Branden and Rayni Williams — two real estate agents who regularly sell homes for celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Bruce Willis and Jason Statham — just listed what will likely be their last “passion project.”
Nestled into the hillside near the Sunset Strip, their spec home dubbed “The Californication” in Hollywood Hills hit the market for $38 million Wednesday. The Williamses, who run the brokerage The Beverly Hills Estates, bought the property in a “sweetheart deal” in 2016 for just $2.9 million, Branden Williams told The Messenger. Then began their multi-year spec house development.
The Williamses worked with co-developer Jason Somers to design the “masterful, mid-century, modern paradise,” taking inspiration from the 1965 James Bond movie “Thunderball.”
Williams said they wanted to create a retro, secret-agent esque mansion that’s classically Hollywood. “We wanted to make it as if it’s a resort — but the backdrop is Los Angeles.”
The six-bedroom, 10-bathroom home with 13,000-square-feet of space includes a secret nightclub, chef’s kitchen, spa, pool and even an ocean view. Its giant movie theater walls are lined with emerald-colored velvet, and the home comes with multiple bars.
The lavish features cost the developers handsomely. After they spent the money from their loan, Williams said, the developers paid for the project from their own pockets. And now that it’s finally finished, Williams said he and his partner and wife, Rayni, won’t be doing any more big builds. Between the higher costs of labor and materials, Williams said it’s just not worth it anymore.
Speaking of The Californication’s listing, he said “At this price, with some negotiation room, we don’t even make money…because of inflation costs.”
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