Friday, April 1, 2011

Vicki Gunvalson Gives It Another Go

SELLER: Vicki and Donn Gunvalson
LOCATION: Coto de Caza, CA
PRICE: $2,695,000
SIZE: 5,400 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 5.25 bathrooms

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: The Real Housewives of Orange County's old-timer Vicki Gunvalson–the only original member of the cast–has (again) heaved her house in Coto de Caza, CA on the market, this time with an asking price of $2,695,000. Listing information also indicates that Miz Gunvalson would consider leasing the property at an unknown (and unadvertised) monthly rate.

The hard-charging insurance selling dynamo and her mellow soon-to-be ex-husband Donn first attempted to sell their 1-acre family homestead in the upscale gated community down behind the Orange Curtain way back in June of 2007 when it was listed an asking price of $3,750,000. Unlike back in 2007, the property is not listed with Miz Gunvalsons' former b.f.f. and former Real Housewives of Orange County cast mate Jeana Keough.

Their intent–at that time–was to downsize into a house they'd bought in April of 2007 for $1,650,000. Within a month Mister and Missus Gunvalson had a real estate change of heart and flipped the house back on the market with an asking price of $1,780,000. After the property was de- and re-listed almost a dozen times, it was finally taken off the market in late October of 2009 and property records show the house is still owned by Miss and soon to be ex-Mister Gunvalson.

Property records reveal that Mister and Missus Gunvalson acquired their Coto de Caza casa in December of of 2001 for $1,100,000. The erstwhile couple–who still live together in their love tank drained home–recently gave some of the interior spaces a face lift that included the installation hardwood floors on the lower level and the replacement of the staircase banister and spindles. The renovation work was done in a valiant but probably futile effort to squeeze an extra $250,000 of value out of the property.

Current listing information shows the house measures (approximately) 5,400 square feet and includes 5 bedrooms and 5.25 bathrooms. Listing information from 2007, it shall be noted, shows the property includes 5 bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms. Make of that what you will.

The house itself, which listing information classifies as "French," is about as ordinary as all the other over-sized "French" mcmansions in Coto de Caza. Where Miz Gunvalson might have a slight edge over other homes in the community of the same magnitude is her half million dollar resort-style backyard that includes expansive terraces, shaded patios with built-in ambient heating system, an outdoor kitchen with built-in barbecue, built-in fire pit with seating and a lagoon-style swimming pool and spa with waterfall, water slide and Playboy Mansion-style grotto outfitted with a television and full bath.

There are, according to Redfin, three other homes on Miz Gunvalson's cul-de-sac currently on the market–including the property immediately next door–ranging in price from $1,999,000 to $2,595,000. That's a lot of damn competition on a street with just 13 residences. In 2009 and 2010 Miz Gunvalson's former b.f.f. Jeana Keough unsuccessfully attempted to sell her gigantic house, located just a few door down and across the street from Mister and Missus Gunvalson, but somehow managed a loan modification that, apparently, allowed the financially struggling real estate agent/reality tee-vee denizen to remain in residence.

What Miz Gunvalson's real estate plans are (if and) when she sells off her house are not known but Your Mama would fall right out of our easy chair if the woo-hooing insurance broker left the immediate area and/or didn't buy herself a luxurious but perfectly quotidian bachelorette pad in or around Coto de Caza.

photo: Google Maps

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

The house above looks as if it's going to sidle on down and sit upon the Gunalvson place any second now.

Can't see the appeal of this location at all.

Carla In California said...

Vicki is the only OC housewife I like. Self-made millionaire with no college degree. Impressive ;)

Word verification: hoare
[what'ya sayin'?]

Wendy in NJ said...

Carla - you too can sell insurance! get yourself on TV and get a brand going, and your biz will pick way up - those policies will just about sell themselves. I am more skeptical than you that Vicki deserves any kudos for such a brain-dead accomplishment, but maybe it's because I am just too much of a snob to consider selling insurance myself. eh.

lil' gay boy said...

We can't all marry, be born into, inherit or win money. Given that, full marks to loud & brash Vicki for not sitting back, waiting for someone else to pull her cart.

Hardly blue bloods, but then any peek at the origins of almost any American dynasty are filled with much more than any vulgarity the Gunvalson's might be accused of.

Like this house.

Anonymous said...

Small yard and not the best view in Coto. Layout is a bit wonky.
Plus side, doesn't back up to Coto de caza drive like the other house for sale. Has a pool unlike the house next door which is for sale.
The third house for sale is a guesthouse on a nice lot. 3000 sf guest house surrounded by dirt where the main house was never built.
This is shire in The Woods which are custom homes on 1+ acres.
Her yard is mostly unusable hillside and very narrow.
$2.1 may be a better price.

Jill said...

Dreary.

In other news, almost 2 miles north of Vicki's house, there's a new house that is being built. Apparently by a Russian and when finished, it will be the biggest house in Orange County.

Unknown said...

Who cares about all this nonsense, if the comments don't have anything to do about her house for sale then shut up! I know for a fact these people who don't have anything nice to say about Vicki or her home don't have nearly the money or drive to succeed like she does. Look at your bank account and ypour messed up families and think about what others can say about you too!

Louise knipes said...

Come on people, these guys have a house some of us (me), could only dream of having. There are too many jealous people out there who secretly want the life this hard working woman has. Vicki, chase your dreams and don't let anyone put you down. Love love love the house by the way xx

Anonymous said...

I'm not jealous of people who borrow money to buy things they cannot afford.