The World's Strangest Family Refuses to Sell Their Land for Millions [Photos]

According to Saed News’ society section, in scenes reminiscent of Pixar’s animated film Up, the Zemmit family home in Sydney stands out with its sprawling 200-meter lawn. Developers have tried to entice the family with hefty cash offers to sell and demolish the property, but the Zemmits remain steadfast.

This majestic estate, located in the desirable Ponds area in northwest Sydney, sits on prime land that could make its owners millionaires if they accepted the offers. Experts estimate the property’s value in the Australian real estate market at up to $60 million. Yet, despite all offers, the family has refused to sell.

The property’s entrance, designed in the style of Windsor Castle, stretches 200 meters. From the house, residents enjoy stunning views of the Blue Mountains, just 40 minutes from Sydney’s central business district.

The Zemmit family has turned down multiple offers from developers, some as high as $40 million, and continues to receive daily inquiries from real estate agents hoping to discuss a potential sale. Aerial images show that the area surrounding the home, once verdant outskirts, has increasingly been consumed by development.

Nearby properties are now so packed that residents barely have room to play football.

Despite the Zemmits’ refusal to sell, neighbors say they have no complaints.

“This really doesn’t bother us. It’s their land, and they can use it however they want,” one neighbor said. Another, living across the street, echoed the sentiment: “If I owned that land, I’d do the same thing.”

Residents describe the Zemmits as quiet and rarely seen on their expansive property, except when tending to their meticulously maintained lawn.

Though the estate’s value is now astronomical, less than a decade ago, it was briefly offered at a fraction of its current price. In 2012, neighboring plots sold for $239 per square meter, valuing the Zemmit family’s 20,000-square-meter land at around $4.78 million. In November 2015, the house was briefly listed with offers ranging from $858,000 to $945,000. In February 2016, it was relisted but taken off the market after a week and hasn’t been listed since.

The Zemmits have previously acknowledged that their property is no longer what it was when they moved in. Two years ago, Mrs. Zemmit told Daily Mail Australia:

“Sixteen years ago, this was a farm with small red brick houses and a few cottages. But it’s not like that anymore.”

Other homes in the area now sell for around $1.5 million. The Zemmit house reportedly has more than five bedrooms and a large garage accommodating the family’s cars, including a classic Ford Falcon XR6. Despite the estate’s size, it has no pool, tennis court, or even a single tree or shrub. Maintaining the vast lawn takes about two and a half hours, typically done by the family’s young son.

It remains unclear why the Zemmits have rejected all offers. Meanwhile, the property’s value continues to climb. A local real estate analyst explained:

“If this land were developed today, it could be worth about $60 million. Even if someone offered them $40 million, the developer would still make at least $20 million in profit.”

They must really love this house to ignore offers like that.