Orange County mega-estate sold last for £14 million on an original asking price of £67 million offered for sale again for £43 million after death of owner
The largest residential estate on the Newport Coast of California is back on the market. One Pelican Hill Road North in Newport Beach – alternatively known as ‘Villa Del Lago’ or ‘Villa of the Lake’ – is a property with an extraordinary past and though listed on construction for £67 million in 2009, eventually sold at a fire auction in 2012 for just £14 million. Its subsequent owner, a Japanese industrialist and publisher, death has now resulted in it being placed for sale again and this time £43 million is sought.
Two stories to keep beside you
Flying the Spur
A 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Flying Spur for just £155,000 Buying grouse moors, yachts and classic cars are the pursuits of those who have bundles of spare cash. Generally, though the returns are extremely pleasurable, these luxuries eat money and consequently none are the hobbies of the faint hearted.
Bonhams to sell The Elephant Man’s chair and two of Churchill’s cigars
Bonhams’ The Gentleman’s Library Sale on 28th and 29th January features 907 unusual lots. Amongst our favourites are a chair that was adapted for the ‘Elephant Man’, Joseph Merrick, and two cigars that were collected by a nurse who cared for Sir Winston Churchill
Situated on a plot of 12.47 acres and comprising 17,706 square foot of ‘Italianate-style’ accommodation, One Pelican Hill Road North was last marketed as having 8 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms. On a new, dedicated marketing page for it, it is now being promoted as having, amongst other things, 2 screening rooms, a china/silver room, an “indoor lap pool with fibre optic twinkling star ceiling”, a 14-car garage and a “wine cave”. Outside, there is a “cascading private lake”, stabling, a riding ring, a putting green, an “organic edible garden” and potential for a vineyard.
Jeffrey Janger and Linda Janger of Pace Properties have the listing currently but given another agent, Michael Gosselin of Surterre Properties, previously commented: “Newport Coast has yet to see any homes sell for more than $20 million (£15.5 million)”, it’ll be likely there’ll be a few price cuts yet.
One Pelican Hill Road North – The Extraordinary Numbers
2003 – Land purchased for $3.2 million by Monarch Estates. Subsequent construction loans total $27.3 million.
February 2009 – Completed house placed for sale for sale for $87 million by a realtor named John McMonigle, the managing member of a partnership developing the project.
May 2010 – Price reduced to $57 million.
January 2011 – Three offers received, all were below $37 million and not accepted.
April 2012 – Offered at a court-sanctioned auction with “no opening bid sought”. Sold for $18.5 million to Toshiaki Ogasawara, an industrialist and publisher of the Japan Times.
January 2017 – Placed on the market after Ogasawara’s death in December 2016 for $55 million.
Readers have their say
5 comments
Beige and bright red are apparently the in colours. Not to mention the decor of an over-gilded hotel. Yuk.
I am sure the Steeples Times property professional, Yolanda will have a view on this.
Due to the positioning sea views are virtually non-existent on this lot. The price is too high once again and it will come down a lot more. Terrible decor too – Margaret is right there.
The first ever house here I truly love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It isn’t steel and glass ——- which I would preference —— but it has got all the toys!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well worth every $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!
What an eyesore.
This is the type of place an ex car sales person, who’s made their millions and wants to show it off, no taste.
It’s almost like, Antiques made to order.
Speaking as a not property professional of course.