The Bel-Air estate known as Casa Encantada is among the most famous houses in the world among observers of such things for its luxury and opulence, and now the Los Angeles Times reports that it has another record under its name: now listed for sale at $225 million, the home is now the most expensive public real estate listing in the entire country.
Casa Encantada currently belongs to financier Gary Winnick, and has in fact set the record for most expensive residential property in the country on two separate previous occasions – and if it sells anywhere close to its asking price, it will easily beat the current holder of that record: the mansion formerly known as Spelling Manor in Holmby Hills, which sold for almost $120 million earlier this year.
That may not happen though, since the market for luxury real estate is currently in the midst of some declining trend lines, with prices in this area of the market down significantly from a year ago.
In any case, Casa Encantada is a true architectural jewel dating back to the 1930s, when it was designed by famous architect James E. Dolena. In 1950, it was purchased lock stock and barrel by Conrad Hilton, who reportedly kept it as it was for the three decades of his ownership of the property. But when Winnick bought it in 2000, he invested millions in restoring and updating it for the 21st century.
But the house's classic Georgian remains, and according to Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland it's a timeless work of art the likes of which you no longer see in any neighborhood in America, no matter how affluent:
"Could we duplicate this house today? Absolutely not…You couldn't find the craftsmen; they're all dead."
You can take a look at Casa Encantada in the video below, courtesy of CBS Los Angeles:
