California is widely known for its exorbitant and often prohibitively expensive real estate. This year has been no exception, despite a national housing market slowdown.
In the Bay Area, celebrities are moving out of their multimillion-dollar homes, Ansel Adams’ historic estate has changed hands, and a home made famous by a reality TV show has been sold. Meanwhile, elsewhere in California, Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought the state’s most expensive home, and Brad Pitt took up permanent residence in a clifftop castle. It was another tumultuous year for California real estate. Here are the wildest deals of all.
Julia Roberts’ San Francisco home sold quickly, but below asking price
Julia Roberts’ San Francisco home could have sold quickly in 2023, but it sold for about $500,000 below the asking price. The Presidio Heights mansion was put on the market for $11.8 million on Oct. 8 and sold less than 30 days later for $11.3 million, according to public records. The identity of the purchaser has not been disclosed.
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Brad Pitt has reportedly moved permanently to a clifftop castle in California
We reported in 2022 that actor Brad Pitt had purchased one of California’s most unique coastal properties, but he knew he wanted to make the Central Coast mansion his permanent home. It turns out it’s possible. According to TMZ, the actor plans to sell his sprawling mansion in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills and move into a quieter waterfront home known as “The Seaward.”
Ansel Adams’ storied San Francisco mansion has a new owner
The historic home of famous photographer Ansel Adams hit the market in September for the first time in more than 50 years, after changing hands only a few times. Located on the southwestern edge of the Presidio, the house was built atop a sand dune in 1903 by Adams’ parents, who chose the area for its natural location. The house withstood his 1906 earthquake and fire, and eventually became Adams’s, where it was sold 54 years later. He attributes much of his growth as an artist to growing up in the neighborhood and exploring the less developed areas of San Francisco near Lobos Creek. It was sold in November for $4.8 million.
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‘Top Chef’ home in San Francisco finally sold after two price cuts
The sprawling Marina home once home to a “Top Chef” Season 1 contestant has finally been sold. It was originally listed in January 2023 for $4.4 million, then had two price cuts before finally relisting in April for $3.5 million. The home at 3159 Baker St. ultimately sold for $3.6 million, but technically it sold for more than the asking price, even though the records reveal a real estate trick.
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Beyoncé and Jay-Z buy California’s most expensive home from soap opera billionaire
Beyoncé and Jay-Z reportedly paid $200 million in cash for the 30,000-square-foot Malibu mansion. According to TMZ, this amount is actually significantly lower than the original public price of $295 million, and the house is located on “an eight-acre bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the Paradise Cove neighborhood, also known as Billionaire’s Row. ”. They bought the house from Bill Bell Jr., heir to a huge soap opera fortune.
Michelle Pfeiffer’s old Bay Area estate sells for $33.5 million
A sprawling property on the San Francisco Peninsula with a stream, guest cottage and stables that was once owned by Michelle Pfeiffer sold for $33.5 million in September. The California-born Hollywood star owned the home with her husband, David E. Kelley, for 15 years. The couple bought the property in 2004 for $12 million, and also purchased adjacent land during their stay, W Magazine reported. They sold the property in 2019 for $22 million after lowering the listing price from its original $29.5 million in 2018, records show.
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Frank Lloyd Wright mansion on California oceanfront sold off-market
The only home built by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright on the California coast has been sold off the market for $22 million. His 1952 waterfront property in Carmel-by-the-Sea was owned by the same family until February and was perfectly preserved over the years. The sale also includes furniture, much of it designed by Wright to match the home’s aesthetic. This home is such a sought-after historic home that a buyer heard it was for sale and placed a bid before it was listed.
2.5 acres of vacant land in Atherton sold for $25 million
This year, vacant land has also become a hot topic. The site at 75 Isabella Avenue is located near Menlo College in the heart of a Bay Area enclave annually recognized as the most expensive ZIP code in the country. Before being sold in May, the parcel had been listed since April 2022 for $26.6 million.
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No deal has been finalized yet, but not one, but two Bay Area private islands are coming to market.
Red Rock Island, the only private island in San Francisco Bay, has gone on the market for $25 million. That’s a lot of money for a chunk of rock. His 5.8 acres of land in the Bay Area, which spans three counties, is empty and development opportunities are unlikely. However, this is cheap compared to other islands. The seller is asking $75 million for his 50-acre wetland purchase in nearby Grizzly Bay. However, this hefty price tag seems to be targeted at a specific buyer. Advertisements for Point Buckler Island refer to “the future Flannery Utopia City planned for Solano County.”
Andrew Chummings, Alex Schultz and Sam Moore contributed to this article.