RI luxury homes market dominated by Newport County sales in 2021

In 2021, 65% of Rhode Island's luxury homes were sold in Newport County, including some of Newport's most famous mansions, such as Sea View and Ocean View.

It's the second year in a row that the real estate market has exploded in Newport County, and local real estate brokers don't expect the market to slow down come the beginning of the year.

Currently, there's a huge demand for houses across the state, but the sellable inventory has been almost depleted, so there's little supply, which is driving the seller's market.

In Newport County, between June and August, 39% of luxury homes were sold to out-of-state buyers, but it isn't just high-end homes that are being scooped up though. Homes on the lower end of the price range are also selling quickly.

Sold in Newport: What's driving Newport's luxury home sales boom?

Here is a list of notable homes that sold in Newport County in 2021.

Clarendon Court

626 Bellevue Ave., Sept, 9, $30 million

Clarendon Court is the former home of Claus and Martha "Sunny" von Bulow. The home is encompassed by a high stone wall with beautiful iron gates that open to a cobblestone courtyard and entry to the residence. The magnificently landscaped estate of more than seven acres with sweeping ocean views, extends to the cliff edge, above and over the famous Cliff Walk. A gracious carriage house includes ample garage space, three separate guest quarters, and a charming brick-walled parterre garden.

The seller was represented by David Huberman of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty, and the buyer was represented by Kate Kirby Greenman, also of Gustave White Sotheby's.

Miramar

646 Bellevue Ave., Sept. 30, $27 million

Miramar was originally listed for $30 million. The 30,982 square—foot home sits on 7.2 acres of land, and has three properties, including the mansion, a carriage house and a separate vacant oceanfront 1—acre lot.

Real Estate Broker David Huberman of Gustave White Sotheby's International Real Estate, was Miramar's listing agent.

Streetcar magnate George Dunton Widener of Philadelphia commissioned noted architect Horace Trumbauer in the early 1900s to build his family a summer home in Newport. During the planning, Widener and his wife, Eleanor, and their son, Harry Elkins Widener, traveled to Europe.

On the return trip, in 1912, the father and son went down with the Titanic, but Eleanor Widener survived.

She later married Alexander Hamilton Jr., a Harvard professor and grandson of a Massachusetts governor with the same name, and completed Miramar in 1913-14.

Out-of-state buyers in Newport: Most luxury homes sold in Newport County in 2021 purchased by out-of-state buyers

Beacon Rock

147 Harrison Ave., Dec. 8, $23 million

The home once belonged to the creator of the well-known Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial and was most recently owned by attorney Brian Cuhna.

Edwin D. Morgan, cousin of J.P. Morgan, commissioned architect Stanford White, from the renowned architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White of New York, to design the home in 1887. The residence with ionic marble colonnades and the balanced, matching temple-like facades, took over three years to complete.

Morgan summered at "Beacon Rock" for 30 years. He served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club and owned several of the America’s Cup defenders, which he kept at the estate.

The landscaped grounds originally were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park and the emerald-necklace park system in Boston.

Ocean View

662 Bellevue Ave., Nov. 30, $16 million

The 15,903 square-foot estate had been in the same family for nearly 100 years, prior to the No. 30 sale. It has 15 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and oversized floor-to ceiling windows.

It was originally listed for $18.85 million.

Ocean View was built in 1866 for William H. Reynolds. Architect William H. Reynolds Walker designed the "cottage" to capture the dramatic views of the coastline, the Cliff Walk and the sea.

Real Estate Broker David Huberman of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty, was the home's listing agent.

Seward Estate

339 Ocean Ave., Sept. 8, $16 million

After being subdivided, parts of the Seward estate sold for $16 million, but did not encompass the full 45-acre site originally listed. At the time of the sale, Seaward was the highest in Rhode Island since the 2019 sale of 10 Bluff Ave. in the Watch Hill section of Westerly for $17.6 million, according to data maintained by the Rhode Island Statewide MLS.

The Avalon estate was built in 1900, though it is best known in the city as the home of the late James and Candace Van Alen, founders of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

James Van Alen, a descendant of John Jacob Astor, died in 1991, and his wife died in 2002. Leys represented the Van Alen estate when it was sold to Meyers.

The Van Alens bought the property in 1952 and put it in the name of Avalon Properties in 1972. The upper stories of the original structure were destroyed in a December 1976 fire, which is why Avalon was a single-story building when it was sold.

Kendra Toppa, Newport County sales manager, and Eric Kirton, associate broker, both with Lila Delman Compass, jointly represented the seller and facilitated for the buyer in this transaction.

Normandie

232 Ocean Ave., Oct. 19, $12.5 million

Normandie sits on 4.4 secluded oceanfront acres and includes three separate private swimming coves. To enter the grounds, one must drive through a very well-known and distinct circular white-brick opening.

The former estate of Lucy Wortham James, Normandie was originally listed for $15 million, and sold two months after being placed on the market. Paul Leys co-owner of Gustave White Sotheby's International Realty, was the home's listing broker.

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The home is nearly 8,200 square-feet, and has seven bedrooms and seven full baths with tiled floors, a multitude of fireplaces, curved wooden-arched formal dining room ceiling, beechwood paneled interior walls, and more. There are two attached apartments located along the east wing. One is a two-bedroom apartment, while the other is a one-bedroom apartment.

Built in 1914, the house was designed by the noted New York City architectural firm Delano & Aldrich.

Honeysuckle Lodge

225 Ruggles Ave., July 26, $9,391,635

Located on Cliff Walk, Honeysuckle Lodge was designed by the renowned architectural firm Peabody & Stearns in 1886, the 10,530-square-foot residence is sited on over two acres of Olmsted grounds with sweeping lawns and access to the water.

Designed by the renowned architectural firm Peabody & Stearns in 1886, the 10,530-square-foot residence is sited on over two acres of Olmsted grounds with sweeping lawns and access to the water.

It has been impeccably maintained over the years with many recent upgrades, including a new kitchen and pool. A separate 4,000-square-foot carriage house with two apartments, a greenhouse and a garage complete the gated compound.

The seller was represented by Paul Leys of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. Kimberly Doherty of Lila Delman Compass represented the buyer.

Bois Dore

115 Narragansett Ave., Dec. 21, $8.99 million

Located on nearly four acres of private land in the Bellevue Avenue estate area, the home was designed by New York architect Charles A. Platt for banker William Fahnestock in 1927. It is considered one of the last great Newport cottages.

Built in the classic French chateau-style of limestone, the 19,000-square-foot residence includes 25 bedrooms, a loggia and terrace overlooking the grounds and a grand ballroom.

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The sale represents the ninth highest price of a residential property in Newport County this year. The buyer was represented by Kara Malkovich of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller.

Here's a list of homes that sold in Newport County in 2021, for over $5 million, but under $10 million.

• 21 Chastellux Ave., sold for $7.1 million, on July 27. The property is a custom-built, shingle-style home with modern flair overlooking Newport’s vibrant harbor perched on an elevated and gated 1.38 acres.

• 58 Brenton Road, sold for $6.5 million, sold on Feb. 16. Located above Goose Neck Cove, off Newport’s famed Ocean Drive, offers mesmerizing ocean views. Featuring beautifully crafted, state-of-the-art construction with geo-thermal heating and cooling, this award winning-home was designed by architect Michele Foster.

• 256 E Shore Road, sold for $6,970,000, on Aug. 3.

• 529 Bellevue Ave., sold for $6,600,000, sold on Sept. 24. Upon entering the completely restored French Chateau-style mansion you'll notice the grand foyer adorned with European herringbone floors. From there, you will find a music room to the left and library with a fireplace to the right. The gourmet kitchen has 23-foot ceilings that flow gracefully to a dining area, spacious living room with fireplace, and family room that is flooded with natural light from a wall of French doors.

• 400 East Shore Road sold for $6295,000 on July 15.

• 15 Dumpling Drive, sold for $6,000,000, sold on Sept. 17.

• 425 Bellevue Ave., sold for $5,770,800, sold on Dec. 7.

• 31 Bowery St., known as Clover Patch, sold for $5,200,000, on Sept. 22. was built in 1855, and is within walking distance to Bellevue Avenue and Thames Street. Sited on 1.31 acres of land, the sprawling park-like grounds have received awards for the property’s specimen trees and gardens. The estate has a total of 11 bedrooms and 9 full and one-half bathrooms.

Bethany Brunelle-Raja can be reached at bbrunelle@newportri.com 575-644-1223 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter, Insta: bethanyfreudenthal, TikTok: becomingmrsraja, Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/bethany-freudenthal

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Luxury home sales in Newport County make up majority of RI sales