Wellington estate listed for $8.7M — but could be auctioned for $3M

Article Posted May 1, 2018 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 2, 2018 at 10:49 AM

The 14-acre Kismayo Farm in Wellington sat for sale for a year and a half with an $8.7 million price tag. The owner now will auction the property with a $3 million base bid. (Contributed by Platinum Luxury Auctions)

It’s not the most traditional way to sell a home — especially a 14-acre equestrian estate. But one Wellington property owner hopes an auction Saturday will be the key to letting her move forward.

The property, Kismayo Farm at the south end of the village in the Equestrian Preserve, has been on the market for about a year and a half with an $8.7 million price tag, said Trayor Lesnock, president of Platinum Luxury Auctions.

Owner and former top dressage competitor Anthea Christian turned to the auction company to help her sell the property — potentially at a steep discount with the minimum bid just $3 million, Lesnock said.

“The traditional way of doing things was not working, so she wanted to somehow find a path toward success,” he said.

The estate features a 3,100-square-foot main residence with a guest suite and separate grooms’ quarters with seven total bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The main house has a custom gourmet kitchen and an open-concept living area with a great room that looks out over a 50-foot saltwater lap pool.