The cute and quaint town of Ojai has experienced its own real estate surge in recent years but one recent sale is really highlighting how hot the central coastal market has become. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Blue Bottle Coffee founder James Freeman nearly doubled his $9.6 million investment from 2020 with the sale of his 8,000 square foot home for $18 million.
Sure, it may be regarded as one of the finest estate in the Ojai Valley, but those profit margins are still pretty impressive!
Featuring nine bedrooms and seven-and-a-half baths, the two residences sit on 50 +/- acres, just steps away from downtown Ojai and the world-renowned Ojai Valley Inn. Originally built in 1927 as a winter retreat for the founder of the Diamond Match Company, the estate had been recently renovated, showcasing its original charm and beauty.
Inside the main house, you will find tongue and groove bleached pine paneling, a dramatic great room with a stone fireplace, and a large picture window framing vistas of the Topa Topa Mountains. The cathedral-ceiling music room, chef’s kitchen, media room, large dining room, guest bedroom, two bathrooms, as well as an eat-in area with a window seat and views and a large laundry room complete the first floor.
In addition to the main house, the estate features a second residence, which includes a large great room with a fireplace, dining room, screen porch, four bedrooms, and three bathrooms. There is also a separate guest studio with a full bath, as well as a Dojo building.
An entertainment area features a pavilion, Santa Maria-style barbecue, and terrace, boasting head-on views of Ojai’s famed Pink Moment. The estate also offers meandering pathways through mature and manicured landscaping, with a hidden pool, meditation area, citrus orchard, chicken coop, built-in trampoline, a treehouse and coffee plants, naturally.
Lucas Ebbin of Compass held the listing while Tyler Kallenbach, also with Compass, repped the buyer.