Ian Thorpe seeks US$999,000 Hollywood Hills buyer
When champion swimmer Ian Thorpe paid US$879,000 in 2006 for his two-bedroom Hollywood Hills hideaway in Laurel Canyon, a wooded oasis behind West Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard, it equated to AU$1.15 million in the likely currency transaction.
It was his home base when in training between Olympics.
The home, described as a treehouse, has now been listed for sale through Jo O'Key at Brock Real Estate at US$999,000.
So while he hopes to sell at a higher property price, he could repatriate back just the $1.05 million.
Overlooking Los Angeles from the treetops in the Laurel Canyon haven, it comes with a bit of history of Hollywood glamour. The bohemian 960-square-foot bungalow is set in a secluded 5063 square foot location, built by an undisclosed actor in 1961.
The house, with Japanese architectural influences, at 8522 Oak Court, Los Angeles (pictured below) was once inhabited by singer activist John Lennon.
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Laurel Canyon was amid the counterculture activity of the 1960s and many of the world's biggest rock stars made their homes there, including Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison and Joni Mitchell.
"Most recently the home has been owned by a celebrated Olympic athlete with multiple golds to his name," the marketing says.
"With its hillside nuances, quiet atmosphere, and engaging history, this house is perfect for anyone looking to live the Hollywood dream in world-famous Laurel Canyon."
The two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom home's huge deck is covered in sun lounges and the master bedroom has sliding Japanese-style rice-paper doors and views over Hollywood.
The kitchen leads out onto open-plan living areas.
The listing is against the backdrop where Los Angeles prices are still around 20% off their peak, but the distress listing component now sits at around 28% rather than the 40% of a year ago, according to Corelogic.
The decision of Thorpe to list his redundant US abode follows the 2011 sale of his Sutherland Shire home on the waterfront at Port Hacking for $2.65 million to the rugby league coach Ricky Stuart. Thorpe bought it for $2.9 million in 2003 and sold for $2.65 million.
