Beyond Margaretville: Immerse yourself in Jimmy Buffett’s distinguished real estate portfolio

Written by Lisa Johnson Mandel

Music legend Jimmy Buffett was beloved for his songs about beach escapes, but his real estate ventures made him a bona fide mogul. According to Forbes, Buffett’s music and business cemented his status as a billionaire at the time of his death.

Buffett died on September 1, 2023, leaving behind a large legacy. He had a knack for tapping into good vibes with hits like “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

He was also a savvy businessman, and his empire was built on licensing those song titles. Hotels, restaurants and bars carry the Margaritaville name, while consumers can also purchase drinks, furniture and clothing bearing Buffett’s imprint. He even licensed his name to a number of 55-and-over beach communities known as Latitude Margaritaville.

In addition to his penchant for large-scale character communities, Buffett has been active in residential real estate. His portfolio included private residences in Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, and Sag Harbor in New York.

We decided to take a look at some of the many properties where the singer-songwriter may have been found munching on a sponge cake or watching the sun rise. After extensive research into real estate records and news clips, we found that the singer has been downsizing his lavish collection of homes over the past several years.

But he maintained a range of properties, from multi-million dollar mansions to beautiful cottages. He’s owned some of them for decades, and they’ve all proven to be excellent investments. lets take alook!

Beverly Hills, California

It was purchased in 2014 for $8,250,000

Built in 1963, this four-bedroom mid-century modern home was remodeled shortly before Buffett purchased it. Much of its old style remains intact.

The 4,300-square-foot, single-story residence has a wide-open floor plan, with a living room, family room, kitchen and dining room that open to the outdoors via walls of glass and floor-to-ceiling sliders.

The backyard features a saltwater pool and spa, as well as a spacious patio with a four-seat wet bar that can easily accommodate multiple mixers.

Sag Harbor, New York

This is one of Buffett’s most exclusive properties, located on the exclusive Actors Colony Road, where condominiums come with multi-million dollar price tags.

Richard Gere once owned an adjacent property that he sold to Matt Lauer for $36.5 million in 2016. Buffett reportedly owns two large adjacent lots nearby.

This quiet spot in the Hamptons is where he chose to spend his final days. According to his official website, he was “surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs” at the time of his death.

Palm Beach, Florida

Not much is known about this small residence located in one of Florida’s most exclusive neighborhoods. It had three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms spread across 2,007 square feet when Buffett bought it two decades ago. At one time, the property was used as a duplex.

Something tells us it’s been improved and expanded over the past 20 years. The Street View image on Google Maps reveals that the residence is surrounded by a cute little white picket fence with blue gates and plenty of lush landscaping for privacy. Located just two blocks north of the historic hotel, The Breakers, the house also offers easy access to toes in the sand.

Daytona Beach, Florida

Purchased July 2018 for $427,850

Buffett owns another bungalow, located in Latitude Margaritaville, one of the 55-and-over communities dedicated to the laid-back, tropical lifestyle he sang about, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

The 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath tropical cottage is 2,522 square feet. This one-story brick and stucco home has an asphalt shingle roof, a three-car garage and a cozy front porch. The paneled house has complementary water shutters.

Upon hearing of Buffett’s death, community residents gathered outside the singer’s home and created a makeshift memorial, complete with a surfboard, flip-flops, a straw hat, bottles of tequila and beer, beach balls, and a salt shaker, the News-Journal reported. .

303 Sunset Road, West Palm Beach, Florida

It was purchased in March 2012 for $560,000

This residence is currently valued at over $3 million, and was a solid investment for Buffett.

The two-story, three-bedroom, 2,070-square-foot home in the historic Cid District was originally built in 1935. Completely remodeled in 1995, it is located just blocks from the beach and closer to Palm Beach restaurants and shops.

Previous houses:

Buffett was born in Pascagoula, MS, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He had an affinity for the Palm Beach area, where he bought and sold several homes. In reviewing the places he unloaded before his death, one thing stands out: Buffett had a knack for buying low and selling at the top of the market.

Palm Beach, Florida

Purchased in December 2011 for $4,950,000

Sold in November 2020 for $6,909,000

This 4,783 square foot contemporary home has three bedrooms. Built in 2003, it has been heavily updated to give you a “calm, Zen-like feel,” the listing details.

Some of the home’s finer features include soaring ceilings and massive mahogany-framed glass doors and windows that fill the home with natural light and views of the garden and pool from every room. The home is perfect for entertaining – it has beach access and a guest suite above a two-car garage.

Palm Beach, Florida

Sold in 2010 for $18,500,000

Grandest of all, this monumental estate on prestigious Ocean Avenue features 300 feet of ocean frontage. It is reported that Buffett actually lived in this eight-bedroom, 12,241-square-foot mansion for some time.

After moving out, the new owner sold the house in 2014 as part of a $43 million package that included two other properties in Palm Beach.

Franklin, Tennessee

Buffett sold this historic gem in the 1980s, but it proves that he knew treasure when he saw it. This property, known as the “Old Town”, was built in 1846 and restored in 1991.

It includes a guest house, a large barn, and a three-bedroom main house. There is also a modern swimming pool and some original log cabins.

But perhaps the home’s most attractive feature is its 34-acre wooded lot that includes a river. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was last sold in 2015 for $3.1 million.

-Lisa Johnson Mandel

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