A gated Monterey Period Revival-style estate in San Marino, designed by prominent architect Myron Hunt in 1930 and extensively remodeled and updated, has sold for $6.03 million.
The six-bedroom, 5,212-square-foot house fetched $130,000 over-asking price after it received “multiple offers,” said listing agent Sarah Rogers of Compass though she refused to say how many.
“In this environment where a lot of estate properties or higher-end properties in San Marino are generally taking a lot longer to sell, this property sold right away and did well,” Rogers said, adding it’s especially significant “during this tumultuous time.”
The winning offer from a local family set the deal in motion before Los Angeles County issued the stay-at-home order. Property records show the house closed in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 9, with Sabrina Wu of Compass representing the buyer.
“At the showing,” Rogers recalled, “the buyer took off her shoes and changed into her socks. She said something like, ‘If these are going to be my floors, I want to protect them.’”
Those white oak hardwood floors run across both levels of the house, starting from the towering foyer. A curved staircase with a wrought iron and wood railing leads up to all but one of the en-suite bedrooms plus master suite. Features of the suite include two private balconies that overlook the grounds.
Set on more than a half-acre, the home offers south-facing views of the San Gabriel Mountains while its re-landscaped and hardscaped property boasts olive trees, lawns, patios and hand-forged iron fencing. There are also water features.
A custom octagonal fountain decorated in handmade Moroccan tile set in the brick walkway is a focal point of the front yard. Another custom fountain graces the side yard. In the back yard, there’s a 40-foot swimming pool.
The grounds are accessible from most areas inside the house, including the living room and neighboring music room.
Other interior features include a formal dining room, a casual dining room and a soapstone peninsula that doubles as a breakfast bar in the updated kitchen. The renovated butler’s pantry has a wet bar with a hammered copper sink, a bronze faucet and marble counters.
A finished basement offers “tremendous storage,” according to the listing.
“You have an architectural home in a great location, but then in many respects, it’s like new in terms of its systems and updates,” Rogers said. “Those don’t come up very often.”
Hunt designed many noted landmarks in Southern California, including the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery (1910) at the Huntington Library, the Rose Bowl (1922) and the Huntington Memorial Hospital (1940). He also designed many homes.
But the architectural significance of this house wasn’t the only selling point.
The listing price of $5.9 million was also a factor.
“I would say it was a fair asking price,” Rogers said. “I definitely got feedback from agents that this should have been selling for $6-plus million, and clearly the market ultimately agreed.”
