16th November, 2020

Tina Arena seeks $7m exit from Toorak mansion

Tina Arena seeks $7m exit from Toorak mansion

John McGrath, founder and executive director of McGrath Estate Agents at his office at Pyrmont. Picture: John Feder

International singer Tina Arena has listed her Toorak mansion through Melbourne agent Jeremy Fox, of RT Edgar. Arena, who has long lived in France, paid $5.733m for it three years ago, according to CoreLogic. This time the price guide for the fully renovated house which was built nearly 100 years ago is about $7m. Fox declined to comment but he is running an expressions-of-interest campaign ending in December.

Pride of 1887

The outer Sydney suburb of Lidcombe, 15km west of the CBD, features some surprisingly grand residences according to celebrity agent John McGrath, whose agency McGrath Estate Agents has just listed an 1887-built home with price expectations of $2.5m. Designed by NSW colonial architect James Barnet — who also designed Sydney’s Custom House, GPO and the Callan Park Lunatic Asylum — the property is set on a 998sq m block. Fully renovated, the Brooks Street house features a fireplace in the kitchen, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and is being auctioned on November 18 through McGrath Leichhardt agent Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda and her McGrath Bankstown colleague George Kapos. The vendors, Sylvia and Paul Sant, are making a tree-change to the NSW Southern Highlands where they operate a bed and breakfast. Architects Allen Jack + Cottier worked on the adaptive reuse and heritage conservation of the building.

Penthouse Aims High

Sydney could be in line to set a suburban apartment record with the Thirdi Group’s Luke Berry looking to ask as much as $45m for the four-bedroom penthouse replete with private pool in his Kurraba Residences development atop a prominent peninsula overlooking the harbour. Sales of the 24 apartments, starting at $2.6m for a two-bedder and $4.5m for a three-bedder, start on Saturday. CBRE’s Ben Stewart and David Milton are handling the sales campaign of the complex which is already under construction. Many of the keen buyers are owner-occupier downsizers from Hunters Hill waterfronts and from Longueville who are keen to trade into a smaller dwelling but don’t want to lose their water views. There is also a smattering of foreigners interested from Singapore and Hong Kong. Eighteen of the 24 apartments have spectacular harbour views. Berry has taken heart from the strong market reaction to Kurraba Residences that he is bidding on a prominent site in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to develop a similar complex. As for retaining one of the Kurraba Residences himself he says someone else has already put an offer in on it!

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/tina-arena-seeks-7m-exit-from-toorak-mansion/news-story/dd85431f0aa727163fc28b8c57bae1fd?btr=0f63fbf197ea5ebcca4d362ec86f2ebd

23rd October, 2020

Exclusivity, breathtaking views and impeccable quality abound at Kurraba Residences

Kurraba Residences in a boutique collection of high-end residences in Kurraba Point, one of Sydney’s most exclusive harbourfront enclaves.

Comprising just 24 premium 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, Kurraba Residences is set to be a contemporary architectural treasure, overlooking the harbour from one of the most highly converted vantage points.

A joint venture between industry leaders Thirdi Group and Phoenix Property Investors, Kurraba Residences embraces the surrounding landscape, encouraging residents to immerse themselves in Sydney’s national treasures – Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Botanical Gardens, Fort Denison, emerging Barangaroo and the CBD skyline.

Designed by acclaimed SJB and Mathieson Architects, every home at Kurraba Residences has been thoughtfully considered to ensure that luxury, comfort, function and style abound in equal measure. Dangar Barin Smith has crafted the landscapes, creating a place of tranquility and beauty in one of Sydney’s most vibrant locales.

Large balconies and semi-circular windows define the distinctive facade – featuring curved brick, reminiscent of the most striking art deco architectural masterpieces. This first impression sets the scene for the grandeur within, and is encircled by lush landscaping on all 3 sides, with the fourth opening up to take in the breathtaking 180-degree views across the harbour.

Artfully curated interiors are crafted by Mathieson, a firm known for their ability to create spaces of immense quality, character, and timeless sophistication. House-like dimensions ensure that each residence is abundant in space, with floor-to-ceiling windows welcoming in streams of natural light. Embedded in solid limestone and marble, privacy and exclusivity permeates the atmosphere at Kurraba Residences. Kitchens boast high-end Wolf and Sub Zero appliances, featuring luxurious expanses of solid Grigio Argento marble for functional glamour. Bespoke cabinetry, crafted from dark stained American Oak, exudes a sense of elegance and quality, creating homes that are an entertainers dream.

Bathrooms have carved marble basins, Danish Vola tapware, custom stone baths and magnificent bronze fittings, showcasing the ultimate combination of contemporary design and elegant timelessness. Secure, garaged residential parking with lift access provides residents with the height of convenience, highlighting the effort placed on creating the best possible lifestyle for every resident at Kurraba Residences.

This stunning collection of homes is a once in a generation opportunity to live on Sydney’s harbourfront at Kurraba Point – perfectly set within a boutique collection of residences echoing the majesty of Sydney’s grand waterfront estates.

Construction has commenced, with completion scheduled for 2022 – making now the ideal time to enquire.

https://www.a-d.com.au/buying-living/market-insights/exclusivity-breathtaking-views-and-impeccable-quality-abound-at-kurraba-residencesutm_source=ApartmentDevelopments.com.au&utm_campaign=5c512ea975-APD_Newsletter_NSW_Thurs_22.10.20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_89b860427f-5c512ea975-263914199

20th October, 2020

5 of the world’s most sought-after city views

When we think of some of the world’s greatest cities, certain images spring to mind.

Paris’s Eiffel Tower, the New York skyline and Sydney Harbour, to name a few. For some of these cities’ lucky inhabitants, these iconic views can be glimpsed from their own window.

Here are five of the world’s most iconic city apartment views.

Paris, France

In the city of lights, a clear view of the Eiffel Tower is just about as good as it gets.

Along the banks of the Seine, the wrought-iron lattice tower soars 326m high with outlooks that stretch for 70km.

Its height provides many vantage points across the city’s 20 arrondissements, where it’s possible the top half will make for an iconic background in your living room.

Height restrictions on inner city Paris apartments make a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower possible for many locals. Picture: Getty

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Whether you own a private mansion, apartment on the Elyse or a penthouse with a terrace, if you’re lucky enough to lay eyes on the Iron Lady, you have one of the best city views in the world.

New York, USA

For the city that never sleeps, there’s no shortage of in-demand views. And the better the aspect, the bigger the price tag.

In the heart of New York, Central Park provides a front row seat for the cheek-by-jowl apartment buildings that line its perimeter. If you face the park, you’ll enjoy green vistas from every window – and they’ll never be built out.

This stunning view across Central Park will set you back a cool US$75 million. Picture: realtor.com

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Many buildings also offer glimpses of landmarks like the Empire State Building or Chrysler Building. If your living room is high up enough in your building, you could enjoy an eye-level aspect too.

But for water views, you can’t beat overlooking the Statue of Liberty. She’s far away enough positioned out on the harbour, but there’s no mistaking her distinctive shape.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro is one of the most picturesque cities in the world. In every direction you have world-famous sights.

As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer is a sight to behold. Perched high atop Mount Corcovado, the landmark offers 360-degree panoramic vistas overlooking Rio and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

But if you live on Rio’s famous coastlines, you might also have perfect views of the city’s legendary harbour and the surrounding Sugarloaf or Two Brothers Mountains. And for even bigger bragging rights, a penthouse on Copacabana beach will provide the best viewing seat in the city.

Copacabana Beach is arguably the most famous stretch of sand in the world. Picture: Unsplash

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Tokyo, Japan

As the largest metropolis in the world, Tokyo has an urban skyline that stretches for miles in every direction.

If you’re hundreds of metres up high in a neon-lit skyscraper, you could have floor-to-ceiling glass windows facing landmarks including Tokyo Skytree, Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Tower and the Imperial Palace grounds.

But on a clear day, the best vistas are saved for Japan’s tallest mountain – Mount Fuji.

Even from a distance, the shape of Mt Fuji is unmistakable. Picture: Unsplash

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It may be off in the distance, but an aspect of Japan’s highest peak is an enviable asset especially if you’re in Shinjuku, where you can catch a glimpse behind the prefecture’s skyscrapers.

Sydney, Australia

Every Sydneysider, and many others around the world, dreams of a place right next to the water.

And when you can see from your window the globally recognised symbols of Sydney, including the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, you’ll have the best of both worlds.

The new $170m boutique development Kurraba Residences offers spectacular harbour views. Picture: Thirdi Group

In apartments at Kurraba Residences, on Sydney’s lower north shore, residents will be able to do just that as well as outlooks over the Botanical Gardens, Fort Denison and the famous CBD skyline.

“Harbourside living is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” says the development’s director of sales and marketing, Luke Berry, from Thirdi Group.

“It’s incredibly rare to enjoy these views today. And at Kurraba Residences, the beauty and cultural landmarks of Sydney will become an everyday pleasure and seamless extension of your life.”

19th October, 2020

Inside the Exclusive World of Ultra High-End Real Estate

Sydney’s property market has a secret. Some of the most lavish homes in the harbour city are traded in a parallel real estate universe, using measures to ensure the utmost privacy for buyers and sellers.

In the ultra-prestige sector, open homes and splashy advertising campaigns are often discarded. In their place, backroom wheeling and dealing is conducted by highly connected agents and, in many cases, buyer’s agents who can help find the right property at the right price away from the public gaze.

Simon Cohen is one such buyer’s agent. The chief executive of Cohen Handler says the biggest difference between the prestige sector and the general residential market is the ratio of supply versus demand.

“There are a lot less properties in the prestige sector and still a lot of buyers, so it makes finding opportunities a lot harder,” Handler says. “Most deals happen off market, so it’s not your typical auction campaign scenario you see in the everyday marketplace.”

An off-market sale refers to a transaction where an owner agrees to sell to a purchaser without promoting the fact the home is on the market. Benefits include speed, privacy and a less intense process. Publicity-shy vendors are often prepared to accept a discounted sale price to avoid a traditional campaign.

Buyers can fly under the radar too, at least until settlement occurs and their name – or that of an associated entity – appears on the title deed.

Cohen estimates 70 per cent of his firm’s deals are off-market or pre-market. Catalysts include divorce or if the vendor has bought another home and wants to sell quickly to avoid holding two properties.

Buyer’s agent Will Roberts is managing director of Alsaker. He says in off-market sales for ultra-prestige properties, the selling agent contacts buyer’s agents and select clients for private appointments, often driving straight into garages or carparks to avoid being noticed on the street.

Parties might be asked to sign non-disclosure agreements to keep the details under wraps for as long as possible.

“The buyer’s agent has an important role as they can obtain requested information and search without the identity of the client being known,” Roberts says. “And they can protect the client’s privacy during the process until the property has settled.”

So which homes are in high demand among high net-worth Sydney buyers?

“The prestige market tends to be more targeted, refined and unapologetic with its offering,” Roberts says.

Location and price are the most obvious markers of prestige but they are far from the only elements. Size, water frontage, harbour views, the quality of finishes and additional features such as extra garaging or big-name designers set the very best homes apart from the rest of the pack.

“So it’s not postcode equals high price,” Roberts says. “There is actually an element of value that is tangible.”

This year’s COVID-19-related restrictions have driven a surge in demand for sprawling estate-style properties. A longer-term trend has been the emergence of affluent downsizers seeking oversized luxury apartments, ideally with harbour views and easy access to lifestyle drawcards.

A rare new development in the sought-after lower north shore suburb of Kurraba Point is attracting attention from buyers with a taste for super-premium real estate.

Kurraba Residences by developers Thirdi and Phoenix Property Investors is an elegant collection of two and three-bedroom apartments, including a penthouse and sub-penthouse piquing the interest of luxury downsizers and trophy-home hunters.

With architecture by SJB, interiors by Mathieson Architects and landscape design by Dangar Barin Smith, the project boasts A-list design credentials. Its upmarket finishes, generous layouts, subterranean wine cellar, concierge and elevated harbour views, taking in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, place the homes in the upper echelons of the off-the-plan apartment market.

Luke Berry, sales and marketing director for Thirdi, says he’s confident the combination of location, design, amenities and never-to-be-built-out harbour views will resonate with ultra-prestige buyers.

“We’ve got all the ingredients to create an iconic project,” Berry says.

https://www.domain.com.au/news/inside-the-exclusive-world-of-ultra-high-end-real-estate-995490/