Latest news with #WesternWhiteHouse
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Photos: Bing Crosby's historic California estate sells for $25 million
A historic Hillsborough estate once owned by Bing Crosby has sold for $25 million, more than a third below its original asking price but still one of the most expensive residential sales in the town's history. The property at 1200 Jackling Drive, a 14,000-square-foot French chateau-style mansion on 5 acres, was listed in January for $40 million following the death of Crosby's widow, Kathryn Grant, in 2024. The deal closed Thursday, June 12, according to Compass agents Alex and Pierre Buljan, who represented the buyer. 'This property is one of Hillsborough's legacy estates with an extremely storied background and impeccable vintage craftsmanship,' Alex Buljan said in a statement. 'The buyer is a Hillsborough local with an appreciation for classic properties, adamant about maintaining the character and history into the next generation.' Originally built in 1929 for the Howard family, owners of the racehorse Seabiscuit, the home was purchased by Crosby in the 1960s as a retreat from Hollywood. The singer lived there until he died in 1977, and the estate remained in the family until this year. The mansion includes 11 bedrooms, a library, a smoking room and a staff wing. Architectural features include antique paneling and a 17th century staircase acquired by the Howards from William Randolph Hearst's collection. 'If the product that a buyer is looking for is there, it is going fast,' she said. The sale is Hillsborough's highest-priced residential deal since the Western White House sold for $23 million last year, and ranks among the top five in the town's history.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
See the opulent Bing Crosby estate in Bay Area. It just sold for $25 million
The Bay Area estate Bing Crosby purchased in the early 1960s as a surprise for his wife Kathryn sold Thursday, June 12, for $25 million, according to Compass real estate. 'This property is one of Hillsborough's legacy estates with an extremely storied background and impeccable vintage craftsmanship,' Compass listing agent Alex Buljan said in a statement. 'The buyer is a Hillsborough local with an appreciation for classic properties, adamant about maintaining the character and history into the next generation.' Hillsborough is a wealthy town in San Mateo County, 20 miles south of San Francisco, California. The 16,600-square-foot Bing Crosby Estate was listed for $40 million earlier this year after the late singer's second wife died in 2024. The property is one of the top five sales in the history of Hillsborough, and largest since the Western White House closed for $23 million last year. Buljan also represented the buyer on that home. Crosby purchased the estate in the early 1960s as an escape for his family from the Hollywood scene. The eye-catching French chateau-style residence, built in 1929, sits on 5.4 acres. In a blend of history and elegance, businessman Lindsay Howard, son of horse-racing enthusiast and Seabiscuit owner Charles Howard, originally commissioned the estate to be built by architects John Bakewell Jr. and Ernest Weihe as a wedding gift for his wife Anita. The Crosbys moved into the residence in December 1965 with their children, Harry Lillis Jr., Nathaniel and Mary Frances and embarked on extensive renovations, according to Sotheby's. The couple incorporated antiques from William Randolph Hearst's collection, including a hand-carved wooden staircase banister and Georgian paneling from a 17th-century English manor home. Then, Kathryn Crosby commissioned renowned San Francisco artist Al Proom to decorate the dining room walls, adding more grandeur to the home. This estate — with 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and 5 half bathrooms — has meticulously preserved craftsmanship and architectural details from the 1920s design. The opulent home is highlighted with frescoes, ornate fireplaces and hand-carved woodwork. A smoking room contains a built-in bar. The library beckons with a large fireplace and built-in bookcases. In the dining room, a Venetian-glass chandelier hangs and hand-painted rose detailing adorns the walls. There's a separate wing for staff.
