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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have added a Manhattan pad to their international real estate collection.

The actor and country music singer’s main residence is their Nashville mansion, but the celebrity couple also has homes in Los Angeles and in Sydney.

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One of the buildings three entrances. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

Quite a first impression. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

Now they decided to add another home to their portfolio, with the purchase of a two-bedroom apartment at 108 Leonard St. for around $AU 5 million ($US3.5 million), the NY Post reports.

But the couple won’t be able to make themselves at home just yet, after recently touching back down in Austrlia, with Kidman reportedly set to begin filming a new mini-series ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’.

“I am thrilled we are able to make Nine Perfect Strangers in Australia,” Kidman earlier told The Sunday Telegraph.

“It is a great opportunity for me to give back to the community that nurtured me through so much of my career.”

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban attend the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 05, 2020 in Beverly Hills. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Their new NY home in the landmarked McKim, Mead & White building in Tribeca — which once held the grand headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company but was converted to condos in 2018 — spans the entire block between well-known Manhattan streets – Lafayette and Broadway.

The sprawling building is so large that it has three separate entrances.

You needn’t a flying car to park inside 108 Leonard’s coveted “sky garage” — just money. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

Inside the open living and dining area. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

“That’s one reason why she liked it — and there’s a garage she could drive her car into,” a source said.

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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at their Sydney home. Picture: NicoleKidman/Instagram

The ability to enter discreetly is also what Kidman prized in her last paparazzi-proof Manhattan pad, which boasted a “sky garage” that allowed residents to park their vehicles by their apartments instead of in the basement.

The common outdoor area. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

The building’s pool. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

Other amenities at 108 Leonard include an expansive indoor pool area, a hot tub, a gym and a media room.

The Aussie power couple have spent over $25 million on property in the past decade.

After getting married in 2006, Kidman and Urban are reportedly now worth more than $282 million.

The kitchens in the building feature floor-to-ceiling windows. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

The bathrooms in the building. Picture: Realtor/108 Leonard

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Parts of this article originally appeared in the NYPost and was repurposed with permission.

The post Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban drop $5 million on new Manhattan pad appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Only registered bidders were allowed to attend Buxton agent Tony Moorfoot’s recent auction of this Highton property. Picture: Peter Ristevski

A GEELONG real estate agent has sounded a warning over public auctions conducted on the city’s streets where organisers have no way to control crowds during coronavirus restrictions.

It comes as locked down Melbourne buyers were turned away from Geelong open homes at the weekend and three agents were forced into isolation after coming into contact with a COVID-19 case at inspections.

Auction crowds are limited to 20 people in Geelong under current restrictions but Buxton director Ben Riddle said there was confusion about the rules.

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Mr Riddle said there was no way to control the number of attendees if public auctions were held out the front of properties.

“It’s frustrating to see 60, 70 or 80 people gathered at an auction, you can’t control that environment,” he said.

“We’re not doing public auctions at the front of the house where you can’t control the attendees.”

His company has moved towards restricted auctions, with only registered bidders allowed to attend in confined outdoor spaces like a backyard.

Lots of interested onlookers watched on as another Highton property was auctioned earlier this month. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Mr Riddle said some Melbourne buyers also defied bans to try and attend open homes on the weekend.

Under the current rules people living in restricted areas can only inspect properties in regions like Geelong by private appointment.

Agents must also limit the number of people inspecting open homes to 20 at any one time.

“We turned away three Melbourne people at open homes on the weekend because we ask for ID,” Mr Riddle said.

“These were people that turned up and we basically had to say to them ‘you can’t come in the home’ but these people are allowed to turn up to the front of a house at the auction.”

These Melbourne buyers were lucky enough to secure a home in Belmont at auction the weekend before the latest lockdown began. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Regional real estate agents have previously raised concerns some Melbourne buyers could be using property inspections as an excuse to escape lockdown.

McGrath, Geelong director Jim Cross said public safety was the agency’s highest priority.

“We are strictly adhering to all current COVID guidelines,” Mr Cross said.

“We’ve found that most people who are visiting homes are very respectful and they are expecting to see the rules adhered to.”

Maxwell Collins, Geelong director Nick Lord said his agency now required people to register to attend its auctions.

The crowd socially distanced at this Geelong auction on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

The number of Geelong properties being auctioned has increased in recent weeks, with 12 scheduled to go under the hammer this Saturday.

Several have sold to Melbourne buyers, who were able to bid remotely or employ an agent to bid on their behalf.

The Real Estate Institute of Victoria has confirmed buyers are still able move home during lockdown, even if it involves travelling to a different region.

The post Coronavirus: Warning over crowd control confusion at Geelong auctions appeared first on realestate.com.au.

A private piece of beach paradise is on the market.

A rare chance to “own the sand” at your own private beach is part of the one-of-a-kind offering at this Mornington Peninsula retreat.

The beach is on title at 2 Mentor Road, Balnarring Beach, which has come up for sale for the first time in generations.

With a slice of private waterfront paradise as part of the package, the property has a hefty $4.5-$5m price guide.

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Aerial view of the private beach for sale.

2 Mentor Rd, Balnarring Beach has a $4.5-$5m price guide.

McEwing and Partners director Dean Phillips said it was difficult to find private beaches for sale “anywhere in Australia”.

“A chance to own the sand on a private beach is the reality of what’s on title here,” Mr Phillips said.

“It’s a very unique offering with gorgeous views and absolutely no foot traffic nearby.”

The modern house has recently been renovated.

The ultimate beach house kitchen.

North-facing windows bring in plenty of light.

He said the modern four-bedroom house was in a “magical location”, set in an exclusive street shared by just three other tightly held houses.

“All the houses have been held by families for generations … some have been passed down for up to 80 years,” he said.

“This property was built about 10 years ago by a high-end peninsula builder and his fabulous stylist wife. The property had been in the family for a very long time.”

A private deck right by the sand is the perfect spot.

There are treetop views from the first floor.

Four bedrooms are at the house.

Renovations have added high-quality finishes, including a new kitchen with stone waterfall benchtops, a DeLonghi gas stove and coastal pendant light shades. It’s connected to a north-facing living room with a fireplace, and a theatre and games room are upstairs.

The large backyard includes a self-cleaning pool, sleek undercover terrace with a barbecue zone and an outdoor shower.

If the beach wasn’t enough, there’s a pool too.

Entertain with a built-in barbecue and fridge.

The holiday haven is complete with four huge bedrooms and three luxe bathrooms across two levels.

Mr Phillips said the property was expected to attract plenty of interest from those looking for a “holiday home on the peninsula that’s a little bit different to those in more suburban settings”.

The retreat is for private sale.

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The post Mornington Peninsula private beach for sale with dream home appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Pumpkin Island hit the market on Thursday for the first time in 17 years with a price tag of $25m.

A renowned island has hit the market for just the second time since 1961, with an optional oyster licence so guests can shuck to their hearts’ content fresh off the rocks.

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Stunning scenery across the island.

There are two oceanfront bungalows and five self-contained guest cottages.

Pumpkin Island hit the market on Thursday for the first time in 17 years with a price tag of $25m. Two years ago it was named Australia’s most sustainable hotel at the World Boutique Hotel Awards, and became the first to offset 150 per cent of its annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to agents Pat O’Driscoll and Deborah Cullen of Knight Frank Australia – Sydney.

The island comes with a 36-passenger boat.

There is a licensed bar and lounge as well.

“Incredibly, this is only the second time Pumpkin Island has come to the market and the second time since 1961, with the last sale being in 2003,” was how they described it.

The island in The Keppels, is 20 minutes by boat from the famous Great Keppel Island, both located off the coast of Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland.

It was described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Breathtaking spot to get away from it all.

According to Knight Frank, the oyster lease belongs to the owner and “can be sold with the island allowing guests to shuck their own oysters off the rocks”.

The island comes with a boutique eco-tourist resort that can take 34 guests, with five self-contained cottages, two oceanfront bungalows, staff quarters, a manager’s cottage, double storey lookout building, and a licensed bar and lounge function venue.

The resort opened to guests in 1964, and comes with a children’s playground, two registered moorings, a helicopter landing pad and a custom-built 36-passenger boat.

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The post Own your own award-winning island, oyster shucking optional appeared first on realestate.com.au.