Coastal Orange County is renowned for its beauty, from the wide expanse of sand that hugs the ocean in Huntington Beach to the rugged cliffs of North Laguna.
The exclusive homes that dot the coast are also known for their beauty—and their prices. Buyers pay a premium for homes with access to the shore and coastal views, as evidenced by the number of high-end homes that sold last year.
Off-the-water properties no doubt accounted for a significant share of the 326 homes priced above $4 million that changed hands, according to online real estate aggregator Redfin.
The year concluded with a record-setting sale when 8 Mystique closed on Dec. 22 for $28 million, the highest price brought off the water in Orange County’s history, according to listing agents Marcy Weinstein and Rex McKown of McKown Weinstein & Associates, Surterre Properties Inc.
The sellers were Cindy and Ron McMackin, president and executive vice president of Fountain Valley-based Pan Pacific Mechanical.
The home graces two premier lots in Crystal Cove, encompassing 18,600 square feet of living space and nearly 37,000 square feet of resort-inspired grounds. It features ocean views from every major room above ground, a subterranean garage for 10 cars, a fully equipped gym and steam room, a 16-seat theater, a dedicated sports pub area, a refrigerated wine room with storage for 1,200 bottles, and a commercial-style elevator.
“We are very grateful to represent the sale of the finest home ever publicly offered in Newport Coast,” Weinstein said.
Here are details about some other high-end homes that sold in Orange County during December:
Dream Estate on Gold Coast
The four-bedroom, four-bath oceanfront 23 Harbor Island in Newport Beach sold on Dec. 28 for $12.6 million, coming under its November list price of $14.9 million. The classic-style home was built in 1940 and is ready for reinvention into a dream home.
The 3,948-square-foot home is nestled on a 7,550-square-foot bayfront lot in the gated Harbor Island community. It boasts a waterfront terrace and a large grassy lawn ideal for entertaining large groups—a unique qualities in a bayfront property. There’s also a private dock in front that accommodates a 60-foot vessel. Floor-to-ceiling windows complete the open feel of the home.
Joanne Perkins of Surterre Properties listed the property, and Michael Carpenter of HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty worked on the buyer’s behalf.
The Ocean is Always There
The Spanish-influenced estate at 19 Spinnaker in Newport Coast sold on Dec. 21 for $8.95 million. It initially was listed in November for $9.1 million.
The home is situated amidst the coastal hillsides of Newport Beach. It offers five bedrooms and five baths and 6,567 square feet of living space on a .42-acre lot that has panoramic Pacific Ocean views from every direction.
The estate also offers 12-foot ceilings downstairs and 9-foot ceilings upstairs. Its gourmet kitchen has two oversized islands, a temperature-controlled wine room and a second caterer’s kitchen with Wolf and Subzero appliances. The great room includes sliding doors that open to a covered loggia overlooking the manicured backyard and a center courtyard.
The sale was represented by Orange County real estate broker Brian Klein.
All You Ever Wished For
The home at 41 South Sur in Newport Coast, spanning four bedrooms and six baths, sold on Dec. 28 for $8.35 million after just a day on the market.
The contemporary-style home offers uninterrupted beach, bay, city lights and Pacific Ocean views all the way to Palos Verde. It’s gated and nestled on a .52-acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac location.
Highlights include three Sub-Zero refrigerators, a climate-controlled wine closet with storage for 1,200 bottles and a full gym with a sauna. All of the appliances are new, including a Wolf range, two dishwashers and two built-in Meile coffee makers.
Rex McKown, principle of McKown Weinstein & Associates, Surterre Properties, represented the seller. Michaela McCloskey, also of McKown Weinstein & Associates, Surterre Properties worked on behalf of the buyer.
