Swimming champion James Magnussen flip yet to succeed at Ryde property
Swimming champion James Magnussen couldn't sell his speculative Ryde investment apartment at its onsite weekend auction.
The auction started and ended on a $740,000 bid when offered by its LJ Hooker Ryde City listing agent Neil Moorjani.
The swimmer had foreseen his real estate investment hobby might become more serious at the end of his time in the pool.
Magnussen Enterprises Pty Ltd paid $623,000 earlier this year for the Gladstone Ave unit.
Set in a 1960s red-brick walk up block, the three-bedder had been listed with $750,000 hopes.
Auctioneer Greg Smith sought an $800,000 opening bid from the small crowd. It now has an $805,000 asking price.
He suggested that $740,000 would be "cheap buying." Negotiations took the highest post-auction offer to $762,000.
Bought in original condition in the block of six, the Drummoyne based Magnussen, along with a builder mate, renovated the 88 sqm apartment over the past few months while he was in recovery from major surgery on his shoulder.
The total refurbishment, including new open kitchen and bathroom, cost about $50,000.
The property, with district views, could yield a $680 weekly rental tenants, auction investor attendees were advised.
Magnussen spent $935,000 in 2012 on his own Drummoyne flat which was seemingly well bought as it had traded at $910,000 in 2007.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
