Celebrities racing to seal the deal before Christmas, huge cuts to asking prices
![Celebs still trying to sell homes. Pictures: Supplied](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1024 768"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Plenty of notable personalities are still trying to sell their homes around Victoria right now. Pictures: Newscorp Australia/Realestate.com.au
A number of notable Melburnians scored mega sales on their properties this year, but there’s also a raft of celebrities still looking to snare a deal before Christmas.
Some have had to forfeit hundreds of thousands of dollars to lower their asking price as sellers face tough conditions in a market downfall.
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Star AFL brothers Sam and Tom De Koning’s childhood Safety Beach home is still on the market with a $1.58m-$1.68m price guide, after it lost about $80,000 from its price tag.
Comedian Ross Noble has also lowered expectations for his rural Tuerong property, with its asking price slashed by $200,000.
See the full list of celebrities dreaming of a Christmas sale below.
PAUL BANGAY
![Country Living: Legendary garden designer Paul Bangay](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paul Bangay is still searching for a deal for his iconic Stonefields property.
Famous garden designer Paul Bangay’s 20.23ha Stonefields home has spent more than 50 days on the market to no avail.
The iconic Victorian property, featuring an Italy-inspired house and one of the world’s most celebrated gardens, was first listed in October with a mammoth $8m-$8.8m price guide.
It was also since crowned the Herald Sun’s No. 1 home in the Top 50 Homes countdown in November.
Forbes Global Properties Australia director Michael Gibson has the listing and is yet to reach a sale, but said the property was “heading in the right direction”.
ROSS NOBLE
Comedian Ross Noble is looking to sell his rural property.
English-born stand-up comedian and actor Ross Noble is selling he and wife Fran’s 13.6ha Mornington Peninsula property, which comes with a three-bedroom house, self-contained cottage and artist’s studio.
The couple initially had their hopes set on a $3.4m-$3.7m sale for the Tuerong home, but have since slashed their asking price by $200,000, now listed for $3.2m-$3.5m.
Homes and Acreage director Grant Perry said the lengthy sales campaign was likely due to a number of buyers who also needed to sell their home before purchasing a new property.
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“We’re in the midst now of getting some offers on the property, so hopefully will get a deal done soon,” Mr Perry said.
“No doubt the price drop has created a bit more engagement … it’s just been a bit tougher to get finalised as people need to sell before buying.”
Mr Perry added that buyers who had expressed interest included couples looking for a lifestyle change, and locals wanting a bigger slice of land.
MONDO ROCK’S DUNCAN VEALL
Former Mondo Rock keyboard player Duncan Veall is still searching for a buyer for his family’s Toorak compound.
Ex-Mondo Rock keyboardist Duncan Veall’s family compound in Toorak is still for sale after being list in early November with a lofty $12m-$13m price tag.
The former member of the rock group also hails from a prominent Melbourne family, who built the 5 Montrose Court home about 20 years ago.
RT Edgar Toorak director Jeremy Fox said he was about half a million dollars away from a deal, and the price guide may change if nothing was locked in soon.
“We have lots of Chinese buyers coming through, as well as locals and older couples wanting a single level house,” Mr Fox said.
He added that he was confident in next year’s market, and was already seeing a number of transactions for “key houses” in the Toorak area.
“When you get to December there’s a lot of transactions going through and flowing into the new year, especially down on the coast and near the beach,” Mr Fox said.
DE KONING CHILDHOOD HOME
Tom and Sam De Koning’s childhood home is still for sale.
The Safety Beach home where footballer brothers Sam and Tom De Koning grew up alongside their eight siblings also hit the market this year.
The pair’s parents purchased the 28 Iluka St pad in 2009, before listing it for $1.6m-$1.76m in early November.
The five-bedroom home headed under the hammer on December 3, but after failing to notch a sale at auction, its price guide was reduced to $1.58m-$1.68m.
Belle Property Rosebud agent Steve Edmund said the property had now reverted to a private sale, after having a “bad chop” for a few weeks.
“We have had some good interest in the past week, mostly family buyers who wish to do the sea change, as well as two holiday home buyers and those wanting to buy a short-term rental,” Mr Edmund said.
“I think buyers are sitting back a bit more than last year. Our initial plan was to have an auction on Australia Day weekend, but we hit a bit of a rough patch with the weather recently and went to private sale instead.”
Mr Edmund added that his agency already had more than 15 auctions scheduled for that weekend in January.
RACING TO THE FINISH LINE
32 Coppin Grove, Hawthorn, was listed by former Swisse boss Radek Sali.
Wealthy businessman and former Swisse chief executive Radek Sali has shaved $1m off the price of his unusual Hawthorn vineyard.
The 32 Coppin Grove estate was listed in October for $14m-$15m and has now been on the market for more than 60 days.
After a $1m haircut to its price, the expansive property is now asking for $13m-$14.3m.
Also still on the market is former North Melbourne captain Albert Mantello’s incredible Sorrento mansion, listed for a huge $18m-$19.8m sale.
Expressions of interest for the four-bedroom house at 8 Leggett Way closed on December 8, but a sale is yet to be reached.
Former North Melbourne captain Albert Mantello is selling his Sorrento mansion.
While some celebrities are riding out the wave of their sales campaigns, others have opted to pull their properties from the market as house prices fall.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan listed his $11m Prahran pile in August, only to take it off the market just months later.
Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano also pulled the pin on the sale of her one-bedroom Brighton bolthole after it spent more than 70 days on the market.
The 16/26 Warleigh Grove pad had a $600,000-$650,000 price guide.
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