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| Posted on Monday, June 10 @ 00:00:05 PDT |
Real Estate They left NYC for Bali with their teenagers. 7 years later, their sons are fleeing the nest, and theyre selling the villa for $1.89 million. Amanda Goh 2024-06-10T00:14:02Z Share icon An curved arrow pointing right. Share Facebook Icon The letter F. Facebook Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email. Email Twitter icon A stylized bird with an open mouth, tweeting. Twitter LinkedIn icon LinkedIn Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url. Copy Link Save Article Icon A bookmark Save Read in app Angle down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down. The main hallway features a curved staircase. Amanda Goh/Business Insider This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in . Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman moved from New York City to Bali seven years ago with their teenage sons. During the pandemic, they built a six-bedroom eclectic home for their family. Now, theyre becoming empty-nesters and selling the Canggu villa for $1.895 million. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily.
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Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while youre on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking unsubscribe at the bottom of the email. Advertisement Seven years ago, Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman packed up their lives and moved from New York City to Bali with their two teenage sons in tow.
It was an idea sparked by a conversation with a friend over coffee on a cold winter morning.
The friend had mentioned his plans to enroll his daughters in the Green School, which is made from eco-friendly bamboo buildings and is known for its sustainability-focused pre-kindergarten through high school curriculum. Its also located in Ubud, over 10,000 miles from New York, near the center of the Indonesian island.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in . And while we had traveled to places like India, Vietnam, and China, wed never been to Indonesia before. So I said, Bali , that sounds very warm. Tell me more, Bondor told Business Insider.
Related Video Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman have been living in Bali for the past seven years. Gabi Bondor When they got home, they started researching what life in Bali was like.
I looked at the school, and it was the opposite of what was happening to my children in high school in New York . When the kids got home that day, I said, Guys, were going to Bali for spring break, Bondor said.
The spring break visit came and went, and the couple decided they wanted to experience what it was like to live on the island for longer.
They ended up selling their kids the idea of a yearlong sabbatical in Bali as a break from stressful city life and a chance to see the rest of Asia .
Advertisement The exterior of the couples house in Canggu, Bali. Amanda Goh/Business Insider We told them, One suitcase each. Everything else goes into storage because wed be back in a year, Bondor added. Although they were allowed to bring their Xbox in their carry-on.
But after their year in Bali passed, the couple realized they didnt want to leave. They made a trip back to the US to clear out their storage and have no plans to move back.
The friend who introduced them to Bali didnt make the move in the end, she added.
A narrow walkway, flanked by two koi ponds, leads from the gate to the main buildings door. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Building in Bali Like many expats, the couple rented a few different homes in Bali before finally building their own house during the pandemic.
Advertisement When COVID-19 came, land prices were a lot more affordable than what it is today, so we decided that we were going to purchase a plot somewhere where we could create a space for our family, Bondor said.
Part of the reason they chose to build instead of buying an off-plan property or continuing to rent was so that they could ensure the quality of the build, Kaman, the cofounder of a digital payment app , told BI.
The main hallway features a curved staircase. Amanda Goh/Business Insider We always had some issue or another with the homes — the pump, the AC — and the landlords dont always care, Kaman said. We thought, Why dont we build something ourselves so at least we can control and make sure that everything is working the way we need?
Additionally, they had experience renovating their homes during their time in the US. It helped that they also had a great team of builders — recommended by a friend — to rely on too.
Advertisement We love the process, Bondor said. We enjoy it. I think were a great team. If he is down or pissed, I pick him up, and vice versa.
The dining area. Amanda Goh/Business Insider They knew they wanted to stay near Canggu which is known for its beaches and bustling food scene.
We lived in the neighborhood and we had always scouted around. Many people like the rice field views, while others like the beach views. We are social people — we like our coffee shops, Bondor said.
A stone table. Amanda Goh/Business Insider When the couple first saw the plot, located at the end of a narrow street that branches off from the main road, they fell in love immediately.
Advertisement It was so quiet and peaceful. There was nothing, except for basically seven big mango trees and thick vegetation. It was like a mini jungle, Kaman said.
The plot was about 8,200 square feet. Since foreigners arent allowed to own land in Bali, the piece of land they have is on a 30-year lease.
Part of the dining area cantilevers over a corner of the pool. Amanda Goh/Business Insider The entire construction process took slightly over a year to complete, and the couple lived in a rented home nearby so they could always be on-site.
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The biggest challenge they faced was having to work through Balis rainy season, which typically runs from November to March.
Advertisement We started digging a pool when it was the rainy season, and we were just digging mud, Bondor said. For weeks and weeks, you didnt see the digger come out of the soil — it felt like we werent getting anywhere.
An outdoor seating area. Amanda Goh/Business Insider A cozy, eclectic home The couples six-bedroom home sits in a cul-de-sac, next to a rice field thats been repurposed into a plot to grow cucumbers.
The two-story building — which comes with an accessory dwelling unit that the couple calls the teenager pad — has a red and gray exterior that stands out in contrast to the surrounding greenery.
Those who step beyond the gate are greeted by a long walkway flanked by two koi ponds that lead to the main building.
Advertisement The kitchen. Amanda Goh/Business Insider I like to say that it has a lot of European charm, like Paris with New York dancing a tango kind of thing. I really wanted to incorporate a lot of Balinese elements as well, Bondor said.
The furniture is handmade in Indonesia, and even the terracotta tiles on the buildings exterior were crafted by a local family, she added.
Most importantly, its a house that they designed with their own living habits in mind.
The curved staircase. Amanda Goh/Business Insider I think everything, from the kitchen layout to the lighting, is based on the way we live our everyday life, Bondor said.
Advertisement Becoming empty nesters But the couple has decided its time to say goodbye to their house — theyre putting the villa on the market for $1.895 million.
Their oldest son is already studying abroad, and the youngest will start college soon. The couple plans to downsize to a smaller place .
The master bedroom. Amanda Goh/Business Insider He just graduated last weekend. Its really hit us hard that hes leaving very soon and were going to have this big, empty house to ourselves, Kaman said.
Moreover, as empty-nesters , they plan to travel a bit more now that they have the freedom to, and a house of this size cant be left empty in tropical weather for too long.
Advertisement Its not four seasons, its always a lot of rain. The sun is always strong. It wears materials out, Bondor said. We have animals. If one little gecko dies here and nobody cleans for a day or two, the ants will come.
The master bathroom. Amanda Goh/Business Insider This house needs a lot of care and maintenance.
So if youre not here for months, this is not going to work, Kaman added.
However, Bali will always be their home base.
The slower pace of life on the island lets them stop and appreciate the little things in their day, like being able to work out in the mornings or have a nice lunch together.
Advertisement That aside, Bali is a melting pot of different cultures, and its people never fail to inspire them.
One of the bedrooms in the house. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Theres a very unique expat community that comes to Bali and I think our friends have very similar mindsets that we do, Bondor said.
The couple has one tip for those who want to build a house in Bali: Dont cut corners.
Do it the right way, and always respect your team, Bondor said. Dont use cheap materials because this weather is going to wear everything out. If your roof is not done well, this rain is going to find its way in.
Advertisement The office. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Kaman added that it might not be wise for anyone without any prior experience to take on such an ambitious project.
If they dont have experience building houses, dont start with Bali, he said. Just pick the right contractors.
Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If youve got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.
com .
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