Former Married at First Sight stars Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant have walked away with a cool $150,000 after offloading their Gold Coast investment pad.
The glamour couple, who met on the Channel Nine show in 2018, purchased the cosy two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse in Mermaid Beach for $700,000 three years ago.
Located just minutes away from Nobby’s Beach, the residence is situated inside the Diamond Sands residential complex.
Robinson, 43, and Merchant, 40, did an upgrade on the efficient beach cottage, which was quickly listed as a rental after the recent sale for $690-a-week.
According to the realestate.com, the home has now been leased after it was secured with a bond of $2760.
Features of the apartment include a spacious open-plan design and a large patio off the main living area.
Meanwhile, the large main bedroom offers a walk-in wardrobe, and there’s also a modern kitchen with plenty of storage space.
Built on what was once a caravan park, the Diamond Sands residential site was created in 1994 and hosts villas, townhouses and units.
Surrounded by palm trees, the complex offers residents ‘resort living’ including a ‘lagoon style’ swimming pool.
Robinson and Merchant are one of the most successful couples to come out of Married At First Sight.
And the glamorous couple have cut a high-profile with the real estate portfolio.
The pair, who live on Sydney’s north shore, purchased a home on the Gold Coast in March, 2022.
Located in the much sought after Broadbeach Waters neighbourhood, the couple splashed out $3.65million on the six-bedroom, five-bathroom spread.
The pair, who officially married in November 2019 and welcomed son Oliver in September the following year, bought their beachside Sydney pad in Cromer for $1.8million in 2020.
In February, the pair announced they were expecting their second child.
Speaking to Stellar Magazine Robinson said they could not be happier.
‘We’ve been trying since our son Ollie was one and he is now three-and-a-half. We were going into 2024 thinking, “If it doesn’t happen, we will look at IVF”,’ she explained.
Selling a property worth around £300,000 will pay the costs of living in a care home for seven years, new research reveals.
The cost of care in a residential home has risen by about 20 per cent to £816 a week or around £42,400 a year since 2020-2021.
That outstrips the rise in average house prices in England, which have increased 12 per cent in the same period, potentially reducing the amount of cash a homeowner could raise if they need to move to a care home.
Care costs have risen faster than house prices in all English regions during this time, according to the study by financial services firm Just Group.
‘The home is often the most valuable asset which, under current rules, makes it a major source of finance for people funding their own care,’ says director Stephen Lowe.
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Some 40 per cent of homeowners aged 45-plus surveyed for Just’s latest annual care report said they would sell their homes to pay for care, ahead of any other funding option such as pensions, investments or the state.
At present, reforms to how people will have to pay for care are on hold after the Government delayed the launch of a lifetime care spending cap until autumn 2025, after the next election.
The plan would introduce an £86,000 ceiling on how much an individual has to spend on care – but based on some, not all, of their private contributions rather than on total costs – and raise the threshold to start receiving support from £23,250 to £100,000.
‘The “house price to care cost” ratio is a useful measure because currently about half of care home residents pay all their own fees and a significant amount of funding is sourced from people selling their homes,’ says Lowe.
But regional differences in average house prices and care costs create some huge disparities in how far property wealth will stretch if you need care.
Average care costs are lowest in north east England at £35,672 a year, but house prices at £157,557 would cover about four and a half years of care.
Care fees in London are the second highest in the country after the south east at £46,852 a year, but much higher than average house prices of £508,037 would fund nearly 11 years in a residential home.
However, Londoners’ ability to pay for care is being squeezed because from 2020-2021 average house prices have risen 3 per cent but residential home fees have jumped 17 per cent.
Lowe says of the data in the table above: ‘These are optimistic figures because in the real-world self-funders meeting all their own costs pay higher fees than those receiving some or all council funding, while the costs would be higher still if specialist nursing care were needed.
‘Under the current means-tested social care system, those with assets of more than £23,250 have to pay for their own care and this will include their residence unless it is still being lived in by someone such as a spouse.
‘Reforms that might have helped to protect the value of the home have been delayed and may never be implemented.
‘The care sector is facing huge funding pressures and, as we head towards a general election, voters should look at what answers the politicians are suggesting.’
The map below shows the years of nursing care that would be funded, as well as the cost of residential care, if you sold the average-priced house in a region of England.
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A landmark settlement is shaking up the real estate industry.Last week, the National Association of Realtors settled multiple lawsuits, agreeing to do away with decadeslong policies that set agent commissions.NAR agreed to pay $418 million in damages, effectively ending the standard 6% commission.”They were focused on sellers and buyers not understanding who’s being compensated in a transaction,” Mike Ruzicka, the president of the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, explained.He said practices in other states vary greatly from real estate transactions in Wisconsin.”The state takes a great deal of effort in making sure consumers know what’s going on in a transaction,” Ruzicka said.There are two main new provisions of the settlement.The NAR can no longer require a broker listing a home on the MLS to offer any upfront compensation to the buyer’s agent.Also, agents must enter into a written agreement, including a negotiated commission and fees, with the homebuyer.We asked a Marquette University Law professor who specializes in property if this means lower home prices.”In the short term, no. What drives the real estate market currently is lack of supply,” Kali Murray said.”It’s not going to impact home prices at all. Prices are determined by buyer and seller, when they agree on the price,” Ruzicka added.Both experts say whether you’re looking to buy or sell, you need to pick the right person to help.”I would talk to more than one buyer agent,” Murray said.”Contact an expert that knows what they’re talking about when you want to sell or buy a house,” Ruzicka said.
A landmark settlement is shaking up the real estate industry.
Last week, the National Association of Realtors settled multiple lawsuits, agreeing to do away with decadeslong policies that set agent commissions.
NAR agreed to pay $418 million in damages, effectively ending the standard 6% commission.
“They were focused on sellers and buyers not understanding who’s being compensated in a transaction,” Mike Ruzicka, the president of the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors, explained.
He said practices in other states vary greatly from real estate transactions in Wisconsin.
“The state takes a great deal of effort in making sure consumers know what’s going on in a transaction,” Ruzicka said.
There are two main new provisions of the settlement.
The NAR can no longer require a broker listing a home on the MLS to offer any upfront compensation to the buyer’s agent.
Also, agents must enter into a written agreement, including a negotiated commission and fees, with the homebuyer.
We asked a Marquette University Law professor who specializes in property if this means lower home prices.
“In the short term, no. What drives the real estate market currently is lack of supply,” Kali Murray said.
“It’s not going to impact home prices at all. Prices are determined by buyer and seller, when they agree on the price,” Ruzicka added.
Both experts say whether you’re looking to buy or sell, you need to pick the right person to help.
“I would talk to more than one buyer agent,” Murray said.
“Contact an expert that knows what they’re talking about when you want to sell or buy a house,” Ruzicka said.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The Charlotte City Council will vote Monday night on a plan to sell more than four acres of land to developers who plan to build affordable housing on the site.
The city paid millions for the property but plans to sell it for a single dollar.
The property is along Reagan Drive near I-85 and West Sugar Creek Road. A Economy Budget Inn motel used to sit there, and was a hotbed for crimes, including robberies, shootings and murders.
In April 2023, the city bought the land for $4.2 million and tore the motel down. Now, the city has chosen to sell the property to Prosperity Hidden Valley.
The deal means the developer must build a minimum of 39 new townhomes to sell to families earning at or below 80% of the area’s median income. For a family of four, that is just under $80,000 a year.
The units must stay affordable for 20 years and may not be leased during that time. The purchase price of the homes will be limited and there will be down payment assistance and special mortgage financing.
City leaders said they selected the developer for its experience with creating affordable housing, especially for households impacted by racial disparities in homeownership.
Related: Charlotte leaders clash over motel demolition, move forward with project
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A sprawling tropical retreat once owned by Australia’s richest citizen Gina Rinehart has just been listed for sale.
The Queensland property is located on the shores of Murray Bay, just outside Bowen and spreads out over 3.5 hectares of secluded land, including 250m of private beachfront.
The locale, referred to as a ‘gateway to the Whitsundays’, is in a true north orientation towards the water and boasts three detached houses and three self-contained units.
Current owner and former rugby league player Mike McLean bought the tropical estate in 2020 from Hancock Prospecting, which is owned by Rinehart.
The main house features three bedrooms and three bathrooms, opening up onto sweeping sea views and picturesque landscaped gardens.
While the other two houses offer three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Three renovated units offer additional accommodation, comprising two studio units and a larger family unit, each outfitted with contemporary amenities.
Other structures on the site include a beach shack, shed, carport, and beachfront pavilion.
The property was believed to have been used for the accomodation of Hancock Prospecting workers when it owned by Rinehart.
The listing by Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty claims the property is ‘the only private haven to grace Murray Bay.’
Additionally, the complex is only accessible via high security gates that ‘declare exclusivity from the road and ensure that every guest is welcomed by appointment only,’ the listing read.
The waterfront estate is ‘flanked by crown land and offers only walking access to the bay’ and also boasts a natural spring.
The property is listed under tourism/residential zoning, meaning it can be used as either a home or a resort.
‘Whether you envision a premium resort, caravan park, lifestyle hotel/licensed venue, or you wish to retain this slice of paradise as your own private retreat, this estate offers a curated canvas for your grandest aspirations,’ the listing says.
No asking price has been listed, however the owners are inviting expressions of interest.
- The house boasts nine bedrooms, five bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool
The stunning 14th century love nest where Lord Nelson romanced Lady Hamilton over 200 years has dropped in price by £500,000 after it has failed to sell.
It was originally listed at a guide price of £3.25million by Lindsay Cuthill’s Blue Book Agency in July last year, MailOnline previously reported.
Grade I-listed Rudhall Manor, in Phocle Green, Herefordshire dates back to the 1300s and could be yours after it has plummeted by half a million to a bargain price of £2,750,000.
A beautiful sprawling mansion, the house boasts nine bedrooms, five bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool and is set in ten acres of picturesque landscaped gardens.
An enchanting manor – it has been owned by a number of important figures over the years – most notably Admiral Lord Nelson.
The British hero saved the nation at the Battle of Trafalgar but had an illicit affair which lasted 12 years with Lady Emma Hamilton after being introduced to her in the 1790s.
They used the picturesque abode as their own love nest to evade prying eyes in what was the biggest scandal of the age.
Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton met in Naples, Italy, while they were still both married to other people.
A romance blossomed and the couple resided at Rudhall Manor, the home of a friend, Thomas Westfaling, when they returned to Britain.
The affair later became public knowledge and there is a room in the house named after the great Royal Navy hero.
The letters to Lady Hamilton were written by Nelson with his left-hand after he lost his right arm in battle.
They had a daughter together, Horatia, who was born in 1801.
Estate agents Blue Book has described the period property as ‘one of the most special of houses in the whole of England.’
A spokesperson added: ‘A magical Grade I listed house whose rich history has spanned the centuries to provide a warm and comfortable family home.
‘Rudhall Manor sits in an enchanted private setting surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds.
‘As a Grade l listed building it is only one of very few private residences in the county and as such is one of the most special of houses in the whole of England.’
Rudhall Manor was also used by the Royal Hospital to house retired British soldiers who fought in the Boer war and the First World War during the Second World War.
Other notable owners include Alexander Baring, later the first Lord Ashburton, ornithologist Sir Peter Scott and Sir John Harvey Jones, the high-profile British businessman and entrepreneur.
It dates back to the 14th Century, but features Tudor, Georgian and Jacobean architecture.
This historical manor is equipped for the 21st century too and has been re-purposed for modern living – including a heated indoor swimming pool and gym, a self-contained studio apartment above a garage along with a greenhouse and working space.
The listing adds: ‘To the first time visitor Rudhall Manor immediately welcomes you with its warm tones, mixture of the grand and the cosy but most of all the enchantment of a long cherished home to a host of families over the centuries.
‘The history lover will particularly appreciate the extensive Tudor oak paneling, immaculate cornice work, historic fireplaces and exposed beams.’
Sprawling gardens and grounds terraces, including a woodland and a rockery garden, are spread out across the land.
The house overlooks an extensive lawn which leads down to Rudhall Brook and enters the grounds via a waterfall and is crossed by a series of small fairy tale-like bridges.
Two lakes, fed by a brooke, are said to provide a haven for birds and wildlife.
The property listing continues: ‘The gardens and grounds make the whole setting complete and essentially a private paradise.’
Occupiers moved on to a property on Ahipara’s Wharo Way in October 2021, after a significant pohutukawa tree they believed had been protected by being placed in a reserve was not protected at all.
Kaitāia GP Cecil Williams is thinking about leaving the town after 35 years, after being “forced” to sell his property, which had been occupied by a local iwi, for about $130,000 less than its Quotable Value.
Williams’ property at 1 Wharo Way, Ahipara, was first occupied in October 2021 by members of Te Rarawa who were unhappy that a culturally significant pōhutukawa on the property had been partly felled for a house site.
The iwi members were angry because they were led to believe the tree had been included in a reserve at the front of the land when it was subdivided. However, the reserve was later made smaller and the tree included in the property at 1 Wharo Way that the Williamses bought.
The iwi members felt betrayed over what were assurances the culturally significant site at Ahipara would be fully protected as a public reserve.
Williams said he and his wife, Marna, checked when they bought the section that there were no land claims or any other issues with it, and after being assured there were none, bought it for $500,000. The tree was not listed as protected or significant on the council’s website.
He said they were the innocent parties in the debacle and had done nothing wrong, yet were seriously out of pocket due to no actions of their own.
The land was occupied for almost a year before Far North District Council, in an effort to solve the impasse, agreed to buy the land from the Williamses.
At its August meeting where it agreed to buy the land, Kahika/Mayor Moko Tepania acknowledged that historic actions had seen undertakings to protect 1 Wharo Way broken. While the council would never be a default Office of Treaty Settlements, it had acknowledged there were special circumstances that led to the motion for council to negotiate the purchase of the land supported, he said.
Williams said the couple were caught in a fait accompli as they had to sell the land to the council because nobody else would buy a property that was being occupied and under such dispute.
“Who would buy land that was being occupied and nothing was being done to move the occupiers off?”
The couple are angry and upset that they had to settle with the council for $437,500 for the land when the QV valuation a year earlier was for $560,000, and feel they had no choice but to sell, given that nobody else would buy it.
At the start of the occupation, Williams offered to sell the land to Te Rarawa, or the council for the $500,000 they paid for it, and is now upset they are out of pocket by so much.
“It’s prime waterfront land, but the council’s independent valuation in September last year said it was only worth $400,000. Yet the council’s own Quotable Value in October the year before said the property was worth $560,000. I know prices have dropped a bit, but I can’t see how such a piece of coastal land has dropped by $160,000 in a year. That’s hard to take.”
FNDC has been approached for comment, but had not responded by publishing time.
Williams said the property was to be where they built their dream home to retire, but after 35 years as a GP in Kaitāia, the saga had left such a sour taste that they were seriously considering selling up their other property and moving away.
“It’s hard enough as it is to get GPs up here, but this has really hit us hard. The stress and the anxiety this has caused us, the sleepless nights and worry have been unbearable. Through no fault of our own we have now had to take a huge financial hit, and I’m upset that after all these years helping this community, we’ve had such little support and are seen as the bad guys.”
He said they were not aware the pōhutukawa was supposed to be protected or that it was supposed to have been on a reserve; had they known, they would not have bought the land in the first place.
Williams acknowledged he had stopped paying rates on the land from when the occupiers moved in because he was unable to use the land, and neither the council nor police would move the protesters off. The roughly $8000 outstanding rates were paid from the property sale price to the council.
Mike Dinsdale is the editor of the Northland Age who also covers general news for the Advocate. He has worked in Northland for almost 34 years and loves the region.
Rising debt costs and shrinking valuations are forcing major commercial property developers to sell millions of dollars worth of assets.
Precinct Properties has sold about $700m worth in the past 18 months, while hospital developer Vital Healthcare has sold $220m worth and Argosy just sold $20m worth.
“When interest rates revert as fast as they have, and when values come down, and we’ve seen in our business probably 7 or 8 per cent reduction in values, then you’ve got to stay in front of it,” Precinct CEO Scott Pritchard told Markets with Madison.
“We’ve been managing our levels of debt through asset sales and through capital partnerships and through raising new capital.”
The largest listed office developer and owner had drawn down $1.1 billion worth of debt, paying an average interest rate of 5.3 per cent – surprisingly less than most mortgagors.
That’s because it didn’t just rely on banks for funding. Precinct was now partnering with offshore investors including Singapore sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and high net worth individuals.
“The key is to have a really diverse source of funds and to have a really laddered maturity profile, which is all the lessons that a lot of businesses learned out of the GFC to be honest.
“If we get other sources of capital to invest alongside us, it means we can do more things and ultimately drive a higher return for our shareholders.”
It was a strategy Vital was now considering too – seemingly a potential funding solution in a higher interest rate environment.
Pritchard said offshore investors were especially keen on residential property, which was driving Precinct’s push into developing apartments on Auckland’s waterfront.
But would that impact Precinct’s future net rental income, currently earned on offices?
Watch Scott Pritchard discuss how developers are managing debt in today’s episode of Markets with Madison above.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this programme is of a general nature, and is not intended to be personalised financial advice. We encourage you to seek appropriate advice from a qualified professional to suit your individual circumstances.
Madison Reidy is the host of the NZ Herald’s investment show Markets with Madison. She joined the Herald in 2022 after working in investment, and has covered business and economics for television and radio broadcasters.