They left New York for Bali with their teenagers. 7 years later, their sons fled the nest and sold the villa for $1.89 million.

• Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman moved to Bali from New York seven years ago with their teenage sons.

• During the pandemic, they built an eclectic six-bedroom home for their family.

• Today, they find themselves without a home and are selling the Canggu villa for $1.895 million.

Seven years ago, Gabi Bondor and Zoltan Kaman packed up their lives and moved from New York to Bali with their two teenage sons.

It was an idea born from a conversation with a friend over coffee on a cold winter morning.

The friend had mentioned plans to enroll his daughters at the Green School, which is constructed from eco-friendly bamboo buildings and is known for its sustainability-focused preschool and high school curriculum. It is also located in Ubud, more than 16,000 kilometers from New York, near the center of the Indonesian island.

“And even though we had traveled to countries like India, Vietnam and China, we had never been to Indonesia before. So I said, 'Bali, that looks very warm. Say- “I don't care anymore,'” Bondor told Business Insider.

Once they returned home, they began researching life in Bali.

“I looked at the school, and it was the opposite of what was happening to my kids in high school in New York. When the kids got home that day, I said, 'Guys, we're going to Bali for spring break,'” Bondor said.

The spring break visit came and went, and the couple decided they wanted to live on the island longer.

They ended up selling their children on the idea of ​​a year-long sabbatical in Bali to get away from the stress of city life and have the opportunity to experience the rest of Asia.

“We told them, 'One suitcase each. Everything else is stored because we'll be back in a year,'” Bondor added. “Even if they were allowed to take their Xbox in their carry-on luggage.”

But after their year in Bali, the couple realized they didn't want to leave. They returned to the United States to empty their warehouse and have no plans to go back.

The friend who introduced them to Bali ultimately didn't move, she added.

Building in Bali

Like many expats, the couple rented several different homes in Bali before finally building their own home during the pandemic.

“When COVID-19 hit, land prices were much more affordable than they are today, so we decided to purchase land somewhere where we could create a space for our family,” Bondor said.

Part of the reason they chose to build instead of buying a property off-plan or continuing to rent was so they could guarantee construction quality, Kaman, co-founder of a digital payments app, told BI.

“We've always had one problem or another with houses — the pump, the air conditioning — and the owners don't always care about it,” Kaman said. “We thought, 'Why don't we build something ourselves so we can at least control and make sure everything works the way we want it to?'”

Additionally, they had experience renovating their homes during their stay in the United States. It also helped that they also had a great team of builders – recommended by a friend – to rely on.

“We love the process,” Bondor said. “We enjoy it. I think we're a great team. If he's down or upset, I pick him up, and vice versa.”

They knew they wanted to stay near Canggu, known for its beaches and vibrant food scene.

“We lived in the neighborhood and always explored the surrounding area. Many people like the views of the rice fields, while others like the views of the beach. We are social people – we like our cafes,” said Bondor.

When the couple first saw the land, located at the end of a narrow street that branches off the main road, they immediately fell in love.

“It was so calm and peaceful. There was nothing except seven big mango trees and thick vegetation. It was like a mini-jungle,” Kaman said.

The land measured approximately 8,200 square feet. From foreigners are not allowed to own land in Bali, the land they have is rented for 30 years.

The entire construction process took a little over a year, and the couple lived in a rented house nearby so they could always be on site.

The biggest challenge they faced was dealing with the rainy season in Bali, which typically lasts from November to March.

“We started digging a pool during the rainy season, and we were just digging mud,” Bondor said. “For weeks and weeks, you couldn’t see the excavator coming out of the ground – it looked like we were going nowhere.”

A cozy and eclectic house

The couple's six-bedroom house sits on a cul-de-sac, next to a rice field converted into land for growing cucumbers.

The two-story building — which includes an accessory dwelling unit the couple calls “the teen neighborhood” — features a red and gray exterior that contrasts with the surrounding greenery.

Those who pass through the gate are greeted by a long walkway flanked by two koi ponds that lead to the main building.

“I like to say it has a lot of European charm, like Paris with New York dancing a kind of tango. I really wanted to incorporate a lot of Balinese elements too,” Bondor said.

The furniture is handmade in Indonesia and even the terracotta tiles on the exterior of the building were made by a local family, she added.

More importantly, it’s a home they designed with their own lifestyle habits in mind.

“I think everything from kitchen layout to lighting is based on how we live our daily lives,” Bondor said.

Becoming empty nesters

But the couple decided it was time to say goodbye to their home: they are putting the villa on the market for $1.895 million.

Their eldest son is already studying abroad and the youngest will soon start university. The couple is considering moving to a smaller place.

“He just graduated last weekend. It really hit us that he's leaving really soon and we're going to have this big empty house all to ourselves,” Kaman said.

Plus, as empty nesters, they plan to travel a little more now that they have the freedom, and a house this size can't stay empty for too long in tropical weather.

“There are no four seasons, it always rains a lot. The sun is always strong. It wears out the materials,” Bondor said. “We have animals. If a little gecko dies here and no one cleans for a day or two, the ants will come.”

“This house needs a lot of care and maintenance. So if you're not there for months, it won't work,” Kaman added.

However, Bali will always be their home port.

The slower pace of life on the island allows them to stop and appreciate the little things in their day, like being able to work out in the morning or have a nice lunch together.

That aside, Bali is a melting pot of different cultures and its people never fail to inspire them.

“There is a very unique expat community that comes to Bali and I think our friends have very similar mindsets to us,” Bondor said.

The couple has one piece of advice for anyone looking to build a house in Bali: don't cut corners.

“Do it the right way and always respect your team,” Bondor said. “Don't use cheap materials, because this weather will wear everything out. If your roof isn't made well, this rain will seep through.”

Kaman added that it might not be wise for anyone without any prior experience to take on such an ambitious project.

“If they don’t have experience in building houses, don’t start with Bali,” he said. “Just choose the right contractors.”

Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact me at [email protected].

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