Balmain auctions leave vendors waiting

Balmain auctions leave vendors waiting
Title TattleDecember 17, 2020

Fitzy & Wippa sidekick Sarah McGilvray and her husband, Thales Group director James Couche, pulled their Balmain terrace from its recent auction.

They were hoping to flip it after the couple paid $2,040,000 just last year.

The auctioneer turned up in the rain for the early evening onsite auction, but not the bidders.

Belle Property Balmain agents Lyndsey Kemp and Kristyn Brennan had a $2.1 million guide. It is now for sale at $2.18 million.

The home (above) has three bedrooms and one bathroom on its 135 square metre parcel.

The couple have been busy renovating, even while they had their first child, William, late last year. 

The new mother, who was in London with the team for the recent Royal Wedding, joined the Nova FM team in 2016 and produces Fitzy & Wippa's breakfast show.

They're opting to be closer to the North Shore where much of their family live.

The inner west's auction success rate is running at around 55 percent, with Balmain leading the declining success rate.

Last weekend the long-time Balmain home of celebrity pâtissière Adriano Zumbo failed to sell at auction.

It now has a price tag of $1.7 million.

There were four contenders at the auction, although Paul Cooper at the Coopers Agency, who is marketing the home with his son Matt, said only one had finance approval.

"Finance approvals are presently taking so much longer than in the past," Paul said.

There has been an offer at $1.7 million but subject to forthcoming approval.

The dessert king, who crafted his trade in the inner-west paid $675,000 back in 2003 after returning from a year stint working in France.

The property sits 800 metres from his flagship Balmain store which he opened in 2007. He spent some time working at the also nearby Victorie Bakerie.

Zumbo has opened seven stores throughout New South Wales and Victoria including a concept store at The Star Casino.

Set on 340 sqm, the home has three bedrooms, one bathroom and of course a renovated kitchen.

Paul and Matt Cooper and Coopers Agency are marketing the home that is leased until July 2019, returning over $1,000 a week.

This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.

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