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Oct 25, 2023

Tesla

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A newly completed, solar-powered home in Santa Monica, California, hit the market Friday for $12.89 million.

The 6,705-square-foot, single-story residence is a traditional, shingled design by California-based architect Ken Ungar, according to the listing with F. Ron Smith and David Berg of Smith & Berg Partners at Compass. The tech-savvy couple who built the home included "goodies" such as solar panels and three storage batteries from Tesla.

"You can't go off the grid on this, but the way it's set up is that as long as you have 48 hours of consistent light, you can operate the majority of the house through the Tesla batteries and the back-up reserve," Smith said.

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There's also Hydronic heated flooring throughout, which heats the whole home from the bottom.

"The house does not have central heating," Smith said. "The house is heated from the floors up. It's excellent for people with allergies because there's no forced air heat; It's just heat that rises. It's very effective." The technology also uses considerably less energy than other heating methods.

In addition to myriad tech amenities, the home has an open layout with up to 28-foot ceilings, as well as numerous windows and skylights. Since it's only one story, the architecture was not limited by height restrictions, Smith noted.

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Many people have a preference for one-level residences, not only to avoid stairs, but also to allow for more light and spacious layouts.

"The preference for one-story is because of the volume it allows for, and because of what you can do," Smith explained. "It allows for more light wells, so you can have windows and skylights that allow for light everywhere."

Indeed, the great room has a wall of windows, plus clerestory windows above, listing photos show. The dining area and chef's kitchen are adjacent, with the latter offering Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, a marble island and banquette breakfast seating.

The main home has four bedrooms, including the primary bedroom that offers a seating area and a fireplace, plus a large bathroom with two sinks and ample storage.

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Outside, there are covered and uncovered patios surrounded by a manicured lawn, according to the listing.

Other amenities include a detached guest house with a kitchen and a full bath, a whole-house water filter, a programmable irrigation system and a two-car garage.

The underlying property last traded for $9.25 million, according to records with PropertyShark. The sellers, who were not available for comment, built the home for themselves, but "had a change of heart," and decided to stay in their current house, Smith noted.

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