Laguna Beach estate sells for $82.6 million, second-highest home sale in OC – Orange County Register
From its perch, the main house takes full advantage of the ocean view. (Photo by Chris Snitko, Modern Take Media)
1 of 8
From its perch, the main house takes full advantage of the ocean view. (Photo by Chris Snitko, Modern Take Media)
Develop
A blufftop Laguna Beach estate partially suspended above the shoreline with stunning ocean views on three sides just sold for nearly $82.6 million.
The Oct. 14 transaction is the second-most expensive home sale ever in Orange County.
Unlike the county’s record-breaking $110 million beachfront mansion in Emerald Bay, the wood, glass and concrete estate sits a few miles south in the Rockledge neighborhood. The three-level main house and detached guesthouse combine for eight bedrooms and 15 bathrooms in 14,434 square feet on more than an acre of land.
The property has two gated entrances, one of which opens onto a private street, but the area itself is not gated. According to listing agents, First American Title ranks the estate as OC’s most expensive home sale outside of a gated community.
Public records show California-based Primehaven Co LLC is the title holder. The company is concealing the identity of the buyer who acquired the estate from David Wilson, owner and CEO of Wilson Automotive Group, and his wife Holly, for 26% less than the asking price of $112 million. Records confirm the property closed 82 days after it was put on the market in July.
The property had been owned by the Wilson family since September 2001, when they purchased it from the original owners for between $16 million and $17.9 million, depending on the source.
Modernist architect Fred Briggs originally designed the home of disgraced Wall Street trader Boyd L. Jeffries and his wife Sharon.
Completed in 1974 before the California Coastal Commission imposed strict setback rules, the house includes a living room, library and master bedroom that extend beyond the cliff’s edge. This rare and grandfathered model would be difficult to reproduce under current restrictions.
After taking ownership, the Wilsons embarked on a two-year, $20 million renovation.
More than $3 million of that investment went toward bringing the house up to code and adding significant steel and concrete reinforcement to combat coastal erosion, a growing concern as disappearing beaches and collapsing cliffs have compromised oceanfront homes and a critical stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway in recent weeks.
From its perch, the main house takes full advantage of the ocean view.
The oceanfront living room features a sit-up bar and flows into a gourmet kitchen with an oversized island and professional-grade appliances.
Co-listing agent Meital Taub of Livel Real Estate previously told Southern California News Group that walking down the spiral staircase along the glass walls and arriving at the glass floor feels “like you’re floating in the ocean.”
A formal dining room, wine cellar and cinema room also contribute to the layout.
Unlike the open living and entertaining areas, the upper level of the home emphasizes luxury and high-tech security.
The master suite is centered on a rotating bed under an automated ceiling that opens to the sky. Also in this wing of the house, which includes two secondary bedrooms and the library, is the possibility of isolating the space from the rest of the estate. A safe, emergency door and security cameras provide additional protection.
Detached from the main residence is a two-bedroom guesthouse with an ocean-view terrace.
An eight-car garage with a catering kitchen completes the structural footprint of the property, while the grounds have an automobile parking lot capable of accommodating an additional 20 vehicles.
Towering palm trees frame luxury resort-style amenities, including a pool and spa, private amphitheater, and championship tennis court. A Zen garden with a Weeping Buddha fountain and a treehouse add to the grounds, while private steps lead directly to the sand. Near the bottom of the cliff is a seating area perched above the ocean.
While SCNG previously indicated that the home’s contents could be negotiated, listing agents clarified via email that a $1 million wine collection and an art portfolio featuring works by Andy Warhol, Picasso and Don Sorenson were not included in the sale price and had not transferred with the property.
Taub shared the listing with Jill Lockhart of Livel Real Estate, while Josh and Heather Altman of Douglas Elliman represented the unidentified buyer.
Gn bussni
