San Francisco home on bluffs over ocean sells for $20M, second most expensive 2023 deal
A home built on the bluffs of the exclusive Sea Cliff enclave in San Francisco has sold at a discount from its original $32 million asking price.
Developed by famous interior designer Michael Taylor, the residence came to market in 2022 for the first time in nearly 30 years. It sold for $20 million on April 18.
Taylor—known for creating the contemporary “California look” and pioneering housing trends such as light and airy open spaces, the blending of indoors with the outdoors, using neutral palettes and utilizing stone, wicker, slate and other natural materials—lived and worked at the 9 25th Ave. residence.
The home sits above the Pacific Ocean with sweeping views stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands. The home also has private access to Baker’s Beach.
The transaction marks the second-highest residential home sale so far this year in San Francisco, according to SFGate. A Presidio Heights home at 3450 Washington St. closed in March for $34.5 million after it was offered at $45 million.
Listing agent Neal Ward of Compass represented the seller.
“Despite the challenges presented by today’s economic landscape, the remarkable success of the sale of 9 25th Avenue serves as a resounding affirmation that exceptional quality and craftsmanship will always command respect and attention,” Ward told The Sacramento Bee via email. “Luxury buyers are keenly aware that properties of this caliber embody a rare and enduring legacy that cannot be replicated today. The property’s prime location, unparalleled views, and exquisite architecture are a testament to its timeless elegance, making it a highly coveted acquisition for a discerning buyer.”
The Sea Cliff community is home to only 700 residents and contains only 25 residences. Its mansions were designed by notable architects beginning in the early 1900s. Among them: Julia Morgan, who designed Hearst Castle. Famous residents of the highly desirable seaside neighborhood include Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Comedian Robin Williams and photographer Ansel Adams also lived there.
Taylor, who died in 1986 at age 59, bought the house in 1970. In the home’s 81-year history, there have been only three owners.
Built in 1941, the three-level estate spans 7,540 square feet with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The mansion sits on two contiguous lots at the end of a cul-de-sac.
Taylor put his stamp on the home with a stately south-facing courtyard that features a lavish pool with fountains, oversized planters, shell-themed wall sconces and large-stone slate floors at the lower level, according to the official property listing.
The entry to the mansion is dramatic. Through a gate, the front courtyard is protected by mature, meticulously manicured cypress trees. The front portico then opens through large French doors to present a terrace and the ocean beyond.
