If there is one thing that can be said about being one of the greatest hockey players ever, it is that it does not always translate to a successful real estate portfolio, and Wayne Gretzky may be a living testament to that. The NHL Hall of Famer listed his Westlake Village, CA mansion for $8,195,000, but records show that this isn't the first time he has put it in the market, Judy Dutton of Realtor reports.
It was in January last year that Gretzky listed the property for $10.5 million, which translates to a whopping price drop of $2.3 million - what a bargain, right? But the property still has no takers. What gives?
If you are a fan of the hockey player, it would be tempting to give in to this deal especially that the property seems like it has a lot going for it. It is a five-bedroom, six-bathroom palatial Tuscan-style villa which boasts a courtyard with a fountain, high and coffered ceilings and fancy chandeliers.
The property is screaming luxury, and housed in its 8,711-square-foot of living space is a gym, outdoor kitchen, sauna, and a pool as massive as Gretzky's hockey career.
But given all these amenities, how come the property failed to sell? Gretzky's listing agents recognize that there might still be things that can be done to make the listing more attractive, and they are willing to take those extra steps.
We're going to market this worldwide," says Nicole Van Parys at Engel & Völkers, which has also put together a video of the home. "Canada is all over this; Wayne is a superstar there, even more so than in the U.S. This is not your average chateau. This is some seriously good taste. It's also geared to a family, which is unusual."
Gretzky is married to Janet Jones and they have 5 kids together.
Some agents who have viewed the listing are positive that it won't be long before Gretzky finds a buyer for his mansion.
"It has all the right elements of a 'professional athlete/celebrity crib' and neighborhood-private, secluded, restricted access," says Cara Ameer, an agent in Ponte Vedra, FL. For Ameer, the delay may be due to the fact that "luxury homes can often take time to cultivate the right buyer. In a city like Los Angeles, there is an abundance of choices, from homes overlooking the ocean to sweeping city views. A buyer in this kind of price range is likely uber-selective about finding the right location first, and then finding just the right house. It is a delicate fit of putting the pieces of the puzzle together."
The price drop also helped, but some agents think that the team can do better.
"He's still probably a million dollars overpriced of where it actually needs to be," says James Harris of The Agency (and of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles"). "Properties out in Lake Sherwood are not selling because it's a very different market. These are second- and third-home buyers, and they're just not fetching the prices they were. Most second- and third-home buyers are purchasing in L.A."
With celebrity homes, the celebrity owner's presence may be too overpowering and scares buyers away; but some agents believe it's not the case with Gretzky's.
"Gretzky's fame is not a hindrance to this transaction, because this home-unlike Michael Jordan's-has a broad appeal to buyers in the luxury price range," says Wendy Flynn, an agent in College Station, TX, for Keller Williams. "If he followed the 'Michael Jordan' route, there'd be a full-size ice rink with Gretzky's face emblazoned on the ice. Thank goodness this home does not have that!"
Wayne Gretzky has an estimated net worth of $220 Million.
