The year’s most expensive home is a Bass Lake property that sold for $8.04 million in October 2023. At 7,250 square feet, it has six bedrooms and 5 ½ bathrooms. Photo via Stars & Stripes Real Estate

When it comes to luxury home sales over the past year, mountain living was the way to go.

Seven of The Business Journal’s 20 Most Expensive Home Sales published Dec. 27 were in either Bass Lake (five) or Shaver Lake (two) — nearly double from last year.

Two of the top three most expensive home sales were lakefront homes in Bass Lake.

 

Bass Lake beckons

The top-selling home sold for $8 million in October 2023. The lakefront Bass Lake Lodge home was on the market for slightly under three months.

The listing office was Bass Lake-based Stars & Stripes Real Estate, which was the listing office for four of the five most expensive home sales.

The 7,250 square-foot lodge with six bedrooms and 5 ½ bathrooms was built in 1996 by Ed Hardy, the longtime concessionaire of Yosemite National Park as Yosemite Park and Curry Co.

The property features logs harvested from Hardy’s Hazel Green Ranch in Yosemite.

Noteworthy features of the home include a private dock, expansive garage, boat house, recreation room, gym, multiple decks and patios, a gazebo, generator, two great rooms, two bars, a wine cellar, office, laundry room and an ice maker room.

The home is located in the Pines Village, just 25 minutes from Yosemite National Park.

 

Beauty, comfort

 

This 4,911-square-foot home, built in 1998 on Bass Lake, was sold for $4.35 million in October 2023 — about four months after its original listing date. The custom-made lakefront home has six bedrooms and 3.5 baths.

It has a private boat deck and open floor plan specially designed to showcase the lake views.

The main level features a grand entry, a living room with a wet bar and built-in cabinetry, access to a covered deck, a kitchen with a breakfast bar and walk-in pantry, a formal dining area, a guest bedroom, a half bath and laundry room.

Upstairs, the master suite includes a sitting area, walk-in closet, a jetted tub and two guest bedrooms. The lower level offers a family room with a bar/kitchenette, two bedrooms, a full bath and a patio with a built-in spa.

“It’s a beautiful, comfortable home,” said Dennis Porter, the founder of Stars & Stripes Real Estate, which represented buyer and seller in the transaction.

 

Van Ness living

 

The lone Fresno home in the top three should come as no surprise. For the fourth straight year, a house on Van Ness Boulevard was the most expensive home sale in Fresno.

Aram Melikian, the listing agent for the home, explained why Van Ness and the surrounding areas are consistently a top spot for luxury home sales.

The home was built in 2008 and is 8,436 square feet.

It includes six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and three powder rooms designed to accommodate large families. The first-floor master suite features a fireplace, French doors and an ensuite bathroom with a freestanding tub and walk-in shower. The home offers a formal living room, family room, and kitchen with dual islands and custom cabinetry. Additional features include a theater, game room, pool with a rock waterfall, a 1,200 square-foot guest house and a 2,400 square foot workshop.

A 590 square-foot pool house includes a wet bar and full bathroom. The kitchen is complemented by an iron door leading to a walk-in pantry. For guest accommodations, the 1,200-square-foot guest house comes with an attached garage.

“The property on Van Ness stands out for several reasons. While many homes in the area were built in the ‘60s or ‘70s, this one was constructed in 2008, offering a more modern design and features. Additionally, the property includes a spacious main home, a guest house, and a shop, all situated on a 1-acre lot in town. These amenities, combined with the newer construction, make it a unique and attractive option,” Melikian said.

Melikian is a broker for Real Broker, an online company based in San Diego. Real Broker is one of an increasing number of real estate companies that operate exclusively online. Real Broker was also the selling office for the No. 12 sale in Shaver Lake.