Emma and Ben from The Block have snapped up a $920,000 Mount Martha fixer-upper as they launch their next renovation chapter. Picture: Nine
The Block fan favourites Emma and Ben have snapped up a $920,000 Mount Martha fixer-upper, launching a fresh renovation chapter after their auction heartbreak.
The couple, who built a loyal following on the 2025 season of the hit renovation show, revealed on Instagram they had secured the three-bedroom Mornington Peninsula property.
“Chapter 5 locked in,” they wrote, posting photos in front of the sold board with their young son.
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The update quickly drew support from fans and fellow Block contestants Sonny and Alicia, with followers celebrating the buy as the couple’s next big family chapter.
The purchase comes just months after their Daylesford Block home was passed in at auction, despite the pair being seen as one of the season’s most consistent teams.
Emma and Ben had finally made it onto the show on their seventh attempt and quickly emerged as contenders, winning fans with their polished style and steady performances across the build.
Emma and Ben celebrate their $920,000 Mount Martha purchase with their young son.Picture: Instagram/emmaandben
But their Block dream ended with a brutal auction-day blow when their home failed to sell under the hammer in a subdued regional market.
The setback was followed by the sale of their own Mornington home, forcing a reset as they looked to their next move.
Now they are back in familiar territory.
The Mount Martha home sits on a 957sq m block in a quiet court backing onto a treed reserve, giving the pair plenty of room to create their next transformation.
The Mount Martha home Emma and Ben bought for $920,000 offers renovation potential on a 957sq m block.
Emma and Ben during their 2025 season on The Block, where they built one of the competition’s most consistent homes. Picture: Nine
It features two living zones, a covered alfresco and a large backyard with a fire pit and play area, with subdivision potential subject to council approval adding to its appeal.
Block judge and WHITEFOX chief executive Marty Fox said the move made sense for a couple with Emma and Ben’s background.
“This is exactly the right move post-Block — they are not buying comfort, they are buying upside,” Mr Fox said.
“The skillset they have built is renovation, so leaning into a property with margin to manufacture makes far more sense than overpaying for someone else’s finish.”
Block judge Marty Fox says Emma and Ben’s Mount Martha buy is a smart play on renovation upside and land value. Picture: Instagram/benrobinson_flint
Mr Fox said land size was a major part of the appeal in Mount Martha.
“On the Peninsula right now, a near-1000sqm block is the play,” he said.
“That is where the long-term value sits, especially in Mount Martha, and buyers are starting to reprice that scarcity again after a couple of years chasing turnkey.”
He said the project had clear upside if the couple managed costs carefully.
“If they get it right, this is a classic 15-20 per cent uplift project,” Mr Fox said.
“The risk in 2026 is not demand, it is build cost blowouts and overcapitalising. But experienced renovators who control the spend will still outperform the market.”
Belle Property Rosebud/Dromana’s Jarrod Eastwood said homes with renovation upside were continuing to attract strong interest from buyers who could see long-term value.
“Properties that are a little older or need some work tend to attract buyers who can see the upside,” Mr Eastwood said.
The Mount Martha property provides a blank canvas for Emma and Ben’s next renovation project.
The backyard features a fire pit and large outdoor space ideal for a future renovation transformation.
“They’re the types of homes families are looking at where they can come in, renovate and add value over time.”
Mr Eastwood said the wider Mornington Peninsula continued to draw strong attention from a broad mix of buyers chasing lifestyle and opportunity.
“Since Covid, we’ve seen more people wanting to come down to the Peninsula, whether that’s families, retirees or lifestyle buyers,” he said.
“People are really recognising what the area offers, not just from a lifestyle point of view, but as a strong long-term place to buy and live.”
The existing kitchen is set to be a key focus in Emma and Ben’s next renovation.
He said buyers were increasingly targeting properties where they could manufacture value themselves.
“A lot of buyers feel this is where the opportunity is,” Mr Eastwood said.
“When you buy well and improve the property, that’s often where the strongest gains can be made.”
Emma and Ben have already hinted the property will become their next major project.
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