The waterfront home on North El Camino Real in San Clemente boasts all the accoutrements buyers expect from a house with a million-dollar-plus price tag: It has direct access to the beach, hardwood floors, exquisite tile work in the kitchen, high-end stainless appliances, a luxurious spa-like master bath, and floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room that frame the blue of the ocean just steps from the brand-new brick deck.
What the buyer may not expect, however, is that it isn’t a typical house. It’s a manufactured home—or, in old-fashioned parlance, a mobile home. The 1,440-square-foot, three-bedroom, 1 ¾-bath home, which sits on a 2,999-square-foot lot, can technically be moved—although considering its location, it’s doubtful the new owners would consider doing so.
Manufactured homes give buyers the opportunity to have a beautiful place to live and enjoy the beach lifestyle without the beach lifestyle price tag, says Ken Ross of Luxre Realty Inc., the listing agent for the North El Camino Real home.
Its list price is $2 million. A traditional home in a comparable location without the upgrades and not right on the sand lists for $4.5 million.
The majority of Ross’ clients for this type of property live within 75 miles of the coast, he said.
“These are folks buying a second home, their own beach cottage,” Ross said. “They may not buy if the price is $4 million, but $2 million is doable.”
Currently, there are four waterfront manufactured homes with price tags near or over $2 million. Ross said he represents all of the listings. In 2013, five manufactured OC homes each sold for more than $1.8 million, according to home sales aggregator Zillow.
Modern Masterpiece
The waterfront classic contemporary home at 940 Via Lido Nord in Newport Beach faces the main channel of Newport Harbor. It sold on July 30 for $10.4 million, under its April list price of $10.6 million.
The 6,800-square-foot home is inundated with light through multiple skylights throughout the house. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer unobstructed vistas of the water from almost every area of the three-bedroom, four-bath home.
The living room features polished stone floors that flow to a stone patio on the bay next to a private dock that can accommodate a 70-foot yacht. The three-story home sits on a 5,227-square-foot lot.
It also has a basement, a rarity in Newport Beach, as well as a three-car garage.
Alison McCormick and Bruce Cook, both of Teles Properties Inc., represented the seller, and Rob Smith of Surterre Properties Inc. worked on behalf of the buyer.
A High Perch
The 7,900-square-foot home at 26 Fairway Point in Newport Coast boasts one of the best views in Orange County. It sits on 0.41-acre in the front row of houses overlooking the Pelican Hill Golf Club.
The estate sold on Aug. 8 for $8.9 million, over its asking price of $8.8 million.
It has panoramic views that stretch to the ocean and Catalina Island in the distance.
The Spanish-style home incorporates archways, hand-carved beam ceilings and hand-fired terra-cotta flooring.
It also has a theater, gym and sauna, as well as lavish mature gardens outside. Alice Schroeder of Platinum Realty Professionals represented the seller, and Kevin Aaronson of Keller Williams Realty worked with the buyer.
Style, Privacy in NB
The 3,030-square-foot home at 700 W. Bay Ave. in Newport Beach changed owners on Aug. 8 for a closing sale price of $5.8 million, under its May asking price of $6 million.
The seven-bedroom, five-bath home sits on a private 7,841-square-foot lot with no contiguous homes. Professionally remodeled and expanded, the bright, open layout features a great room with French doors that open to a terrace with approximately 60 feet of bay frontage that affords panoramic vistas of Newport Harbor’s main channel.
The home has a standing seam copper roof, bamboo flooring, all new doors and windows, custom crafted moldings, skylights and recessed lighting. A newer pier and slip will accommodate up to a 70-foot yacht.
Gordon Cowan of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices worked on behalf of the seller, and William Shattuck of Pacific Landmark Inc. negotiated for the buyers.
