It was meant to be their idyllic coastal escape, a lovingly renovated sanctuary on the NSW South Coast.
Instead, Bachelor couple Matty J and Laura Byrne have revealed their stunning ‘Chante Mer’ property near Ulladulla became a “mountain of debt,” forcing them to list it on Airbnb to simply keep up with the mortgage repayments.
What began as an impulsive, view-driven purchase quickly spiralled into an unforeseen financial burden.
The couple reportedly purchased the property for $2.19 million.
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Matty ‘J’ Johnson and Laura Byrne have listed their renovated sanctuary on the NSW South Coast on Airbnb. Source: Instagram
The couple reportedly purchased the home for $2.19 million. Source: Instagram
Matty J openly confessed to Home Beautiful on The Edit podcast that the extensive renovation costs far outstripped their initial budget.
“We thought we were just going to, you know, make it watertight and put a lick of paint on, and we got sucked into the renovation and made it a lot bigger than we originally planned,” he explained.
“We were like, we need help paying off this mortgage! So, we decided we would start renting it out.”
The couple’s vision for their dream beach house near Ulladulla demanded a year-long renovation, transforming a dilapidated property riddled with mould into a luxurious retreat. However, the financial toll was immense.
“We are in a mountain of debt, and we will be paying off this house for a very, very, very long time,” Matty J admitted.
Matty J with Marley and Lola in the master bedroom. Source: Instagram
The couple have put their blood, sweat and tears into renovating the home. Source: Instagram
After enjoying their meticulously restored home for only about eight months, the demands of a growing family – with the arrival of their third child, Poppy – and increasingly busy work schedules meant they simply couldn’t justify keeping the property solely for personal use. This, coupled with the significant debt, cemented their decision to open ‘Chante Mer’ to holiday-makers.
The initial allure was undeniable
Matty J recounted falling for the panoramic ocean views, despite the property’s dire state. “There’s a photo that Laura took of me with Marley and Lola … It was up in the master bedroom … and you had these beautiful glass windows which looked onto the ocean. And we kept going back to this image,” he shared.
The home can be rented from $740 to $1,600 per night. Picture: Supplied
The home comes with stunning ocean views. Picture: Supplied
The romantic notion of waking to the sound of crashing waves ultimately overshadowed the pragmatic financial advice they received, which had warned against the purchase.
Now, fans and holiday-makers alike can experience the coastal charm of ‘Chante Mer’, with nightly rates ranging from $740 to $1,600, typically requiring a minimum three-night stay on Airbnb.
While winter rates can drop to as low as $739 for a week-long stay, peak summer periods command the higher end of the pricing spectrum.
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