Lucrative returns from prime investments

Real estate has proven to remain stable and resilient, even during crises.

Whereas other investments might become volatile in times of uncertainty, real estate is a hard asset and will always be in demand. As long as one does extensive research on the developer, the kind of property and its potential, and as long as the acquisition is done right, investing on property pays off. We look at some luxury developments that exemplify how such can be a stable and reliable asset for capital appreciation.

Trousdale Estates

Beverly Hills, California
$13.7 million (2014) to $71 million (2019)

It was last sold for $13.7 million in 2014. It was a one-story, 10,000 sq ft home with a detached guest house, tennis court and a swimming pool, all standing on one acre of land. In 2019, the property underwent a major makeover with a new 12,119 sq ft mansion with seven bedrooms and a newly-built guesthouse. It was then said to have been bought by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp for a jaw-dropping $71 million.

24 Middle Gap Road

The Peak, Hong Kong
$141.8 million (2004) to $451 million (2019)

Hong Kong has been known to have the most expensive real estate in the world and 24 Middle Gap Road proves just that.

Nestled in one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive and most prestigious gated communities, the single detached home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, separate living and dining rooms, two family rooms, a main kitchen and a preparation kitchen, helper’s quarters, a two-car garage, a balcony, a terrace and a swimming pool. It was first sold for $141.8 million in 2004 and as of May 2019, it has an asking price of HK$3.5 billion or roughly $451 million. The website Executive Homes HK lists it as no longer available.

Red Gate Farm

Aquinnah, Massachusetts
$1 million (1979) to $65 million list price (2019)

Purchased by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1979 reportedly for $1 million, Red Gate Farm in Martha’s Vineyard is an oceanfront 340-acre estate. It was once a sheep farm with just a small hunting cabin. It then underwent transformation into a serene escape with a Cape Cod-style main house with a formal sitting room, drawing room, living room, family room, a library, dining room and an expansive kitchen, among others. It has four en suite bedrooms on the second level. It also features two decks which are perfect for dining al fresco.

A two-story guest house also stands on the property, with four bedrooms, three baths, a living room, kitchen and laundry room. On Red Gate Farm’s grounds are a vineyard/winery, a pool, a tennis court, a private beach and a boat house/dock. In 2019, it was listed by Christie’s International Real Estate for $65 million.

Owlwood Estate

Los Angeles, California
$90 million (2016 price) to $115 million (2018)

Built in 1936 by renowned architect Robert D. Farquhar, Owlwood is a sprawling estate in the heart of Holmby Hills. It has a history of celebrity owners which includes Cher, 20th Century Fox chairman Joseph Schenck and Hotel Bel-Air founder Joseph Drown. Behind Owlwood’s lush and verdant hedges are a nine-bedroom, 10-bathroom villa in lavish stucco, rolling lawns, a tennis court, and an Olympic-size pool. It is the largest compound in Holmby Hills at 10 acres.

Admiralty Arch

London
$196.5 million (2016)

Imagine living on a historical landmark with a grand view of a palace and other notable tourist spots. These are just some of what this 1,393 sqm flat offers, nestled at the reinvented Admiralty Arch.

Listed for sale for $196.5 million in 2016, the luxury apartment has 12 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The owner has the option of splitting the sprawling flat into four smaller apartments. Previous residents of the Admiralty Arch include Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming. The British government put up the historical arch for sale in 2011 for a reported $98 million. It was bought in 2015 by Spanish real estate developer and CEO of Prime Investors Capital Rafael Serrano who decided to reinvent the arch into a hotel and private residences.

Sources: Christiesrealestate.com, Executivehomeshk.com, Jamesedition.com, Mansionglobal.com, Lamudi.com.ph, Realtor.com