North Carolina's most expensive home ever goes on the market for $50m

Question

North Carolina's most expensive home has gone on the market for $49.99 million, the highest asking price ever listed for a house in state history. 

Situated around 70 miles northwest of Greenville, South Carolina, the 40-acre property is situated in Highlands, a town renowned for its resorts and downtown area. An additional 18 acres is available for $10 million.

The house is listed by agents Reed Jackson and Steve Castellaw of Christie's International Real Estate Highlands/Cashiers. 

So, who owns this wildly expensive compound?

The property is owned by a trust connected to a lighting executive located in London, Andrew Johnson.




North Carolina's most expensive home has gone on the market for $49.99 million, the highest asking price ever listed for a house in state history





Situated around 70 miles northwest of Greenville, South Carolina, the 40-acre property is situated in Highlands, a town renowned for its resorts and downtown area





An additional 18 acres is available for $10 million.





The property is owned by a trust connected to a lighting executive located in London , Andrew Johnson





The house is listed by agents Reed Jackson and Steve Castellaw of Christie's International Real Estate Highlands/Cashiers





The property is owned by a trust connected to a lighting executive located in London, Andrew Johnson





Johnson founded U.K.-based Aurora Lighting in 1999





Johnson was also a co-founder of the now-defunct Gooee smart lighting firm in the 2010s





Johnson founded Sagee Capital, which is headquartered in London





The family spent over $18 million assembling the property as a vacation residence in the middle of the 2010s







Johnson founded U.K.-based Aurora Lighting in 1999. He was a co-founder of the now-defunct Gooee smart lighting firm in the 2010s. He also founded Sagee Capital, which is headquartered in London.

The family spent more than $18 million assembling the property as a vacation residence in the middle of the 2010s.

Johnson told the Wall Street Journal that his family would summer at their North Carolina getaway, but they're not able to use the property as much as they used to.

Built around 2006, Johnson has spent about $10 million on renovations - only just finishing this year.

The main house measures about 12,000 square feet and boasts four bedrooms, a wine cellar, a sleeping porch, a garden-themed sitting room and seven fireplaces.

The guest house has three bedrooms and a movie theatre.

The amenities are extensive, as the compound includes a pool with sunset views, an outdoor amphitheater and a dining pavilion for events and parties. 




Johnson told the Wall Street Journal that his family would summer at their North Carolina getaway, but they're not able to use the property as much as they used to





Around 2006, Johnson has spent about $10 million on renovations - only just finishing this year





The main house measures about 12,000 square feet and boasts four bedrooms





The main house also includes a wine cellar, a sleeping porch, a garden-themed sitting room and seven fireplaces





The guest house has three bedrooms and a movie theatre

A separate pavilion comes with views of South Carolina and Georgia.

The previous owner installed a croquet court, a popular sport among Highlands retirees.

If you're an outdoorsmen, you're in luck. The property comes with hiking trails, a pond, and meadows and woodlands filled with wildlife.

Johnson said he doesn't allow for guests to hunt as he views the estate as 'a sacred place.'

The Johnsons spent roughly $1.5 million building a helipad to make transportation to and from the Macon County airport easier. From the grounds to New York City is one and a half hours via private air transport.




The compound includes a pool with sunset views





The estate also comes with an outdoor amphitheater and a dining pavilion for events and parties





A separate pavilion comes with views of South Carolina and Georgia





The previous owner installed a croquet court, a popular sport among Highlands retirees, and plenty of closet space





The property comes with hiking trails, a pond, and meadows and woodlands filled with wildlife





Johnson said he doesn't allow for guests to hunt as he views the estate as 'a sacred place'





The Johnsons spent roughly $1.5 million building a helipad to make transportation to and from the Macon County airport easier





From the grounds to New York City is one and Theanex Erfahrungen a half hours via private air transport





'People can't work all year and prepare the house for us not to use it. It's not fair on the staff,' Johnson said





The acreage of the estate justifies its price, Jackson told WSJ that it's among the biggest residential properties in the neighborhood





The land might be used by developers to construct more homes in the artistic Highlands neighborhood

 'People can't work all year and prepare the house for us not to use it. It's not fair on the staff,' Johnson said. 

'It's a house that needs a family.'

The acreage of the estate justifies its price, Jackson told WSJ; it's among the biggest residential properties in the neighborhood.




According to Zillow, the average home value in the Highlands is about $920,000 - nearly three times higher than the state average.





Since the pandemic, there has been a high demand for more remote houses






It is rare when a house of this size and with this high of a price tags becomes available to buy





Jackson said the asking price for luxury homes in the Carolinas max out at $25 million





Johnson's asking price is setting a new benchmark for North Carolina in terms of residential properties





Pictured: Greenery and gardens on the Johnson estate





Pictured: A study area in the main house of the Johnson estate





Pictured: An ivy arch leading out to a forest lookout at the Johnson estate





Pictured: A pool with sunset views on the Johnson estate





Pictured: A wine cellar in the main house of the Johnson estate

The land might be used by developers to construct more homes in the artistic Highlands neighborhood, where, according to Zillow, the average home value is about $920,000 - nearly three times higher than the state average.

Since the pandemic, there has been a high demand for more remote houses, but few properties with this price point rarely come back on the market, according to Bonneau Ansley, co-owner of Christie's International Real Estate Highlands/Cashiers.

Jackson said the asking price for luxury homes in the Carolinas max out at $25 million, so Johnson's figure is setting a new benchmark for the state.


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