Despite Covid-19, top-end Aspen real estate is selling at a pace
The CEO of Goldman Sachs just sold a property and a vacant lot there for a combined $26.5m
New York — David Solomon is beginning his third year as CEO of Goldman Sachs Group with a bang.
Earlier this week, the DJ-cum-banker completed the sale of his 15ha Colorado, estate after nearly three years of trying to find a buyer.
The Goldman chief sold the property by dividing it in two. The 1,205m2, on 18ha, went for $19.5m, and a vacant 15ha lot fetched $7m, netting a total of $26.5m, according to Multiple Listings Service (MLS).
That total is nearly $10m below its initial asking price of $36m in 2017, representing a more than 26% discount. Solomon, through a representative, declined to comment.
The sale comes on the heels of a three-month stretch of record-breaking sales in the Colorado resort town of Aspen. In September, new signed contracts for homes from $10m to $19.99m were up 800% (nine were signed, compared to one the previous September), while two homes sold for more than $20m, according to a new report by Douglas Elliman.
“Last year, there were no sales above $20m,” says Jonathan Miller, the president and CEO of appraiser Miller Samuel. “Now, we have 11 under contract in September above $10m, which is highly unusual, and reflects part of this ‘co-primary’ phenomenon,” whereby Aspen is increasingly seen as a location to live, rather than simply vacation in, he says. “Aspen is perhaps seen as less seasonal now.”
August was similarly booming (a 75% year-on-year increase for prices from $10m to $20m) and an unprecedented July saw a staggering 23 new contracts signed in that range, representing a 1,050% year-on-year increase.
Solomon’s seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom house was built in 2009, and includes a home theatre, a billiards room, a sauna, and a large open-concept kitchen and living room that’s ornamented by a huge chandelier, according to listing photos.
The manicured grounds include an outdoor pool and hot tub, terraced gardens, and views of Aspen’s upper valley.
The buyer put down 5% in earnest money, according to MLS. Taxes cost $36,970 a year.
Bloomberg