A coastal retreat from acclaimed Melbourne architects waits until the occupants are inside before revealing its true delights.

The articulated cedar facade is all that’s visible from the kerb at 17 Boroondara Rd, Sorrento, framing the entry and concealing a private guest suite and garaging before opening to a central landscaped courtyard where a pool and expansive entertainment areas are star attractions.

The artistry of the entry captured the attention of the vendors, who found the residence, built in timber and concrete, in 2016.

“I opened the door and said this is it, this is the place. It’s just such a beautiful, inviting home from the front door,” says the vendor.

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The house, which has a price guide of $4.95 million, was original built by Genevieve and Chris de Campo, of de Campo Architects, and it’s clear the subsequent owners have enjoyed their inspiration.

“The main thing about it is you can be in among all of lively Sorrento, but at the same time when you’re inside the house, you really are away from it all,” the vendors say.

“It’s beautifully designed by Chris and Genevieve and it ticked all the boxes because people can have their own space.”

Full-height pivot doors link indoor and outdoor living spaces, connecting the kitchen to a sheltered outdoor area with an open fireplace and built-in barbecue.

A striking oak island bench anchors the well appointed kitchen that joins a dining area and moves around to the main lounge.

The residence envelopes the landscaped courtyard, with a study and main bedroom suite in the main home, and the separate guest suite at the front.

Three more bedrooms and a living space are in the lower level that also contains two bathrooms and laundry.

The home is named Amagansett, a nod to the Hamptons town on Long Island, New York, and has helped the vendors create many memories with their adult children, family and friends on the Mornington Peninsula.

“Since 2016 it was one of the most delightful places to have,” say the vendors.

“We have friends and family overseas, so it’s always been an attraction, because you can host up to 30 people comfortably, and we’ve done that, and you can sleep more than comfortably 10 to 15.

“But it gave us that luxury of inviting people – and certainly people from everywhere enjoyed coming and have fond memories of that place.”

The vendors say the open plan design allows an easy flow between different areas of the house, and can separate the lower floor if you have children.

“Our bedroom is huge and had its own ensuite and then downstairs the three bedrooms have two bathrooms and then there’s the sleep out, which is like another little house for someone who literally has the key to get in and out without disturbing the rest of the house.

“It’s just beautifully done.”

It’s hosted celebrations such as engagement parties, Christmas and birthdays, but with adult children settling abroad, the vendors find they’re spending more time overseas and away from Sorrento.

The position near Sorrento Park is ideal at high season, such as Christmas and Easter when the short walk to the shops means leaving the car in the garage.

Sotheby’s International Peninsula agent Rob Curtain says the tightly-held location and 1086sq m landholding is part of the attraction.

“It’s actually, for Sorrento, a very large block of land. With the privacy and the great indoor-outdoor dining areas and then literally at the door you’re in the park across the road, you’re on the beach and you’re into town in five minutes,” Curtain says.

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NRL legend ‘The King’ Wally Lewis was on the hunt for a new palace just hours before the Broncos’ drought-breaking grand final victory.

The Maroons legend caused a stir inspecting a luxury coastal home in bayside Wynnum, ahead of Brisbane’s epic 26-22 win over the Melbourne Storm — the club’s first premiership in 19 years.

Lewis and wife Lynda spent an hour looking through the property at 50 Prospect St, taking in ocean views and posing for photos with starstruck locals.

Marketing agent Karen Chappell, of Place Bulimba, wouldn’t confirm the couple’s purchasing intentions, but said the home fit the famous number 6’s preference for waterfront living.

Lewis said the view was so stunning it would be hard to put a price on it, according to the agent.

“With the water, the views, and the lifestyle, Wynnum and Manly have never been more desirable,” Ms Chappell said.

“It’s the perfect spot for someone like Wally who clearly loves being near the ocean.”

The 65-year-old former Queensland and Australia captain, who played for Wynnum-Manly and the Brisbane Broncos, has echoed his on-field success in the property market, selling a Birkdale home with a pontoon, tennis court and pool for $2m more than he paid for it in 2020.

He had bought that waterfront parcel for just $275,000 in 1994 — the same year he played his final game for Queensland — and sold it for $2.27m.

“There were about 10 groups through, but everyone’s attention was on the stunning views and of course, Wally and his wife,” Ms Chappell said.

“He was so friendly, chatting to everyone and soaking up those views. You could tell he loved it.”

Hours later, the Broncos delivered a long-sought victory over Melbourne, storming back from ten points down in a season thriller led by Reece Walsh in a performance reminiscent of Lewis’ own match-turning feats.

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Set high on one of Wynnum’s most elevated streets, the double-storey home that cuaght The King’s eye had been renovated to capture sweeping views from both levels.

Features included 409sqm of living space with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, a 17m heated magnesium mineral lap pool with a splash zone, travertine bathrooms, and lush tropical landscaping.

The home will go under the hammer at Place’s flagship auction event, The Day, on October 25, where dozens of properties will be sold across Brisbane in what’s shaping up to be one of the agency’s biggest schedules of the year.

Auctioneer and Place One Group principal, Sam Kelso, said the home had been a crowd favourite since launch, with buyer interest across the board reflecting Brisbane’s continued market strength.

“Buyer activity is thriving across Brisbane right now,” Mr Kelso said.

“There’s so much energy in the market, and when you combine a home like this with a view like that, it’s no wonder footy legends are looking for themselves.

“The Day always brings incredible momentum, and this one will be no exception.”

Records show the 2000-built home on a 506 sqm lot last sold in 2019 for $1.128m.

The property goes under the hammer on October 25 at 1pm.

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It was the TV show “about nothing” that became one of the greatest sitcoms of all time and a pop culture phenomenon.

Airing from 1989 to 1998, Seinfeld followed the misadventures of stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his close-knit circle: best friend George Costanza (Jason Alexander), ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and quirky neighbour Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards).

Almost three decades since the series ended, the cast’s real estate moves have been anything but ordinary.

From luxurious penthouses to coastal retreats, the stars of the show have amassed impressive property portfolios worth a considerable fortune.

And it’s not just the main cast who have made savvy property plays. Seinfeld co-creator Larry David and even the show’s long-suffering mailman, Newman (played by Wayne Knight), have also built impressive real estate collections.

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Here is a closer look at how the cast invested their millions, building a real estate empire that would leave their on-screen characters speechless.

Jerry Seinfeld

The show’s namesake and co-creator Jerry Seinfeld is the master of his domain, having amassed an impressive fortune.

According to Forbes, the comedian boasts a net worth of $US1.1 billion ($A1.6 billion).

A majority of the funnyman’s fortune stems from Seinfeld’s syndication profits, with the show earning an estimated $3 billion in re-run revenue since it went off-air in 1998.

Off screen, the entertainer has quite the real estate portfolio, owning several incredible properties.

His most famous residence is a sprawling 12-acre oceanfront estate in the exclusive Hamptons enclave of East Hampton, New York.

Purchased from music icon Billy Joel in 2000 for a cool $25.6 million ($A38.53 million), the property features a main house, three-bedroom guesthouse, a swimming pool and a baseball diamond that was added by the comedian, Realtor reports.

According to Architectural Digest, the house even has a $17,000 coffee maker.

Like his popular TV character, Seinfeld also has an Upper West Side apartment in New York.

In 1998, he purchased a ritzy duplex apartment in one of the Upper West Side’s most iconic buildings for $4.35 million ($A6.54 million).

The place has 3.6m-high ceilings, a 41sqm terrace, three bedrooms, and a fireplace. Residents have their own full-time doorman and a private gym.

A passionate car collector, he also reportedly owns a multimillion-dollar garage in Manhattan to house his prized Porsches.

The three-storey garage features four parking spots, an office, and a club room with pool table.

Seinfeld’s wife, Jessica, added this four-bedroom, waterfront home to the couple’s portfolio in 2010 for $1.05 million ($A1.6 million).

When the property was on the market over a decade ago, it was touted as offering a 30m-stretch of sandy beach and a lakeside gazebo.

Central Park bachelor pad

Before Seinfeld scooped up his massive Central Park West duplex, he lived in a smaller two-bedroom apartment with picture windows and a fireplace.

He sold the unit in the Bolivar building in 2006 for $2.5 million (A$3.8 million) — a bit above his asking price.

Hollywood Hills home

While filming his hit series, Seinfeld lived in a spacious Los Angeles mansion in the city’s upscale Bird Streets neighbourhood.

The lot included a four-bedroom, six-bathroom main house and a separate, one-bedroom guesthouse.

According to Forbes, the TV star bought the spot in 1992 for $2.8 million and sold it six years later for $3.2 million to a Seinfeld producer.

As for his Southern California holdings today, he likely owns a hangar at the Santa Monica Airport and a couple of other commercial properties, but little is known of his residential properties in the area.

Colorado retreat

Seinfeld was also the long-time owner of a 27-acre compound in Telluride.

The Colorado vacation home resembles a ski lodge, with its 11 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, yoga studio, gym, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

According to records, the actor purchased the property in 2007 for $7.55 million ($A11.4 million) and sold it in 2022 for $14 million ($A21 million).

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

With an estimated net worth of $US250 million ($A378 million), Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who portrayed the long-suffering Elaine Benes, has made her own mark on the property world.

Adding to her own considerable wealth, she is also the daughter of the late businessman Gérard Louis-Dreyfus.

The French-American financier was reportedly worth $US4 billion ($A6 billion) at the time of his death in 2016.

However, the actress denied reports that her father was a billionaire.

“Reports of my father’s wealth are, in fact, greatly exaggerated in the press,” she told The New Yorker in 2018.

“He’s referred to as a billionaire, and I’m referred to by some heinous term like ‘billionaire heiress’. It’s incorrect.

“My father — unfortunately — was never a billionaire. Far from it.”

Louis-Dreyfus and her husband, Brad Hall, own an eco-friendly oceanfront home in the celebrity hotspot of Montecito, California.

The four bedroom property features energy-efficient appliances, rooftop photovoltaics, solar water heating, ample natural daylighting, sustainable hardwoods, and a retractable sunroof or “thermal chimney” that draws hot air up and out of the home.

The couple also owned a residence in LA’s Pacific Palisades until it was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades Fire.

Prior to the fire, their house was worth at least $US15 million to $US20 million ($A22.7 million to $A30.2 million),

The pair bought the five-bedroom Mediterranean-style abode in the early 1990s, according to the Daily Mail.

Jason Alexander and Michael Richards

Jason Alexander, best known for his role as the perennially frustrated George Costanza, has an estimated net worth of $US50 million ($A75 million).

He is notoriously private about his real estate holdings, though it is known that he resides in Los Angeles.

Michael Richards, the man who brought the eccentric Cosmo Kramer to life, has an estimated net worth of about $US30 million ($A45 million). He currently resides in Glendale, California.

According to public records, the actor paid $US525,000 ($A795,000) for a home in Studio City, California.

A few months after Seinfeld ended in 1998, Richards sold the home for $US810,000 ($A1.2 million).

He also owned a home in the Pacific Palisades, which he purchased back in 1996 for $US1.75 million ($A2.2 million).

The ​​Mediterranean-style house has full views of the Pacific Ocean from nearly every room and is now worth a reported $US8-10 million to ($A10-12 million).

Wayne Knight

Playing the show’s memorable mailman, Wayne Knight has an estimated net worth of $10 million ($A15 million).

In 1998, at the peak of his Seinfeld success, the actor purchased a home in the Toluca Lakes area of Los Angeles for $US1.35 million ($A2 million).

Today, the property is likely worth $US4-$US5 million ($A6-$A7.5 million).

Larry David

Seinfeld co-creator and the man behind the cringe-inducing antics of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David, has a net worth estimated at a staggering $400 million ($A605 million).

The TV star’s fortune took a huge hit after his 2007 divorce from ex-wife Laurie David.

The Emmy-winner gave his former spouse half of his net worth at the time, roughly $US200-$US300 million ($A302-$A454 million).

Laurie also received future syndication royalties from both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

David has made some “pretty, pretty, pretty good” moves in the real estate market.

In 2014, the comedian sold a home in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood for $US12 million ($A18.1 million).

The seven-bedroom property features ten baths, a pool, a large guesthouse, multiple fireplaces, a living room, a family room, and a dining room.

The funnyman snapped up a home in the same area in 2006 for $US10.35 million ($A15.6 million). He owns two other homes in the Palisades.

In February 2022, David splashed $US5.7 million ($A8.6 million) for a residence in Montecito, California. Less than a year later, he sold the home for $US6.9 million ($A10.4 million).

In September 2022 Larry bought a new Montecito mansion, setting him back $US7.6 million ($A11.5 million).

He also owns a modest property in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, which he bought in 2004.

Parts of this story first appeared in Realtor and was republished with permission.

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Discipline, sacrifice and a willingness to compromise were the keys to breaking into Melbourne’s property market for a young couple who last week snapped up their first home in Ferntree Gully.

Paul Clark, who works in asbestos removal, and partner Mikayla Tidd, who juggles shifts at Woolworths with her role as a play therapy assistant for children with developmental disorders, bought in the outer east after a year of serious planning.

The pair deliberately moved before the federal government’s expanded First Home Guarantee came into effect this week, worried the scheme allowing people to buy with a 5 per cent deposit would drive up competition in the $700,000 to $800,000 bracket they were targeting.
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“We wanted to get in before demand really spiked,” Mr Clark said.

“The scheme’s great for people who are struggling with deposits, but borrowing more can bite you later.

“We figured, move early and be disciplined.”

Like many of their generation, the couple stayed at home to save.

Both praised their parents for support while they put away a portion of every pay.

“We cut back on eating out and the impulse buys,” Mr Clark said.

“Once we realised we shared the same mindset, it felt achievable.”

Ms Tidd said their strategy was to rent out the home for a few years before moving in themselves after they marry.

“Our families encouraged us – if we’re saving properly, we can stay home longer,” she said.

“We have resisted pressure to buy further out in new estates, Paul has guided my perspective on that.

“Friends have moved to Clyde North, Berwick and Pakenham to make it work, we wanted something still connected to our network and family, which is why Ferntree Gully made sense.”

Mr Clark said they both had to resist the temptation to chase perfection.

“Our generation can have champagne taste on a beer budget,” Mr Clark said.

“We had to remind ourselves to see potential, not just the finished look.”

Instead, they focused on land value and location, planning to add value with improvements over time.

“We’ll do improvements, not a bulldoze – the budget doesn’t stretch that far,” Mr Clark said.

Asked what would make life easier for first-home buyers, Mr Clark said better education early on for young people.
“A clear due-diligence list would save a lot of pain. It’s easy for inexperience to miss big issues like foundations or defects.”

Ms Tidd said even non-financial support helps.

“Just knowing what to look for, and what to ignore, makes a huge difference,” she said.

Mr Clark said the biggest lesson from the process was sticking to the basics.

“Discipline beats hype,” Mr Clark said.

“Buy something solid, add value and stick to the plan.”

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