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US

Joe, Hunter Biden staying for free at $20 million South Carolina mansion

President Biden and his family, including disgraced first son Hunter, are spending their summer vacation at a $20 million beachfront mansion in South Carolina, The Post has learned — and they’re not paying a dime.

The president recently asked prominent Democratic donor Maria Allwin — the widow of hedge fund founder James Allwin — if he could stay at her nine-bedroom Kiawah Island estate, a source close to the family told The Post.

“They stayed here before and they’re not paying,” the source said. “They’ve never paid. They’re just friends.”

The property features a large swimming pool on two acres and is surrounded by palm trees and other lush vegetation for privacy.

The White House frustrated reporters by offering little transparency about Biden’s South Carolina trip, which is expected to last through early next week.

Associated Press emphasized Wednesday that the White House “did not respond to requests to provide details on Biden’s vacation schedule, activities or when he planned to return to Washington, nor did it provide information on the residence where he was staying.”

aerial of mansion
The property is surrounded by lush vegetation for privacy.
Charleston Trident MLS

However, the Federal Aviation Administration’s website indicates “temporary flight restrictions for VIP Movement” will be in place over Kiawah until 9:15 pm Tuesday.

The Bidens have often stayed at Allwin’s mansion, which was listed for sale earlier this year — including as early as 2009, while Joe Biden was vice president.

Maria Allwin has contributed to an array of mostly Democratic political campaigns, but her most recent donations are to Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and a PAC supporting her effort to beat back a primary challenge by Donald Trump-endorsed Harriet Hageman.

Ahead of the 2020 election, Allwin generously supported Biden, sending a $35,000 check that September to the Biden Victory Fund and the Democratic National Committee, according to Federal Election Commission records.

President Joe Biden, center, waves as he is joined by, from left, are Hunter Biden, grandson Beau Biden, first lady Jill Biden, and daughter-in-law Melissa Cohen
The excursion is a Biden family getaway, with son Hunter Biden joining as well.
Susan Walsh/AP
Aerial of backyard, pool
The homeowner, Maria Allwin, is a big-time contributor to an array of political campaigns, supporting Biden in 2020.
Charleston Trident MLS

The source said, however, that the Allwins and the Bidens are not engaged in business dealings together — and added the family is not directly linked to Hunter Biden, whose foreign business deals are under federal investigation. The first sons recently paid about $2 million to the IRS in a bid to avoid tax fraud charges.

Maria Allwin has known Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden socially for more than a decade, according to the source.

The Allwin family’s firm, Aetos Capital, is currently run by Maria Allwin’s son, Chris. The firm’s holdings include California-issued carbon credits.

Biden has stayed at the homes of other wealthy benefactors before. In November, his family spent Thanksgiving at billionaire private equity investor David Rubenstein’s compound on Nantucket, drawing raised eyebrows from ethics experts.

“Just a friendly reminder, [Biden] will have to pay fair market value for the stay on Nantucket or disclose the gift of free lodging in his annual disclosure in May 2022. I’m not suggesting he wouldn’t, just reminding not to let it slip through the cracks,” Walter Shaub, director of the US Office of Government Ethics under former President Barack Obama, tweeted at the time.

Shaub added regarding that stay, “There’s a disclosure exception for personal hospitality, but that only applies if the head of the Carlyle Group is staying there with the Bidens. I suspect the WH is all over compliance with the rule — and oblivious to the ethical optics.”

President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden
A source told The Post that the Biden family has never paid for their stay in the home because they are friends with the owner.
Joshua Roberts/REUTERS
inside mansion
The home features nine bedrooms on two acres of Kiawah Island in South Carolina.
Charleston Trident MLS

The Allwin family declined to comment and the White House did not immediately respond to The Post’s inquiry.

Biden also has yet to comment on the FBI raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, which reportedly dealt with the ex-president’s possession of records that may contain classified information. White House aides say Biden had no advance knowledge of the raid, which Republicans say demonstrates a double standard compared to the FBI’s investigation of the Biden family finances.

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Categories
Australia

Perth real estate: Suburbs where it now costs more than $1m to buy a house

Eleven suburbs have joined the $1m median house price club as values ​​continue to climb in Perth.

While other states are seeing house prices fall, Perth has lagged behind most of the other capitals.

It means despite rising interest rates and cost of living pressures, the housing market in WA has soared in the past year.

Six of the 11 suburbs recorded more than 20 per cent price growth during the 2021-22 financial year, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia.

Marmion, Mount Hawthorn, North Perth, Fremantle and Kensington had their median house prices tip above $1.1m at the end of June.

Gwelup, Booragoon, Karrinyup, Leederville, Iluka and Como reached $1m or more.

The top suburb is Marmion, which now has a median price of $1.27m — an increase of 32 per cent in the past year.

House Price Drop
Camera IconEleven suburbs have joined the $1m median house price club in Perth. Daily Telegraph/Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia

REIWA president Damian Collins said people had started to gain confidence in WA’s strong economy and property market, which had translated into more sales at the top end.

“All of these suburbs have had medians hovering below $1m for quite some time,” he said.

“It is impressive to see the demand for houses in these suburbs hold strong throughout the 2021-22 financial year, now placing them in Perth’s luxury market.”

Mr Collins said Perth’s premium market was attracting a lot of interest from buyers leading to strong price growth.

“If you are considering selling in one of these suburbs, now would be an opportunistic time to capitalize on this demand,” he said.

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Categories
Business

Schitt’s Creek fans get ready: Entire town up for sale in Victoria, Australia

Fans of the popular series Schitt’s Creek now have the opportunity to live out their own rural dreams, as the small Victorian town of Coopers Creek enters the property market.

Mason White McDougall has listed the beautiful country town up for sale, offering buyers the chance to be the largest of their own town and live just like the Rose family in Schitt’s Creek.

Coopers Creek is located about 130km from Melbourne in the Gippsland region. The sale comprises 21 lots, each raging in size from 660sq m to 12,000sq m.

Settled in the 1800s during the Victorian Gold rush, Coopers Creek was once home to 250 people.

The town, spanning 4½ hectares on the Thomson River, is said to sell for a reasonable $2.5-3m, a small price to pay to call the whole place your own.

Buyers can settle comfortably in the beautiful two-bedroom home and take in the views of their own town from the veranda.

The warm and historical Coopers Creek pub is equipped with a pool room, dining area, stage, cozy fireplaces and commercial kitchen to keep its new owners entertained.

Nature and adventure lovers will thrive in the wide open space, with plenty of opportunities for bushwalking, four-wheel driving, kayaking, fishing and much more.

“If you have ever wanted to own your own town or be the mayor of your own domain, this is the place for you,” Mason White director Ian Mason said.

“Coopers Creek offers endless opportunities including a break from city life and a change of scenery in one of Victoria’s most pristine natural environments.

“Like the Rose family, Coopers Creek could be a life-changing move for the right buyer,” Mr Mason said.

For more information, or express interest, visit www.cooperscreek.com.au.

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Categories
Business

F45 co-founder Adam Gilchrist selling manor after stepping down from the business

The picturesque Sydney beachside manor owned by F45 co-founder Adam Gilchrist is set to go under the hammer after the Australian fitness giant’s stunning downfall.

Mr Gilchrist (not the cricketer), who stepped down as F45’s chief executive last week amid stock plunges and company-wide lay-offs, is selling his “beachfront trophy home” at Freshwater on Sydney’s northern beaches.

The home, 52 Ocean View Rd, grew into infamy in 2018 when Mr Gilchrist and his wife Eli bought the property for a whopping $14m due to a minor neighborly dispute.

house
Camera IconF45 co-founder Adam Gilchrist is putting his northern Sydney manor up for auction. Clarke & Humel Credit: Supplied

The couple had purchased a three-bedroom cottage on 50 Ocean View Rd for $5.4m in 2017 and planned to spend $2.5m to develop the property.

But neighbors complained it would not comply with building height or boundary controls, which led to Mr Gilchrist taking the extraordinary step of withdrawing his proposal and setting the matter by buying his neighbour’s bigger home for the obscene amount.

The $14m price was a record for the Freshwater suburb, with agents considering 52 Ocean View Rd’s mammoth coming out an outlier price.

But the three-storey home is again on the market, with real estate agents billing it as “unquestionably one of the finest homes and locations in Sydney”.

house
Camera IconOne of the bedrooms in the Freshwater home. Clarke & Humel Credit: Supplied

“Cutting-edge architectural design and an unsurpassed beachfront setting combine in this state-of-the-art luxury residence to deliver the ultimate designer beach house,” a description of the home reads.

“Set to a picture-perfect backdrop that sweeps over the surf to the ocean’s horizon and North Head, the tri-level residence showcases living spaces and lift access to all three levels and has been appointed and furnished with every conceivable luxury.”

The home’s features include five bedrooms, three bathrooms and giant retractable windows in the dining room.

house
Camera IconThe beautiful view from 52 Ocean View Rd overlooking the beach. Clarke & Humel Credit: Supplied

Mr Gilchrist suddenly announced last week that he was stepping down as F45’s chief executive after co-founding the business with Rob Deutsch back in 2013.

The company also revealed it would be laying off 110 staff and cuttings its operational expenses, which caused its stock price to fall by more than 60 per cent.

F45 hoped that by reducing its corporate workforce by 45 per cent it could return to a positive cash flow.

Mr Gilchrist said he would be “forever grateful” as he exited the company.

“To the staff that have worked tirelessly since our inception, you have been incredible in your efforts, and I thank you for all of your support,” Mr Gilchrist said in a statement.

“To the investors that have joined us along our journey, I thank you for your commitment to F45.

“Lastly, I am forever grateful to our franchisees who deliver the world’s best workout each day to F45 members around the world.”

Mr Deutsch, who stepped down as chief executive and sold his shares in the company in 2020, said there were “enormous issues needing fixing”.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this,” he wrote on Instagram.

“When I exited, and sold out of F45, I left a healthy, phenomenal, beast of a business. All the way from the company culture to the heart beat of the business… the workouts. F45 was special.

“I genuinely hope all of the 110 laid-off staff, find happiness and opportunities elsewhere.”

F45 was a global fitness powerhouse before its stock shock last week, with more than 1500 studios in 45 countries and Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg among its investors.

Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg is an F45 investor.
Camera IconHollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg is an F45 investor. Credit: Supplied

Mr Gilchrist made $500m overnight when the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in July last year.

His northern Sydney home will be up for auction on August 27.

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