You belong among the wildflowers — or at least among the greenery at the park-like Southern California estate that once belonged to rock star Tom Petty.
The singer's Malibu hideaway is back on the market a little less than a year after it was initially listed. Petty, known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a solo artist, used the property as his primary residence from 1998 until his death in 2017.
But it's not the only Petty property for sale.
Petty's former beach retreat in St. Augustine, Florida, has been on the market since February.
The songwriter who was raised in Gainesville, Florida, is known for radio staples including "Refugee," "American Girl," "I Won't Back Down" and "You Don't Know How It Feels." Rock royalty such as the late George Harrison and Jeff Lynne, members of the Traveling Wilburys with Petty, hung out at the Malibu estate, where Petty was known for serving a good cup of Maxwell House coffee.
So, exactly how do you sell a home with such deep connections to rock 'n' roll history?
You can know how it feels
Listing agent Myra Nourmand said the Malibu property feels “like you’re buying your own private park.”
“Every area has either a fountain, a bubbling brook, magnificent and mature trees,” she told Homes.com. “It’s an emotional sanctuary … And it takes many decades to create that.”
Indeed, the property spans 2.6 acres and includes three structures: a four-bedroom main house and two detached guest houses, one of which served as Petty’s studio.
Given the size, Nourmand and co-listing agent Levi Freeman said they’re targeting buyers with large families and Petty fans.
“The beauty about this is there are numerous bedrooms, but it’s not a big two-story house,” Nourmand said. “There are people who want a home, and not a palace and not a huge house, but something warm and charming, which is what this house is about.”
Of course, there’s also the draw of the connection to Tom Petty. “This house has soul, and it’s indicative of the owner who had it,” Nourmand added.
The California property hit the market last summer with a $19 million price tag. It never sold, though. Nourmand and Freeman took over and relisted the property July 7 for a reduced $15.5 million.
The duo attributed the delay in the property’s sale to marketing strategy.
“A house needs to be put together with the right furniture … the right presentation, and unfortunately, it didn’t have that” when it first listed, Nourmand said, noting that she and Freeman have plans to lean into the home’s history.
For example, they’re hosting a launch party this week where they plan to have Petty’s music playing, among other secret things.
More than that, though, January’s devastating wildfires have disrupted the Malibu housing market, according to Freeman.
“It’s no mystery the challenges that we’ve been through with the fires earlier this year,” he told Homes.com. “Our community has really bound together to rebuild, and Malibu has been through it before, and every time it’s happened, it’s only made us stronger.”
“We have reduced the price from where it was before, and we feel like all of these things, combined with our presentation, we’ll finally find the right buyer,” he added.
Musician's Florida beach retreat is also for sale
Another house formerly owned by Petty, also known for two Traveling Wilburys albums as Charlie T. Wilbury Jr., went on the market in February, this one in his home state of Florida. Petty's beach house at 5372 Atlantic View in St. Augustine is asking $2.95 million.
Petty built the house in 1988 after buying the lot for $97,500, according to county property appraiser records. This would be right around when the rocker was recording his first solo album, "Full Moon Fever."
Broker Luke Newcomer of The Newcomer Group, who is handling the listing, said his neighbors were mostly people from his hometown of Gainesville.
"That strip of beach is notorious for people from Gainesville buying property," he said.
Sitting on less than a quarter of an acre, the 3,293-square-foot, three-story house includes five bedrooms and four bathrooms, plus a back deck with an in-ground pool.
The connection to the beach is the real draw, according to Newcomer, with a private boardwalk leading to the shore.
"The windows give you panoramic views of the ocean," Newcomer said. "On a clear day, you can see all the way to the pier," which is roughly four miles to the north.
Petty's first wife, Jane, took possession of the house after the couple's divorce in 1996. Her trust sold the estate in 2024 for $3.55 million, according to county records. Newcomer said the new owner put more than $400,000 into renovations on the property, particularly turning the third floor into an open floor plan, combining the kitchen and dining room with the living room.
Newcomer said it is rare for properties in that area to hit the market, especially one with a famous pedigree. "You don’t see a lot of stuff come up for sale in there," he said.
Are buyers drawn to homes with celebrity connections?
Just how much does it matter to buyers that they’re buying one of Petty’s former homes? It depends.
In Malibu, just miles from the glitz and glam of Hollywood, celebrity connections can move the needle when it comes to home sales, according to Nourmand.
“There are people who flock to that genre who say, ‘Wow, if it was good for him, it’s going to be great for me. And I’m buying a piece of history," she said.
“That’s what they’re buying, a legacy of an icon in the rock and roll world,” she added. “He has a huge following still after all these years and what they find is the home he lived in. That speaks volumes.”
In St. Augustine, though, the celebrity connection doesn’t pack as much of a punch.
"We’re not Hollywood," Newcomer said. "I don’t think a celebrity’s name holds that much value."
Newcomer mentions the Petty connection to potential buyers and in marketing materials. He said the fame has gotten the house a great deal of attention, from local news to viral posts on social media.
But he doesn't believe that Petty's name will be the factor that closes the sale.
"That's not the selling point. To me, that’s just a fun feature," he said. "When you get [a buyer] in the house, you're selling them the house," not the name.