have moved out. In late December, a removal truck was photographed at the property, with friends and workers seen helping to load belongings.
Lachie Neale subsequently stepped down from his role as co-captain of the Brisbane Lions and publicly apologised. "While I won’t go into specifics, I can say that I have let my family down and I apologise for my actions that have let down those that are closest to me," he said. Lions coach Chris Fagan has indicated the club supports Neale, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at year's end, in moving to Perth to be near his children.
The house is located just a three-minute drive from the Arrol Street home of Jules' former friend, Tess Crosley, and her husband Ben. The agency that originally sold the home to the Neales, Place — Camp Hill, declined to comment on a refreshed appraisal when contacted.
