Movers and shakers column with the prestige sales of the week

"There's a fresh creek running through the property so it's been a great place for the kids to scavenge and hang out by the water," says Karen. "There are also bush trails, a rope swing, and it feels like you're in a rainforest."

Working from home, Karen appreciates that her office has a separate entrance, and the kids have plenty of spaces: on the day bed by the pool, in the courtyard, and beyond. It's for sale through Graeme Keats and Ken Digney of Bay.View.Beach Real Estate with a guide of $4 to $4.4 million.

When natural therapies practitioner Justine Whitfield and her plumber husband Jason first bought 86 Lincoln Avenue, Collaroy 11 years ago it was a humble blonde brick suburban house. The couple has since transformed it into a contemporary family home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. They made it open plan, levelled the backyard, installed a skylight, created a back deck, rendered the entire house, put in concrete floors and much more.

"Everything in the house just flows," says Justine. "I love the open plan design and the concrete floors are easy and low maintenance. My favourite spot is laying on the day bed on the deck."

From the lounge room, you can take in the views of the city. "It's great to sit there and watch the sun go down in the afternoon," says Justine. It's up for auction on December 18 with a guide of $3.4 million through Jill Rafferty of McGrath Collaroy.

Mortgage broker Megan Skinner and her emergency doctor husband Steve have been fans of Little Manly Beach for years.

"We used to come to the beach and look up at this beautiful home and say 'Imagine living there!'" says Megan. "So when the opportunity arose to buy it, we went for it. The unit has 180-degree views of the water and looks straight on to Little Manly Beach."

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 1/3 Bruce Avenue, Manly is only one of two units in the building and occupies the first two levels. The other unit is on the third floor of the 1930s art deco building. "We love having bbqs on the terrace and listening to the penguins coming in at night," says Megan.

The home also boasts a media room and bar, home office or gym and terrace with a fire pit. It's scheduled for auction on December 18 through Cherie Humel of Clarke & Humel with a guide of $3,950,000 to $4,345,000.

Local Avalon chef Nik Grivas grew up at 103 Hilltop Road, Avalon Beach, which his father first bought in 1995. The expansive four-bedroom, four-bathroom home has magnificent views over Pittwater and backs on to one of the area's best kept secrets, Angophora Reserve, home to 18.5 hectares of beautiful walking trails, creeks and wildlife.

"It's away from the traffic so it's very peaceful," says Nik. "It's great to go on bushwalks and it's easy to go down to Clareville Beach. It just feels like there's a lot of space."

The design of the home was inspired by a French Chateau in Loire, boasts a pool and multiple living spaces. It's scheduled for auction on December 14 through James Baker of McGrath Pittwater with a guide of $3.3 to $3.6 million.

Northern beaches agent Laura Mears has switched allegiances from Belle Property to join Noel Nicholson at Ray White Prestige Palm Beach, with one of her first luxe listings under the new regime the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home at sought after 19 Iluka Road, Palm Beach.

The dual level home features multiple living areas, space for four cars, level lawns and an approved DA for a swimming pool. Laura has scheduled the auction for December 18, with a $5.2 million price guide.