The five-bedroom, six-bedroom property on a 1.1-acre gated parcel at 139 Moss St. was first built in 1917 by Col. Henry House, a Texas ranch owner and brother to Col. Edward M. House, who advised Wilson during his presidency.
The original structure is largely the same today, characterized by craftsman and Cape Cod influences with white-shingled siding, extensive window panels, a covered porch, gardens and a flagpole located on a coastal bluff.
The home, once considered to become the “Western White House,” has been recommended to be included on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Restrictions
John Cain and Bryan Gerlach of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty held the listing for the home; Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker represented the undisclosed buyer.
The home first hit the market at the start of the year for $21.9 million.
Brokers not involved in the sale indicate the pricing is steep compared to nearby homes that have traded for between $10 million and $15 million.
Historical restrictions may limit the new owners in their plans for the century-year old home, with regulations against physical expansion and notable design changes, those brokers note.
Record Strand Sale
It’s the second priciest reported home transaction in Orange County to occur in 2021, trailing the $23.6 million sale of an 8,900-square-foot home in the front row of the Strand at Headlands.
The $23.6 million deal is the most expensive home to ever trade hands in the Sanford Edward-developed luxury gated community that kicked off in 2006.
The five-bedroom, eight-bath home at 33 Strand Beach in Dana Point sold last month to a San Juan Capistrano buyer, according to the listing broker, Fredrik Eklund of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing who recently set up an OC office for his Eklund | Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman.
Compass’ Leo Goldschwartz represented the undisclosed buyer of the home, which was built in 2009 and designed by architect Chris Light of C.J. Light Associates.
