Ziff property at Paul's Point in West Tisbury.
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Ziff Family Transfer Marks Record Real Estate Sale

<p>A secluded waterfront compound on the north shore in West Tisbury changed ownership last month for $28 million.</p>

A secluded waterfront compound on the north shore in West Tisbury changed ownership last month for $28 million, setting a new record for a single home sale on Martha’s Vineyard.

And although the transaction was between two trusts within the same family, the sale triggered a two per cent fee to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, which added $560,000 to its income for January.

Both the buyer and seller are members of the Ziff family, heirs to the Ziff Davis publishing fortune. Started by William B. Ziff Sr. and a partner, Bernard G. Davis, Ziff Davis Publishing rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s publishing technology magazines under the leadership of the late William Bernard Ziff Jr., who later sold the company.

The 7.6-acre property at 271 John Cottle Road, located at Paul’s Point in Lambert’s Cove, was acquired by Paul’s Point Area Realty LLC, which lists as its manager Dirk Ziff, the oldest of William Bernard Ziff’s three sons. The same trust already owns an abutting 12-acre parcel.

The property was sold by SB Vineyard LLC, which lists as its manager Daniel Ziff, the youngest of the three Ziff brothers. SB Vineyard bought the property in 2002 for $15.2 million from the Susan Herr Family Trust.

A number of single family homes in Edgartown have sold in the $20 million range in the past few years, but few elsewhere on the Island.

Previously, the record sale price for a single-family home was in 2006 when the Hedley home in the Green Hollow section fronting the Edgartown harbor changed hands for $25.1 million.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/04/2016 - 01:54

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Capt Everett Holmes Hole

This same "Paul's Point" was featured on the cover of Field & Stream magazine in the 1990s as "one of the best ten fishing spots in N America". That makes it a bargain at $56M!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/04/2016 - 20:24

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Vera Edgartown

It's time for the Land Bank to reduce it's fee to 1% and the Affortdable Housing effort get the other 1%.

Bob Edgartown

That time was years ago Vera, it will take an act of the State House to get that done. No one gives that any chance at all. It would be easier to create another tax on the sell side. Put your energy there.

Dean Rosenthal Vineyard Haven

Vera, I agree that this is an idea that needs more exploration and it is currently being explored by Affordable Housing entities on MV. Stayed tuned...change may be coming, even if it is a long slog. We need to continue to support our affordable housing community as much as we can because the security of all Vineyarders, families and seniors relies on us being able to maintain an affordable year-round community for everyone. Thank you for the comment!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 02/05/2016 - 15:38

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Ken Edgartown

So it cost 560,000 to transfer a property from one brother to another. That shouldnt even count as a sale.

Mr. B Chilmark

I suspect the issue is that this "transaction" took place between realty trusts--it was not a transfer between immediate family members. Thus, it was a "sale" and was liable for the fee.

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