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Foxtel’s brand-new property series Find Me a Beach House sees host Deborah Hutton tasked with finding everyday Australians their perfect beach house. Picture: Supplied.
A young family of four with a whopping budget got the property of their dreams after television star Deborah Hutton took them under her wing.
The Goldberg family — Michael and Jade and their two children — were the big spenders with a $5 million budget in the third episode of the first season of TV show Find Me a Beach House, on Foxtel’s LifeStyle Channel.
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Michael and Jade Goldberg and their two children were set on finding a beach house in Byron Bay. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.
It was billed as being a hunt in prestigious Byron Bay close to the Queensland-New South Wales border.
The couple has sold their business which allowed them to live the dream and retire early.
“They love travelling around Australia in their Winnebago camper van and Michael also rides motorbikes so an important consideration when looking for their dream beach house is enough space to accommodate the numerous vehicles.”
Their wishlist was that their new home be a “coastal oasis with access to the beach” in Byron Bay.
A builder by trade, Mr Goldberg was keen to enjoy early retirement, spending time watching the children grow.
The huge first house. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.
Ms Hutton, who hosts the show, took the couple to an enormous house first up: A six bedroom, four bathroom getaway, located 10 minutes from the beach.
“You can hang out in the kitchen, you’ve got that area there, you can see the kids in the pool, and the beach is a five to six minute private walk away,” Ms Hutton told the couple.
Mrs Goldberg was impressed: “What a way to start the day, surrounded by green, the sounds of the birds.”
Priced well below their kitty at $3.4m, it was a big house that was relatively modern with views.
The second home was brand new. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.
The second home was “brand new, contemporary luxury” with the couple the first ever to be given an inspection of the property.
The four bedroom, two bathroom house was 11 minutes from heart of Byron Bay and also had beach access.
Ms Hutton said “the level of detail in here is quite extraordinary” with American oak countertops, brass handles, a parents’ retreat, and media room.
While Mrs Goldberg had visions of herself cooking and entertaining in the kitchen, her husband loved that the kids would have their own space for movie nights.
“I’m scared to ask how much,” he said. “Looking at the workmanship and everything that’s been put in, $5-6m easy.”
Ms Hutton said the property was $5.4m, about $400,000 over their budget but designed to give them an idea of what was possible in the area.
The third property had two houses on it and ready for upgrade, but right on the beach. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.
The third property was a surprise winner though: Two houses that were much smaller than the others and older and in need of renovation — but with a clear deal clincher, the beach in its backyard.
“It’s all about surprises today,“ Ms Hutton said. “This parcel of land was tightly held for 20 years, two houses, one in front of the other, walk straight through there and you’re right on top of the beach.”
The front house was rented out and earning $50,000 a year.
“You could rent it out, have two pavilions, crush it all start and again, it’s tightly held, these places do not come up often,” she told the pair.
Mr Goldberg seemed sold already instantly by the sound of the water.
The iconic Byron Bay lighthouse was a big drawcard. Picture: Foxtel/Find Me a Beach House.
“I love the sound of the beach. This is like old Byron Bay. It’s the old true beach house,” he said.
The two bedroom, two bathroom house they inspected had a spiral staircase, and room for major improvement, according to the couple.
“I like having a beach in the backyard, I like being able to say that,” he said. “We’re going to be in this house a long time, our kids are going to grow up here.”
Mrs Goldberg agreed: “It’s our forever home.”
The couple were planning on rebuilding on the site.
The price was $3.2m, which was $100,000 less than the Goldbergs expected it might cost.
“To have a beach in your backyard, to me it’s priceless,” Mr Goldberg said. “I would like to rebuild. I think it’s about position and to have this, the sound, the beach, the beautiful lighthouse in the distance, this is Byron Bay for me. This is for a lifetime.”