Pad Fitzy built rakes in $10m
A luxury home built by former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick has sold for more than $10 million.
The five-bedroom house in Arney Cres, in Remuera, broke sales records for the year after being snapped up by a local family “looking for something special”.
Ray White Epsom agent Ross Hawkins, who brokered the deal, said he could not divulge the exact price but it was “more than $2m above the CV of $8.4m”.
“It’s a record price for Remuera this year,” he said.
The previous record-holder for Remuera — a 1960s house at nearby 197A Arney Rd — fetched $8m at auction at the end of May.
The house was built by former All Black hooker Fitzpatrick in the early 2000s for his family using renowned Auckland architect Daniel Marshall. He sold it soon after, with Marshall staying on to include floor-to-ceiling glass walls, a wine cave and a gym, commissioned by new owners.
Hawkins said there was huge demand for quality homes at the top end of the market as there was a shortage of listings.
“There is a captive audience of buyers in the $10m-plus bracket.
There are now three or four unsatisfied purchasers who have missed out and have $10m-plus to spend,” Hawkins said
While he had inquiries from ex-pats, the buyers were locals after “something special”.
“These houses are few and far between.”
The purchase comes amid a flurry of high-profile sales in Auckland post Covid-19.
Bindi Norwell, chief executive of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, said in the last 12 months, 31 properties had sold in Remuera for more than $5m.
“We’re continuing to see high levels of interest at the top end of the market,” she said.
“With interest rates at historic lows, a shortage of listings and the increase in the number of Kiwis return home to New Zealand we expect the level of interest to be at an all-time high in the coming months.”
The highest sale price this year was reported to be for a waterfront home in Westmere formerly owned by Kiwi film director Andrew Adamson. The Herald on Sunday reported that former All Black Ali Williams and Zuru Toys cofounder Anna Mowbray paid $23m for the house. As eye-watering as $10m may seem to most New Zealanders, it’s a fraction of what luxury homes sell for across the ditch.
A waterfront mansion with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House sold last month for A$95 million ($103m). “What’s happening there is going to rub off here — this is a much more attractive place to live,” Hawkins said.
“In the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, agents are telling me that waterfront properties that would have gone for A$15m have all of a sudden surged up to A$20m.
“It makes us look cheap.”