Luxury lifestyle on the waterfront

A Sorrento canal-front five-bedroom property fetches $8.1m

Aluxury waterfront home in Sorrento has sold off-market for $8.1m. Matt Lanyon of Coastal handled the sale of 13 San Remo Blvd, a three-level home with 30m of canal frontage.

The property, which includes three levels of contemporary living, a swimming pool, cinema, wine cellar, two-car garage and its own private boat pontoon, sold to a family from Broadbeach Waters.

It hit the market in February, 2023 before being pulled off 12 months later.

“One of my clients reached out and knew that it had been on the market previously,” Mr Lanyon said.

“They were looking at a couple of different options in Sorrento.

“They wanted a north-facing property just off the main river, and this house being on a double block ticked a lot of boxes for them.”

Mr Lanyon said the family inspected the house twice before inking the $8.1m deal.

“It’s the highest sale for a property fronting the canal in Sorrento,” he said.

“There’s still a lack of quality stock on the market and buyers are still paying good prices for those premium properties.”

Vendors Lindsay and Judy Wood bought the property in 2003, but at the time it was nothing like the luxury residence the couple envisaged.

“It was one of those low-rise, 80s-style three-bedroom houses, but it had this great location and incredible view,” Mrs Wood said.

“We’re builders ourselves and were looking for a project, so we demolished pretty much everything and only left one wall standing.”

With four young children, the aim was to create a family home with a timeless design.

“We sat there for 12 months looking at the view, considering what was needed,” Mr Wood said.

“We tossed ideas around, we’d go for drives to pick up on things we liked in other properties, then incorporated them into the design.”

The result was a spacious fivebedroom, seven-bathroom home while the view retains pride of place throughout the property.

With entry via a port cochere and portico, the lower level includes living areas, a kitchen with butler’s pantry, a cinema, private guest suite, and extra bedroom.

The middle level offers two wings connected by a central living area and adjacent office, with the master suite located in one wing and two bedrooms in the other.

Meanwhile, the upper floor is dedicated to an entertaining lounge with its own private balcony, spa and wet bar.

Outdoor living is a feature of the property, with the lower two levels offering a seamless transition between the interior living spaces and expansive outdoor terraces, all of which overlook the swimming pool and landscaped garden, then down the Nerang River to the Gold Coast cityscape beyond.

The highest sale in Sorrento is $9m, paid in 2018 for a riverfront property at 8 Marseille Court.

A family twice inspected 13 San Remo Boulevard, Sorrento before buying the property.