Real Housewife splashes $3.4m on Sunshine Beach home

A Real Housewife of Melbourne candidate has snapped up a treehouse-style Sunshine Beach property in a $3.4 million off-market deal.

Sonia Hall purchased 1 Duke St, Sunshine Beach in an off-market sale for about $3.4 million.

A Real Housewife of Melbourne candidate moved her life to Noosa during lockdown and snapped up a treehouse style Sunshine Beach property in a $3.4 million off-market deal.

Sonia Hill spent weeks searching for her dream home at the in demand Noosa suburb, but found she was always pipped at the post by buyers not restricted by border closures.

So the property investor flew to Queensland, spent two weeks in quarantine and moved to Sunshine Beach where she eventually found 1 Duke St.

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David Berns of David Berns Real Estate initiated the off-market cash sale of the home formerly owned by stylist Carolyn Foord.

Ms Hill said she fell in love with the home instantly because of its homely and inviting feel.

The sale also included the former owner's 4WD and furniture.

"It was surprising because I was looking beachfront, but when I walked into this home it just felt so nice and homely," Ms Hill said.

"I bought it and in the next week I'd moved in with everything including the car still there."

Sonia Hall purchased 1 Duke St, Sunshine Beach in an off-market sale for about $3.4 million.

Sunshine Beach has become an A-listers paradise, with TV host Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic and former prime minister Kevin Rudd and wife Therese Rein also owning million-dollar homes in the area.

"I had my Porsche trucked to Queensland, wondering if it would suit the environment, but it certainly does," Ms Hill said.

"There's lots of expats here."

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Mr Berns said he had never seen such high demand for property in his 20 years working in the area.

He said it was particularly difficult for potential buyers in Sunshine Beach where homes are tightly held.

"It's a very tightly held market, in a small suburb that's really dynamic," he said.

"There's a lot of famous people living there now … it's because it has this village atmosphere.

The outdoor area at 1 Duke St, Sunshine Beach which was sold in an off-market sale for about $3.4 million.

"Lots of people like Hastings St, but Sunshine Beach is this little hidden treasure."

Mr Berns said some properties had been purchased by interstate buyers site unseen or over FaceTime.

"Nobody knows what's going on, none of us have ever seen it like this," he said.

Ms Hill was cast in the first Real Housewives of Melbourne series, but did not appear in the reality TV show due to disagreements in the contract around privacy.

Once borders allow, she plans to travel back to Melbourne occasionally for work.

Ms Hill's husband Stephen Hill was one of the original founders of Globe International, a skate company which was floated on the stock market 12 years ago.

Ms Hill is an investor in the company and also invests on the US stock market and in property.

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