The real estate deals where money could not buy happiness

SOMETIMES, moving out just isn’t an option. These homes stood tall, even when they were dwarfed by high-rises next door.

THEY say a man’s home is his castle.

Tear-jerking scripts have been written about the David and Goliath struggle between the humble homeowner and big business, but the classic tale behind films like The Castle and Up really do happen.

Known as “nail houses” after a Chinese expression that translates as “stubborn nails” the term was coined by developers in China who consider holdout homeowners as nails which can neither be pounded down into the wood, or removed.

Fifteen years ago Norman and Janet Richards refused to give up their three-bedroom home when developers came knocking — even when they got out their fat cheque books.

But now after the passing of Mr Richards, and Mrs Richards’ move into a retirement home, 42 Mollison St will finally be sold to the highest bidder on November 18.

In 2000 the work began, but the Richards stayed put. Picture: Hanson Jamie

The Richards’ house was repainted by the developers to blend in. Picture: realestate.com.au

Australia’s own ‘Up’ house was put on the market last month and has since attracted a lot of attention according to selling agent Chris Kazonis of Drakos Real Estate.

“The interest has been interesting,” he told news.com.au, adding that everyone from homeowners to developers and restaurateurs have been calling.

“But people are pretty coy about just how much they’ll be willing to pay for it,” he said.

Mr Kazonis said there is nothing else quiet like it in the neighbourhood so it is difficult to price.

“We just don’t have any direct comprables,” he said.

According to RP Data Core Logic figures, the median sale price for a house in South Brisbane is $1 million.

The humble home is sandwiched between a shopping complex, which houses a Coles supermarket and 25 speciality shops on one side, unit blocks on the other and parking underground.

St Leonards, Sydney

Little nail house in St Leonards was a jeweller’s for 75 years. Picture: realestate.com.au

For decades St Leonards on Sydney’s North Shore has been a pot pourri of apartment blocks and office towers, but one pint-sized property stood out from the developed crowd.

Sitting on a tiny 223sq m block, 19 Chandos St was the home of a family-run jewellery business John Clarke & Son for more than 75 years.

When the owner decided to wind up the business earlier this year, the single-storey residence was listed on the market with price expectations of about $3.5 million. It was bought by the family back in 1960 for 3000 pounds.

The unique property failed to sell under the hammer after in June, but has since been sold for an undisclosed sum.

Surry Hills, Sydney

A Surry Hills terrace without its row in Sydney. Picture: realestate.com.au

When Ravenswood was built back in the late 1870s the landscape along busy Chalmers St in Surry Hills was very different. The two-storey mid-Victorian terrace overlooking Prince Alfred Park, which is believed to be originally one-half of a pair, was opposite a grand exhibition hall and an ice-skating rink.

With its neighbour long gone the lonely house at 166 Chalmers St is now wedged between a six-storey and a 10-storey complex.

The three-bedroom house on a 186sq m block was set to go under the hammer in 2013, but sold prior for $1.405 million.

Washington DC, USA

A Washington DC property owner held out for too long. Picture: Supplied

As local legend goes in Washington DC, owner Austin Spriggs had his “golden ticket” for a huge windfall when developers came knocking on Massachusetts Ave in the early 2000s.

Spriggs reportedly refused millions of dollars for the pocket property that houses his small architectural firm since 1980. Back then he paid $135,000 for the two-storey house.

Eventually the offers dried up and years later, during more troubled times, Spriggs’ bank threatened foreclosure and he put the property up for sale with a $1.5 million ($A2.1 million) price tag. The property sold in 2011 for $750,000 ($A1.044 million).

Seattle, USA

Macefield House has gone down in Seattle history. Picture: Supplied

In suburban Seattle one little house has a big story. Like the loveable tale of the grumpy old man in the Pixar movie Up, this humble home was surrounded by development after its elderly homeowner dug in her determined heels.

Edith Macefield, 84, didn’t like the fact her quiet neighbourhood was becoming gentrified so when developers came knocking with a $1 million offer she refused to sell.

But instead of encroaching on her lifestyle the construction was a weird godsend. Construction chief Barry Martin became Macefield’s aide of sorts who picked up her medications and groceries; eventually becoming her heir when she died at 86. Martin sold the house for $310,000. She had paid just $3750 for the home in 1952.

Despite the Hollywood-style script, producers of Up claimed that scriptwriting and production had begun on the children’s hit two years before Macefield’s stand off began. But that didn’t stop publicists for the animated film attaching balloons to the roof of Macefield’s house as a publicity stunt when Up was released in 2009.

Zhejiang, China

Middle of the road: this Chinese homeowner has total street frontage. Picture: supplied

One of the most famous “nail” houses in China was the home of Luo Baogen who insisted on living in a half-demolished building near the city of Wenling, in Zhejiang province.

Local reports stated that the homeowner was not happy with the relocation compensation offered by the government.

One Chinese newspaper reported that Luo had only just completed his house at a cost of about 600,000 yuan ($A131,564). He had been offered 220,000 yuan ($A43,854) to move out.

The five story block had cars driving around while the family lived inside. However the incessant media attention eventually pushed Luo out the door and the property was eventually demolished.

Japan

When you can’t buy the farm — build around it. Picture: supplied

The fruit and veg grown on this Japanese farm must has a particular taste considering it’s located in the middle of a busy airport. Narita airport has a farm next to the tarmac because landowners refused to sell off their turf.

Now around 90 planes a day fly over the paddock, sometimes as low as 40m during take off and landing and noise levels often exceed 100 decibels — louder than an overhead train.

And the airport wasn’t built without a fuss, before the facility opened in 1978 protesters took over the almost-finished control tower and smashed its equipment. The fight to keep the land out of the developers hands was reportedly the longest and deadliest conflict in the country’s post World War II history, lasting 39 years and claiming the 13 lives.