Michigan’s Quirky Gothic Castle Finds a Buyer

A hilltop estate with a French-style chateau in King, Ontario, has been relisted for C$33.98 million (US$25.15 million). The opulent five-bedroom home spans more than 20,000 square feet, and includes a bar, a wine cellar, a theater and a dry Finnish sauna. Despite its old-world charm, it is sheathed in an insulated concrete forms system for better insulation. blogTO

Home prices in New Zealand fell for the sixth straight month in August, as high interest rates continue to take their toll, according to CoreLogic Inc. Prices were down 0.5% from July and up 0.7% annually, slowing from a pace of 2.2%. With rising unemployment and a cooling economy, home prices are mirroring a slump in buyer confidence. However, the Reserve Bank cut rates in mid-August—with the average two-year mortgage rate dropping below 6%, down from a peak of 7.01%—which could ignite some optimism. Bloomberg

Booming luxury home sales in India, many bought in all cash, are set to drive up property prices marketwide over the next few years, according to a Reuters poll of housing experts. They expect price growth to outpace overall consumer inflation. The trend is likely to exacerbate concerns among first-time buyers, who already face a limited supply of affordable housing. Nationwide, prices are expected to rise 7.75% this year. Reuters

Tim Finn of the band Crowded House has a new Australian home with an iconic view. Finn and his TV presenter wife, Marie Azcona, have snapped up a two-bedroom apartment with iconic views of the city, Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the landmark Byron Hall building. The meticulously renovated circa 1928 apartment in Potts Point sold prior to auction in June for an undisclosed price. The price guide, though, was A$1.75 million (US$1.18 million). news.com.au