Evergreen – Mike Hampton is no longer a Colorado homeowner.
The former Colorado Rockies pitcher sold his 30-acre Timbers Drive estate Monday.
It went for $3.08 million – less than some expected – at a public auction, an increasingly common sales method for high-end properties. The buyer, whose name was not disclosed and who bid remotely, is from Naples, Fla.
The house, which had been on the market for more than two years, previously was listed for $4.95 million. Hampton bought the house in 2001 for a reported $4.25 million.
Nobody stepped up to the plate until Monday, when 11 people – each with a $100,000 cashier’s check – registered for the auction.
Armond Azharian, a Denver real-estate investor, bowed out of the bidding at $2.6 million.
“You have to know your high price going in,” he said. “But it should have easily gone for $4 million. The 30 acres of land itself is worth $2 million.”
More than 50 people attended the 30- minute auction, including curious neighbors and local real estate agents.
“Whoever bought it got the deal of the century,” said Dave Hartvigsen, one of Hampton’s former neighbors.
Corinna Bandemer, a real estate agent with Fuller Town & Country Properties in Evergreen, brought clients who were looking to list their property. “I think it went a little low,” she said, adding that the crowd was larger than she expected.
J.P. King Auction Co. of Gadsden, Ala., managed the sale.
“Everyone indicated that they were satisfied with the sale price,” said Carl Carter, spokesman for J.P. King Auction. “You would always like to get more, but clearly, this is the price the market could handle.”
The 10,743-square-foot home sports a stand-alone gym complete with basketball court and steam room, equestrian facilities and a 40-foot waterfall.
Hampton was lured to Denver with an eight-year, $123.8 million contract in 2000 and traded to the Atlanta Braves two seasons later. Including his remaining buyout, deferred interest and some salary, the Rockies will end up paying him $51.8 million.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
