- Alice and Caleb Pearson listed two designer homes in Red Beach for $3 million-plus.
- The project began with a $2.8 million purchase in 2021 and faced market challenges.
- The development was completed after selling one home off-plan, providing confidence to proceed.
The two designer homes just listed by Block stars Alice and Caleb Pearson nearly didn't happen.
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The couple, whose win on the hit TV renovation show more than a decade ago kickstarted a career in property development, told OneRoof that the new-builds overlooking Ōrewa Beach were a bit of a gamble.
The two four-bedroom houses at 45a and 45b Rosario Crescent, in Red Beach, are on the market, looking for $3 million-plus.
The 1970s house was demolished to make way for three new high-end homes. Photo / Supplied
The Pearsons outside one of the three homes they built on the site. Photo / Supplied
The residential project - their third with business partner Logan James - started with the $2.8m purchase of a tired 1970s house in 2021, at the peak of the market.
The couple's designs for three stand-alone houses on the 1229sqm site were approved just as the housing market started to turn.
Suddenly, they had to rethink their plans. “The market wasn’t great, so we decided to wait a bit,” Caleb told OneRoof.
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They couldn't afford to go ahead with the plan, but they didn't want to sell the property at a loss either, so they put the 1970s home on Airbnb and waited.
The project was finally thrown a lifeline at the start of last year, when they were able to sell one of the homes off the plan. That sale gave them enough confidence to carry on with the development, which is now completed after 18 months.
“It’s been a long project," Caleb said, with the couple putting on their Facebook page that all the “disappointment, determination, hoping and praying” had been worth it.
Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliders are designed to make the most of the view. Photo / Supplied
Alice deliberately chose different styles for the houses. Photo / Supplied
“They are amazing homes. Whenever we go there, it’s like we want to live there.”
He said of the build: “We wanted to do justice to the views. A lot of the house design was around the outlook. We kind of went to down with the glazing and the joinery, especially on the northern side of the building. So, floor to ceiling joinery, big sliding doors.”
While Caleb and James managed the development, Alice thoughtfully styled and staged the properties. Caleb said they tried to strike a balance between not being “too crazy but not too plain”.
“We wanted to show these were designer homes and there was a designer element to it.”
Retirees have already settled on the first home, and said 45a and 45b would suit downsizers looking for low-maintenance homes with impressive views. It was also a great location families.
- 45a Rosario Crescent and 45b Rosario Crescent, in Red Beach, Auckland, are for sale by negotiation
