A look inside the homes of Sydney’s rich & famous
They’re Australia’s rich and famous, living a lifestyle that seems unattainable, but when it comes to buying property, celebrities are just like everyone else.
Buyer’s agent Simon Cohen of Cohen Handler says there are two things high profile buyers look for in a property.
“Number one is privacy,” Cohen says.
“Number two — they like to be lifestyle based. We see a lot of celebrities by the beaches like Bondi and Bronte.”
Cohen says celebrities and high profile businessmen use buyer’s agents to hunt for not only their family homes but also their investments.
“They’re just like anyone else besides wanting to be low profile,” he says.
“We deal with high profile business people that want to make sure they’re buying the right property for the right price, they just don’t want to be taken advantage of.”
Here’s a glimpse at the Sydney property portfolios of some of Australia’s most well-known faces.
Sam Burgess
Rabbitohs player Sam Burgess and his wife Phoebe Hooke spent little time in their Bondi Pacific apartment before snatching up this Maroubra gem.
The couple paid $3.8 million for the four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home which spans three levels and has a swimming pool. Their Bondi Pacific unit is reportedly being leased out.
View Gallery of Sam Burgess Maroubra Home
Jennifer Hawkins
Model Jennifer Hawkins and husband Jake Wall have quite the property portfolio but it’s their Newport home that is already turning heads, even before it’s been finished.
The couple snatched up two adjacent lots on which to build their dream home in 2014 for $4 million. The house has been designed by famed architect Koichi Takada and enjoys a waterfront position.
According to council plans, the residence will be four storeys and will feature five bedrooms, a gym, home theatre, swimming pool and lift.
View Gallery - Jennifer Hawkins
Sonia Kruger
Channel 9 presenter Sonia Kruger and her producer husband Craig McPherson snapped up a $6.5 million Mosman home just weeks after listing their Warrawee property in late 2015.
The Balmoral Slopes house has views across Hunters Bay and features five bedrooms, cathedral ceilings, polished timber floors and open-plan living areas.
View Gallery - Sonia Kruger
Justin Hemmes
Merivale hotelier Justin Hemmes has an extensive property portfolio that goes hand-in-hand with his list of revamped pubs and bars.
His family home in Vaucluse is perhaps his most impressive asset. The heritage-listed property ‘The Hermitage’ was built in 1831 and was renovated by Hemmes after he moved back into it in 2011.
View Gallery - Justin Hemmes
Natalie Barr
Sunrise news presenter Natalie Barr and her husband Andrew Thompson splashed out on a $3.235 million Mosman home earlier this year.
The four-bedroom house is just around the corner from their previous property and is a single level, federation home. The couple bought the property at auction for well above its $2.9 million — $3.1 million price guide.
View Gallery - Natalie Barr
Chris Hemsworth
He is one of Australia’s hottest exports at the moment but Chris Hemsworth didn’t want to stray too far from home after selling the Malibu property he and his wife Elsa Pataky owned in the US.
The couple laid down $7 million for a Byron Bay estate in 2014 and are often snapped around the beach. The 4.2 hectare Broken Head property consists of six separate buildings and features a swimming pool.
View Gallery - Chris Hemsworth
Sarah Harris
Studio 10 presenter Sarah Harris forked out $2.175 million alongside her husband Tom Ward for a Cremorne home in 2015.
The couple bought the four-bedroom property at auction with the intention of raising a family in the house. It spans two levels and features an outdoor entertainment deck and level lawns.
View Gallery - Sarah Harris
James Packer
His property portfolio made headlines when his Vaucluse home sold for a staggering $70 million, but James Packer has another multi-million dollar eastern suburbs home under his belt.
His Bondi Beach apartment, at which Today host Karl Stefanovic reportedly took refuge in after his marriage split, was listed on the market last year for $20 million.
Packer later decided to withdraw the property from sale despite spending more and more time overseas with fiancee Mariah Carey. The unit spans four levels and has views over Bondi Beach.
View Gallery - James Packer
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This story was originally published on The Daily Telegraph.
