Phuketwan Updated Report: Photo Album Above
BEYOND VILLA, one of the most luxurious homes in the Phuket region, has been sold for about $US 24 million, Phuketwan has confirmed from real estate industry sources.
The rambling 6500 square metre property, which includes a bowling alley, a huge gymnasium and a short golf course, has been sold privately by California Fitness founder Eric Levine to a Russian buyer.
It is believed that an online video showing off all the attributes of Beyond Villa is what clinched the private sale, which would have been a coup for any local agent.
The house sits on the beachfront in ''Greater Phuket,'' just across the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket on Nanai Beach in the neighboring province of Phang Nga. For at least two years, the house has been listed for sale at $US27.5 million.
Property Report was first with the news. Phuketwan has since confirmed from independent sources that the deal has gone ahead.
While the property is stunning and has been covered handsomely in glossy magazine spreads over the past couple of years, people in the industry say it is not necessarily the most valuable villa spread in the Phuket region.
Those who have tramped through the 7000 square metre home of Hong Kong and Phuket businessman Allan Zeman as well as Beyond Villa compare the two doses of ozone opulence and reckon the Zeman property is probably superior.
A lot has to do with location. Zeman, creator of the Lan Kwai Fong entertainment sector in Hong Kong and the upmarket Andara Resort on Phuket, chose a prime Phuket headland with views across Laem Singh beach for his home away from home.
As far as we know, it's not for sale. So for now, Beyond Villa tops the list for sale price of a single home.
The property industry in and around Phuket will be delighted. It makes the other places that are going for $7 million or $8 million seem like bargains.
Phew, glad to see the locals aren't being priced out of the property market.
Posted by Tanya Millibank on August 6, 2010 22:50