CLINT EASTWOOD PUTTING LOTS UP FOR SALE AT TEHAMA

 By Michael Hepworth

One of the best investments I have come across in a long time in the area of real estate is taking place in Monterey , California . Tehama is a gated development started by Clint Eastwood and his wife, that also includes a very exclusive semi-private golf course that only has 300 members, and for an initial investment of between $1.5 million up to $4.25 million, you get to buy a lot on the land and the opportunity to build a house of your dreams (subject to architectural review) of anything between 4 and 17 acres.  Unfortunately I did not get the opportunity to meet Clint during my visit, because he was mourning the death of his mother (age 97) that week. However to quote Eastwood about Tehama, he said “The beauty of the land is what drew me here years ago. Unquestionably one of the best places to live on the west coast. Tehama is an extraordinary community with its awe-inspiring surroundings and exclusive homesites.”

Tehama is located in the rolling hills above the Pacific Ocean , just a short drive from the villages of Carmel and Monterey , and the view is outstanding with a 360-degree panoramic view. Only 90 homes are going to be allowed on the 2,000 acre site, and with 85% of the community being preserved as an open space, the natural beauty of the area and abundant wildlife will be protected for ever. Figure in costs of anything between $2 and $6 million to build the home, and investors can confidently expect the homes to double in value in about ten years according to the local experts who have followed real estate in the vicinity.  If you have the patience to complete the complex process and also have a top notch architect and interior designer on payroll, then this place is for you. Architectural styles include Spanish, Western or Ranch style, but I suspect if you are looking for a more contemporary design, then that is the time that the Architectural Review Panel comes into the mix.

Also the quality of the neighbors you will meet either in the Tehama Clubhouse of Harry Callahan’s bar and restaurant on the premises, ensure the opportunity to benefit from the lifestyle. Dot com entrepreneurs, retired chief executives from Fortune 500 companies, and the odd celebrity and sports star will be just a few of the residents. The Clubhouse also includes a brand new fitness center, swimming pools and tennis courts. Clint is building his dream home on the lot, and you can expect to see a lot of him if you decide to invest.  Eastwood was of course the mayor of Carmel for a long time, and no wonder he is well known for shooting his films in record time, as I am sure he rushes back to Carmel / Monterey as soon as he has finished filming. Tehama is adjacent to another slightly larger development called Monterra, owned by a very successful lettuce farmer Roger Mills, and both men have a common love and respect for the land and the area. Wildlife is abundant at Monterra such as Black Tail Deer, wild turkey, gray fox, rabbits and California quail.

Mills has finally completed his own home on the land, and will willingly show it to prospective tenants. The stunning interior lighting and furnishings in the house are simply amazing, and Monterra will have about 170 homes generously spread over 1,700 acres with lot prices ranging between $1.3 million and up, for individual homesites ranging from 2 to 20 acres. The minimum interior size for homes at Monterra is 3,500 square feet, with an unofficial maximum of 10,000 square feet.  The area is inundated with over 150 varieties of wildflowers amid stands of indigenous Monterey pine and Spanish moss-draped oak, and all this is due to the unique climate of warm days and cool nights. The coastline fog rarely penetrates the land at Monterra or Tehama, making such outdoor pursuits as hiking a real joy. There are all kinds of birds living in the area as well, especially swallows, Woodpeckers, Great Blue Herron and Red-tailed Hawks.

There is also an organic farm on the south side of the land that is open year round. The on-site native nursery began about ten years ago when the development team began the germination process, and today the fledgling trees are being readied for landscaping projects on the new homesteads.  Tehama is well served by the well regarded Carmel-Monterey Unified School Districts with smaller than average class sizes and above average testing scores. There are also a variety of private schools, including Santa Catalina , All Saints Day School and York School .  The 6,520 yard par 72 championship golf course was designed by Jay Morrish, who also designed such courses as Shadow Glen in Kansas City , Forest Highland’s in Flagstaff , Arizona , and Scotland ’s Loch Lomond .  Some golf writers have described the course as beautiful but a difficult one to play because of the lie of the land, but it will certainly rank up there with some of the most unique courses you will ever see.

Although private golf memberships are separate and by invitation only, residents of Monterra and Tehama receive an exclusive Tehama Golf Cub Social Fitness membership, subject to fees and regulations. Inside the exclusive enclave, residents can relax and enjoy the fitness center, along with all the gourmet amenities on offer in the clubhouse. Monterey Peninsula was recently voted the world’s number one golf destination in a survey by “Golf Digest Magazine,” and with 20 public courses in the area, and five private ones. The courses also include the legendary Pebble Beach , Quail Lodge Resort and Spyglass Hill.  The Monterey Peninsula is home to chief executives, retired celebrities, artists, poets and those seeking a tranquil but fulfilling lifestyle that includes gourmet dining, golf, equestrian pursuits, sailing, classy shopping, health and beauty pursuits. What’s not to like about it in today’s rapidly urbanized lifestyle, and with San Francisco only 89 miles away, it is also possible to be a commuter and live here.  Carmel Village is only 11 miles away, and Monterey Airport is located only one and a half miles from Monterra. There are daily non-stop flights to San Francisco , Los Angeles and Phoenix , and there are also two private airports-Million Air and Jet Center .

Fact Sheet

Tehama Realty 866.625.2075

www.Tehama-Carmel.com

Monterra Information Center

866.648.9080

www.monterra-monterey.com