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This Week’s Priciest New Property Is a .9M English-Style Estate in Monte Sereno

The San Francisco Bay Area has reared its oh-so-pricey head for this week’s most expensive new listing on realtor.com®. Located in Monte Sereno, CA, the mansion hit the market for $29.9 million.

The tiny town of Monte Sereno is an exclusive enclave wedged between the equally upscale cities of Saratoga and Los Gatos. At about 1.6 miles in size, it has no commercial center, and its strictly residential population numbers about 4,000. The rural, agricultural community was established in the early 1900s, and along with agriculture, artists and writers were also drawn to the peaceful and inspiring setting.

Given the city’s size, one of the most important features of this week’s priciest new property is that it’s on the market at all. We found only five other homes currently for sale in Monte Sereno. And if you’re looking for a deal, this isn’t the place. The mostly modest-size homes start at around $3 million.

Among the handful of homes for sale is a brand-new build for $6.49 million, which is located about a half-mile from the week’s most expensive new listing. Listing agent Maryam Tabatabaei notes that the area offers “both the good things about the city,” with access to the downtown restaurants and shops of Saratoga and Los Gatos, “and the uniqueness of Monte Sereno.”

One of those unique points of interest in this tiny town is the home where John Steinbeck completed two of his seminal works, “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men.” Now on the National Historic Registry, the home was owned by the author and his wife, Carol, from 1936 to 1938. It’s also located just about a half-mile from the $29.9 million mansion.

As for the priciest new property, the 13,674-square-foot estate has six bedrooms, six baths, and four half-baths. The 5.6 acres it sits on include manicured grounds, gardens, and terraces.

Built in 1991 by architect Ned Forrest, the mansion was custom-built in the “early English Renaissance style of 19th-century architect, Edwin Lutyens,” according to the listing. The main house includes a formal dining room, living room, kitchen, gym, and game room. Plus, there’s a two-bedroom guesthouse.

Architectural finishes include an elevator with mahogany interior, spotted gum eucalyptus hardwood flooring, and leaded-glass windows.

Outside, there’s a pool and spa, a kitchen, and a bath with changing area. Other highlights include a tennis court, barn with office, storage, parking, and garage. A picturesque garden includes a stocked pond, teahouse, waterfall, and arched bridge that looks like it’s stepped out of a Claude Monet painting.

For even more outdoor entertainment, you can wind your way through a yew tree maze, or take in the English greenhouse, camelia garden, rose garden, and vegetable garden, along with a fruit tree orchard with over 60 varieties. Be sure to get a recommendation for a good gardener while you’re at it. The grass doesn’t mow itself.

The price may be worth the convenient location. It’s close to San Francisco, Palo Alto, and San Jose Jet Center (a corporate flight facility), and it offers access to “distinguished” Saratoga and Los Gatos schools. The Nevis and Ardizzone Team hold the listing.

The post This Week’s Priciest New Property Is a $29.9M English-Style Estate in Monte Sereno appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Source: Real Estate News and Advice – realtor.com » Real Estate News