empty nesters
They Left NYC For Bali With Their Teenagers. Seven Years Later, They're Selling The Villa For $1.89 Million
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.
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.
But after their year in Bali passed, the couple realized they didn't want to leave. They made a trip back to the US to clear out their storage and have no plans to move back.
[The exterior of the couple's house in Canggu, Bali. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
Like many expats, the couple rented a few different homes in Bali before finally building their own house during the pandemic.
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.
[A narrow walkway, flanked by two koi ponds, leads from the gate to the main building's door. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
"We always had some issue or another with the homes — the pump, the AC — and the landlords don't always care," Kaman said. "We thought, 'Why don't 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.
[The main hallway features a curved staircase. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
The plot was about 8,200 square feet. Since foreigners aren't allowed to own land in Bali, the piece of land they have is on a 30-year lease.
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.
[A stone table. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
The couple's six-bedroom home sits in a cul-de-sac, next to a rice field that's 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.
[An outdoor seating area. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
The furniture is handmade in Indonesia, and even the terracotta tiles on the building's exterior were crafted by a local family, she added.
Most importantly, it's a house that they designed with their own living habits in mind.
[The master bedroom. Amanda Goh/Business Insider]
But the couple has decided it's time to say goodbye to their house — they're 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.
To see more photos of the couple's villa in paradise, head to Business Insider.
