9 JUNE / 2021
PRESTIGE THE BEST IN AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY
A HEAVENLY RETREAT Rela x and unwind
B y K ATE FARRE LLY
Sorrento Gold Coast 26 Marseille Court 7
E MILY WATKINS
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For sale: By expressions of interest Agent: Amir Mian Prestige, Amir Mian 0401 470 499 Said to have played host to the likes of Frank Queensland’s time in the sun is not over yet. Interstate migrants and
Sinatra and the Rolling Stones, and claiming one
investors alike still have the Sunshine State in their sights, continuing a
of the largest riverfront landholdings on the Gold
trend we’ve been seeing over the past year. The Gold Coast is shinier than
Coast, Bartinon is a Hollywood-worthy estate
ever for investors, as agents tell us for this week’s The Property Investor.
with a helipad, deep-water pontoon, heated pool
But for those thinking about a tree-change with a quieter lifestyle, in
and a showstopping dual staircase linking its two
Living In we’re exploring the Currumbin Valley, which is just 15 minutes’
opulent levels.
drive from the Gold Coast airport but feels a world away. South of the border, we’re taking a look inside the magnificent Hercules estate, with its jaw-dropping ocean views from Coopers Shoot, near Byron Bay. Finally, we’re sharing the moving story behind a beautiful home in Sydney’s Potts Point, designed as a love letter to the couple who commissioned it from Melbourne’s Flack Studio.
Acting editor: Emily Watkins emily.watkins@domain. com.au Editorial producer: Paige Tonna Group picture editor: Vashti Newcomb Senior designer: Colleen Chin Quan Graphic designer: Emma Staughton National managing editor: Alice Stolz Group director, Consumer: Jason Chuck Chief executive officer: Jason Pellegrino
HOT PROPERTY ANSON SMART
DESIGN DIGEST Modern manifestations
YELLOWTRACE Residential sales: Queensland Brad McLeod 0429 571 826 New South Wales Belinda Sinclair 0414 580 903 Victoria & Tasmania Ray van Veenendaal 0438 279 870 Western Australia, South Australia & Northern Territory Jeroen van de Peppel 0427 292 797
An architectural love story
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Digital edition Visit domain.com.au/ digitaledition
COVER STORY The Herculean estate up for sale O U R COVE R 59 Coopers Shoot
LIVING IN Currumbin Valley
Road, Coopers Shoot. Listed by Century 21 PAG E 8
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THE PROPERTY INVESTOR Gold Coast boom
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Tamarama Sydney 4 Wolaroi Crescent $16 million
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Auction: June 16 Agent: Goodyer Real Estate, Pauline Goodyer 0411 521 888 With palm-studded ocean views and interiors by Nellie Tilley, this four-level residence with pool and internal lift promises luxury coastal living a short stroll from the beach and the Bondi to Bronte walking trail.
South Hobart
Longueville
Hobart 65 Fitzroy Crescent
Sydney 19 William Edward Street
$2.2 million-$2.4 million
$5 million
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For sale: By negotiation
Auction: June 19
Agent: Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists,
Agent: Belle Property Lane Cove,
Dominic Romeo 0438 500 277
Simon Harrison 0433 100 150
Keeping company with some of the city’s finest historic homes, Branthwaite
Set on a leafy 1514-square-metre block adjoining
is a beautifully preserved Regency villa dating back to the 1830s. It has a
Tambourine Creek Reserve, this TW Architects-
selection of formal and informal living spaces and established gardens.
designed home comes with a separate studio.
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2B River Road, Maroochy River
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34 Acres of Pure Bliss!
On-site Auction Saturday, July 3rd at 4pm
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Your own piece of paradise on approx 220m. river frontage with sensational views Highset home includes 3 beds, 2 baths, high ceilings & traditional wrap-around verandah Converted 3-bay shed with 2 bedrooms, outdoor shower & industrial lighting Powered jetty & pontoon with fresh water + a boat ramp, 3 x water tanks total of 139,200L Plenty of room for a number of different activities, wheelchair friendly home 10 mins to the beach, 17 mins to the Sunshine Coast Airport & 5 mins to the Bruce Highway
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Open to View Saturday 4-5pm Thursday 4:30-5pm
Jamie Wyvill 0458 526 439
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DESIGN DIGEST
Modern manifestations Through curiosity and skilful craftsmanship, everyday needs are met by dignified designs. C o m p i l e d b y PAU LIN E M O RRIS SE Y BRIGHT AND BUBBLY Showcasing the unique and mesmerising effects of mouth-blown glass, the Fizi Table Lamp by Articolo displays a champagne-like explosion of bubbles, supported by a luxurious base available in a range of statement materials such as brass, marble and travertine. articololighting.com
SOLID FAVOURITE Made of solid wood, available in both oak and walnut, the Ten Table is the result of a collaboration between DK3 founder Jacob Plejdrup and designer Christian Troels. Though it’s heavy, it has a sense of lightness thanks to the vertical grooves of its base and the slim form of its top. greatdanefurniture.com
COMFORTABLY STYLISH
its cues from Scandinavian design. The top is crafted from sustainable, solid American oak or stylish
SIDE BY SIDE Designed by Melbourne furniture studio Made by Morgen, the AOS-T Side Table takes
Allowing beauty and
Carrara marble. madebymorgen.com
comfort to coexist, the Memory Lane Armchair, designed by Christophe Pillet for Tacchini, features a slender metal structure – available in turquoise or bronze – complemented by quilted upholstery in an array of fabrics and leathers. stylecraft.com.au
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b y DANA TO MIC H U G H E S
COURTESY OF JONES
YELLOWTRACE
A love letter to a very special design client
H
ow Flacking stunning is this place? With Flack on deck, it’s almost guaranteed that the result will be a good one, and this project sure doesn’t disappoint. In one of the most beautiful streets in Sydney’s Potts Point, this home in no way reveals its densely populated context. Potts Point Residence is Melbourne-based Flack Studio’s first residential project in Sydney. Since their clients had experienced the studio’s work at a more intimate level and were reassured of the design outcomes, David Flack and his team were able to push the boundaries further than their preliminary intent. Initially conceived as a love letter to Sydney, the design process evolved from its beginnings in 2016 to develop into a project that became incredibly important and personal for the team. The four-level house represented the home where the clients would spend their twilight years. “However, one of them was diagnosed with early-onset dementia,” says David. “Our design direction changed as the project became a love letter to this beautiful couple.” “We spend a lot of time with our clients to ensure our designs are a reflection of their passions and personalities, not only now, but in 20 years,” explains David. This project, however, threw a curveball as the team were unable to truly meet the person who would’ve had the most influence in the collaborative design process. “It was important we infused as much of her into the design [as possible],” says David. “We were able to reference books, films and fashion to allow a connection of what the collaboration would have looked like. We had full trust to create the perfect space with very little input.” As a result, Flack Studio turned the four-level home into a five-level world that would provide everything this couple and their family would ever need.
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Inspired by the original heritage interior and committed to maintaining its essence, the scheme explores the use of contrasting stones, finishes and textures for a combination that subtly emphasises different eras of the new interior while effortlessly transitioning between these time references. The staircase naturally becomes this portal that links the rooms throughout the residence. Its sculptural form is articulated in each level with light finishes that reflect and bounce the natural light within the interior. The amalgamation of light and form heightens the presence of the staircase throughout the residence, becoming one of the studio’s favourite design outcomes. As one of a handful of single dwellings in one of Sydney’s most built-up suburbs, complete with an underground pool and a rooftop, this amazing home now feels much like an elegantly dreamed-up, self-contained world.
“We were able to reference books, films and fashion to allow a connection of what the collaboration would have looked like.”
yellowtrace.com.au
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An estate fit for a Roman god
COVER STORY
Hercules has two houses, stunning views and facilities galore – and Byron Bay’s just down the road. B y K ATE FARRE LLY
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ast year, a glamorous Marine Parade property fronting Byron Bay’s Wategos Beach sold for a record-breaking $22 million. Robert and Deborah Wild, who used to live next door, are hoping to match that price with the sale of Hercules, their 56-hectare property on the Coopers Shoot escarpment, a six-minute drive from Byron’s town centre. The Wilds enjoyed their Wategos beach pad but decided to move on when the neighbouring properties shifted from owner-occupied to holiday lettings.
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“We loved being on the front row, but we just found quite a big shift in the type of person living there,” says Robert. “We’d lived in the hinterland on the escarpment before, and we knew this section at Coopers Shoot, which was well known for its views. We bought the prized block along the Golden Mile, the very first property, which affords breathtaking lighthouse and Byron Bay views.” For Deborah, the deal-maker was the significant portion of level land, a rarity on the steep slopes of the escarpment, which makes for a more usable and relaxing place to be.
“This property has a substantial amount of flat ground, and that’s priceless when you live on it,” she says. After the more hectic pace in town, the Wilds were also looking for privacy and serenity. “Everyone comments when they come here that it’s so still,” says Deborah. “We’ve got space, privacy and views.” While the majestic views, which stretch from the Byron Bay lighthouse to Broken Head, are truly awe-inspiring, the unique collection of accommodation and infrastructure on offer is also top class. The main residence is a study in modern simplicity, with vast open-plan living spaces, travertine floors, vaulted timber ceilings, a German designer kitchen and five bedrooms with en suites. A covered balcony looks over a heated infinity pool. “I love the pool,” says Deborah. “You can look out of the kitchen window while you’re cooking, and you’ve got this beautiful pool with a wet edge that is in line with the ocean horizon. On a really clear day, you can see the whales when they’re breaching, you can watch boats going past, and you can even see how the surf’s breaking at Broken Head from here.”
Deborah says the main bedroom is another favourite retreat, with its handcrafted timber ceilings and views over the landscaped gardens to the ocean. “Watching the sunrise from the bedroom through the wraparound windows is just extraordinary,” she says. Beyond the championship-sized tennis court, a second luxury, five-bedroom residence, approved for commercial use and positioned to maximise privacy for the main house, offers open-plan living spaces, a gym, a steam room and its own heated pool. There are also two self-contained bungalows for guests, a citrus orchard and vegetable gardens, pockets of rainforest, and plenty of wildlife, including echidnas, wallabies, koalas and a host of native bird species. In addition to the residential accommodation, Hercules plays host to office space for up to 20 staff that includes a kitchen, bathroom and a conference centre with a high-quality, audiovisual fit-out. You’ll also find a fully soundproofed film and sound recording studio. The Wilds say the facilities have been used for training purposes, workshops, business
YOUR AGENT Oliver Hallock, Century 21 Plateau Lifestyle
“There is an intrinsic quality to this property whereby when you’re there, you don’t feel the world imposing on you. You’ve got space to breathe.”
presentations, yoga and meditation, and executive retreats. Selling agent Oliver Hallock says Hercules offers a business opportunity unlike any other because you have near-new, commercially-rated buildings and facilities. “This is an incredible luxury property – really one of a kind – with the largest, flat parcel of land on the escarpment and the most amazing views,” he says. “I’d be surprised if there weren’t 10 or 15 people nationally or internationally looking for an estate that caters for them in the way this one does.” Hallock is expecting interest from a wealthy businessperson looking to use the commercial infrastructure, as well as A-listers wanting a lavish estate for hosting family and friends. “People love these high-level, retreat-type facilities, and there wouldn’t be another more desirable location than in Byron Bay sitting on top of Coopers Shoot.” Of course, being so close to town means you can be at the restaurants, boutiques and beaches of Byron Bay within a six-minute drive. Ballina airport is a 25-minute drive, and Gold Coast airport a 45-minute drive.
“A lot of people [who come here] expect that they’ll go out a lot, they’ll go to the beach a lot, and then they don’t go anywhere,” says Robert. “They ... just unwind and let go. They’ve got everything they need right here.” This feature is part of a Domain Prestige Deluxe package.
Coopers Shoot Byron Bay 59 Coopers Shoot Road $22 million
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For sale Agent: Century 21 Plateau Lifestyle, Oliver Hallock 0455 287 122
Open your camera and hover your phone over the app code to view listing
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KILLARA 29 Lynwood Avenue
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DISTINGUISHED LANDMARK ESTATE, ON TWO TITLES ‘The Tudors’ is a landmark estate set on one of Killara’s prestigious East Side avenues and positioned high on a magnificent 2,309sqm block on two seperate titles with full-size tennis court and heated pool. Your own private haven, 200m walk to Killara Station & easy access to a fine selection of elite private schools, and in the Killara High Catchment area
belleproperty.com/80P2073
AUCTION As Advertised VIEW As Advertised
Geoff Dean 0404 016 015 Jenny Zhang 0419 685 652
A DV ER T IS IN G F E AT UR E
APARTMENT LIFE
B y E LICIA M U RR AY
Wow factor on the waterfront
The apartments have calming interiors that contrast with the eyecatching harbour views.
This trio of towers draws inspiration from the warm light, dramatic beauty and glamour of Sydney and its harbour.
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arangaroo’s transformation from maritime heartland into a world-class waterfront precinct is one step closer, with the sales launch of the next stage of One Sydney Harbour. Lendlease’s ultra-glamorous residential development in Barangaroo South hit the headlines in late 2019 with the sale of a ninebedroom combined penthouse and subpenthouse for $140 million. The deal smashed the record for Australia’s most expensive home – the first time an apartment has claimed the title. Homes in Residences Two recently hit the market and the display suite is now open to the public by appointment only. At 235 metres tall, the second of three towers at One Sydney Harbour comprises 322 homes across 68 levels in a building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with London-based interior designers Daniel Goldberg of State of Craft and Chris Darling of Darling Associates. The waterfront project is the third time Piano has worked in tandem with Goldberg. The powerhouse design duo previously teamed up for The Shard and Shard Place in London. Prices range from in excess of $2 million for one-bedroom apartments to more than $12 million for luxury homes with north-facing views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Piano, who shot to fame for his work on the Pompidou Centre in Paris in the 1970s, says he envisioned the trio of towers as crystalline forms suspended between sky and water, reflecting the sunlight, the harbour and the city lights.
“Every place has a story to tell,” Piano says. “It’s about making something that tells the essence of this city. The sense of transparency, sense of light, that’s why we immediately started to think about these buildings as being like crystals, playing one to another.” Goldberg says the spaces are all about the connection between the inside and the outside. “One Sydney Harbour is about light and lightness, the sky and the ocean; a sense of being suspended above Sydney Harbour.” A fully glazed facade and private winter gardens draw the sense of the sky, the harbour and the city into the homes. The apartments are designed to provide a calm backdrop to the ever-changing drama of the views. “We wanted to capture the essence of the warm light, the dramatic harbour site and the Sydney lifestyle: a vivid contrast of untamed nature and cosmopolitan refinement, relaxed outdoor living and elegant hospitality, the ancient landmass and the fluctuating Pacific.” Buyers can select from three collections – Luxury, Signature and Harbour – each of which offer two different finishes schemes. Finishes include pale limestone flooring with a sandy texture set against Australian spotted gum wall panelling and patinated bronze tones. Residents will have access to a private lounge, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, indoor and outside pools and a private dining room with a commercial kitchen. There are landscaped terraces and a billiards and wine room, as well as Pilates, yoga and treatment rooms. A 24-hour concierge will be available in each tower. One Sydney Harbour neighbours Watermans Cove (a new amphitheatre-style boardwalk on
the water), Hickson Park and a vibrant collection of high-end waterfront restaurants, cafes and boutiques. The executive development director at Lendlease, Leanne Boyle, highlights the sustainability credentials of the project and the wider Barangaroo South area – Australia’s first carbon-neutral precinct. Residences One recently achieved a 6-star Green Star design review rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. “We continually try to push boundaries to lead in this field and are on track to achieve the same rating with Residences Two,” Boyle says. “This is a significant project for our business as it represents the final piece of our involvement in Barangaroo South and will create a legacy place for Sydney.” The head of residential at Lendlease, Ben Christie, says the display suite’s position next to the site allows buyers to experience the prestige finishes and incredible views as they watch their home come to life. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
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LIVING IN
28.170370° S, 153.434360° E
CURRUMBIN VALLEY
This unspoilt area feels like a remote pocket of paradise, but it’s only 15 minutes from the Gold Coast airport. B y K ATE FARRE LLY Farmer and veteran David Freeman is so
Earth here,” Freeman says. “I’ve got temperate,
smitten with the Currumbin Valley, he plans to
subtropical and tropical plants growing and the
stay here for ever. He even knows exactly where
quality of the soil means I can grow nutrient-
he wants his ashes spread: under the ginkgo tree
dense food.”
that stands proudly on his family’s property, Freeman’s Organic Farm. He is completely enchanted by the valley where his great-grandfather Arthur Freeman pioneered
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“The farm has become the de facto community mums and bubs group on Friday, yoga on
of bananas a year at its peak.
Saturday and live music on Sunday.”
The quiet life PRD Real Estate Burleigh Heads agent John
here helping Dad on the farm in the afternoon,”
Fischer says people move to the valley for more
he says. But military service called and Freeman
space and a quieter lifestyle.
spent 28 years as a military lawyer, with tours of
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coffee at the farm cafe.
thriving business producing 2.5 million kilograms
“I’d have nippers in the morning then I’d be up
Gold Coast 507 Currumbin Creek Road
Locals flock to the farm to buy freshly picked
hub for the valley,” Freeman says. “We’ve got a
Growing up, Freeman split his time between the
Currumbin Valley
produce and catch up with neighbours over a
Australia’s banana industry back in 1915, his
farm and a beach house.
YOU MAY LIKE ...
“There are a lot more people wanting to be
duty in Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. When he
more sustainable, to live off the grid, grow their
Expressions of interest: Close June 14
retired 13 years ago, Freeman was in dire need of
own food and have their own chickens,” he says.
Agent: PRD Real Estate Burleigh Heads,
the valley’s healing qualities.
“We’re seeing retirees and families as well as
John Fischer 0474 141 551
people looking for equestrian properties.”
Bordering Currumbin Creek and boasting its own
Farm fresh
Fischer says it’s only a short drive to the beach
lagoon with a swimming hole, this 4.24-hectare
A unique landscape formed out of a volcano
and a 15-minute drive to the airport. Arts and
estate features a three-bedroom main residence
millions of years ago, Currumbin Valley lies in the
crafts thrive in the valley and a new high-end
with a commercial kitchen and a separate studio.
Gold Coast hinterland and is home to nearly
function centre, The Valley Estate, has opened its
2000 people. Best known for its mountainous
doors for weddings and corporate events.
terrain, lush rainforest and picturesque rock pools and waterfalls, it’s also a farmer’s paradise. “Because of its unique microclimate, fertile soil and reliable rainfall, you can grow any plant on
Freeman says there are top schools, universities and a first-class hospital all within easy reach. “It’s such a spectacularly beautiful valley with a really great energy,” he says.
Currumbin Valley has no shortage of natural
Hover your camera over the
beauty, organic produce
code to see Domain listings
or community spirit.
in Currumbin Valley
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End of Financial Year Clearance Looking for Brisbane City property returning 7% + Yields…
Sale 1707/79 Albert Street, Brisbane City
Sale 1811/108 Albert Street, Brisbane City
Sale
Sale
26 Felix Street, Brisbane City
108 Margaret Street, Brisbane City
There is no better time to be investing in Brisbane City Apartments. • Yields are high between 6.5% up to 10% • Prices are below replacement cost • Future growth potential in rents and capital • Low supply of new units • A selection of 1 Bed city units priced from $140,000 up to $400,000 Brisbane is experiencing billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and it is an exciting time to invest. raywhitebrisbanecity.com.au
Dean Yesberg 0408 558 882 dean.yesberg@raywhite.com
Karl Yesberg 0439 797 266 karl.yesberg@raywhite.com
THE PROPERTY INVESTOR
GETTY IMAGES
The Gold Coast’s heady new heights Baby boomers, expats and interstate migrants are being lured by the Gold Coast property market’s shiny outlook. B y SU E WILLIAMS
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Agents expect the Gold Coast market’s solid growth to continue for the next five to 10 years.
hinking of investing in property on the Gold Coast? Local agent Michael Kollosche has some sage advice. “Throw a dart at anything at the moment, and it’ll do pretty well,” he says. “The fundamentals of the Gold Coast market are just so strong; there’s probably never been a better time to invest here.” While prices have been rising steadily – houses in Broadbeach-Burleigh chalked up a remarkable increase of 27.1 per cent last year – everything points to such sterling capital growth continuing. Many ageing baby boomers are now buying second homes on the Gold Coast, cashed-up expats are purchasing in advance for when they’re allowed to return home, and interstate migration is currently at the highest level of the past 15 years, with many Sydneysiders and Melburnians able to work remotely. Business, in short, is booming. “And it sounds as if we’re very likely to get the 2032 Olympics; we’re the hot favourites,” says Kollosche. “Of course, we’re also running out of
land in the central part of the Gold Coast, so that will force prices up higher still. “The future is going to be very bright for the Gold Coast, regardless of what happens nationally, and we’ll see strong growth for at least the next five years, possibly 10.”
“In this market, you’ve got to be quick when you find something.” Prices have certainly been increasing in leaps and bounds, with those for houses in Surfers Paradise growing 13.9 per cent in the year to March, and units by 13 per cent, according to the latest Domain Group figures. In Coolangatta, houses are up 11.9 per cent and units only a shade less at 11.3 per cent, and
apartments in Broadbeach-Burleigh rose by 8.3 per cent. Such a shiny outlook is now luring investors back to the Gold Coast. Buyer’s agent Tony Coughran of Gold Coast Property Advisors recently bought a five-yearold, four-bedroom house on 650 square metres in Gilston, at 4 Moondani Drive, for $735,000 for an international investor. He rented it out four days after settlement for $780 per week, a 5.5 per cent yield. “I think the sweet spot for investors at the moment are houses up to $800,000, which are renting out well, and duplexes – with much lower body corporate fees than apartments – for around $500,000,” Coughran says. “Good locations closer to the water and amenities are a great option, but, in this market, you’ve got to be quick when you find something. We’ve got a lot of people from Sydney and Melbourne now buying properties to rent out, planning to move into them later.” On the northern boundary of the Gold Coast, Jason Read of Raine & Horne Coomera says family houses are a great bet with parents commuting to Brisbane. At Broadbeach, Jane Lofthouse of Harcourts says the only hurdle is supply. “So many investors are looking for somewhere to stay eight weeks a year and rent them out the rest of the time, either for full-time rentals or short stays,” she says. “Everyone, post-COVID, is now looking for lifestyle.”
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