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Adrian Portelli announces new auction date for Eliza and Liberty’s home from The Block as he prepares to sell the property just months after buying it for $4.5 million

Sabir Ansary — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 02:11:27 +0000

By Mary Mrad for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 10:05 PM EDT, March 22, 2024 | Updated: 10:05 PM EDT, March 22, 2024

Adriaan ‘Mr. Lambo’ Portelli has announced a new auction date for Eliza and Liberty’s The Block estate.

The high-profile entrepreneur came through for $4.3 million during the finale last November.

Portelli revealed on his Instagram Story on Saturday that the property’s auction has been rescheduled for April 7.

“The block auction that should have happened tomorrow is no longer tomorrow because it’s the biggest weekend in Melbourne,” he said, referring to the Australian Grand Prix.

‘So we postponed it and it will now be Sunday April 7. It won’t happen tomorrow.’

Adriaan ‘Mr. Lambo’ Portelli has announced a new auction date for Eliza and Liberty’s home on The Block

The stunning five-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Melbourne’s Hampton East is listed with a guide price of $2,900,000 – $3,200,000.

Located 17km from the CBD, the original classic mid-20th century brick house was spectacularly updated last year by Eliza and Liberty Paschke.

Liberty, 37 and 34, Eliza, who has no renovation experience, walked away with $1.05 million after the sale.

The spacious home has a sleek American modern design and features double-glazed windows from Woodec – perfect for protecting owners from Melbourne’s cold winters.

Portelli revealed on his Instagram Story on Saturday that the property’s auction has been rescheduled for April 7

Located 17km from the CBD, the original classic mid-20th century brick house was spectacularly updated last year by Eliza and Liberty Paschke

Highlights include a swimming pool, a large covered entertainment terrace and a sculpted garden.

There are also two ‘zoned’ living areas, including a media lounge, a home office and a ‘guest suite’, perfect for Airbnb use.

Other finishes include oak floors and copper pendant lights. Other highlights include a huge kitchen with breakfast bench.

The stunning five-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Melbourne’s Hampton East is listed with a guide price of $2,900,000 – $3,200,000

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Chicago voters reject property tax changes to fund homeless programs

Sabir Ansary — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 23:09:54 +0000

Chicago voters rejected an increase in the transfer tax on valuable properties in a referendum on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, reversing a long-standing goal of Mayor Brandon Johnson and progressive Democrats, who wanted to use new revenue to reduce homelessness in the third instead of tackling the country, remained unfulfilled. -biggest city.

The result came after days of counting ballots, including mail-in votes, that failed to be reported on Election Day.

Property groups had warned that the new rates would have been a potentially catastrophic blow to the city center office market, which was already losing value and struggling with vacancies.

The vote came at an uncertain political moment in Chicago, a Democratic-dominated city where homelessness has become more visible since the pandemic and an influx of migrants has strained resources. And the result raised questions about the strength of the city’s progressive movement, led by Mr. Johnson, who has become the dominant force in City Hall over the past decade and who has mobilized his army of volunteers to knock on doors in support of the tax change. .

“Yes, it’s a loss for Mayor Johnson and a loss for the progressive movement,” said Dick W. Simpson, a former Chicago City Council member and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who campaigned for the tax change .

The referendum called for increasing the transfer tax on properties selling for more than $1 million, while lowering the rate on properties selling for less. Advocates described it as an opportunity to level the playing field and help the city’s most vulnerable residents. Some called it a “mansion tax,” versions of which have been approved by voters in Los Angeles and Santa Fe, NM.

“Homeless people are everywhere,” said Jason Rodriguez, 41, a Northwest Side resident who supported the tax change. “It’s just a common thing, but it shouldn’t be that way. No one should be without a home, without a place to sleep.” Mr. Rodriguez said tent camps had grown near his home.

Opponents of the tax agreed that homelessness is a problem, but they questioned the wisdom and timing of the proposed solution. Office tower owners are already feeling the pinch of the post-Covid shift to remote working. And the city is struggling to respond to the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants transported by bus or plane from the southern border to the Chicago area.

“It’s not a mansion tax, it’s an immigrant tax,” said Anthony Beale, a Democratic council member from the South Side who opposed the referendum. He said he believed this would hurt the local economy.

Homelessness has become a top issue in urban centers across the country in recent years, sparking a range of responses. In Minneapolis, where there are encampments cleaned up routinelyofficials declared unsheltered homelessness public health emergency. Sacramento experimented with giving one rental to a homeless camp. Austin, Texas, has been trying to build more tiny homes. New York City, where the number of shelters reached a record high last year, has placed limits on how long some migrants can stay in city facilities.

Despite this widespread concern, voters in some places are unsure about whether to approve more spending on homeless programs. Many observers expected California voters would overwhelmingly approve a ballot measure calling on the state to spend billions to expand treatment centers and supportive housing for people with mental illness and addictions. Although the measure did pass, it did so only narrowly, and the race was not called until more than two weeks after the election.

In Chicago, Debbie Daniels, 57, a retired accountant who lives on the Northwest Side, agreed that homelessness is a growing problem. But she said changing property taxes would ultimately lead to higher costs for renters like her. And if people can’t pay their rent, she said, it could lead to more homelessness in the future.

“The landlord is going to force this on us,” Ms. Daniels said. “If the tax passes, it’s coming. It goes to the tenants of Chicago, and we’ve always been here.

Different ways of counting the city’s homeless population have yielded vastly different estimates of Chicago’s problem. Annual city counting homeless people, conducted on a single day in early 2023, showed that approximately 6,100 people were living on the streets or in homeless shelters. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit that supports the tax change, estimated that about 68,000 people in the city were homeless in 2021, a figure that includes people living temporarily with others or “doubling up” in a unit where their names are not on the lease.

But those counts were done before most migrants arrived. On Monday, officials said more than 11,000 of the estimated 37,000 migrants who have come to the Chicago area since June were still living in 23 shelters run by the city or state. City officials began expelling some migrants from shelters on Sunday.

Progressives began pitching a version of their tax plan, which they call “Bring Chicago Home,” in 2018 during Rahm Emanuel’s tenure as mayor and continued to push for it throughout Lori Lightfoot’s four-year term. But it was Mr. Johnson’s election last year that enabled what supporters saw as an opportunity to reshuffle the city’s priorities.

“This will be a long time coming for the people of Chicago,” Mr. Johnson said in the weeks before the vote. “While two administrations were reluctant, or downright negligent, it’s a different day for Chicago. That’s a good thing.”

The voting question left open exactly how and to whom the new income would be spent. Even with the transfer tax reduction for properties selling for less than $1 million, supporters estimate the referendum would lead to at least $100 million a year in additional revenue for homelessness and affordable housing programs.

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I can’t sell my £7 million property; people say it is cursed

Jeffrey Bailey — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 13:25:20 +0000

THE accident-after-accident story of the “saddest ever” Grand Designs property continues as the owner won’t be able to sell the house for another decade.

Grand Designs’ saddest building may not find a new owner for at least a decade because “sadness is baked into every wall and window,” according to a psychic.

In total, the lavish mansion took more than ten years to complete, costing the owner his marriageCredit: Knight Frank

Unfortunately, according to an expert, Edward will not be able to sell the house in the next ten yearsCredit: SWNS

Chesil Cliff House in Devon, Great Britain, made headlines after it caused owner Edward Short a seemingly endless stream of misery for 12 years.

Not only that, but building the lavish white seaside estate left him with a hefty £7 million debt – and even cost him his marriage.

Edward started work on the picturesque five-bedroom, glass-fronted property in 2010, with plans to live there with his then wife Hazel and their two children Nicole and Lauren, now both in their 20s.

With an initial budget of almost £2 million, the father hoped to complete the ambitious project in 18 months. However, due to development problems, the construction process took twelve years, with costs spiraling out of control.

Once the property was completed, however, it was not to everyone’s taste, as British designer Kevin McCloud described it on Grand Designs as the ‘carcass’ of a coastal wreck.

Reflecting on the time, which had put the family under great strain, especially given mounting debts, Edward previously said: ‘The whole project has been a terrible burden on Hazel. feel for her.

“It was never my intention to put her through this,” he said DevonLive.

“There’s a lot of guilt about that.

”But once we started, there was no way out. If we hadn’t finished it we would have been in big trouble,” the father told The Sun.

The lighthouse property has been for sale since then, but without success with potential buyers keen to purchase it.

‘That’s a winner’ say Stacey Solomon’s fans as mum-of-five transforms £30 Facebook purchase with ‘easy and perfect’ DIY

And according to tarot reader and celebrity psychic Inbaal HonigmanWHO spoke to the Daily Starit’s more bad news for Edward and the £7 million mansion.

“The tarot card that appears in front of the house is the very sad Seven of Swords,” she said.

“It’s a card called ‘futility,’ which represents sadness, loss and loneliness.

“Houses carry the energy of people and events that existed within them, and the history of separation and subsequent loneliness of the saddest house of the Grand Designs is depicted in this Tarot card.”

The beautiful country house, located in Devon, has been dubbed the ‘saddest’ everCredit: Knight Frank

Moreover, she noted, grief is essentially “baked into every wall and window.”

Another card, the 10 of Wands, revealed that the house probably won’t be sold for another ten years if it continues like this.

Inbaal added that for the outcome to change, the circumstances have to change – and there are a number of things the owner could do.

Inbaal pointed out that the energy of the house must be increased before the property can ultimately be sold. One way to achieve this is to place rose quartz crystals of love around the mansion.

Work on Chesil Cliff House started on a budget of £1.8 million and was due to be completed within 18 months.

Last year, the unfinished home was taken off a real estate agent’s site during discussions with a “serious buyer,” who reportedly backed out at the last minute.

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Tamarama hit-and-run: Property guru Zisi Kokotatsios faces charges after death of Sydney lawyer Mitch East – as chilling post emerges hours later

Albert Elence — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:42:14 +0000

Police have charged a 63-year-old man in connection with his fatal hit-and-run death
Do you know more? Email charlotte.karp@mailonline.com

By Charlotte Karp and Lucy Manly and Cameron Carpenter for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 11:41 PM EDT, March 21, 2024 | Updated: 00:39 EDT, March 22, 2024

A 63-year-old real estate agent and veteran Qantas engineer has been charged over an alleged crash that killed a young lawyer in Sydney.

Mitch East, 28, was found by a passer-by with serious head and chest injuries on Fletcher Street in Tamarama, in the city’s east, just after 4am on Sunday.

The lawyer, a former Harvard Law School student, was reportedly dropped off by an Uber moments before he was allegedly beaten.

Following extensive police investigation, Zisi Kokotatsios – the director of First Impression Property Group – handed himself in at Granville police station just after 11am on Friday.

He was charged with four offences, including negligent driving causing death and driving while using a telephone.

About four hours after the alleged crash, Kokotatsios posted a photo on social media of himself and his partner at a shopping center.

Following his arrest on Friday, his former colleague Marcel Kellerman told Daily Mail Australia their professional relationship ended a year ago, and he couldn’t be happier.

Mitch East (pictured), 28, was found with serious head and chest injuries by a passer-by on Fletcher Street, Tamarama, just after 4am on Sunday

Four hours after the alleged crash, Zisi Kokotatsios posted a selfie of himself with his partner in a shopping center (photo)

Police were searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback seen on CCTV driving along Fletcher Street around the time of the crash.

“I ended working with him over a year ago,” Mr. Kellerman said.

“Not doing business with him anymore is the best thing that happened to me.”

His charges include negligent driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop and render assistance after a vehicle collision causing death, and driving with a cell phone.

Kokotatsios was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday morning.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Kokotatsios has worked in various sectors, from hospitality to technology.

He worked as a Qantas engineer between 1989 and 2014, but appeared to be running his own business during that time.

Zisi Kokotatsios (pictured) was a real estate agent and long-time Qantas engineer

In 2001, he owned a company that sold monitoring systems for transit goods, before switching to a mortgage broker until 2006.

After leaving Qantas, he became the owner of a coffee and tea distribution company, Gourmet Coffee King, before entering the travel industry in 2016 as an ‘innovator’ for Innovators Travel Network.

Kokotatsios then became marketing director for another company he appeared to own in 2017, before becoming senior director of a real estate company in 2021.

Following the alleged collision, police were searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback, who was seen on CCTV in the area around the same time as the crash.

At the time, NSW Police Inspector Jason Hogan urged the driver to come forward.

“It is a cowardly act to drive away after colliding with another human being,” he told 7News.

“They really need to go to the local police station before we knock on their door.”

Officers are processing the crime scene in Tamarama on Sunday following the alleged collision

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Inside James Martin’s £5 million car collection featuring personalized vehicles, a Ferrari and an iconic rally car – housed in incredible hand-painted garages on his Hampshire property

Sabir Ansary — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 19:05:27 +0000

James Martin has lifted the lid on his incredible car collection, which is worth more than £5million and includes a classic Ferrari and Colin McRae rally car.

The 51-year-old TV chef, who recently stepped out with his new girlfriend Kim Johnson, is known as a petrolhead and has a huge collection of vehicles.

After starting out as a chef, James has become a household name after hosting both Saturday Kitchen and Saturday Morning.

But James is not only known for his skills in the kitchen, but also for his love of cars, which he keeps in a garage at his home in Hampshire.

The quaint car village is haunted by beautiful hand-painted garages, which he showed off during a 2022 appearance on Jodie Kidd’s show, Kidd in a Sweet Shop.

James Martin has lifted the lid on his incredible car collection, which is worth more than £5 million and includes a classic Ferrari and Colin McRae rally car

The TV chef, 51, who recently stepped out with his new girlfriend Kim Johnson, is known as a petrolhead and has a huge collection of vehicles

It is thought that James first fell in love with motorcycles when he was given a toy Ferrari 288 GTO as a young boy.

James now owns a real Ferrari, the 1965 275 model in silver, which underwent a major restoration, including the installation of a new engine.

James admits he still gets behind the wheel to take it for a spin, describing the classic supercar as ‘absolutely incredible’.

The car has also undergone a lot of restoration work, including the installation of a new roll-off engine.

Elsewhere in his collection is a beautiful Ford GT40, which he collaborated with three-time British touring car champion Jason Plato.

It even won the Whitsun Trophy at Goodwood Revival and competed in hill climbing in Switzerland.

James said: “It’s a great piece of kit. Not until you turn it on and until you drive it, there is nothing like it on the road. No.

“There’s nothing like this on the road. Nothing. The dealer said ‘here we go’, and I said ‘done, sold’. I’d never driven it before.’

James is not only known for his skills in the kitchen, but also for his love of cars, which he keeps in a garage at his home in Hampshire.

James brought this Shelby GT500 (left) from Florid

Elsewhere in his collection is a beautiful Ford GT40, which he collaborated with three-time British touring car champion Jason Plato

James now owns a real Ferrari, the 1965 275 model in silver, which underwent a massive restoration that included installing a new engine

Another in his collection is a Ford Escort that finished second in the 1969 Acropolis Rally.

He also owns a rare Mini Cooper previously driven by British world rally star Paddy Hopkirk and Rauno Aaltonen.

Another vehicle he drives a lot is this BMW 760Li, which singer Jay Kay told him to buy.

James said: ‘A lot of people buy RSA Audis and stuff like that, but the 760Li is absolutely mega – V12, 700bhp… Mega.’

James also owns an Alfa Romeo ATL which is currently being restored.

The video of James’ car collection comes after his split of 12 years from girlfriend Louise Davies was revealed.

The celebrity chef, 51, and the TV producer, 47, first started dating in 2011 after meeting on the set of Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

But a spokesperson for James confirmed they split in December 2023 and remain close friends.

It comes as James was seen browsing watches with personal trainer Kim Johnson in Mayfair on Saturday.

James cut a casual figure for the outing as he wore a black vest over a light blue shirt and dark blue jeans.

The quaint car village is haunted by beautiful hand-painted garages, which he showed off during a 2022 appearance on Jodie Kidd’s show, Kidd in a Sweet Shop.

James’ diet revelation comes after his split of 12 years from girlfriend Louise Davies, 47, was revealed (pictured together in 2021)

Personal trainer Kim, 38, dressed up in a black sweater and navy jacket for the outing, teaming it with a leather miniskirt.

Kim is the ex-wife of businessman Arun Nayar, who was married to actress Elizabeth Hurley from 2007 to 2011.

Their breakup was made public after it was discovered she had a romance with cricketer Shane Warne after the split.

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I’m an Irish Hollywood producer and these are the star-studded places I visited while filming in Ireland, from a property where Tiger Woods ‘caught a fish’ to a hotel beloved by George Clooney and Kim Kardashian

Albert Elence — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:05:18 +0000

Film producer Hal Roach once mischievously quipped that ‘you know it’s summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer’.

The capricious weather was a constant subject when I was making ‘Quintessentially Irish‘ with Navan-born Pierce Brosnan, a film that is a lush valentine to everything great and Irish.

Here are some of the most spectacular locations encountered while filming it.

THE K CLUB

It is a pleasant 30-minute journey from Dublin Airport to the luxurious hotel The K Club in County Kildare, looking resplendent after an impressive multi-million-pound refurbishment.

Our gorgeous Liffey suite has expansive views overlooking the river where Tiger Woods proudly caught a fish during a stay here.

Hollywood producer Frank Mannion shares some of the most spectacular locations he encountered while filming the documentary Quintessentially Irish in Ireland. The first is The K Club hotel, pictured, in County Kildare

Frank stays at The K Club’s Liffey suite, which he says overlooks ‘the river where Tiger Woods proudly caught a fish during a stay’

The K Club’s spectacular golf course – designed by Arnold Palmer – hosted the Ryder Cup and remains a huge attraction. There’s also a golf simulator, which Matt Damon enjoyed over a few pints of the black stuff (Guinness) while filming the historical epic The Last Duel.

But it’s the spa and elevated dining options that make this the perfect place for a getaway.

The K Club has one of the country’s finest Bordeaux collections, the plush Palmer North restaurant serves a generously portioned venison, the club sandwich in the Henry Bar is top-notch, and breakfast is exquisitely presented in the splendid Barton restaurant.

During his stay at The K Club, Frank takes the ‘scenic’ 16km (9.9-mile) Arthur’s Way heritage trail. Pictured: The Wonderful Barn, a point of interest along the trail

The K Club’s spa and elevated dining options are what make this the perfect place for a getaway, says Frank. Pictured: The Barton restaurant

The K World Golf Club Simulator, enjoyed by Matt Damon

While the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is Ireland’s most visited attraction, the hotel concierge arranges for us to take the scenic 16km (9.9 mile) Arthur’s Way Heritage Trail, passing the Guinness-owned Leixlip Castle and Ardclough village, birthplace of Guinness founder Arthur Guinness.

BALLYFIN

Then, less than an hour further south is Ballyfin in County Laois.

Quite simply, Ballyfin is Ireland’s most distinguished address and deserves its reputation as the world’s best hotel. It feels like a home and is subtly designed as such.

So many hotels have uncivilised mid-afternoon check-in times. Not Ballyfin.

Its Gourmet Escape package allows guests to arrive from midday and to be welcomed Downton Abbey-style by the friendly staff, including charming general manager Peter White.

Frank describes Ballyfin (pictured) in County Laois as ‘Ireland’s most distinguished address’ and says it ‘deserves its reputation as the world’s best hotel’

Frank stays in the ‘stunning’ Lady Caroline Coote suite, above

Kim Kardashian has stayed twice at Ballyfin, notes Frank, who adds that she ‘surprised guests with her appearance in the State Dining Room’

Ballyfin’s ‘Gourmet Escape package allows guests to arrive from midday’, says Frank. A ‘mouth-watering lunch awaits in the grandeur of the State Dining Room’

Enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne in the stunning library with its crackling fires, while a mouth-watering lunch awaits amid the grandeur of the State Dining Room, which overlooks a charming Doric Temple cascade.

One of the hotel’s fans is Kim Kardashian. She’s stayed twice and surprised guests with an appearance in the State Dining Room.

George Clooney is also an admirer.

George Clooney stayed at the ‘charming’ Gardener’s Cottage, pictured in the three images above

He booked out the hotel for a Clooney clan gathering and met his Irish cousins, who hail from neighbouring Abbeyleix.

Mr Clooney stayed in the charming two-storey Gardener’s Cottage, overlooking the walled garden and the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

We stay in a stunning suite, the Lady Caroline Coote (formerly her boudoir).

CASHEL PALACE HOTEL

Next stop is the spiritual home of Guinness, the wonderful Cashel Palace Hotel in County Tipperary, formerly an 18th-century mansion owned by the Archbishop of Cashel.

He famously left a £100 legacy to his godson, Arthur Guinness, who used this jackpot to buy a brewery.

The hotel deserves all the accolades it has received under the astute ownership of Susan Magnier (of the horseracing dynasty – the hotel even has an equine concierge).

Frank checks into ‘the wonderful Cashel Palace Hotel’, pictured, which is ‘formerly an 18th-century mansion owned by the Archbishop of Cashel’

Queen Elizabeth II visited the majestic nearby Rock of Cashel

Our stay is made all the more special by its delightfully youthful friendly staff.

It has long been a haven for celebrities, Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor, for instance.

And Queen Elizabeth II visited the majestic nearby Rock of Cashel, which as Ireland.com notes, ‘is home to over 1,000 years of history’.

The website explains that the site is home to a ‘complex of interlocking structures’, including a 13th-century cathedral and the 15th-century Hall of the Vicars Choral – a medieval choir’s residence.

The Rock can be accessed directly by hotel guests through the hotel garden, which features 300-year-old mulberry trees.

LEFT: Be sure to finish off a delicious dinner at the Michelin-starred Bishop’s Buttery restaurant with a decadent whiskey Baba, says Frank. RIGHT: ‘A rejuvenating peat mud bath treatment in the elegant spa is a must’

If that’s too much trouble, book a lovely garden wing superior room overlooking the Rock.

A rejuvenating peat mud bath treatment in the elegant spa is a must – and be sure to finish off a delicious dinner at the Michelin-starred Bishop’s Buttery restaurant with a decadent whiskey Baba.

THE PARK HOTEL KENMARE

The island home of the reclusive Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi was the remote monastic settlement of Skellig Michael in County Kerry.

A far more hospitable stay in the area is the remarkable Relais et Chateaux property, the Park Hotel Kenmare.

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage have stayed at the Park Hotel Kenmare

This is Ireland’s legendary 41-room Victorian grande dame hotel that had an elegant pandemic makeover.

John Travolta and Nicolas Cage have enjoyed its Kenmare Bay views.

It is hard to leave our sumptuous junior suite, but the luxurious Samas spa, nestled in the woods, is a worthwhile short excursion and gives us an immediate sense of relaxation.

We enjoy a Bushmills whiskey in the stylish cocktail bar, followed by a delicious dinner in the elegant dining room, with its magnificent paintings.

This hotel is a timeless gem with a five-star ethos that effortlessly combines town and country.

Frank enjoys a Bushmills whiskey in the ‘stylish’ cocktail bar, above

The Park Hotel Kenmare is perfectly situated for a drive around the Ring of Kerry (above), a 179km (111-mile) driving route filled with ‘rolling green hills, sparkling lakes and jaw-dropping cliffs’

Kenmare, meanwhile, is a beautiful heritage town on the hotel’s doorstep. It had a cameo in the quirky The Lobster with Colin Farrell.

Pop into Kenmare Cashmere and have a pint of Guinness at Crowleys, both on Henry St.

The Park Hotel Kenmare is also perfectly situated for exploring the underrated Beara Peninsula or for a drive around the Ring of Kerry, a 179km (111-mile) driving route filled with ‘rolling green hills, sparkling lakes and jaw-dropping cliffs’, notes Ireland.com.

SHEEN FALLS LODGE

Our final stop is another stunning Relais et Chateaux property, Sheen Falls Lodge, formerly a 17th-century fishing lodge.

Frank’s final stop is Sheen Falls Lodge (above), a former 17th-century fishing lodge

Pictured: Kenmare Town, located around 1.7 miles (2.7km) from Sheen Falls Lodge

Above is the terrace at the Sheen Bar, overlooking a stream that runs past the hotel

The terrace of the glorious Oscar suite has a ravishing view overlooking a waterfall and a picture-perfect stone-arched bridge.

Afternoon tea in the Sheen Lounge is a delight – and the superb Falls restaurant serves a faultless dinner.

I retire to the cosy library with its log fires and read Ted Murphy’s Kingdom of Wine, which documents Ireland’s little-known contribution to wine. It is so hard to leave this all behind.

The journey to Kerry Airport is spectacular, passing through Killarney National Park, which boasts breathtaking lakes.

‘Afternoon tea in the Sheen Lounge is a delight’ and the ‘superb’ Falls restaurant serves a faultless dinner’. Pictured: The front of the accommodation

Pictured: The Easanna Spa at Sheen Falls Lodge

The terrace of the glorious Oscar suite (pictured) has a ‘ravishing view overlooking the waterfall’

The Oscar suite has a view of this ‘picture-perfect stone-arched bridge’

We stop at the stupendous Ladies View scenic viewpoint, so named after the ladies-in-waiting who accompanied Queen Victoria on her visit to the must-see Muckross House in 1861.

Ireland has always been known as the land of a hundred thousand welcomes, but now it has several world-class hotels and restaurants that ensure that every visitor will be longing to return.

Did I mention that the sun actually shines most of the time? No wonder my Irish eyes are still smiling…

Frank Mannion is an Irish film director and his new film, Quintessentially Irish, with Pierce Brosnan and Jeremy Irons is out now.

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Lawsuit over New York City’s property tax system can proceed, court says

Sabir Ansary — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 20:00:54 +0000

A lawsuit that could upend New York City’s property tax system was approved by the state’s highest court on Tuesday. The decision is a victory for housing groups who complain that the system favors owners of wealthy brownstones in Brooklyn and luxury apartments in Manhattan over tenants and owners in lower-income neighborhoods.

The 4-3 decision by the State Court of Appeals strikes at one of the most persistent elements of New York’s housing crisis: Nearly everyone agrees that the property tax system is inequitable and opaque and places a greater burden on lower-income people. But while many politicians have proposed reforms over the years, none have been able to implement change through legislative routes.

The lawsuit is against both the city and the state, with the goal of forcing change through the courts instead. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2017 by a group of property owners, tenants and other advocacy groups called Tax Equity Now New York, or TENNY.

TENNY’s lawsuit says homes with equivalent values are currently taxed at different rates depending on where they are located in the city. The group’s complaint shows that a property in Canarsie, for example, is valued at “three times as much as the same property in Park Slope,” according to Tuesday’s court ruling. The lawsuit also points out that the city taxes rentals at higher rates than owners of more expensive apartments and co-ops, costs that are then passed on to tenants.

A lower court TENNY fired‘s complaint in 2020, on the grounds that the legislature could make changes to the tax laws. The case was even considered a gamble by many of his supporters. But Tuesday’s Court of Appeal decision allowed some of the original claims against the city to proceed.

Martha E. Stark, TENNY policy director and former Treasury commissioner under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said there is no timetable yet. But she said the court ruling made clear that the city could and should take action to make the tax system fairer.

“The city has an opportunity here to fix its notoriously broken property tax system,” she said. “It has some of those tools in its own toolbox.”

At a news conference Tuesday, Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, the city’s corporate attorney, noted that the court did not say the lawsuit was over, and that the case will go back to a lower court where “decisions will be made.” ”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul called the decision a “quite dramatic shift,” adding that she still needed to unravel the implications of the decision and decide with Mayor Eric Adams what the “right solution” would be.

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Major bank makes rule to help Universal Credit households get onto the property ladder

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:12:13 +0000

A major high street lender has introduced a huge rule change to help Universal Credit households get onto the property ladder.

Santander now accepts Universal Credit payments as a secondary income for mortgage affordability.

Santander now accepts Universal Credit payments as secondary incomeCredit: Alamy

Universal Credit is a social security scheme designed to combine several of the old “legacy benefits” into a single monthly payment.

Mortgage experts have described the change, which came into effect this week, as ‘good news’ for low-income households, who may find it difficult to get a mortgage.

Prospective buyers looking to borrow from Santander will need to prove they have a primary source of income in addition to their Universal Credit entitlement.

This can be done through a job or as a self-employed person.

This information must be clearly stated in the Universal Credit award letter and you must have been making a claim for six months.

Hopeful homeowners claiming Universal Credit may find it difficult to get a mortgage, but it’s not impossible.

Some banks refuse to grant loans to benefit recipients, but others will consider your application.

Eligibility varies depending on the bank, and some will accept your application depending on your financial circumstances.

That’s because they’re concerned about a borrower’s ability to repay their mortgage.

Karen Noye, a mortgage expert at asset management company Quilter, said: ‘Lenders offering additional income, such as Universal Credit, are good news for low-income households, especially where the low income is due to having a young family and more of a is a short-term measure. rather than in the long term.

The Sun’s James Flanders explains how to find the best deal on your mortgage

“Different lenders have different criteria regarding additional income. Some will only accept it if it is guaranteed for the life of the mortgage, while others will consider it if it is likely to last at least another five years.”

How to get the best deal on your mortgage

If you’re looking for a traditional mortgage type, getting the best rates depends entirely on what’s available at any given time.

There are several ways to get the best deal.

Typically, the larger the down payment, the lower the interest rate you can get.

If you take out a new mortgage and your Loan-to-Value ratio (LTV) has changed, you will have access to better rates than before.

Your LTV decreases if your outstanding mortgage is lower and/or the value of your home is higher.

A change in your credit score or a better salary can also help you access better rates.

And if you’re nearing the end of a standing deal soon, it’s worth looking for new deals now.

You can sometimes lock in current deals up to six months before your current deal expires.

If you leave a fixed deal early, you’ll typically be charged an exit fee, so you’ll want to avoid these additional fees.

But depending on the cost and how much you can save by switching or staying, it may be worth leaving the deal, but compare the costs first.

Use one to find the best deal Mortgage comparison tool to see what’s available.

You can also contact a mortgage broker who can compare a much wider range of offers for you.

Some charge an additional fee, but there are plenty who provide free advice and are paid only on the lender’s commission.

You will also need to consider mortgage costs, although some may not have any costs at all.

You can add the costs (sometimes more than € 1,000) to the costs of the mortgage, but keep in mind that you will pay interest on it and will therefore cost more in the long term.

You can use a mortgage calculator to see how much you can borrow.

Please note that you will also need to meet the lender’s strict criteria, including affordability checks and viewing your credit file.

You may also need to provide documents such as utility bills, proof of benefits, your last three months’ pay slips, passports and bank statements.

HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Natwest, Barclays and Nationwide will consider mortgage applications from benefit claimants, including those on Universal Credit.

While Metro Bank only accepts Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and State Pension as income.

DLA and PIP are available for people who have additional care or mobility needs due to a disability or health condition.

Whether your application is successful depends on whether you have any other income or assets and on the benefits.

You must demonstrate that you can keep up with the repayments.

Some banks will include specific conditions in their offer, for example that you may only use a certain percentage of your benefit to cover the mortgage.

Find a mortgage advisor who will help you find a suitable provider who will consider your application.

They can also find the best deal for you.

However, keep in mind that they charge a fee for their services, so you should factor that into your costs.

What other mortgage assistance is available?

As soon as you think you may have a problem with your monthly mortgage payment (whether you cannot pay anything, cannot pay your monthly payment in full or cannot pay it on time), contact your lender immediately.

They have certain arrangements in place to help you if you are having a hard time.

You can ask your lender about the breathing space arrangement if you feel that payments are unaffordable.

Under the breather program, none of your debts will accrue interest and you will not be charged any fees for 60 days.

You are protected against collection agencies and bailiffs.

You may also be able to request a payment holiday; then you don’t have to pay anything.

But interest and fees may still accrue, and missed payments will have to be made up in the future.

Each company has different policies, so you will need to contact us to find out what support is available to you.

Mortgage Interest Support or SMI helps people on Universal Credit (and other benefits) by giving them a low interest loan.

The assistance goes towards paying the mortgage or towards loans taken out to help repair any damage to the home.

SMI is a loan that you must repay with interest when you sell your home.

You will receive help with paying the interest on a maximum of € 200,000 of your loan or mortgage.

But you only get a maximum of £100,000 if you get a pension credit.

The interest added to the loan can go up or down, but the interest rate will not change more than twice a year – the current interest rate is 3.03%.

Contact the office that pays your benefits to see if you can get an SMI loan.

There are also several charities and services that offer free help and advice if you are worried about money.

It is always best to contact one of these services before thinking about debt consolidation or hiring a debt advisor who will likely charge you.

Citizens Advice is a free and impartial service that helps you come up with a plan to pay off your debts, including which payments to prioritize and how to reduce your living costs.

There is one on the organization’s website useful page with advice about many aspects of debt, but you can contact them directly by phone, online or in person for more personalized help.

StepChange is another free advice service that offers support and guidance online or over the phone, and is completely confidential.

You’ll need to provide details about your debts, income and household expenses to get a clear picture of where your money is going.

Where possible, their advisors will help you come up with a plan to repay all your debts, but in a way you can afford.

National Debtline is a charity offering free and confidential advice to people in England, Wales and Scotland.

You can contact them online or by telephone on 0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday from 9am to 8pm and on Saturday from 9.30am to 1pm.

An advisor will help you figure out what you can pay back and help you determine the best solution for your debts.

Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money@the-sun.co.uk.

Moreover, you can join us Sun Money chats and tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories.

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Beachfront property in Cornwall is selling for just £20,000, but there’s a catch

Jeffrey Bailey — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 03:52:05 +0000

A DISUSED public toilet on the beach looks like a small bargain at £20,000.

The former sink looks out onto a sandy bank with a castle in the distance.

A disused public toilet goes on sale on Wednesday with a guide price of £20,000Credit: Droneman / Pictureexclusive.com

The former lava is a 0.12 hectare plot of land near PenzanceCredit: Droneman / Pictureexclusive.com

The 0.12 hectare plot includes land on either side of the detached block near Penzance.

It is the cheapest sea view accommodation in Cornwall and offers views of St Michael’s Mount, originally a Benedictine chapel.

The Long Rock toilet will be auctioned online on Wednesday – with a guide price of just £20,000.

A nearby one-bed apartment, without sea views, is for sale for £200,000.

Katie Semmens, from Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers, said: “This is a rare and exciting opportunity.

“It is in a truly spectacular location on the coast and offers stunning views.”

She added: “The toilets could have different uses in the future.”

In 2018, a buyer paid £73,000 for a toilet block in Newlyn, Cornwall.

Four years later one sold in Saltash for over £30,000.

The toilet offers a view of the beautiful Sint-Michielsberg, a former Benedictine chapelCredit: Alamy

We live in an idyllic seaside town that has just been voted ‘Britain’s most depressing place’ – behind the pretty shop windows lies the crazy reason why

The post Beachfront property in Cornwall is selling for just £20,000, but there’s a catch appeared first on USMAIL24.COM.

Wife of Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright reveals vandals set off a bomb on their property after he was charged following helicopter crash that killed Chris Wilson

Albert Elence — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:22:44 +0000

The wife of controversial Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has revealed vandals set off a bomb on their property in the middle of the night after her husband was charged following a fatal helicopter crash.

Wright will stand trial later this year for perverting the course of justice following a helicopter crash in the Northern Territory’s West Arnhem Land in February 2022.

The crash killed his best friend Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson and paralyzed pilot Sebastian Robinson.

Wright’s model wife Kaia has now spoken out about the intense criticism she, her husband and their two young children have faced in the aftermath of the accident.

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright, his Instagram influencer wife Kaia (pictured together) and their two young children have reportedly faced a barrage of vitriol and vicious attacks in the wake of the crash

Wright will go on trial later this year, charged with perverting the course of justice following a helicopter crash at King River in the NT’s West Arnhem Land in February 2022, which killed his best friend Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson and seriously injured pilot Sebastian Robinson hit. Wright is pictured arriving at court in March last year)

‘Once we woke up in the middle of the night by the sound of a bomb going off. Someone planted a bomb in our electrical box and blew it up,” she said The Sunday Telegraph.

“When Matt isn’t home, I put chairs in front of my door. It’s that constant fear and stress that can make it difficult to navigate every day and still run a business, be a mother and be a wife.”

Kaia said her four-year-old son Banjo witnessed hoons doing burnouts in front of his father earlier this week and shouting “prison man” at him after leaving a cafe in Darwin.

Banjo then asked his mother if his father was going to prison.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson (pictured right) died in the helicopter crash, while pilot Sebastian Robinson (left) was paralyzed

“What do you say to your bubbly son who idolizes his father, what do you say to that?” said Mrs. Wright.

Mr Wilson was dangling from a helicopter from Wright’s company Helibrook during a mission to collect crocodile eggs in February 2022 when the plane crashed, killing him on impact.

Wright was charged in connection with the investigation into the crash, not in connection with the cause of the crash itself.

As part of his bail conditions, Wright is not allowed to speak to more than 50 people.

He has strongly denied all allegations.

Wilson’s widow, Danielle Wilson, is personally suing Wright over the crash.

Mrs Wilson previously filed a civil action against his helicopter company Helibrook and the Australian Civil Aviation Authority, alleging they both failed to fulfill their duty of care to her late husband.

Helibrook and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which authorized his suspension from the helicopter, were both named as respondents.

Ms Wright said the “hardest part” of the investigation was not being able to honor Wilson.

She said her husband and his friends recently couldn’t even get together to celebrate and remember Mr. Wilson for his birthday because he is legally prohibited from seeing some of them.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson’s widow Danielle (pictured together) has filed a lawsuit through her lawyers to sue Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright over the fatal helicopter crash

Mrs Wright said police raided and bugged their home while she was pregnant with their second child Dusty.

Birthday cards and love letters that she and her husband shared were all included as part of the research.

She said the investigation and her husband’s accusations took a devastating toll on his mental health and there were days when he couldn’t get off the couch.

Mrs Wright also said she faced serious trolling on her social media accounts, with some calling her husband a ‘murderer’.

Wright is due to stand trial on a charge of attempted perverting the course of justice in the Northern Territory Supreme Court later this year.

Two of Wright’s co-defendants, Michael Burbidge and ex-police officer Neil Mellon, have pleaded guilty to destroying evidence for their roles in the incident.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs while hanging from a Robinson R44 helicopter, known as VH-IDW, when it crashed to the ground near the King River in the NT

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