The communities of Emerald Bay and Irvine Cove in Laguna Beach capture the character and charm of the California Riviera and command some of the highest sale prices for homes in Orange County.
In recent luxury home sales for the area, September was particularly strong, with three sales, two of which closed for more than $10 million. In the three-month period between July 1 and Sept. 30, nine multimillion-dollar homes sold. That contrasts with the three months between April 1 and June 30, during which six homes sold.
“These are special properties that have been available and on the market for a certain period of time,” said William Dolby of Villa Real Estate. He’s a third-generation real estate professional with more than two decades of experience representing luxury properties in Laguna Beach.
“Buyers recognize and appreciate these fine homes, and the timing is right for them to make them their own.”
A couple of highlights from September’s sales include:
Briggs Time
Originally designed in 1962 by Laguna Beach architect Fred Briggs, who also designed the iconic Laguna Beach Library, the Jeffries house at Rockledge, and the fire station at the Top of the World, the 3,000-square-foot, single-story home at 1613 Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach sits on a 9,500-square-foot lot with its own swimming pool.
The four-bedroom, 3 ½-bath home has 270-degree views of Emerald Bay beach, Emerald Canyon, South Laguna Coast, Catalina Island, Dana Point and Palos Verdes. It sold on Sept. 12 for $4.7 million, nearly reaching its July asking price of $4.75 million.
The home has been entirely remodeled, with all Viking appliances in the kitchen, concrete counters, mahogany and bamboo kitchen cabinets, and Koa floors. Its floor-to-ceiling windows in water-facing rooms frame the ocean view.
Dean Ledger of HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller, and Dolby of Villa Real Estate represented the buyer.
Desirable and Dramatic
The 6,835-square-foot residence at 176 Emerald Bay, set high atop a hill on a 0.31-acre lot in Emerald Bay, has a panoramic view of the coastline and the ocean.
The sale of the five-bedroom, 5 ½-bath home built in 2005 closed on Sept. 22 for more than $15 million, off its November price of $16.5 million.
It has a paneled library, gym, family room, formal dining room, and a formal living room overlooking the coast. Bronze doors, limestone floors, Venetian plaster, antique materials, and Honduran mahogany were used throughout.
Robert Giem of HÔM Sotheby’s Inter-national Realty represented the seller,
and Rod Daley of Coldwell Banker Previews International represented the
buyer.
Timeless Beauty
The three-bedroom, 2 ¾-bath home at 169 Emerald Bay in Laguna Beach offers beach, hillside, Catalina Island and Abalone Point views from one side of the home and the Emerald Bay hillside and ocean from the other side.
The 2,190-square-foot home, which sits on a 0.36-acre lot, sold on Sept. 19 for $10.2 million, off its September 2013 listing price of $10.5 million.
The great room of the home was designed with walls of glass to showcase the views.
Dolby of Villa Real Estate represented the seller, and Giem of HÔM Sotheby’s International Realty worked on behalf of the buyer.
Casual Elegance
The 8,823-square-foot, Mediterranean-style estate at 6 Fair Harbor in Newport Coast’s Pelican Hill sold on Sept. 23 for $8.6 million, off its April list price of $8.95 million. Georgina Jacobson of Coldwell Banker Previews International represented the seller, and Sevki Piskinsoy of AAA Real Estate Co. represented the buyer.
The estate, nestled on half an acre, extends over an elevated lot, affording panoramic ocean and Catalina views. The kitchen has marble flooring, granite countertops, and custom wood cabinetry. Additional features include an executive office and bonus room. Outdoor amenities include a swimming pool/spa, a lanai with stacked stone accents, an outdoor kitchen, and a fire pit.
