See high-tech home in Bay Area town that may break sales record set by Elon Musk

Crowning a 2.5-acre promontory above Hillsborough, a newly built, tech-forward estate is asking $39.9 million — a figure would set a sales record for one of the wealthiest and most exclusive residential enclaves in the Bay Area, according to the listing agency.

The eight-bedroom, 13-bath home at 455 Pinehill Road was designed by MAK Studio Architects and built by Modern Times, with floor-to-ceiling Fleetwood windows and a sculptural mix of stone, glass and wood meant to emphasize sweeping San Francisco Bay and canyon views. A 22-foot entryway is positioned to “frame the horizon,” according to the property’s marketing.

“This marks the developers’ second project in Hillsborough — and their most ambitious yet. With over $1 million invested in foundation and structural work alone, every inch of the home reflects an uncompromising commitment to quality,” listing agent Phil Chen of Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno said in an email.

The house is built for large-scale entertaining, starting with what the marketing team describes as a “statement kitchen” featuring Gaggenau appliances and Sub-Zero refrigeration, plus full-surface induction and steam ovens. A separate staff “dirty kitchen” or back kitchen is designed to keep prep and cleanup out of sight during events.

Elsewhere, the amenities read like a private club: multiple lounges, an executive office, a fitness studio and a bar. There’s also a state-of-the-art theater with a two-tier setup, 4K laser projection and Dolby surround sound, along with a golf simulator room outfitted with touchscreen controls and an Uneekor Eye XO2 launch monitor. A temperature-controlled wine cellar is built to hold about 1,620 bottles, including more than 60 magnums, with a split cooling system.

In the primary suite, the finishes lean into a five-star-hotel feel, with full-slab marble, a steam shower and integrated smart-home features.

That emphasis on automation extends throughout the house via Crestron, which integrates lighting, climate, window treatments and security. The property also includes radiant floor heat, owned solar, multiple tankless water heaters and a 125-kilowatt Kohler generator for full backup power.

Outside, the grounds are designed as a resort setting, anchored by a 50-foot pool with a Baja shelf and spa. The outdoors is also highlighted by fire-lit terraces, scenic viewing areas and a custom 10-hole putting green with a pitching area and sand trap. The estate also includes an outdoor bath and shower, an expansive motor court and dual two-car garages.

For seller Kay Han, the residence evolved into something far more ambitious and personal than originally planned.

“We bought the plans as permitted but, since the foundation had already been poured, we were not able to change the structural footprint,” Han, who owns the home with her investor husband, said. “However, we put our personal touches on the property, including the choice of every finish and stone, as well as the addition of a wine cellar, golf simulator, upstairs kitchenette, secondary laundry room and a nanny room. All of the landscaping was also bespoke and completely different from the original plans. Another must for us was to enable perfect wi-fi from every corner of the property.”

Chen said the likely buyer profile tracks the region’s continuing concentration of wealth, with interest expected from tech, artificial intelligence and finance entrepreneurs — particularly those drawn to views and turnkey construction.

If the home sells anywhere close to the asking price, it will test the top end of an already rarefied market: a newly built, amenity-rich property in one of the Peninsula’s most exclusive places with the kind of infrastructure — backup power, solar, commercial-grade electrical capacity and whole-home automation — that has increasingly become part of the luxury pitch in California.

Hillsborough’s highest-priced MLS residential sale on record appears to be Elon Musk’s 47-acre estate, which sold for $30 million in December 2021. If the 455 Pinehill Road home sells at, or near the $40 million asking price, it will eclipse that sale and set a new record for Hillsborough, according to Chen’s marketing team

A home at 835 Chiltern Road sold for $37.5M in 2000 in an off-market deal, according to Christie’s International Real Estate.

David Caraccio

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1125

David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and a longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.