Cinematic wisdom from "Field of Dreams" says, "If you build it, they will come." However, the famous movie quote doesn't always hold true when it comes to real estate.
Developer Jeff Parker built this 13,462-square-foot mansion on Oregon's Lake Oswego in 2006 and angered neighbors in the process. And in spite (or possibly because) of the press the mansion has generated, Oregon's most expensive home hasn't sold since it was first listed in 2011.
But rather than cutting the price to attract buyers, the developer has raised the stakes, upping the ante to $15 million from its original $11.6 million list price in 2011.
A decade ago, neighbors objected to plans for the home to sit on two 10-foot-high retaining walls. The home's construction also triggered local debate on how big was too big for the affluent Lake Oswego area.
Parker next ran into opposition from local authorities with his plans to remove trees on the property to build the house. He eventually paid $3,800 in local fines because of the tree-removal issue. In 2002, Parker purchased the last undeveloped parcel of land on the lake for $800,000.
His issues with the neighbors led to some local headlines when he initially listed the home in 2011. "In the end, it seems, Jeff Parker couldn't live with the house, either," headlined an item on Oregonlive.com. When he relisted the home in 2014, he said it was because his children were nearing college age and he was ready for a new project.
As for the home itself, there's no debate about its grandeur. It features five bedrooms and sits on two-thirds of an acre.
Prominent features include a basalt rock exterior with copper-clad windows, two waterfalls, an infinity pool, a covered outdoor entertainment area, and a five-car garage. Boat lovers will relish the indoor, on-water garage with hydraulic lifts for two boats.
Inside, the home features 26-foot ceilings in the great room, radiant floor heating throughout, eight fireplaces, a media room, a game room, and a workout room with adjoining sauna. Of course, there's also a full bar. The chef's kitchen includes two granite-topped islands and walls covered in Venetian plaster. And, as befits such a mansion, there's a four-stop elevator.
If you're interested in swimming into the deep end of the buyer pool and taking a chance on the lake's most fabulous mansion, Mary Jo Avery is the home's listing agent.