It takes one to know one. The old saying rings true for the high-end real estate business. And no one knows this better than Jennifer Gilson of the Gilson Team, one of the top-producing real estate powerhouses in the Peninsula. Her recent sale of the historical Western White House is the latest transaction making headlines across the country—let alone these pages—proving once again, it takes an iconic match to sell an icon.

It takes one to know one. The old saying rings true for the high-end real estate business. And no one knows this better than Jennifer Gilson of the Gilson Team, one of the top-producing real estate powerhouses in the Peninsula. A specialist in luxury estates, new build construction and renovations, Gilson has built a book of business and an exclusive client list that has seen her represent the buying and selling of Silicon Valley’s most coveted properties. Her recent sale of the historical Western White House is the latest transaction making headlines across the country—let alone these pages—proving once again, it takes an iconic match to sell an icon.

Enter 401 El Cerrito in Hillsborough. Dubbed the Western White House, the residence ranks among the country’s finest legacy estates. With historic grandeur rarely seen, the neoclassical Georgian Colonial was redesigned in 1930 by Julia Morgan, the first woman admitted to the Beaux-Arts de Paris architecture program, and California’s first woman architect, on commission by the Hearst family for whom she designed the legendary Hearst Castle. The palatial, 24-room residence sits on 2.9 acres of sprawling manicured grounds and features 11 bedrooms, 11 full baths, 4 half baths, a wine cellar, movie theater, gym, and a library inspired by the Oval Office.

An estate of epic proportions, it required a professional who could not only handle the challenge, but do so with grace, from preparing the home for its best debut on the market, to reaching the most affluent buyers, to exposing the property to the world. Few real estate professionals can take on a challenge of this magnitude. Gilson has it in her blood.

Born and raised in Hillsborough, Gilson has an innate understanding of Peninsula and Silicon Valley life and how the right home plays an incredibly vital role, at all price points. The high-end market is her specialty. Hillsborough is her backyard. A deep respect for her community and its stewardship underlies her professional philosophy. With the Western White House, she was the ideal match to bring the palatial home up to date and find the ideal buyer.

The preparation was no small undertaking. Over a decade ago, Jennifer’s family founded Gilson Development, a builder dedicated to working collaboratively with clients and designers to remodel and custom build the finest homes on the Peninsula and in Silicon Valley. Because of Gilson’s in-depth understanding and connections with builders and designers, she was able to bring the Western White House to the next level, respecting its integrity and elevating its appeal to ultimately maximize its value for her clients. The lift was heavy, financed and project managed by Gilson. The resulting debut to market was exceptional, and caught the attention of major media across the country overnight, including Bloomberg, the New York Post, Robb Report, and James Edition, among countless others.

*“It’s a privilege to have found this masterpiece’s next owner and steward of its legacy.”*

“This home is an icon. From a rich history to famous residents, to impeccable design and custom finishes throughout, we were honored to bring it to market and find the ideal buyer,” says Gilson. “The exclusivity and prestige of the estate’s location only furthered its allure, which attracted global attention. It’s a privilege to have found this masterpiece’s next owner and steward of its legacy.”

Gilson’s emphasis has always been serving buyers, sellers and investors in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The representation and sale of the Western White House exemplifies this service model: an unparalleled combination of integrity, local expertise, and resourcefulness. A Certified Relocation Specialist, Gilson works with experts from all over the world in assisting them in buying homes on the Peninsula. When representing an iconic estate like 401 El Cerrito, you need to be able to reach affluent buyers down the block and around the globe. This breadth of reach and influence proved to be of utmost value in the landmark sale of the Western White House.

It took over a year of preparation and time on the market before the right buyer made the property home and got the chance to live like royalty. The property sold for a hefty $15 million, making it the second highest-priced estate to sell in 2022 in the affluent community of Hillsborough. The sale is the second highest in Hillsborough this year, only to be topped by Gilson herself, with the record-breaking sale of an ultra-sleek, new-build construction at 950 Macadamia Drive, which sold for a cool $15.47 million.

GilsonTeam.com

Jennifer Gilson
650.642.6957
Jennifer@GilsonTeam.com
Lic.# 01889172

An Iconic Match

This material is based upon information which we consider reliable, but cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions and changes including price or withdrawal without notice.