$100 M. Ocean Dr. Gianni Versace’s Mansion getting ‘Serious Interest’. Gianni Versace’s ornate mansion on Ocean Drive is attracting “serious interest,” despite legal complications and a $100 million price tag, the listing agent says.
Current owner Peter Loftin, who is often referred to as a “telecom mogul,” has received “several offers” for Casa Casuarina, where the famed designer lived, partied and died,said Jill Eber, the agent for the property, half of the Miami realtors-to-the-stars team know as “The Jills.”
“We have serious interest from international as well as U.S. buyers,” Ms. Eber said.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the offers are anywhere near $100 million or a sale is imminent. Mr. Loftin is currently locked in a complicated legal struggle with the Nakash family of New York, who are attempting to foreclose on the debt on the estate. The $100 million price tag on the estate is “outrageously inflated,” a spokesman for the Nakash family told the New York Times.
Ms. Eber would not comment on the legal issues, except to say “when we sell the property everything will be fine.”
The mansion was originally built in 1930 by Alden Freeman, heir to a chunk of the Standard Oil fortune. Today the mansion reflects Mr. Versace’s unique tastes, including the 54-foot mosaic-tiled pool lined with 24-karat gold, ornate sculptures and tapestries, the obligatory marble toilet with gold seat and Mr. Versace’s gold Medusa head logo liberally sprinkled throughout the house.
Mr. Loftin, who bought the property in 2000 for $19 million, originally put the house on the market for $125 million in June, which was apparently considered a tad steep, even for Versace standards. He lowered the price to $100 million in November.
By Kevin Brass, World Property Channel on March 13, 2013 6:00 AM
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