PERSPECTIVES – Second Edition 2016

This issue of Perspectives features many noteworthy properties to recently come to market, as well as several notable sales: from a private island escape in Tahiti to the recent sale of a famed summer compound in New York for over $50 million and a record setting sale in South Africa for R 18.7 million. Also in this issue, our affiliates and their sales professionals, working in regions as diverse as the Netherlands, the Alabama Gulf Coast and Virginia Beach, offer an insider’s view of their regions and market conditions. Lastly, this volume’s lifestyle comparison celebrates a broad spectrum of property types from around the world. But whatever lifestyle suits your needs, you can search for the ideal property at sothebysrealty.com. Enjoy this issue of Perspectives!

Sincerely,
Philip White
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC

 

 

Views From Around the World

NETHERLANDS

“The Netherlands is one of the newest territories that the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand covers. This country, famous for Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Van Gogh, offers some of the most precious heritage properties in the world, like the canal houses in Amsterdam and windmills in the countryside. Redres Sotheby’s International Realty covers the entire Netherlands and has the country’s key listings in their portfolio. The head office is located in Hilversum at an estate nominated to become a UNESCO world heritage site and we plan to open additional offices in Amsterdam and other key Dutch markets. The global coverage of the Sotheby’s International Realty network accelerates our local network and, together with our existing and well-known presence in the region along with the brand’s rich heritage, we look forward to the future of luxury real estate in the Netherlands.”

– Jim Reerink, chief executive officer and Jan-Willem Andriessen, chief operating officer,
Redres Sotheby’s International Realty

 

ALABAMA GULF COAST, ALABAMA

“The Alabama Gulf Coast is home to 32 miles of sandy white beaches. Our coastal atmosphere is no secret to investors and families seeking rooms with a view along The Gulf of Mexico. With well over five million tourists a year, our community still maintains its core values as a family friendly destination. We are happy to share our area with a global audience through our new affiliation with the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand. Our waterfront community features fresh seafood, water sports and one of the largest artificial reef systems in the world. Fishing, biking and a steady stream of musicians offer our community and visitors plenty of options for entertainment. Last year, Better Homes & Gardens named The Alabama Gulf Coast one of the “Top 10 Beaches to Visit with Your Family,” while Retirement Magazine named our beaches as one of the “Top Ten Places to Retire.”

– Mike Steward, broker/owner,
Kaiser Sotheby’s International Realty

 

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

“Virginia Beach, one of the great gems of the mid-Atlantic, is a waterfront paradise rich in history and natural beauty. A coastal destination bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Chesapeake Bay to the north and boasting more coastline than nearly any other city in the United States, this ideal environment makes Virginia Beach the perfect home for beach-goers and boaters alike. Comfortable, idyllic, and positioned just a short one-hour flight to New York and two-hours to Miami, Virginia Beach allows its residence to have it all. Ranked #1 in OpenTable’s Top 25 Most Romantic Cities in America, #15 in America’s fittest cities by the American College of Sports Medicine, and the #4 Best Place to own a Home in America by Porch. Virginia Beach is a truly amazing place to call home.”

– Kris Weaver, owner,
Atlantic Sotheby’s International Realty

 

Listings of Distinction

180-degree panoramic views across East Kowloon, Lei Yue Mun, Causeway Bay and Victoria Harbor are enjoyed from this residence. This stunning contemporary duplex in a skyscraper represents a refined taste and quality of living. Fashionable furniture and lighting fixtures complement the stunning floor-to ceiling windows throughout to create a truly majestic home.

 

Motu Tane (which in Tahitian translates to “Man’s Island”) is well known in Bora Bora as having been Paul-Emile Victor’s home. Paul-Emile Victor was the famous French polar explorer and author who chose his personal paradise refuge of Motu Tane in Bora Bora to live a peaceful and secluded life. This exceptional private island is just under 47,800-squareyards with coconut groves, encircled by a white sand beach with Polynesia’s sparkling turquoise blue waters just beyond. This incredible vision is topped off with Bora Bora’s mountains, majestically etched against the backdrop, bringing to life nature’s exotic canvas.

 

This beautiful historic villa is located in the tranquil countryside of Lucca and used to belong to the Mansi, a very well-known family in Europe in the silk trade. The original building dates back to the second half of the 16th century and was largely transformed by architect Oddi in the first half of the 17th century. The main villa is built on four levels with a total of about 2,100 square-meters and features 11 bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

 

Significant Sales

Sotheby’s International Realty-East Hampton Brokerage recently sold one of America’s greatest and most storied summer compounds in Montauk, New York. A true East End landmark, the nearly six-acre estate was built in the early 1930s as a “fishing camp” by the Church family, of the Arm & Hammer baking soda fortune. Subsequent owner Andy Warhol made the compound famous frequently entertaining a host of luminaries including Jackie Onassis, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and John Lennon.

 

Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s International Realty closed on this premier beachfront estate in February. Known as “Oliver’s Cove,” this private home is perfectly positioned on nearly 800 feet of beach frontage. The main house features four bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms and over 9,000 square-feet of space. Other features include an infinity pool installed directly in the sand, exposed wooded ceiling beams, Venetian plaster walls and antique French entry doors.

Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty recently completed the sale of this clifftop villa in Whale Rock Ridge. This sale is the highest price achieved in the region to date. The magnificent home showcases unobstructed panoramic sea views and features six en-suite bedrooms, exceptional finishes and spacious living and entertaining areas all within the private gate-guarded grounds.