The broker marketing a four-bedroom house in a gated enclave tucked away in the Marina del Rey community near Los Angeles has a house that will appeal to buyers who are looking for high ceilings, wide doorways and raised countertops.
"It's a very, very spacious house, a unique place," James Allen of Compass said in an interview. "It's for a sports person or a celebrity who wants to feel secure. A basketball player would be perfect."
In fact, one of the home's former owners did play a little ball. NBA superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar owned it from 2011 to 2021, long after he retired from the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the greatest players in league history.
Abdul-Jabbar customized the house for his 7-foot-2 frame. The Hall of Famer played 20 seasons professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, leading his teams to six championships. Abdul-Jabbar, now an activist and author, is also known for his role in the hit movie "Airplane!" in 1980.
The current owners, who kept the house's modifications, have listed the property with Allen for just under $3 million, according to Homes.com.
He's had the listing for a couple of weeks and expects the house to be on the market for at least a few months. The housing market in Marina del Rey and surrounding areas has slowed for homes priced above $2.5 million, according to Allen.
The house, one of only 12 in the development, overlooks the California Yacht Club and the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey. The late actress Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady in "The Brady Bunch," used to live a few doors away, Allen said.
An open floor plan connects the large living room and formal dining room with the island kitchen, according to the listing. Sliding doors open onto a garden patio.
The second story has hardwood floors and a primary suite with a fireplace, a large walk-in closet and a balcony with views of the yacht club and marina across the street, the listing states. The bathroom includes dual vanities, a separate Jacuzzi tub and a steam shower. On the third floor is an additional bedroom with another patio.
The home, built in 2000, has a two-car garage and enough room for four additional outdoor parking spaces, the listing says. The house also includes a water filtration system, automatic lighting and a remote-access camera security system.
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"A lot of people don't even know the development's there because it's tucked away," Allen said.
Marina del Rey, an unincorporated coastal community in west Los Angeles County, is known for its small-craft harbor with more than 5,000 boats. The home is within walking distance of the harbor, Trader Joe's, upscale restaurants and the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, a paved, 22-mile path along Santa Monica Bay.
Even with Abdul-Jabbar's modifications, the home remains functional for most people, and a loft easily could be converted into a fifth bedroom, Allen said.
"Someone's going to buy the house because they like it, not because Kareem once owed it," he said. "But it does bring more attention to it because he's an iconic figure."