Lucy Macken

Economic headwinds? Not this high up the property price chain. Buyers splashed almost $1 billion on the 20 most expensive homes of the year.

Lucy Macken looks back on the best houses, biggest buyers and bumper stories as she finishes her stint covering prestige property.

2024 is no time for high hopes, but if anyone can take a philosophical approach to the result it should be Paul von Bergen.

The Hollywood A-lister has toyed with the idea of selling over the years, but at that price, wouldn’t you open the door to buyers?

Intrigue has surrounded the house ever since the owners walked out a few years ago with teacups left on the kitchen bench and shoes lying by the front door.

He paid a record-setting price last year when he purchased his 16-room mansion with indoor swimming pool, and is no doubt hoping to better the price.

Just before Sydney’s property market closes for the summer comes one of the year’s most anticipated listings – the home of a famous Lebanon expat.

How much is open public space worth? Council paid $2.515 million for one waterfront block in 2002, but are now willing to let it go.

Annabelle Shamir paid $30 million for a Bellevue Hill house three years ago. It just sold for about $42 million.

There are only seven houses that line the waterfront on Palm Beach’s Waratah Road, so when one is for sale it’s with good reason.