Seventy-one Orange County homes sales closed at or above the $4 million mark in the first quarter, eclipsing the same time period in both 2016 and 2015, according to real estate aggregator Redfin. Between Jan. 1 and March 30, 2016, 55 homes sold at that price point, and 40 sold in 2015.
The highest price paid for a home so far this year is $21 million for the expansive Tuscan estate at 29 Avalon Vista in Pelican Crest, represented by John McMonigle of the McMonigle Group. The newly built mansion was a custom collaboration between Newport Beach architect Richard Krantz, interior designer Errol DeJager and Pelican Developers.
Laguna Beach, zip code 92651, delivered the most home sales so far this year, with 19 transactions closing in the luxury category. Newport Coast, 92657, boasted 15. Corona del Mar, 92625, rounded out the top three with seven home sales above $4 million.
Resort Life Meets Real Life
The six-bedroom, eight-bath estate at 33 Smithcliffs Road in Laguna Beach sold at auction on March 16 for $13.75 million, coming under its $19.5 million price point in September.
Situated on a .56-acre lot, the 10,112-square-foot home was designed by architect Brion Jeannette. High ceilings, skylights and white walls project a modern, contemporary feel. Other features include ornate iron stair railings and coffered ceilings. The two-story study boasts wood-paneled walls. The home also features floor-to-ceiling windows to emphasize its ocean and Catalina views.
The property includes an oceanfront guesthouse.
Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage was the listing agent, and Amin Davari of Premier Realty Associates represented the buyer.
Fresh Beginning
The newly completed Tuscan-style estate at 35 Shoreline Drive in Dana Point sold on March 24 for $9.2 million. It was listed in September for $9.8 million.
There are five bedrooms and nine baths in the 9,004-square-foot home, which is perched on a .37-acre lot overlooking the ocean in the private community of The Strand at Headlands.
The home showcases indoor-outdoor living. Amenities include a walk-in wine cellar, a home theater and a chef’s kitchen, as well as an infinity pool with a spa.
Jeff Golden of White Sands Realty represented the seller, and Patrick Knauf of Realty Benefit represented the buyer.
Once in a Lifetime
The 2,126-square-foot cottage-style home at 66 Emerald Bay in the guard-gated community of Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach came on the market in January for a list price $9.75 million. It sold on March 20 for $8.5 million.
It was the first time the home had been listed for sale; the same family had owned it since it was built in 1948.
Situated on a 4,000-square-foot lot across from Emerald Bay’s private beach, the three-bedroom, five-bath home offers unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.
The living room is outfitted with a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the beach and ocean view.
Susan Weir of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices represented the seller, and William Dolby of Villa Real Estate worked on behalf of the buyer.
Expanded and Exceptional
1013 Emerald Bay in the private Laguna Beach community of Emerald Bay was recently expanded with an additional three bedrooms and two baths, bringing it up to 4,600 square feet and six bedrooms and seven baths. The home sold on March 24 for $6.9 million, coming under its November list price of $7.6 million.
Nestled into an 8,600-square-foot, oceanfront lot, the home delivers ocean, white water and Catalina Island views.
It’s designed with an open floor plan that surrounds a private interior courtyard, plus the newly enlarged main floor view and lounge terrace.
Harold Noriega of HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller, and Jigar Shah of Century 21 Discovery represented the buyer.
