Real Estate

COMPOUND INTEREST

Written by Blue Door Magazine on November 4, 2020

A rarely-seen Laguna Beach condo comes to market at the ultimate intersection of time and place

By Alexandria Abramian

“This home is one of Laguna Beaches best-kept secrets,” says real estate agent Andrea Ballesteros of the ultra-exclusive Laguna Beach oceanfront that reveals very little from the street. In fact, the home is not even a single-family residence. Instead, the six-unit, tiered structure that follows the exact curve of the coastline was originally built for a group of friends from out of town. Each unit was built for a family as a sophisticated, sand-friendly second home within a five-star beach setting. That was 17 years ago. Since then, only one has changed hands.

Today, a second unit in the indoor/outdoor compound is on the market, one of the premier homes of the development thanks to details like a sprawling, 1,200-square-foot wrap-around deck that is steps from the sand. “The home is right next to the Surf and Sand Resort. So instead of walking on Pacific Coast Highway, you can step off the deck onto the sand, and walk to restaurants. It’s such an exceptional way to experience the beach,” says Andrea, who along with her husband J.J. Ballesteros, holds the listing.

And that exceptional location is teased into the home at every turn. Designed by architect Morris Skenderian, the 2,360-square-foot, single-floor residence includes an open- concept living, dining, and gourmet kitchen area with nothing to interrupt Pacific Ocean panoramas. The same design approach is taken in the master suite, which opens directly onto the deck with expansive windows trained onto Laguna’s coastline. “You get the best of the beach here,” says Andrea. “You can hear the waves and feel like this is an exclusive beach, but there are also people playing and swimming. It’s private but in the thick of it at the same time.”

The open-plan kitchen and living areas highlight five-star ocean views. The master bedroom offers floor-to-ceiling ocean views.

The interior of the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home, with all of its custom-made furniture, keeps to a mostly calming palette of natural finishes, the better to keep the focus on the ocean views. Hand-crafted built-ins keep the space serene and uncluttered, while details like an indoor fireplace, as well as a built-in barbeque on the deck, mean that the house is entertainment-ready year-round.

The ground floor unit is one of the compound’s premier homes due to its expansive outdoor deck and direct beach access.

Design and location are only part of what makes the property unique, says J.J. Amenities and maintenance are also exceptional. “This entire property is maintained five days a week,” he says. “In that respect, it’s more like living in a private resort. Everything is completely taken care of.” There is also a communal courtyard with a full bar, TV, barbecue, couches, and fireplace. “This is truly a lock and load property,” says Andrea. “It’s the kind of home you never have to leave.”

A common courtyard connects the six-unit enclave and offers entertaining space with a fireplace and a full bar. The 1,200-square-foot wrap-around deck offers front-row, panoramic ocean views.

Given current market conditions, J.J. says that beachfront living, with almost zero-maintenance, is in high demand. “Our market is on fire right now. We’re getting a lot of people from New York and other big cities who want a place they can truly retreat to. They want to have access to nature, and be outdoors. The beauty of this property is that you access one of the best beaches in the area directly from your home.”