The Block 2012 presenter Scott Cam spends $670,000 on a Mollymook retreat: Title Tattle

The Block 2012 presenter Scott Cam, the celebrity builder who started his television career in 2000 alongside Jamie Durie on Channel 9's Backyard Blitz, has spent $670,000 on a Mollymook retreat on the NSW south coast (pictured above). It was listed at $795,000 through Mollymook Narrawallee Real Estate a year before the purchase earlier this year, when it came with a $749,000 asking price. It last traded at $680,000 in 2004. Set only 175 metres to the sands of Narrawallee Beach, it was marketed as a family resort like no other. The level 1,182-square-metre block accommodates a fully renovated trend-setting home with ensuite along with separate guest accommodation attached to garage and workshop area. The grounds come with oasis-style saltwater pool enjoying full sun and privacy. It's been his work as host on The Block over the last three years that has made Cam a household name all over Australia. He recently said when he is not working, Cam spends most of his time on his family farm in Mudgee with his wife, Ann, in whose name the purchase was made, and their three children: Charlie, 15, and twins Sarah and Bill, 12. But last weekend he was spotted enjoying the NSW south coast town in the midst of its Milton Scarecrow Festival. He credits his television career to being discovered by a producer him in his local pub, he recently told News Ltd papers.

A double oceanfront block on Collaroy Beach (pictured above) – complete with a rare tennis court offering – has been listed for the first time in five decades. It was the home of the late lawyer William Michie, of the law firm Michie and Shahadie. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom house that sits on a 1,365-square-metre Seaview Parade holding comes with $10 million expectations at its June 23 auction. Title Tattle reckons it's among less than a handful of beachfront tennis courts across Sydney.

Interior designer Nellie Tilley has listed her Bondi Junction home (pictured above) with $2.5 million-plus hopes. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom property featured in the March/April issue of Vogue Living. The house, only recently renovated with bespoke finishes, is close to Centennial Park in its St James Road cul-de-sac location. It cost $1.65 million in May 2010.

The financial consultant Michael Cannon-Brookes and his wife, Helen, are returning to Darling Point, having paid $4.85 million for a garden apartment (pictured above). It’s on the dress circle New Beach Road strip, in the triplex complex developed by the late Ron White and his business partner, Barrie Elsbury. The 499-square-metre, three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment has a garden terrace with harbour views. It was sold by Lorna and Quentin Wallace, the Melbourne-based owners of International Racehorse Transport, who bought the property for $3.6 million in 2002 Lorna through its latest selling agent Gary Sands of Di Jones Real Estate. Title Tattle recalls in 1999 Toowong, their Italianate-style 1902 terrace on Darling Point Road, secured $1.725 million. The four-bedroom 1902 residence had been bought in 1991 from Lady (Susan) Renouf for $1.23 million. The Cannon-Brookes couple have maintained an apartment in the Renzo Paino building on Macquarie Street since paying $2.4 million in 2006.

From overseas comes word Australian-born actress Poppy Montgomery is seeking $3.29 million for her Californian home (pictured above). It was at the age of 18 that Montgomery migrated to the United States to pursue her acting career. She is best known for her role as Samantha Spade on Without a Trace, and as her current role as Carrie Wells on the recently cancelled television series Unforgettable. Her Pacific Palisades Mediterranean-style property cost $3.1 million in 2005, the realestalker.com.au blog reports.

Title Tattle aims to tell you as soon as it happens – if not before – but some deals are tricky to track down. Details are ever so slowly emerging on the whisper quiet sale of the 1870s Woollahra house Eltham. It’s the suburb's former record setter when $9 million was paid in 2006 for the Victorian Regency-style house with tennis court on its 1,520-square-metre holding. It’s been resold at a still undisclosed presumed lower price through McGrath agent Ben Collier. The exchange on delayed settlement terms was late December 2012 and settlement is still pending. Title Tattle has gleaned that its buyer is Louise Glen, the wife of David Glen, the managing director of the ATM company Banktech.

Babies Galore founders Gary and Debbie Trakman have their Warriewood Beach abode (pictured above) listed with $5.5 million hopes through Michael King of Domain Residential. It has a 22-metre beach frontage. The Bruce Street Mona Vale offering is a state-of-the-art architecturally designed ultra-contemporary residence. Its layout flows over two levels with vast walls of glass. It was completed less than a year ago by Blue Label Construction Pty Limited. It comes with a swimming pool. Babies Galore opened in 1996.

The pianist composer Dr Allan Zavod has listed his Avoca property (pictured above). It provided inspirational views of the Pyrenees Ranges in Victoria's central highlands for the musician's piece The Environmental Symphony. Zavod was discovered by jazz legend Duke Ellington, who arranged for him to further his jazz studies at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he later became a professor. As a film composer Allan has scored over 30 films including a movie with the legendary Eric Clapton. The eight-hectare holding has been listed at $348,500 through Elders Ballarat agent Josh Todd. It comes with a mudbrick and cedar house with two bedrooms, plus guesthouse studio. The buyer will have the option to buy a neighbouring eight-hectare block for $75,000.

The Hunter Sports Group boss Troy Palmer is the immediate direct beneficiary of his boss Nathan Tinkler’s decision to quit Newcastle for Singapore. Palmer has bought one of Tinkler’s redundant beachside Merewether properties (pictured above) for $2.8 million – at under the commonly believed market value. Tinkler bought the four-bedroom, three-bathroom 2006-built Merewether house for a then bullish record-setting $4.3 million in 2008 from the rugby league legend Andrew Johns. Palmer’s same-day exchange settlement was in wife Emma’s name last month. The 34% price drop shocked several estate agents. “It turns out Nathan Tinkler's sale was a 'friendly deal', so should be seen as out of line by valuers,” one agent has tweeted.

And it seems that another high flyer has relocated overseas. It's the talk of the betting industry that the reclusive Zeljko Ranogajec – reputed to be one of the world's biggest gamblers – has departed our shores. Title Tattle gathers his Balmoral Slopes abode has been vacated. And another pricier holding lies relatively dormant despite its mega-mansion potential. The only property in his name got sold for $2.4 million earlier this month, although Title Tattle has gleaned its into a company directed by Ranogajec who also goes by the name John Wilson. The paperwork was signed in London, giving a clue to his possible current location. SMH investigative reporter Kate McClymont recently wrote that Ranogajec told associates last year the ATO was demanding about $900 million for 10 years of back taxes, penalties and interest. Not that his audit has apparently formally concluded. McClymont suggests Ranogajec's gambling operation represented an estimated 8% of Tabcorp's $10 billion annual revenue. His wagers with Betfair's Australian outfit are believed to be a third of the total revenue.