They say home is where the heart is. But if this list is anything to go by, the world’s most expensive homes sold in 2017 have been more heart-stopping than warming. After 2016 smashed records for the planet’s biggest deals, this year was not far behind. There was a noticeable flurry of activity in the aptly named Golden State of California where the rich and famous – and we’re talking the likes of Beyoncé and Jay Z – flocked to snap up a piece of prime LA luxury. But three of the most expensive homes were all inside one development in Hong Kong. Here is a list of the most eye-watering deals over the last 12 months (prices are in US dollars).
Mount Nicholson, Hong Kong
Sold for $149m
Another year and another world’s most expensive home sale in Hong Kong. While just under the $154m price tag fetched by Peach Blossom in 2016, this 9,000 sq ft property – which includes a swimming pool, garden and basement carpark – in the Mount Nicholson development topped the leaderboard when it sold in September. Mount Nicholson also boasted the second and third biggest home purchases in Asia in 2017 with two apartments selling for $76m and $71m respectively. Snapped up by the same buyer, together they make up another transaction close to the $150m mark.
199 Knightsbridge, London
Sold for $120m
When Capital FM-owner Ashley Tabor dropped a cool £90m on a four-bedroom penthouse in prime central London this year, it became the most expensive residential purchase ever recorded by the Land Registry. Not content with his lot, Tabor swiftly revealed ambitious plans to knock through into the flat he already owns next door to create a 15,000 sq ft ‘super-flat’, although it looks like his mega ambitions could have been thwarted by planners.
432 Park Avenue, New York
Reportedly sold for $91.1m
Another ‘super-flat’ in the making? A Chinese buyer has reportedly snapped up a trio of penthouse apartments in the Rafael Viñoly-designed supertall, 432 Park Avenue. According to public records, the buyer went into contract on 4 December on the units – which span 11,906 sq ft over two floors – for the eye-watering sum of $91.1m. It smashes last year’s $87.7m stumped up by Saudi billionaire Fawaz Al Hokair for the top penthouse in the tower, although he paid a whopping $10,623 per square foot, compared to this year’s more meagre $7,651. One of the trio of condos was designed by Kelly Behun and comes with huge, 10ft windows.
454 Cuesta Way, Los Angeles
Reportedly sold for $90m
Arguably the celebrity real estate purchase of the year, Beyoncé and Jay Z reportedly dropped a hefty $90m on a contemporary new-build mansion in Bel Air back in August. The six-building Los Angeles property – with a 15-car garage, bulletproof windows and a helipad – was designed by mansion architect Paul McClean.
David Geffen’s Carbon Beach house, Malibu
Sold for $85m
Yet another California coastal purchase, media mogul Geffen’s house set on 10 acres sold in May. A month later the buyer was revealed to be Mark Walter, founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners, which owns the LA Dodgers baseball team.
39 Conduit Road, Hong Kong
Sold for $67m
This 4,971 sq ft penthouse in Hong Kong’s mid-level neighbourhood was the fourth most expensive home sold in Asia in 2017. Unlike the properties at nearby Mount Nicholson, homes here come with parking spaces. Three to be exact. And a private swimming pool.
Still up for grabs….
Missed out on one of the above? Here are three of the world’s most expensive homes that have yet to find buyers…
Villa Les Cèdres, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Price tag: $415 million
This 14-bedroom, 18,000 sq ft palatial mansion became the world’s most expensive home for sale in October. The good news for anyone on the hunt for a little getaway spot on the French Riviera is that it has yet to be snapped up. Get those cheque books out now…
The Chartwell Estate, Los Angeles
Price tag: $350m
Another one still up for grabs; this time the most expensive property on sale in the US. Listed in August, the 25,000 sq ft mansion is famous for appearing in the opening credits of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Kurt Rappaport’s beach house, Malibu
Price tag: $120m
Has it or hasn’t it? The rumour mill went into overdrive this week as whispers were heard that the most expensive house sale ever recorded in LA had fallen through. Daryl Katz, the Canadian billionaire owner of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team, was reportedly set to pay $85m for the Malibu property, which was featured in Tom Ford’s film Nocturnal Animals, plus an additional $35 for the contents of the house. But now new gossip suggests the deal has stalled.
