High-end homes in Orange County, especially along the coast, are often found ensconced in guard-gated communities. In many, additional guards regularly patrol the grounds, giving homeowners an extra measure of security and peace of mind. Most luxury homes also possess elaborate security systems designed to detect intrusion or, in the case of celebrities and top-level executives, unwanted attention.
Smart-home technologies deliver an even higher level of protection, with facial recognition technology for frequent visitors, fingerprint entry, and programmable keypads that determine how long staff has access to the house. The high-tech systems provide owners instant access to video feeds of their homes via a mobile app, no matter where they are in the world.
Other homeowners opt for additional, Jack Bauer-level protection, including blast-resistant windows, steel doors, reinforced walls and security shutters that slam down at the touch of a button. Secret passages and rooms hidden behind bookcases or under staircases are other security measures luxury home owners are employing to stay safe.
When all is said and done, a guard-gated community and a home alarm system can deter most unwelcome visitors—human ones, that is. Possums, squirrels and coyotes traipsing around the property might be a different matter.
Uniquely Beautiful
The home at 1612 W. Oceanfront in Newport Beach sold on Feb. 16 for $14.6 million after being listed in January for $17 million.
The seven-bedroom, 6¼-bath home graces a 6,007-square-foot double lot right on the sand. The contemporary-styled home, intended to be eminently livable, boasts an open-concept kitchen, dining room with two-story ceilings, an elevator, five-car garage and a rooftop deck with 360-degree views that include the ocean, Catalina Island, the harbor, coastline and city lights.
Among other amenities are a shoe storage wall, a private massage room, and a complete-home automation system.
John Cain of the Cain Group, HOM Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller, and Tim Smith of the Smith Group, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, worked on behalf of the buyer.
Green Dream
Designed by the late Laguna Beach architect Mark Singer, the contemporary residence at 990 Ocean Front in Laguna Beach sold on Feb. 8 for $12 million.
The three-bedroom, four-bath home, previously listed in January for $13.5 million, sits on a 10,750-square-foot lot on the sand in the village section of Laguna.
Designed to provide the ultimate in environmental sustainability, the 4,000-square-foot home features bifold doors; Crestron complete-home automation; Lightopia professional lighting; custom limestone floors; automated shades; Italian windows and doors with Olivari hardware; Poggenpohl cabinets; and Gaggenau appliances, and has been awarded a LEED Platinum certification. There are also more than 2,200 square feet of outdoor entertainment areas that include a private courtyard with a saltwater pool and spa. It boasts gated access to the beach.
TJ Romano and Jim Watson of Compass Realty represented the seller, and Ashleigh Mann of Main Beach Realty worked on behalf of the buyer.
Tuscan Palace
The home at 33 Canyon Terrace in the private, gated community of Pelican Hill in Newport Coast sold on Feb. 16, fetching $9.4 million. It was listed in November for $10 million.
Nestled away on a .93-acre lot reminiscent of the hills of Tuscany, the 10,413-square-foot home is adorned with finishes that include a two-story entry with floating wraparound staircase and an opulent master suite with retreat and four oversized en-suite guest bedrooms. There are six bedrooms and seven baths.
The resortlike grounds with oversized pool and cabana, along with private putting green complete with sand trap, also include a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, water features, outdoor fireplace and barbecue pavilion.
Cindy Chin of Keller Williams Realty Newport and Ying Ye of Keller Williams Signature Realty represented the seller, and Evan Corkett of Villa Real Estate represented the buyer.
