The London-based Aussie John Symond has sold an investment apartment for $7.25 million.

The Elizabeth Bay apartment was bought in 2015 for $6,125,000, reflecting 4.5% annual price growth during the near four year ownership by the retired mortgagee broking pioneer.

It was apparently superflouous to his needs, not a reaction to the declining market sentiment.

The three bedroom, three bathroom apartment had been a $3,900 a week rental after its 2015 acquisition. 

Symond retains two other apartments in the boutique complex.

His fashion designer daughter Deborah Symond who recently married Ned O’Neil, son of property developer Denis O’Neil lives in the complex. His Knightsbridge, London-based son, Stephen has the complex as his Australian bolthole.

Developed by the Hindmarsh Group, the complex, which comes with park and harbour views, is a six-level development, designed by PTW Architects' Andrew Andersons, and marketed as featuring interiors by Freedman Rembel.

Its flooring was a mix of timber, stone and carpet with fireplaces in the living rooms.

It is not the only investment property he's sold recrntly.

The other was a $13.5 million Point Piper penthouse, near his own home on Sydney Harbour, which was renovated after it cost $8.2 million when bought from Nati Stoliar. It was briefly a $5000 a week rental.

Last year he opted out of selling his Point Piper mansion despite an offer of more than $100 million. 

Wingadal, his Point Piper trophy home set on 2685 square metres, quickly piqued the interest of buyers, but its listing came with no compelling need to sell.

The copper-capped roofed and sandstone skirted home, once nicknamed Aussie Stadium, has a floor space of 2200 square metres over four levels.

The six bedroom home, all with ensuites, features two swimming pools, and 75 metres of absolute waterfrontage.

He married Amber McDonald at the home in early 2016.

On turning 70, he decided spend a bit more time in London with easy access to Hasna, a luxury 73 metre yacht on the Mediterranean. 

His superyacht was nominated in this year's Boat International Media World Superyacht Awards.

Symond previously lived in a Walsh Bay penthouse which sold for a record $16 million in 2006.

In 2016 the then Aussie Home Loans executive chairman John Symond suggested interest rates could remain low for a decade.

"I'm not saying it won't go up, but we won't see 6 to 7% interest rates for a decade plus," he suggested. 

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph,

Adman Terry Savage, the recently departed long-time chairman of the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, has bought at Newport.

Savage and his partner Cheryl Wannell, who is the CEO of the festival, have paid $3.85 million for a brand new home on Pittwater.

The couple sold their luxury six bedroom Bayview home for $5.75 million. 

Their new purchase, constructed by a local master builder, spans three levels and has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a study.

It sits in landscaped gardens with established plantings that run down to the water where there's a boatshed, slipway and deep water pontoon.

LJ Hooker Mona Vale agent Josephine Cowling sold the home.

Savage has been associated with Cannes Lions, formerly known as the international advertising festival, for over three decades.

He became the CEO in 2003 after starting as the festivals Australian representative. He became the chairman soon after and was previously the executive chairman of cinema advertising firm Val Morgan.

This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.  

The former Primary Healthcare CEO Peter Gregg has his Double Bay trophy home abode being quietly shown off-market by Ray White Double Bay.

The four-bedroom, heritage-listed 1934 mansion is known locally as "Taj."

Gregg and wife Tobi Moroz purchased the house in 2015 from prominent legal couple Maurice Neil and Natasha Goulden for $6.2 million.

The landmark Spanish Revival property has been listed through Ray White Double Bay’s Michael Finger and Peter Leipnik.

​A major renovation in 2005 won it a Woollahra Council Conservation Award. 

The heritage-listed property comes with DA-approved plans for alterations and additions designed by Howe Architects.

The Wiston Garden Spanish Mission-style house was built on the cul-de-sac in 1934 at a cost of £2,700.

The heritage listed property was built in 1934 by poulterer Albert Glazebrook with rare Max Le Verrier light fittings.

Subsequent owners included the art dealer Marlene Antico and the corporate adviser Robert Crossman who paid $1,705,000 in 1997. 

As the scaffolding comes down from St Kilda's Gatwick Hotel, the location of next month's series of The Block, its executive producer Julian Cress has formally cut ties with Sydney.

The buyer of his redundant Annandale warehouse paid a record $4,275,000 through McGrath agent Damien West.

The space, which failed to sell at its March auction, had come with a price guide of $4.5 million.

Cress inherited the Johnstone Lane warehouse from his late father, the Archibald award-winning artist Fred Cress.

The prior top price for a converted warehouse in Annandale sat with the $3.7 million paid last June by fellow artist Jonathan Newton, the son of Britain’s Gravity Media Group boss John Newton.

Julian Cress commissioned architect Julian Brenchley and Block designer Darren Palmer to undertake the recent conversion which was recognised with the 2015 MBA's Excellence in Housing Award.

Set at the end of a laneway, the home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a ground floor gallery.

The warehouse features polished concrete, exposed brick and soaring ceilings, interlaced with exposed steel and timber trusses.

There's an open plan upper level integrated with a private rooftop terrace.

Cress and wife Sarah have been based in Albert Park after The Block became more permanently based in Melbourne.

Over the years Cress became critical of nitpicking Sydney council approvals in his pursuit of development sites for the top rating Channel 9 show.

He has been executive producer of the hit show since its first series in 2003 where they launched with its renovation a block of apartments in Bondi.

Cress sold to Andrew Parker, the Qantas executive for government, industry and international affairs, who also was a board member of Australians for Equality during the gay marriage debate.

Parker recently sold his Potts Point apartment to Tom Dery, the former worldwide chairman of ad agency M&C Saatchi, for $4.3 million.

The purchase comes after Dery sold his luxury 1890s Paddington home for $5.1 million late last year.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 

The Cottesloe home that AFL legend Sam Mitchell and wife Lyndall bought when Sam signed on as a player at the West Coast Eagles is under offer.

The Mitchell's bought the four bedroom home less than 18 months ago when Sam played out his final year of his career at the Subiaco Oval having previously won four Premierships at Hawthorn.

He is now the Eagles assistant coach, but seems likely to return east for an assistant coaching job.

The home was built in 2007 when owned by professor Edwin Jaggard and wife Pamela, who sold it for $2.1 million in 2013.

It only increased in value by $50,000 when the Mitchell's bought it three years later. They found time to completely renovate and refurbish the Hampton style home which features a rear swimming pool.

Wallace Real Estate Claremont agent Justin Wallace handled the marketing with $2.35 million expectations.

His West Coast Eagles side are firmly in the hunt for a top four finish despite three losses in a row.

They sit third, level on points with Collingwood in second and the Swans and Port Adelaide in fourth and fifth.

The Mitchell's have not written off Hawthorn completely however. They've only leased their four bedroom family home in Melbourne's inner east.

A tenant quickly snapped up the property for $1,800 a week late last year.

They bought the 1940s home for $1.82 million in 2009 and have since restored the home.

The family home set in 841 square metres of lush gardens has a home office and a gas heated swimming pool. It was once a feature on Better Homes and Gardens.

The former Foxtel chief executive Richard Freudenstein and his wife Jane have stayed on the Mosman property merry-go-round.

Having sold their mansion for around $23 million, and setting a then record for the suburb, the couple have snapped up the Stenmark family home, Cardross.

It was where Australia's hottest twin modelling exports, Zac and Jordan Stenmark grew up.

Matriarch, Susie Stenmark, a former model herself, and her husband, successful marketing businessman Damien Stenmark accepted a bullish pre-auction $11 million offer through Brendan Warner at Raine & Horne.

It had been bought in 1998 when the twins were six for $2.65 million.

The former Bachelor contestant Bec Chin and her fiancé Dean Vicelich are on the move.

Their Wentworth Point apartment, with water glimpses, has been listed for August 18 auction.

McGrath Concord agent Ania Aquino has listed the home as the couple, who will marry in September, are off to Chipping Norton.

The dietitian was in the 2015 series where Sam Wood chose Snezana Markoski in the show’s finale over runner-up Lana Jeavon-Fellows.

Sydney Confidential wrote Chin was fairly quiet on the Channel 10 reality dating show which was filmed at the historic Fernhill Estate at Mulgoa.

Dean Vicelich, a former rugby league player in the NSW Cup grade, and Chin have a baby, Savannah Rose born last December.

He is a director at Smart Property Projects, a building and refurbishment company specialising in healthcare projects.

There is a $720,000 price guide for their well-appointed apartment which occupies a private corner in the Lipari block.

It also has a rare oversized study.

With fresh paint and new carpet, it enjoys an outlook over a landscaped courtyard in the pet friendly block.

There is a residents' only pool plus proximity to the Pulse Gym.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 

Taj on Swan, Perth's notorious building block, has gone under offer following last weekend's auction where the bidding stopped at $15.6 million, with the negotiations apparently getting nearer $17 million.

The abandoned Peppermint Grove home building block of flamboyant billionaire tycoons, Pankaj and Radhika Oswal, listed through Ray White agent Vivien Yap inconjuction with Sotheby's agent Graham Bowie, cost $22.7 million in 2007 when bought from property developer Warren Anderson. 

It took the mortgagee broking pioneer Aussie John Symond less than a week to find the $5.25 million buyer of another of his Elizabeth Bay investment apartments, this one vacated by his London-based son, Stephen.

With 246 sqm internal space, the three bedroom, three bathroom apartment cost $2.9 million in 2012, so reflected 10 percent annual price growth.

It was in the same block where he secured a recent $7.25 million sale.

Symond retains just the one in the complex set opposite Del Rio where Crown boss John Alexander recently sold the penthouse to property developers Michael and Prue Williams.

They sold their Tarana, Potts Point Italianate triplex apartment to power couple David Maloney, a partner at Allens, and his wife, Infrastructure NSW executive director Erin Flaherty for $8.5 million.

Alexander will base based at Robertson in the Southern Highlands, and possibly has picked up a Barangaroo apartment where James Packer spent $60 million for a whole floor.

Packer has sold his $29 million Bondi Beach paid to Medich hotelier family.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph

Former ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan has listed in Cremorne.

An Airlie Beach home in the historic Chesapeake Estate has hit the market with $3 million hopes.

The property dates back to the 1980s when eccentric Kiwi millionaire Ron McDonald had a vision to create a 76 hectare compound community with a target market apparently of deposed African dictators.

Their welfare was to be ensured by a team of ex-SAS guards.

McDonald made his money selling air-conditioning units in Saudi Arabia.

His brochures for the community dubbed, Parc Exclusif promised parklands, houses, apartments and a private hospital. 

After buying a steep rain-forested hillside just east of town, McDonald began building the infrastructure for the thwarted proposed estate.

The three bedroom Mandalay Road home is listed for $3 million by Robyn Tyson at Professionals Whitsundays agency.

It is being sold by author and investor Bruce Bickerstaff, who bought the home from Hogs Breath Cafe chain founder Don Algie in 2000.

This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.

The Toorak based funds manager Chris Langford and wife Eleanor have bought at Vaucluse.

The four time premiership winning Hawthorn legend spent $6.4 million on the dryside of Coolong Road.

The Phillip Silver-decorated five bedroom home, last traded for $2.1 million in 2000, sold through Biller Property Double Bay agent Paul Biller.

Langford moved to Sydney late in his football career to work as an accountant, commuting to Melbourne to play with Hawthorn.

He rents a $5.18 million Toorak home and owns a Mornington Peninsula acreage retreat.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 

The expatriate former NRL bad boy Todd Carney has listed the first Sydney apartment he bought.

His redundant Wentworth Point unit was bought in the days when when he was a young Canberra Raider, paying $395,000 for the one bedroom apartment in 2007.

Set in the Lipari building, opposite the Pulse health club and just footsteps to the lively Mediterranean-style piazza, the 86 square metre sixth floor apartment has been listed through Cobden & Hayson Drummoyne agent Frank Colacicco at $480,000.

A year earlier the Goulburn-born Carney had cemented himself as an emerging half back star scoring 12 tries in 18 games in his breakout season.

He was on his way to being the 2010 Dally M medallist.

Now Carney is playing in the UK, having recently signed a short-term contract with Hull Kingston Rovers.

He played late last month under coach Tim Sheens.

His skills were praised post match, albeit not long on the field given he's only just flown to the UK.

Carney, who will wear the number 40 shirt during his time in east Hull, is seen as a key figure for the upcoming qualifiers campaign which begins this month as Rovers fight for Super League survival.

Carney first made the switch to Super League in 2015 when penning a two-year deal with Catalans Dragons, then the Salford Red Devils for the 2017 campaign. He is set to play against the Devils in the next round.

He was briefly back in Australia earlier this year to sign a deal with Queensland Cup side, Northern Pride, with a view to a return to the NRL.

The 32 year old retains an impressive portfolio including a Coogee two bedroom apartment that cost $880,000 near the beach in 2010.

Carney's portfolio includes a $607,000 one bedroom unit in Waverley.

He also bought an investment off the plan at Sans Souci paying $460,000 for the one bedder.

This article first appeared in The Sunday Telegraph. 

Just weeks after an $11.3 million vacant New Farm block was sold, another nearby riverfront knockdown opportunity has hit the market.

It is 33 Maxwell St, a 941sq m block, in one of the city’s most prestigious pockets.

It features 18.3m frontage to the Brisbane river with private pontoon. 

Tina Quintner, who has owned New Farm Bikes for around three decades, has watched the cityscape evolve into a world city in this time. 

Ray White New Farm agents Nicholas Given and Matt Lancashire said the opportunity was attractive for its development potential in Brisbane’s blue chip suburb.

Professional town planners have identified a number of potential development scenarios. Take advantage of the current demolition approval, bring your architect and town planner to what is one of Queensland’s most sought-after riverfront land opportunities,” Mr Lancashire said. 

It is within walking distance to the CBD, James Street precinct, Merthyr Village, New Farm Park and the redevelopment of the historic Howard Smith Wharves.

This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian

Longtime Sydney Swan player Jarrad McVeigh has traded the beach for the harbour.

Having quietly sold in Bondi, McVeigh, and his fashionista wife Clementine and their two daughters, are off to Rose Bay.

Last month's $2.15 million purchase (pictured above) hints that McVeigh may stay at the AFL club, although the rumours circulate that the veteran midfielder could be finishing his career elsewhere.

McVeigh made his debut for the Swans in 2004 having been drafted in 2002.

Their new purchase was marketed as a designer family haven in a lush garden oasis.

The 1930's home is separated into living and accomodation wings.

There's a master suite with dressing room and ensuite and a versatile loft retreat, advertised as a possible fourth bedroom.

The open plan rear entertainer's space opening to a rear landscaped garden on its 235 square metre parcel.

Century 21 Feller Taylor Freund Rose Bay selling agents Danny Taylor and Jeff Freund advised there's space to extend the upper level.

The home last traded for $1.32 million in 2009 and became a $1,700 a week rental late in 2016.

The veteran player's first property purchase was a two bedroom apartment in Paddington.

He then upgraded to Bondi Beach in 2013, a year after captaining the side to the Grand Final victory over Hawthorn. 

The $1,155,000, two bedroom abode became too small after the family became four late last year. They sold it off-market for $2 million.

The new home base less than a kilometre away from the home of superstar team mate Buddy Franklin and his model wife Jesinta.

The Franklin's are busy installing a rear lap pool in the family home that cost them $2.35 million in 2014.

The Swans are in danger of missing out on the finals for the first time during John Longmire's tenure at the Moore Park club.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 

Accomplished actor Aimèe Horne, best known for portrayal as Polly in the Australian tour of British comedy Fawlty Towers Live, has bought her first Sydney home.

She has snapped up a freestanding Leichhardt home (pictured above) for $980,000 before its scheduled auction.

It looks to be a savvy purchase with the home having traded for $960,000 three years ago.

The 1890s cottage has two bedrooms, attic storeroom, and separate living and dining areas with polished floors.

There's a renovated kitchen complete with cafe-style alfresco breakfast bar in the rear private outdoor entertaining area.

Hudson McHugh Leichhardt agent James Price sold the home.

The Adelaide-born actor has starred in productions for the Sydney Theatre Company, Company B and Griffin Theatre, was praised by the British funny man John Cleese in 2016.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 

Deloitte's global chief strategy officer John Meacock has flipped his designer Darlinghurst apartment.

He scored $3.8 million for the apartment in the award winning Engelen Moore-designed Kings Lane warehouse conversion that cost him $3,425,000 just over a year ago.

The three bedroom apartment across two levels features a full-width entertainers terrace with gun-barrel views of the city.

BresicWhitney Darlinghurst agents Ivan Bresic and Melinda Antella sold the apartment last weekend.

Meacock joined Deloitte in 2002 as leader of consulting.

He progressed to managing partner NSW and national clients and markets leader before he was made chief strategy officer.

Meacock has been the chairman of The Brett Whiteley Foundation, and a board member of The Asia Society.

The $3.8 million sale is the second highest apartment sale in Darlinghurst this year, bettered only by a $5.65 million sale in The Residence.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 

The Woollahra garden apartment of Graham McConnonchie, co-founder of Zoggs swimwear goggles line, and his wife, Jeanette has been scheduled for August 20 auction.

The innovative goggles were created 26 years ago and then endorsed by Dawn Fraser.

They were the first brand to provide UV protection and split yoke straps.

The Figtree Lane apartment, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms with 350 square metre space close to Cooper Park, has been listed by veteran Double Bay agent Peter Anderson.

Set in a north facing bushland block of nine, it has been their home since 1994.

There have been around 20 sales of similar apartments among the 250 three bedders in Woollahra over the past year.

There have been two sales in the block at $2.8 million plus in the past two years.

Some 12 years after the launch of Zoggs, the brand was bought by the UK-based Kendal Group headed by Daniel and Leo Gestetner, with their son Neil remaining as its product development managing director. 

Leon McNiece, founder of Goodlife Health Clubs and more recently Totalfusion, and wife Michelle, have relisted their former Hawthorne home.

The couple have owned the Aaron Avenue home since they paid $4.7 million in 2007. In 2013 they traded up to six bedroom Hawthorne home nearby, paying $7.48 million.

They also own a $3.5 million weekender in Palm Beach.

Their redundant Hawthorne home, set on 605 square metres on riverfront land with its own pontoon, is designed to take advantage of its waterfront position with views over the Brisbane River.

There's four bedrooms, a home office, fully-equipped home theatre and an undercover entertainers deck.

Tropical gardens surround a salt water swimming pool.

Ray White East Brisbane agent David Price has the listing

McNiece, a fitness entrepreneur, established the Goodlife Health Club chain in 1998, selling the chain to Macquarie Leisure Trust for $60 million in 2007.

It was regarded as the second-most profitable business in the $60 billion fitness industry behind the big name Fitness First franchise.

This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. 

South Sydney Rabbitohs star Sam Burgess and wife, Phoebe have been looking at upgrading homes along the eastern suburbs' coastline.

They have been quietly seeking buyers of their Maroubra mansion (pictured above) before committing to any purchase.

Their four bedroom French provincial inspired home with swimming pool and home theatre was bought for $3.8 million in early 2016, with their daughter Poppy following soon after.

The couple are expecting their second child, with Phoebe indicating this week on instragram she was at 20 weeks.

The home, on one of Lurline Bay's most exclusive streets, is only minutes from the coastal walkway and the popular Mahon ocean rock pool.

Maroubra became their home base after they decided to offload their apartment on the Bondi Beach dress circle.

Burgess paid $2,065,000 for the off the plan apartment in the Pacific Bondi block in 2012, and sold for $3 million earlier this year. 

It was bought by CBRE Asia Pacific executive chairman Rob Blain and wife Julianne, the Hong Kong-based couple snapping the apartment up pre-auction through Beau Champion, Burgess' former team mate turned NG Farah Real Estate agent.

There had been a $2.7 million guide.

The Burgess's have been looking along the coast as far as Vaucluse.

In 2016 Burgess offloaded his former Rushcutters Bay home, the first property he bought when he arrived on Sydney's shores.

He paid $1,075,000 in 2011 for the apartment when he was just an NRL new-comer.

Located in the Advanx building, the two bedroom, two bathroom apartment sold at $1.8 million.

This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.