Duchess Meghan + Prince Harry
Escape from Montecito? Villas around the royals are for sale
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Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have lived in Montecito since 2020. But there is speculation that the royals are looking for mansions in other areas around Los Angeles. It’s not just the Sussexes who seem to be moving on – more and more luxury properties are for sale in Montecito – and losing value.
Has Montecito lost its charm? In recent years, voices have been raised that the celebrity hot spot has lost security and seclusion with the addition of Prince Harry, 39, and Duchess Meghan, 42. Media people and paparazzi are said to have increasingly been in the coastal region just outside Los Angeles. Now more and more citizens of the city of around 9,000 residents seem to be fleeing.
Just one street away from Meghan and Harry is a $60 million (around 55 million euros) property. But not only this villa is for sale. Luxury real estate agent Joyce Rey alone is currently offering a whopping 17 properties in Montecito. What is noticeable: The villas around Harry and Meghan have been empty for years – and are now losing value.
Prince Harry + Duchess Meghan: This dream house next to them is empty
If you’ve always wanted to live next to the royals and have the appropriate change, now seems to be the right time. A dream property is for sale just an eleven-minute walk from the Sussexes. The strange thing: The house just doesn’t seem to want to sell. The villa has been empty since November 2021 and apparently has to be advertised again and again by the agent. In 2021 a price of $74 million was asked. Now the property has been listed for $60 million – $14 million less than before. A bang in the luxury area!
Is it the proximity to the Sussexes that seems to deter interested parties? According to US media, the police had to go to the family of four’s property 14 times in 2021 and 2022. As “The US Sun” reported in 2022, the security alarm was triggered twice within twelve days in May 2022 alone. There are no figures from 2023. However, there are increasing reports that Prince Harry and his family are also looking for a new home away from Montecito.
They have been living in Montecito since 2020
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan purchased their house in 2020 for twelve million euros. Subsequently, real estate prices in the area are said to have exploded. Celebrities decided to move away from the popular coastal region. Actor Rob Lowe, 57, had his property listed for $22.5 million (around 18 million euros). Peter Sperling, one of the 400 richest men in the USA, also moved away and sold his property for almost 19 million dollars (around 16.3 million euros).
The real estate hype now seems to have come to an abrupt end. It remains to be seen whether Harry and Meghan will soon leave with their children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2. The two are reportedly currently looking at properties in Malibu.
Sources used: joycerey.com, instagram.com, the-sun.com