Hmmm. Hard to know quite what these numbers mean. But let’s see if anyone out there knows more.
Back in December 2003 Duke paid Douglas Powanda $2.55 million for the new manse in Rancho Santa Fe at 7094 Via Del Charro. Powanda is Duke’s big campaign contributor from Peregrine Systems who’s now waiting to go on trial for multibillion dollar securities fraud. They paid cash. And the new place comes in at 7,628 sq.ft.
Now, TPM Reader JS sent in these links to me which show that a couple weeks later someone else paid $2.25 million for the place down the road at 6849 Via Del Charro. But the records say that place only has 2936 sq.ft. (Satelite view of this location.)
A couple months earlier the place at 7002 Via Del Charro went for $3.45 million. And that place had only 5290 sq.ft. That’s more than 2000 sq.ft. less than Duke’s place. (Satellite view of this location.)
Now, maybe the Duke’s place is a dump, though these photos would suggest otherwise. Or perhaps one part of the street has a to-die-for ocean view and the others don’t. Who knows? In all honesty, it really is impossible to know what the different values mean having never seen individual homes or the lay of the land. And maybe I’m misinterpreting what these documents mean. (Here’s a satellite view of Duke’s place.) But given Duke’s reputation for good luck on real estate deals, I’d say this deserves a look. Who knows? His judgment may have failed him on this one too.
If you’re from the area or know it, drop me a line and tell me what you think.
