Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac in Los Angeles, California, sits a 95-year-old Spanish estate.
From the outside, the white and orange property is shrouded by luscious and colorful trees and shrubbery. But a look inside the more than 6,000-square-foot home reveals a fully restored Spanish Revival.
"When you pull in, it’s so private," real estate agent F. Ron Smith told Homes.com. "It feels like Ojai or Santa Barbara."
Now, just about 18 months after an extensive upgrade project, the five-bedroom, five-bathroom property is on the market, and it's asking $12.49 million, according to a listing on Homes.com.
"It's got a lot of heart and soul," Smith added. He holds the listing alongside David Berg. Both agents are with Smith & Berg Property Group of Compass.
The home was designed by John Byers — a noted California architect with a penchant for adobe and Spanish-style homes.
Much of Byers' collection is spread throughout Santa Monica and the Pacific Palisades, so finding a well-maintained property built by the architect in the canyon is "very rare," Smith said.
A home that requires regular maintenance — and a devoted owner
When it comes to selling the historic home, Smith acknowledged he’s looking for a specific type of buyer: “a historical home buff.”
Smith said his seller falls into that category. She lived in the home with her family and oversaw the recent restoration and refurbishment, he said.
Now, Smith is looking for a buyer with that same degree of passion for old homes. The buyer has “to be comfortable” with the intense Spanish style, and they must also be willing and able to maintain the home.
“You have to refurbish a boat every year — you have to wash it down, you’ve got to sand it down, you’ve got to redo it,” Smith said. “That’s my best comparison for architectural and classic homes.”
This home requires even more upkeep than a boat, though. Smith suggested check-ups every six months to manage things like wood window frames, the home’s exterior and the ventilation.
While that might be a turnoff for some buyers, it’s a draw for others, according to Smith.
“If you’re a historical home buff, it’s very difficult to find Spanish [homes] … that are totally refurbished, holding onto their authentic style,” he said.
Already, the house has drawn at least seven groups of buyers, all of whom were looking for “a classic, historical home that wasn’t cookie-cutter,” Smith said.
“One has to be willing to maintain, and I think most of our clients will,” he added.
