The sale of an Auckland waterfront home could have set a new national house price record for the year, fetching just under $30 million.
Businessman and marina investor and developer Simon Herbert said he and wife Paula had just bought the big Cremorne St property, a modernist Brent Hulena concrete place with its own boat-shed, helicopter pad, pool overlooking the waterfront and beachfront access.
Nick Goodall of CoreLogic said that appeared to set the record to date in 2018.
"So far this year, we don't have any other recorded sales near that amount - nothing exceeding $10m yet. The property at 15 Cremorne St previously sold for $12.5m in October 2009. Last year, 19 O'Neills Ave was the top sale at $28.8m," Goodall said.
New Zealand's most expensive house sale remains the 2013 $39m sale of a Paritai Dr house partly financed by Hanover's Mark Hotchin to businessman Deyi Shi.
Property records show the Cremorne St property just bought by the Herberts is owned by Stephen Graham Lockwood of insurance business Crombie Lockwood, and Lewis Thomas Grant.
Graham Wall said he had brokered the deal in an off-market non-advertised sale.
"The best part of New Zealand is Auckland and its best suburb is Herne Bay and probably its best street is Cremorne St. Where else can you live on a beach just five minutes from the CBD?" Wall asked.
The Herberts this month also said they had sold one of New Zealand's most stately city mansions for $25.5 million although as Goodall noted, that deal is yet to appear on official records.
Ollie Wall said the Herbert's 6105sq m properties in two titles at 542 and 538 Remuera Rd had been sold to a family who came here from China.
Speaking from Marseille in France, Simon Herbert said of the Cremorne St purchase: "We're very happy. It's a very special property. We were looking for waterfront but also for a large modern house with presence and position. The house faces north with a touch of west and has exceptional 180-degree views up and down the harbour.
Read more: NZ top 2018 sale, buyers from China snare Herberts' $25.5m Remuera mansion
"The boat shed is a great extra although we have yet to plan its use. It's also one of only a few properties in Auckland with consent to land a helicopter which was on our wish list, as it will allow us to fly direct to our house in the Bay of Islands," Herbert said.
"Paula will give the house her special touch although it is in pristine condition and is a credit to its current owners. We are delighted with the purchase and are looking forward to moving."
Brent Hulena said he designed the home last decade for businessman Ross Munroe of Line 7.
The concrete structure with basalt cladding, limestone flooring and extensive over-height glazing was designed in 2001 and completed in 2005, Hulena said. Interiors were by Stuart Harris.
"This is a contemporary, sophisticated home of some 1000sq m-plus over three levels including one underground level of wine cellar, media, games and gym areas. The building was conceived to span across the clifftop maximising the views and allowing the many living areas to open onto the outdoor terraces and swimming pool," Hulena said.
"The house has four living areas, four bedrooms, four-car garaging and an additional self contained two-level, two-bedroom guesthouse. The large lawn has been designed for possible reconfiguration as a future tennis court.
"The upper floor has the family bedrooms split as children and adults zones at extremes of the house and separated by two additional lounges, children and adults' lounges. There is a path winding down the cliff to very large boathouse projecting out into the harbour.
"The sale is an acknowledgement that this not only a splendid property but a exceptional house which has stood the test of time. I'm very proud. It's great how people value good architecture. It's good to see the home appreciating in value like this," Hulena said.
Property records show the site is 2810sq m.
In 2014, the Herald reported Cremorne St as New Zealand's most expensive.
"Lockwood made his name with insurance brokerage Crombie Lockwood and reportedly picked up the high-end digs for $13 million after Ross Munro's Line 7 clothing empire went into liquidation in 2009. It boasts its own boathouse, swimming pool, tennis court and guesthouse and also features a temperature-controlled wine cellar, home theatre and four-car garage," the Herald reported four years ago.
Read more: Enclave of 12 homes worth $90m
BIG DEALS:
Last July on the Shore: $28,888,000 sale of O'Neills Ave home to Chinese businessman;
This month in Remuera: $25.5m sale by the Herberts to family from China;
This month in Herne Bay: Cremorne St sale to Herberts of just under $30m.
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