10 Most Expensive Streets in the World: Billionaire’s Row

Slideshow November 25, 2013 at 03:40 PM
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Everyone needs a place to live.

Billionaires seem to need more than one place, and are buying homes on top streets around the world for record prices, according to data from residential and commercial consultant Knight Frank published by Billionaire, a sister company of intelligence firm Wealth-X.

Property values on the most exclusive street have continued to rise in many instances against the backdrop of a recession that knocked as much as 40% off the price tags of global prime property, the data show.

"The appeal of super-prime property has rarely been higher," Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, said in a statement.

"Rising demand for the best properties in the best locations has been set against tight demand, with limited new supply."

According to a recent report released by Wealth-X and UBS, the total real estate holdings of the world's billionaires is estimated at $169 billion, which equates to an average of $78 million per billionaire.

(Check out the 10 Most Expensive Hotel Rooms in New York at ThinkAdvisor.)

Billionaires own an average of four homes, each with a worth of nearly $20 million, the report showed.

"The highest echelons of society grew their assets by over 5% last year according to our research, and at this level of wealth there are few forced sales of real estate," Tara Loader Wilkinson, editor-in-chief of Wealth-X and editor-at-large at Billionaire, said in the statement.

"The cachet of buying a trophy property on a famous street is clear. But annual price rises in many of these exclusive neighborhoods demonstrates that owners can increasingly afford to wait for an offer they can't refuse."

The 10 most expensive streets in the world were ranked on the basis of average price per square meter (10.8 square feet). Rises in price include currency fluctuations.

Avenue Montaigne in Paris, France. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

10. Avenue Montaigne, Paris

Average price per square meter: $26,000

Price change year on year: -3%

With a reputation as la grande dame of French high-fashion streets, the 350-year-old Avenue Montaigne has also become an exclusive residential neighborhood for France's wealthy and famous. Located in the 8th arrondissement in the Champs Élysées quarter, the avenue is steeped in cultural history, and is home to jewelers and upscale designers. It has also been the target of at least two sophisticated heists. In 2008, jeweler Harry Winston (located at number 29) was robbed of more than $108 million worth of diamond rings, necklaces and luxury watches, the avenue such robbery within two years for the store. The street is also home to upscale hotel Plaza Athénée.

A view of Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

9. Fifth Avenue, New York

Average price per square meter: $28,000

Price change year on year: +5.4%

New York's rich and famous have flocked to Fifth Avenue since the 1900s for its exclusive cachet and central location. The most expensive properties are those sold along the stretch between 59th and 96th streets, across from Central Park. In line with the recovering U.S. economy, prices here have soared more than 5% within the last year. The avenue is also one of the world's most expensive for shopping and commercial rents, featuring every top designer boutique, from Armani through to Ermenegildo Zegna. The street is home to America's most iconic landmark buildings and shopping centers, including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Diplomatic Academy of Russia on Ostozhenka Street. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

8. Ostozhenka, Moscow

Average price per square meter: $29,000

Price change year on year: +3.6%

Ostozhenka is one of the oldest streets in Russia, and its most expensive. Art Nouveau buildings and famous landmarks, including the Kremlin, the Pushkin Museum and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, line the street. Some of Moscow's most sought-after restaurants, including French/Japanese eatery Vanil at number 1 and Snobs at number 3, are located on Ostozhenka. Over the last decade, several prestigious housing units were built on the street, mostly small in size containing a limited number of apartments. The most expensive apartment ever sold on the avenue was a five-level property located in Crystal House for $48 million. A recent lack of new development has supported buyers' interest at a high level.

Porto Cervo near Romazzino Hill, Sardinia.

7. Romazzino Hill, Sardinia

Average price per square metre: $32,900

Price change year on year: stable

The Aga Khan turned the Costa Smerelda, Sardinia, into his holiday retreat in the 1960s, and billionaires have played there ever since. The region's most sought-after road, the winding Romazzino Hill, first made headlines after Italian industrialist Carlo de Benedetti sold his seafront Villa Rocky Ram for $149 million to a Russian buyer. Savills recently sold a two-bedroom apartment measuring approximately 656 square feet for an asking price $6.8 million on this street. Exclusive hotels located here include the Cala di Volpe and the Romazzino, both part of The Luxury Collection. A historical owner of this area is Saudi Arabian politician Ahmed Zaki Yamani.

A mansion on Chemin de Ruth in Geneva. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

6. Chemin de Ruth, Geneva

Average price per square meter: $37,000

Price change year on year: -5%

Chemin de Ruth is located in the heart of Switzerland's Cologny, close to the shores of Lake Geneva. The mansions on this stone-walled street come with more land than most other streets of Cologny, often with landscaped gardens and large swimming pools. Many properties overlook the lake, with views of the famous Jet d'Eau, the United Nations buildings and the headquarters of the World Economic Forum. The record price for a house on this street is $36 million. "There are a few very significant residences that are slowly being introduced to the market in a discreet manner," said Knight Frank's Bailey. "This is keeping the prices so high."

Harbor in Singapore near Patterson Hill.

5. Paterson Hill, Singapore

Average price per square meter: $42,500

Price change year on year: +6.5%

The cul-de-sac Paterson Hill is widely considered the city-state's "Billionaire's Row." Prices here have jumped in the last year, largely because of currency fluctuations. Paterson Hill is located in the prestigious district 09, a residential area within close proximity to the Orchard Road Shopping Belt with its collection of designer boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. Various international schools are nearby. The most expensive condominium on this road is The Marq. In November 2011, it achieved a record price of $5,509 per square foot for a 3,003 square foot unit.

The Loing river seen from the Avenue du Général de Gaulle, France. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) 

4. Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, Cap Ferrat, France

Average price per square meter: $79,000

Price change year on year: -5%

The highly exclusive peninsula of Cap Ferrat may be the most sought-after piece of land along the Mediterranean Côte d'Azur, resulting in its being the world's priciest non-urban location. Situated about nine miles from Monaco, the Cap has long attracted folks such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Paul Allen and, in an earlier era, Charlie Chaplin. The Boulevard du Général de Gaulle loops around the peninsula, spotted with beachfront villas and luxury hotels, including the famous Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat. Rarely transacted waterfront properties with panoramic views over the Mediterranean tend to command the highest prices.

Avenue Princesse Grace in Monaco. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

3. Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco

Average price per square meter: $86,000

Price change year on year: +5%

Monaco, host to the F1 Grand Prix and the annual Monaco Boat Show, is a melting pot for Europe's super-rich. The principality's exclusive Avenue Princesse Grace winds along the sea front. At the peak of the property boom, prices on the street surpassed $135,000 per square meter. Since the recession, values have cooled to an average $88,000 per square meter, although Knight Frank believes they're on their way up again. Because of finite space, most developments on the avenue are now rental only, so recent constructions, such as the Mirabeau and number 21 Avenue Princesse Grace, command a premium. Knight Frank says many of these constructions are being bought off-plan as both an investment and a lifestyle option, as Monaco seeks to establish itself as a family destination.

Entrance to Kensington Palace Gardens. Near Notting Hill Gate. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

2. Kensington Palace Gardens, London

Average price per square meter: $107,000

Price change year on year: +2%

Properties on the world's second most-expensive street change hands for as much as $195 million. The arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace has no doubt helped boost prices. This private, tree-lined avenue is home to the French, Russian and Japanese embassies, and some of the world's most famous billionaires. Indian-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal owns number 9a and 18–19. His next-door neighbor at number 17 is Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of the Chelsea Football Club.

View from The Peak at Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbor. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

1. Pollock's Path, The Peak, Hong Kong

Average price per square meter: $120,000

Price change year on year: +10%

Pollock's Path, which overlooks Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbor, is the world's most expensive street. The Peak has long been the stomping ground of Hong Kong's super-rich. Prices on neighboring Severn Road and Barker Road rival those of Pollock's Path, chic new developments on this winding path have pushed up prices. For example, Skyhigh, developed by Hong Kong movie star Stephen Chow at number 10–18 Pollock's Path, set a record in 2011 when apartment number 10 sold for $103 million. That same year, the former French Consulate at 8 Pollock's Path sold for $75 million.

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