Sshhhh! How celebrities keep property deals private
If Byron has reached peak cool (and price point), just down the coast, along the Northern Rivers and snuggled into the hinterland, there are more celebrity housing hotspots popping up and high net worth clients are eager to get in on the action before the secret is out.
And we all know one thing about the rich and famous - they have teams of people on speed dial to do the heavy lifting when it comes to real estate.
You certainly won't spot a Hemsworth at an Open For Inspection!
Chris Hemsworth enjoying a surf at his local beach in Byron Bay via Instagram @chrishemsworth
As prestige buyers seek lifestyle, anonymity and high-touch service, buyers' agents are proving to be the quiet force behind some of the country's most exclusive real estate deals.
That's where Compass, a leading buyers' advocacy firm specialising in the Northern Rivers, Byron Bay and Tweed Coast, comes in.
Nick Goldsbrough-Reardon, Director and Buyers Advocate at Compass said: "Many of our clients are public figures or ultra-high-net-worth individuals. They don't want to be recognised at open homes or have their name linked to a property. We act as their proxy throughout."
The firm often represents celebrity clients anonymously during the buying process, coordinating private viewings and conducting pre-inspections on their behalf.
They often work under non-disclosure agreements (NDA's), taking full ownership of client confidentiality, ensuring sensitive details remain protected from listing agents, vendors, or third parties.
"Working under a non-disclosure agreement means we take full ownership of the process."
More than 70 percent of the firm's transactions are now off-market, a strategy that offers exclusivity, speed, and above all, confidentiality.
In some cases, lack of anonymity has directly impacted outcomes.
"We once saw a vendor increase the asking price after learning who the buyer was. We restructured the deal discreetly and ended up securing the home at a fairer market value."
On another occasion, Compass arranged a late-night private inspection for a high-profile celebrity client.
That client made a pre-market offer and closed the deal without attracting any public attention, a perfect outcome in an era of digital leaks and social media scrutiny.
Behind the scenes, buyers' advocates juggle far more than just property searches and A-List demands.
Goldsbrough-Reardon recalled the complexity of managing a cross-continental purchase for an overseas celebrity couple.
"One was in Austria with family. The other was on a remote island in Hawaii with barely any phone reception," he said.
"We were taking calls at 5am and midnight to make it work. They were buying the home sight unseen, so we conducted virtual inspections, brought in trades to assess the property and even navigated a regional cyclone that left us without power for five days."
Despite the cyclone, Goldsbrough-Reardon secured the deal.
"By the time they arrived in Australia three months later, the property was fully set up. We coordinated shipping of their furniture from overseas, organised all the logistics and had everything move-in ready. It's a full property concierge experience."
For high-net-worth clients, the key to a seamless transaction lies in more than just market knowledge.
Goldsbrough-Reardon says. "A good advocate also brings emotional intelligence, someone who can act as a trusted buffer and advisor across the entire buying journey."
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News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Trainer Chris Waller praises Tommy Berry's tactical mastery as Cigar Flick storms home to victory at Randwick
Trainer Chris Waller had jockey Tommy Berry to thank after his well-bred mare Cigar Flick scored her first victory in more than a year at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Waller had a different plan in mind for his daughter of Churchill before Berry went off script to produce her with a barnstorming run down the outside to win the ATC Thank You Owners Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m). 'I was actually watching the race with Charlie (Duckworth) and said 'I don't know what this Tommy is doing, we said we were going to come through them and have the last crack at them',' Waller said. 'Then I said after the race 'that's why Tommy is a jockey and I am a trainer'. He knew what he was doing.' Berry settled Cigar Flick in her customary position towards the rear of the field and ensured the daughter of Churchill kept momentum as they rounded the turn in a four-wide line. Cigar Flick ($13) unleashed a powerful burst down the outside to run over the top of the Matthew Smith -trained World Alliance ($11) to prevail by one-and-a-quarter lengths. John Thompson 's Bundeena ($8) gave them something to catch inside the final furlong before finishing third. 'She is one that you have to ride for bad luck and hope for a bit of good luck,' Berry said. 'Today the opportunity presented to get her to the outside. 'I still had a bum to follow and be patient on her and she reaped the rewards of what's been a consistent preparation without any luck. 'She is in at the right time of year.' Cigar Flick lights it up! ðŸ'¥ The @cwallerracing trained galloper flies down the outside to win giving @TommyBerry21 a race-to-race double! ✌ï¸� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 26, 2025 • Nashville Jack in fine tune with slashing win Cigar Flick hadn't won for more than a year heading into Saturday but Waller is hoping to win another race with the mare before she is retired to stud later this year. 'She is a lovely horse, beautiful,' Waller said. 'She won't have too much more racing. Her mum is a sister to Fangirl so she is well bred and she will go to stud this year. She has done a great job. 'We will see what else we can find. 'This type of distance and these type of conditions and she can win another one of them.' The win came less than an hour after Berry produced a vastly different ride to score on the Ciaron Maher -trained Lugh. His decision to push forward early on the son of Snitzel in the Marcellin College Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) proved decisive. Lugh ($9) travelled well outside the lead and kept finding over in the straight to hold off Chris Waller's Starman ($16) by three-quarters of a length with the Bjorn Baker -trained Slinky ($21) working home strongly for third. It's @TommyBerry21 and @cmaherracing combining in race 7 at Randwick as Lugh salutes! ðŸ'� â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 26, 2025 • 'Sneaky chance': Pride mare shocks rivals at $51 Lugh is still only lightly-raced and has highlighted his considerable talent in just a handful of starts, winning four of six. 'He doesn't have much of a turn of foot but has a big action,' Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said. 'On a bigger track here at Randwick was going to suit him better. 'He enjoyed the conditions and I thought Tommy (Berry) rode him really well. 'He is a horse that needs a bit of encouragement, he is very casual and has the best attitude. 'The way Tommy rode him, he kept him on his job.' Stablemate Sacred Rocks was expected to be the horse to beat but was a drifter in betting out to $3.50 and never looked likely. Apprentice Anna Roper made a mid-race move to settle closer on the daughter of Sacred Falls, which ran out of gas over the concluding stages to miss the placings. 'I don't it really work out for Sacred Rocks,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'She was slow away and just had to make that move mid-race. 'She got going early so was always going to be soft late.'
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Can't afford Byron? Try these new property hotspots
Byron Bay might be famous for its surf culture and A-list appeal, but with soaring prices and limited supply, savvy property hunters are now looking beyond the bubble. According to Compass, a leading buyers' agency specialising in Northern NSW, demand is growing fast in the surrounding towns and hinterland pockets where lifestyle, space and value intersect. "Buyers want more space, stronger communities and easier access to essential services, without losing connection to the coast," said Nick Goldsbrough-Reardon, Director and Buyers Advocate at Compass. "These towns offer lifestyle without the congestion or price premium of Byron, while still delivering strong capital growth." From surf-side villages to peaceful hinterland enclaves, here are the locations attracting increasing attention: Lennox Head & Skennars Head: Just south of Byron, these laid-back coastal communities offer great surf, local schools and a tight-knit vibe that's proving irresistible for families and seachangers alike. Suffolk Park: Often dubbed Byron's quieter cousin, Suffolk offers a family-friendly layout, easy beach access and a more accessible entry point into the region. Newrybar & Tintenbar: These boutique hinterland destinations are drawing buyers looking for rural privacy with convenience. Both are within quick reach of the M1 and Byron Bay but feel worlds away. Yamba & Broadwater: Further up the coast, these emerging lifestyle towns are fast gaining traction with buyers seeking relaxed living, good surf and rising investment potential. Casuarina, Kingscliff, Cabarita Beach & Pottsville: Northern coastal hubs with booming infrastructure, appealing schools and high-end developments are luring both locals and out-of-area buyers alike. The new normal Post-COVID, the market has settled. "The heat has eased, with price growth stabilising and buyer demand becoming more measured," Goldsbrough-Reardon said. "That said, well-positioned coastal or hinterland properties are still moving fast when priced right." Cotality data confirms that since March 2020 to 2025, regional values have risen more than 56 per cent. Post pandemic boom, the regions have continued to show overall resilience. In the recent two quarters, for example, they are outperforming capital cities (1.6 per cent compared to 1.4 per cent). Many metro and regional areas are also currently experiencing record highs, according to Cotality's July Housing Chart Pack. What's trending now are homes with flexibility. Buyers are looking for dual-occupancy options, secondary dwellings, eco-conscious builds or self-contained studios that support lifestyle or rental income. Prices typically range from $1.5 million to $4 million, depending on location and land size. Predicting the next hotspot Compass 's edge lies in staying ahead of the curve. "We maintain constant dialogue with local agents, councils and developers," said Goldsbrough-Reardon. "We're tracking early indicators like school openings, retail development, DA approvals and demographic shifts." That groundwork means Compass often helps clients secure homes 12 to 24 months before an area hits the mainstream radar. For those priced out of Byron or simply looking for more value, these neighbouring suburbs may not be secret for long.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Just so surreal': the moment this Aussie was asked to tour with Ozzy
"Do you want to go on tour with Ozzy Osbourne?" It is a phone call Chris Rand is still shocked he received, even though it happened 27 years ago. Back then, in 1998, the singer and bass player for metal band Segression was busy working as a tattoo artist in Wollongong, and his wife Karen was heavily pregnant with the couple's first child. But, one phone call from Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne changed everything. "We had a tattoo shop in Corrimal at the time, and the phone rang, and it was actually Sharon Osbourne, wanting to speak to my mum because my mum managed the band," Chris recalls. "I was personally invited from Sharon and Ozzy." Segression had already toured with US metal bands Machine Head and Fear Factory, and those bands, who were friends with Ozzy, recommended Segression to him as a support act. But, with Karen pregnant, Chris worried he'd miss the birth of his first child. So, after much discussion, she was induced and had baby Kiara five days before the tour started. Chris is among a legion of fans and music industry insiders who are reeling after the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 23 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. It was just weeks after the 76-year-old performed with metal pioneers Black Sabbath for the last time at a star-studded charity benefit show titled Back to the Beginning in the United Kingdom. "I've got shivers, I've got tears, I've got everything this morning. He was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met," Chris said through tears. "I'm devastated, absolutely devastated. I've never really felt much with a celebrity death before, but because of the personal connection that I had with him ... because I toured with him and met him and knew him as a person briefly, it really hit hard, to be honest." At Segression's first gig on that tour back in 1998, the pressure on them was enormous as they hit the stage before Ozzy, who was known as the Prince of Darkness. People have "paid a lot of money to go and see Ozzy Osbourne" and back then crowds were well known to "give a little bit of curry" to support bands. "I walked out on stage and it was, I wouldn't say completely hostile, but it was certainly not warm," Chris remembers. "I walked up to the microphone and before the band started, I got them to light up the crowd and I said, 'I know that everyone's here to see Ozzy, but we're a young Australian band that's been given an opportunity, so we think it's appropriate to start our set showing Ozzy Osboune what Australia is like. So, Aussie Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi,' and then we're into it. "The crowd, they turned completely on its head, and we had an amazing tour ... it was just so surreal." During another moment on tour, Ozzy was chatting to one of Segression's roadies who had a "full body suit of tattoos". "Ozzy was just so fascinated. He said, 'Can I see you without your shirt on again?'. He took his shirt off and he said, 'it's like a road map to your life'," Chris said. "And then, funnily enough, just after that tour, Ozzy went back home and got his arms tattooed, full sleeves." The tour and getting to meet Ozzy were so significant in Chris' life that he still holds dear the backstage pass he wore each night during the tour. "My Dad [Dave] was a massive Black Sabbath fan, so it's like one of my life's proudest moments when I got to introduce my dad [to Ozzy]," Chris said of a moment on that tour. "My dad's quiet at the best of times, so he just sort of walked up and shook hands, and that was about it. They just stared at each other." He recalls everyone was starstruck around Ozzy at that time, it was the height of the Osbourne's reality television show, The Osbournes, and Ozzy was a massive star thanks to his Black Sabbath days and then successful solo career. Ozzy's reputation is huge - he was the lead singer of Black Sabbath until he was kicked out in 1979 after a long run of erratic drink and drug-fuelled behaviour, and when he bit the head off a bat onstage, he made rock history. But, underneath all the bravado, the rumour and the reality TV show, Chris simply remembers Ozzy as just being a good bloke. "When you got to be in his presence, you just felt like you were the only one there. He just had that magic about himself," he said. "He's done so many things that he's notorious for, but the person that I met was just funny and warm. "He's probably the biggest rock star on the planet, and I don't think he ever thought of it that way. He just liked playing music and enjoying himself. I don't think he was dwelling on his success at all." "Do you want to go on tour with Ozzy Osbourne?" It is a phone call Chris Rand is still shocked he received, even though it happened 27 years ago. Back then, in 1998, the singer and bass player for metal band Segression was busy working as a tattoo artist in Wollongong, and his wife Karen was heavily pregnant with the couple's first child. But, one phone call from Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne changed everything. "We had a tattoo shop in Corrimal at the time, and the phone rang, and it was actually Sharon Osbourne, wanting to speak to my mum because my mum managed the band," Chris recalls. "I was personally invited from Sharon and Ozzy." Segression had already toured with US metal bands Machine Head and Fear Factory, and those bands, who were friends with Ozzy, recommended Segression to him as a support act. But, with Karen pregnant, Chris worried he'd miss the birth of his first child. So, after much discussion, she was induced and had baby Kiara five days before the tour started. Chris is among a legion of fans and music industry insiders who are reeling after the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 23 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. It was just weeks after the 76-year-old performed with metal pioneers Black Sabbath for the last time at a star-studded charity benefit show titled Back to the Beginning in the United Kingdom. "I've got shivers, I've got tears, I've got everything this morning. He was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met," Chris said through tears. "I'm devastated, absolutely devastated. I've never really felt much with a celebrity death before, but because of the personal connection that I had with him ... because I toured with him and met him and knew him as a person briefly, it really hit hard, to be honest." At Segression's first gig on that tour back in 1998, the pressure on them was enormous as they hit the stage before Ozzy, who was known as the Prince of Darkness. People have "paid a lot of money to go and see Ozzy Osbourne" and back then crowds were well known to "give a little bit of curry" to support bands. "I walked out on stage and it was, I wouldn't say completely hostile, but it was certainly not warm," Chris remembers. "I walked up to the microphone and before the band started, I got them to light up the crowd and I said, 'I know that everyone's here to see Ozzy, but we're a young Australian band that's been given an opportunity, so we think it's appropriate to start our set showing Ozzy Osboune what Australia is like. So, Aussie Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi,' and then we're into it. "The crowd, they turned completely on its head, and we had an amazing tour ... it was just so surreal." During another moment on tour, Ozzy was chatting to one of Segression's roadies who had a "full body suit of tattoos". "Ozzy was just so fascinated. He said, 'Can I see you without your shirt on again?'. He took his shirt off and he said, 'it's like a road map to your life'," Chris said. "And then, funnily enough, just after that tour, Ozzy went back home and got his arms tattooed, full sleeves." The tour and getting to meet Ozzy were so significant in Chris' life that he still holds dear the backstage pass he wore each night during the tour. "My Dad [Dave] was a massive Black Sabbath fan, so it's like one of my life's proudest moments when I got to introduce my dad [to Ozzy]," Chris said of a moment on that tour. "My dad's quiet at the best of times, so he just sort of walked up and shook hands, and that was about it. They just stared at each other." He recalls everyone was starstruck around Ozzy at that time, it was the height of the Osbourne's reality television show, The Osbournes, and Ozzy was a massive star thanks to his Black Sabbath days and then successful solo career. Ozzy's reputation is huge - he was the lead singer of Black Sabbath until he was kicked out in 1979 after a long run of erratic drink and drug-fuelled behaviour, and when he bit the head off a bat onstage, he made rock history. But, underneath all the bravado, the rumour and the reality TV show, Chris simply remembers Ozzy as just being a good bloke. "When you got to be in his presence, you just felt like you were the only one there. He just had that magic about himself," he said. "He's done so many things that he's notorious for, but the person that I met was just funny and warm. "He's probably the biggest rock star on the planet, and I don't think he ever thought of it that way. He just liked playing music and enjoying himself. I don't think he was dwelling on his success at all." "Do you want to go on tour with Ozzy Osbourne?" It is a phone call Chris Rand is still shocked he received, even though it happened 27 years ago. Back then, in 1998, the singer and bass player for metal band Segression was busy working as a tattoo artist in Wollongong, and his wife Karen was heavily pregnant with the couple's first child. But, one phone call from Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne changed everything. "We had a tattoo shop in Corrimal at the time, and the phone rang, and it was actually Sharon Osbourne, wanting to speak to my mum because my mum managed the band," Chris recalls. "I was personally invited from Sharon and Ozzy." Segression had already toured with US metal bands Machine Head and Fear Factory, and those bands, who were friends with Ozzy, recommended Segression to him as a support act. But, with Karen pregnant, Chris worried he'd miss the birth of his first child. So, after much discussion, she was induced and had baby Kiara five days before the tour started. Chris is among a legion of fans and music industry insiders who are reeling after the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 23 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. It was just weeks after the 76-year-old performed with metal pioneers Black Sabbath for the last time at a star-studded charity benefit show titled Back to the Beginning in the United Kingdom. "I've got shivers, I've got tears, I've got everything this morning. He was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met," Chris said through tears. "I'm devastated, absolutely devastated. I've never really felt much with a celebrity death before, but because of the personal connection that I had with him ... because I toured with him and met him and knew him as a person briefly, it really hit hard, to be honest." At Segression's first gig on that tour back in 1998, the pressure on them was enormous as they hit the stage before Ozzy, who was known as the Prince of Darkness. People have "paid a lot of money to go and see Ozzy Osbourne" and back then crowds were well known to "give a little bit of curry" to support bands. "I walked out on stage and it was, I wouldn't say completely hostile, but it was certainly not warm," Chris remembers. "I walked up to the microphone and before the band started, I got them to light up the crowd and I said, 'I know that everyone's here to see Ozzy, but we're a young Australian band that's been given an opportunity, so we think it's appropriate to start our set showing Ozzy Osboune what Australia is like. So, Aussie Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi,' and then we're into it. "The crowd, they turned completely on its head, and we had an amazing tour ... it was just so surreal." During another moment on tour, Ozzy was chatting to one of Segression's roadies who had a "full body suit of tattoos". "Ozzy was just so fascinated. He said, 'Can I see you without your shirt on again?'. He took his shirt off and he said, 'it's like a road map to your life'," Chris said. "And then, funnily enough, just after that tour, Ozzy went back home and got his arms tattooed, full sleeves." The tour and getting to meet Ozzy were so significant in Chris' life that he still holds dear the backstage pass he wore each night during the tour. "My Dad [Dave] was a massive Black Sabbath fan, so it's like one of my life's proudest moments when I got to introduce my dad [to Ozzy]," Chris said of a moment on that tour. "My dad's quiet at the best of times, so he just sort of walked up and shook hands, and that was about it. They just stared at each other." He recalls everyone was starstruck around Ozzy at that time, it was the height of the Osbourne's reality television show, The Osbournes, and Ozzy was a massive star thanks to his Black Sabbath days and then successful solo career. Ozzy's reputation is huge - he was the lead singer of Black Sabbath until he was kicked out in 1979 after a long run of erratic drink and drug-fuelled behaviour, and when he bit the head off a bat onstage, he made rock history. But, underneath all the bravado, the rumour and the reality TV show, Chris simply remembers Ozzy as just being a good bloke. "When you got to be in his presence, you just felt like you were the only one there. He just had that magic about himself," he said. "He's done so many things that he's notorious for, but the person that I met was just funny and warm. "He's probably the biggest rock star on the planet, and I don't think he ever thought of it that way. He just liked playing music and enjoying himself. I don't think he was dwelling on his success at all." "Do you want to go on tour with Ozzy Osbourne?" It is a phone call Chris Rand is still shocked he received, even though it happened 27 years ago. Back then, in 1998, the singer and bass player for metal band Segression was busy working as a tattoo artist in Wollongong, and his wife Karen was heavily pregnant with the couple's first child. But, one phone call from Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne changed everything. "We had a tattoo shop in Corrimal at the time, and the phone rang, and it was actually Sharon Osbourne, wanting to speak to my mum because my mum managed the band," Chris recalls. "I was personally invited from Sharon and Ozzy." Segression had already toured with US metal bands Machine Head and Fear Factory, and those bands, who were friends with Ozzy, recommended Segression to him as a support act. But, with Karen pregnant, Chris worried he'd miss the birth of his first child. So, after much discussion, she was induced and had baby Kiara five days before the tour started. Chris is among a legion of fans and music industry insiders who are reeling after the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 23 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. It was just weeks after the 76-year-old performed with metal pioneers Black Sabbath for the last time at a star-studded charity benefit show titled Back to the Beginning in the United Kingdom. "I've got shivers, I've got tears, I've got everything this morning. He was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met," Chris said through tears. "I'm devastated, absolutely devastated. I've never really felt much with a celebrity death before, but because of the personal connection that I had with him ... because I toured with him and met him and knew him as a person briefly, it really hit hard, to be honest." At Segression's first gig on that tour back in 1998, the pressure on them was enormous as they hit the stage before Ozzy, who was known as the Prince of Darkness. People have "paid a lot of money to go and see Ozzy Osbourne" and back then crowds were well known to "give a little bit of curry" to support bands. "I walked out on stage and it was, I wouldn't say completely hostile, but it was certainly not warm," Chris remembers. "I walked up to the microphone and before the band started, I got them to light up the crowd and I said, 'I know that everyone's here to see Ozzy, but we're a young Australian band that's been given an opportunity, so we think it's appropriate to start our set showing Ozzy Osboune what Australia is like. So, Aussie Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi,' and then we're into it. "The crowd, they turned completely on its head, and we had an amazing tour ... it was just so surreal." During another moment on tour, Ozzy was chatting to one of Segression's roadies who had a "full body suit of tattoos". "Ozzy was just so fascinated. He said, 'Can I see you without your shirt on again?'. He took his shirt off and he said, 'it's like a road map to your life'," Chris said. "And then, funnily enough, just after that tour, Ozzy went back home and got his arms tattooed, full sleeves." The tour and getting to meet Ozzy were so significant in Chris' life that he still holds dear the backstage pass he wore each night during the tour. "My Dad [Dave] was a massive Black Sabbath fan, so it's like one of my life's proudest moments when I got to introduce my dad [to Ozzy]," Chris said of a moment on that tour. "My dad's quiet at the best of times, so he just sort of walked up and shook hands, and that was about it. They just stared at each other." He recalls everyone was starstruck around Ozzy at that time, it was the height of the Osbourne's reality television show, The Osbournes, and Ozzy was a massive star thanks to his Black Sabbath days and then successful solo career. Ozzy's reputation is huge - he was the lead singer of Black Sabbath until he was kicked out in 1979 after a long run of erratic drink and drug-fuelled behaviour, and when he bit the head off a bat onstage, he made rock history. But, underneath all the bravado, the rumour and the reality TV show, Chris simply remembers Ozzy as just being a good bloke. "When you got to be in his presence, you just felt like you were the only one there. He just had that magic about himself," he said. "He's done so many things that he's notorious for, but the person that I met was just funny and warm. "He's probably the biggest rock star on the planet, and I don't think he ever thought of it that way. He just liked playing music and enjoying himself. I don't think he was dwelling on his success at all."
