Who Will Buy the Marble House?

Ever since Warren and Andrea Kantor built a gaudy marble-sided summer home in Avalon, they’ve been a source of town ire and shame. So who’s going to buy their indulgence now that it’s for sale? If you’ve got $12.9 million, it could be yours.

The Marble House, which is one of two marble-sided houses in the U.S., isn’t so much a sore thumb as a zit. Even when houses in the area were knocked down and mini mansions built in their places, those new homes were conceived with at least a hint of “beach cottage” in mind.

The Marble House gave everyone the finger. It’s as if the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding won the lottery and built an homage to the ancient world two blocks from the beach, complete with classically inspired columns and statues.

Given the awful state of the economy, who would want to buy such a place? More important, who would have the $12.9 million to do it? It’s not like Wall Street types are running around spitting out cash anymore. 

Some would say it’s karma. The Kantors threw the town into a tizzy when they built the house 10 years ago. It became the prime example of how Avalon was pricing out its long-time residents in favor of the wealthy summer population.

The house has been on the market since late August, according to Vincent Frame, assistant to Steve Frame, the agent with Diller Fisher Realtors, which is listing the house. (Steve Frame was on vacation when I called). Vincent Frame says that the house has had interest from “genuine buyers.” 

So why are the Kantors selling? Frame says they are moving to Florida.

“They just really don’t want it,” he adds. “They have too many houses.”

Tags: home | Avalon | Economy | The Marble House