Best of 2013: Celebrity trophy homes
If you missed these articles, you're missing out. We bring you the best celebrity trophy home stories of 2013 covered on Property Observer.
1) Nathan Tinkler lists indulgent Brisbane acreage mansion
Beleaguered coal baron Nathan Tinkler, who dropped off the BRW Rich List, listed his $5.2 million mega-mansion on a four hectare acreage outside Brisbane back in May.
Rebecca Tinkler bought the property (pictured below) in 2007 for $5.2 million. It's among several trophy homes owned by the family.
Last year Tinkler came 34th on the BRW Rich 200 with estimated net wealth of $915?million, but this year he fell under the $235?million threshold.
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2) Aussies keeping US realtors busy: Olivia Newton-John, Portia de Rossi and Frank Lowy
Summer nights songstress Olivia Newton-John listed her beachfront Florida home for $6.2 million.
The Aussie star bought the four-bedroom Jupiter Island home (picturd below) with her hubby and founder of herb company Trivita, John Easterling, in 2009 for $4.1 million.
The couple spent approximately $2 million renovating the property in 2010, which now features hurricane impact-rated glass windows and doors – a necessity for tropical storm laden Florida.
Situated on 1,393 square metres, the property boasts a lagoon style pool, lush tropical landscapes and a private boat dock.
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Meanwhile, Geelong girl Portia de Rossi and her wife Ellen DeGeneres reportedly splashed out and bought an estate in Montecito California for over $20 million.
Reports say the pair paid $26.5 million for the lavish Saladino Villa (pictured below) but it was advertised on listing agent Susan Burns’ website for $22 million.
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Westfield founder Frank Lowy splashed out $13 million for a three-bedroom apartment in the Trump International Hotel and Tower (pictured below).
Located on level 35, the 284-square-metre apartment features 4.5 bathrooms and Central Park views through floor to ceiling windows.
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Actor Nicole Kidman finally secured the proceeds of the last piece of her loss-making beachfront holding on the New South Wales far south coast.
Nicole Kidman purchased the vacant Rosedale block (pictured below) as part of a $4 million outlay on the coastal strip in 2004.
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She had previously recouped $3 million selling two of the properties to Canberrans.
The last portion was the vacant 1,009-square-metre block that settled only recently at $665,000.
When Kidman and her country music star husband, Keith Urban, are seeking a break from their Milson Point, North Sydney penthouse they head to Bunya Hill (pictured below), a 45-hectare cattle stud with a magnificent 1878 Georgian mansion.
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4) Toadie stays put on Ramsay Street if 'noice' house on Neighbours sells to an investor: Title Tattle
For much of the last three decades, the world over has known of it via its then television small screens, as 30 Ramsay Street, home to Toadfish "Toadie'' Rebecchi.
Its downsizing vendor Faye Pierce listed the four-bedroom home she built with her husband in 1973 for auction back in March.
Of course Melbourne is home to the bogan home to beat all others, 4 Lagoon Place, Patterson Lakes (pictured below). It was the home of Kath Day-Knight her husband butcher, Kel and her daughter, Kim.
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"This home is not for the renovator," it was stressed. "The Kath & Kim television program viewers wouldn't know it given the use of screening that blocks out the water, but the house is a waterfront," said the selling agent.
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5) Natalie Bassingthwaighte lists Elwood investment
Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the pop singer, actress and X Factor Australia television judge, listed her Elwood investment property back in June.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom period Elwood investment cost $595,000 in 2005. The open plan living/dining area opens to a covered deck with open fireplace and private courtyard.
There's a gourmet Miele kitchen appliances with breakfast bar, corian bench tops and concealed fridge/freezer.
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The property went to auction in July where five bidders fought it out from a starting bid of $850,000 followed by a vendor bid of $1 million. The auctioneer took increments of $20,000, $10,000, $5000 and then $1000 until the property was passed in at $1.18 million.
Matt White, of Ray White Port Phillip, said negotiations then continued inside until the deal was clinched at "more than $1.2 million". He would not disclose the exact price.
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