Historical Home On-The-Market
January 29, 2012
Storied “House-On-Hill” In Hillsborough Listed for $29 Million
I once had an open house (Verbalee Lane) on the street from this estate and “no” mine was a mere $2 Million. It is on a short street with very different houses along the way. When you got to the end of the street you could see this big estate with the front gates. A lot of history in this home. I just wanted to share this with you. I think those of you that love Historical Homes will find this fascinating.
At a list price of $29 million, it might be a stretch to call this fabled San Francisco-area property a bargain.
But considering the history and quality of this 30-room, 35,000-sq-ft Hillsborough real estate market gem — called one of the most spectacular private residences ever created — “House-On-Hill” should turn a few heads, especially since the price has dropped dramatically since the estate was first offered for sale at $45 million in 2002.
“The owners are very realistic now and there is no other property on the market like this one,” said listing agent Daniel J. DerVartanian.
“You could not recreate this property now, not for the quality of the $20 million renovation that the current owners undertook or for the fact that they wouldn’t let you build this size home on six acres,” he said.
While the house has been marketed by the owners for the past two years, listing it with a real estate brokerage has appeared to been a boon. In the week since House-On-Hill has been listed, DerVartanian said the property has been shown to several interested and qualified buyers — not a tough demographic in a region where Silicon Valley millionaires may be looking to make their own impressive mark on the real estate map.
House-On-Hill as it looked in 1930. SOURCE: Chicago Treasures
Designed by architect David Adler as a Cotswold-style Tudor, the mansion is nestled in the hills overlooking San Francisco and was completed in 1931 for Hibernia bank heiress Celia Tobin Clark.
In 1992, the property was purchased from the Tobin-Clark family by Sam J. Bamieh, a prominent businessman at American Intertrade Group and major Republican Party donor. While the property had already boasted an illustrious history of world-famous visitors, that tradition continued under Bamieh, whose connections to the Saudi royal family and others is its own intriguing story.
A special VIP suite of rooms has been the guest residence of a prestigious list of U.S. Presidents and other world leaders including, Presidents Nixon, Reagan, Ford, and Bush, as well as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and His Majesty King Hussein. The list of other notable guests who visited Bamieh for parties or fundraisers is much longer.
DerVartanian said Bamieh and his wife meticulously renovated the entire property with an attention to detail and an eye for the preserving the original design features. All the systems have been updated, from the opulent music room to the lovely Otis lift to the hand-mill work, and no detail was overlooked.
The list of features includes:
- Carved front entry opening to an elegant black and white marble reception foyer
- Carved balustrade staircase leading to opulent public rooms including a banquet-sized formal dining room with carved marble fireplace
- Over-sized French doors leading to the loggia and grand terrace
- Cozy library with 17th-century English paneling featured in Helen Comstock’s “One Hundred Most Beautiful Rooms in America.”
- Grand music room
- The mansion includes 12 bedrooms, including 4 master suites
- 12 full baths and 3 half baths
- Four kitchens
- 12 fireplaces
- In-ground pool
- A six-car garage
It’s tough to argue with a sales pitch that calls House-On-Hill a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but given the location, the restoration and the history of the place, that pitch sounds right on key.
Living On Your Own Island
January 8, 2012
I couldn’t resist posting this property for sale in Alaska, 2202 Sawmill Creek Rd, Sitka AK. Price at $1,495,00.
The city of Sitka sits on Alaska’s Baronof Island and is flanked on the east side by mountains and on the west side by the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by hundreds of small islands, some of which hold private homes. However, there’s only one Sitka home for sale that boasts both waterfront and island property.
The special parcel is populated by some very handsome structures, including a main house set back from the Sitka road system and completely hidden by trees. There’s also a boat house where a 180-foot steel walkway leads to guest quarters that are situated on quaint, separate Bart Island.
Listing agent Jason Shaffer testifies to the home’s uniqueness.
“This is the only property like this in Sitka. There are other islands near Sitka with city power with houses but they are only accessible by float plane or boat,” Shaffer said. “The beauty of this home is that it’s accessible from the main road system, but you feel like you’re on an island.”
Built in 1950, the main home has been completely renovated by the current owners with significant updates to the kitchen, including installation of high-end appliances and granite countertops.
Sitting on about 6.5 acres, the main home has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a little over 3,000 square feet of living space. The home also has custom, locally-made furnishings, pine floors, large wooden decks and an extensively landscaped yard.
Across the steel walkway, the half-acre Bart Island has a house and separate guest quarters. The 1,250-square-foot guest house was custom-built in 2000 and features a hot tub, vaulted ceilings, radiant heat in the tiled baths as well as complete city power, water, phone and cable.
The separate, 700-square-foot guest quarters was constructed in 2003 and has an additional two bedrooms, two bathrooms and wood decking and complete access to all utilities.
I am sure you would only want to live here in the summer.
History of Chamber Haunted House
October 26, 2011
In San Francisco this prime piece of San Francisco real estate was built by silver mine tycoon Richard Chambers. The story goes that Richard moved into the home with his two nieces, bringing with him a host of demons and ghosts with him. When Chambers died in 1901, the nieces inherited the home; one moved next door and one, Claudia, stayed in the home.
Claudia was discovered nearly cut in half one day. The family passed it off as a “farm implementation accident” but ghost expert Jim Fassbinder, who conducts haunted house tours in San Francisco, claims an insane family member who was kept in the attic of the Chambers home was the culprit. Recently a bed-and-breakfast, the home sold in 2009 for $3,400,800.
Mezesville Map from 1856 (RWC)
August 13, 2011
Town of Mezesville, which was the historically area from 1856. This photo is compliments of the Redwood City Redevelopment site.
This is the original town map as laid out by Simon Mezes. The basic street pattern is still there, although many of the street names have been changed. The creek was covered over during the mid 1900s.
It is interesting that until I did some research did I even hear about how Redwood City began and started with Mezesville. Very interesting!
Dr. Phil’s Beverly Hills Home Listed for $6.25 Million
July 18, 2011
Last year, Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, bought an enormous hillside place for a whopping $29.5 million. The couple also listed their other home, a smaller Mediterranean-style villa in Beverly Hills for $16.5 million. Unfortunately, the villa had to go through a few price chops before it sold for $12 million in April of this year.
Apparently, Dr. Phil is ready to play the real estate game again. The couple recently listed another Beverly Hills-area home on the Beverly Glen real estate market for $6,250,000. Current Beverly Glen home values are $1,197,000.
Dr. Phil rose to fame with the help of TV talk show queen, Oprah. Like other instant Oprah TV celebrities such as Rachael Ray, Nate Berkus and Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil grabbed a TV host gig, thereby increasing his fame and scooping up real estate along the way.
Like Dr. Phil’s current hilltop mansion, as well the home that sold in April, this newest Dr. Phil house on the market is a Mediterranean-style mansion.
According to Real Estalker, this home could have once been the residence of the host, or was one of the homes that Dr. Phil and Robin purchased for their two sons.
Dr. Phil’s home was built in 1960 and according to the property listing, a full renovation was completed in 2006. Like many celebrity homes, it’s situated on a gated lot behind a long driveway and is “unable to be seen from the road.”
The home includes a large master suite with his-and-her baths, chef’s kitchen and formal dining room as well as a temperature-controlled wine store room, office and “resort-style” backyard with pool, spa and cabana.
The listing is provided by William Dolan of Hilton & Hyland.
Last year, Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, bought an enormous hillside place for a whopping $29.5 million. The couple also listed their other home, a smaller Mediterranean-style villa in Beverly Hills for $16.5 million. Unfortunately, the villa had to go through a few price chops before it sold for $12 million in April of this year.
Apparently, Dr. Phil is ready to play the real estate game again. The couple recently listed another Beverly Hills-area home on the Beverly Glen real estate market for $6,250,000. Current Beverly Glen home values are $1,197,000.
Dr. Phil rose to fame with the help of TV talk show queen, Oprah. Like other instant Oprah TV celebrities such as Rachael Ray, Nate Berkus and Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil grabbed a TV host gig, thereby increasing his fame and scooping up real estate along the way.
Like Dr. Phil’s current hilltop mansion, as well the home that sold in April, this newest Dr. Phil house on the market is a Mediterranean-style mansion.
According to Real Estalker, this home could have once been the residence of the host, or was one of the homes that Dr. Phil and Robin purchased for their two sons.
Dr. Phil’s home was built in 1960 and according to the property listing, a full renovation was completed in 2006. Like many celebrity homes, it’s situated on a gated lot behind a long driveway and is “unable to be seen from the road.”
The home includes a large master suite with his-and-her baths, chef’s kitchen and formal dining room as well as a temperature-controlled wine store room, office and “resort-style” backyard with pool, spa and cabana.
The listing is provided by William Dolan of Hilton & Hyland.
Most Unusual Home
July 16, 2011
Among the millions for sale homes in the U.S., Forbes gathered a list of 12 properties it deems outrageous, unusual and in some cases, just plain strange. They range in price from $225,000 up to $13 million. Trulia.com, Realtor.com, Sotheby’s International Realty, Prudential Douglas Elliman and Stribling & Associates helped us find these unique abodes. Check this one out. This one is called “The Mushroom House”.
Located at:
142 Park Road
Pittsford, N.Y.
List Price: $1.1 million
Listed With RE/MAX Advance
$100 Million Home
June 19, 2011
A Russian investor has reportedly bought a Silicon Valley, Calif., mansion for a record $100 million – and plans to use it as his second home.
In a secret deal, Yuri Milner bought the 30,000-square-foot Los Altos Hills estate for the hefty price tag, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The home took eight years to build (2001-2009), and the architect William Hablinski told the Journal that “there wasn’t a real budget” when it came to the design. The Daily Mail reports that Milner doesn’t even plan to live there full time.
So what do you get for $100 million these days? Um, everything.
The five-bedroom home reportedly features a ballroom, home theater and indoor pool. Also on the French chateau-style estate: a tennis court, outdoor pool and manicured gardens.
The deal was reportedly handled by Sotheby‘s International and Keller Williams Realty.
Happy President’s Day!
February 21, 2011
Enjoy watching this video on the President’s House!
http://www.zingding.com/h/5067742211
America’s Most Expensive Home Sold by CB
January 12, 2011
I couldn’t resist sharing this home from Coldwell Banker‘s Previews International. Now this is what I call a home!!! You would need a small city to live in it. Looks fabulous however….. let’s keep dreaming.
Bel Air’s Le Belvedere, a sprawling palace in Bel Air, which sold on June 4 to an unidentified European family for as much as $72 million — was represented by two Coldwell Banker Previews International Agents.
Stacey Gottula and Joyce Rey, of Coldwell Banker Previews International, who handled the sale, are keeping the final cost under wraps, but claim that the home sets a price record for 2010. That would mean it sold for at least the $47 million that Colorado’s BootJack ranch fetched in late April–and as much as the $72 million sale price made public earlier this year. According to Gottula and Rey, Le Belvedere is also one of the largest sales ever handled by a broker–many sales this large are closed-door transactions.
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is by far the luxury home market leader, representing the majority of luxury homes sold in our market each year.
Twelve Green New Years Resolutions for 2011
December 29, 2010
At the end of a year it is common practice for many people to want to start the new year off on the right foot. In order to help them do so they set resolutions for themselves. I personally decided that this year I am going to set twelve resolutions for going green. I am tired of being broke because of rising costs, and I have a growing concern about our environment. My thought is by going green I am addressing both of these issues.
1. Cut down on trash
When I take a close look at the amount of trash that I put out everyday even aside from the recyclables, I am shocked. I then realize that by doing some careful grocery shopping, for example, I could easily reduce the amount of trash by half.
2. Reduce electricity consumption
The hardest part here is that even though I am conscious of how much electricity we consume as being the bill payer of the house, the problem is convincing the rest of the family to conserve electricity. My resolution here focuses on getting the family to cooperate in this effort.
3. Cut down on water waste
I would have to say that this is one of my weakest areas. I have the habit of letting the water run while I brush my teeth, or rinsing the dishes with running water instead of filling the sink with rinse water. I personally can think of a multitude of steps to take here to not only save money, but reduce unnecessary waste of water.
4. Cut down on pollution
My focus here is going to be to have a family home inspection day on New Year’s day to determine how our way of living is contributing to pollution. Then throughout the year 2011, I hope to be able to implement some changes to help reduce this.
5. Buy eco friendly products
I have never given much thought to eco friendly products in the past. I have observed however that more of these products are becoming readily available on the market. There is really no inconvenience to taking a few minutes of extra time when shopping to seek out eco friendly products.
6. Find heating solutions
One of my major areas of focus is going to be on finding an alternative heating solution. I have no doubts that with my current system I am not only depleting precious commodities, but adding to the pollution.
7. Recycle
I go through the motions of recycling our weekly trash, but I have not given much thought of recycling other items in our daily living. For example, instead of taking my old tires to the dump, or throwing out clothes and furniture, these are certainly recyclable items that I have not given much thought to.
8. Give back to nature
This year instead of spending a fortune on plants that only last for the season, I am going to concentrate on planting trees and shrubs that are not only going to save me money in the long run, but are excellent for the environment as well.
9. Buy local produce
I have never given much thought before as to how much damage using imported produce for example can do to the environment. I still have much to learn about this area of going green. I have learned though that just the fuel consumption alone to transport these products is greatly adding to the air pollution alone.
10. Cut down on air pollution
I have a twofold goal here for this resolution. One is by not using my car as much, I am going to get some much needed exercise. Then, of course, there is the savings on the fuel, and the reduction of pollution that is going to fit in nicely with my going green resolutions
11.Educate
I have come to realize just by putting these resolutions together that there is much that I don’t know when it comes to going green. I can also say the same for my other family members. Therefore the focus this year will be to educate ourselves on environmental issues.
12. Sticking to it
My biggest resolution of all and the hardest is to remain determined to carry through will all of these much needed and very important resolutions that I have just outlined.
Everyone wants to better themselves, and I am hoping to do this for myself and my family by going green for 2011.
Thanks for the article Lior. Happy New Years to you and your family!
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