A buyer in South Africa just bought a New York townhouse for over R1 billion after only viewing it over FaceTime.
The off-market deal of the 22-foot-wide property, which took a year to complete, had been listed at around R912 million ($50 million) when the deal commenced, but the buyer added additional funds towards renovations and furnishing the property.
The historic, and most sought-after property, is situated on Manhattan's Upper East Side and spans 855m² - excluding two levels below street level – and is 6.7m wide. The property is a six-bedroom house with an indoor pool, a sauna, and staff rooms.
Italian artisans were hired by the sellers for the interior of the home, according to Loy Carlos of Serhant. He added that some of the interiors were designed by Achille Salvagni, an Italian architect known for designing ultraluxury yachts.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the seller paid $16 million for the property in 2012 and is linked to an Italian grocery chain, Felice Lasalvia di Clemente.
Although the deal was sealed over FaceTime, the buyer viewed it in person just before it was concluded.
