The Sanford-area estate on Lake Markham that listing agents Kevin Gagne and Carly Maingot recently sold is one they know very well.
That’s because this house was their family’s home for more than 20 years.
The 1911 Lake Markham Preserve Trail mansion sold in late February for $3.2 million, about 4% below listing price, after being on the market for 165 days.
Gagne and his wife, Lynn, were the original owners of the 7,245-square-foot home. They raised two daughters — Carly among them — and a son under the clay tile roof, but after 24 years it was time to downsize. Gagne and his daughter are real estate agents at Charles Rutenberg Realty Orlando.
“As much as I loved it, because I raised my family there, I have to detach myself emotionally from it,” he said. “I’m happy that there’s another family that gets to enjoy it.”
His daughter echoed those sentiments: “Letting go of a place tied to my life story isn’t easy, but helping the next family start their own chapter there made the transition feel meaningful and rewarding.”
The buyer — Jon H. Roemer, trustee of the Jon H. Roemer Trust — was represented by Dione Collier-Larkin and Diana Boyesen with Adair Realty Inc.
The southwest-facing lakeside home was built in 2002 on 6.34 acres. The property on a private point has 300 feet of direct lake frontage and features a private boathouse with covered lift and wood dock.
“It’s a very unique piece of property where the land actually goes across the lake and you own lakeside property on the other side, too,” Gagne said. “It goes back on the other side maybe 80 feet deep or so.”
The circular paver driveway in front wraps around a courtyard with fountain surrounded by an expansive manicured landscape. On the southeast side are attached garages with space for four vehicles.
Within the Mediterranean-style home a grand foyer with curved staircase and iron railing opens to a living room and dining room that feature a massive stone fireplace. There are formal and casual living areas, an office, game room, theater and fitness room. Rooms boast travertine flooring, elegant coffered ceilings, crown molding and clerestory windows.
Among the five bedrooms is a first-floor grand master suite featuring a walk-in closet and private garden patio. An elevator and four stairwells allow easy access to the second floor and its three bedrooms, bonus room and balcony porch lanai.
“The house was designed to really accentuate the lake view,” Gagne said. “So from any room in the house you have a panoramic view of the lake. That’s what really makes it nice.”
The state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen was designed for entertaining and features premium built-in appliances, granite countertops, warming oven, convection oven, gas range, beverage refrigerator drawers, ice machine and temperature-controlled wine cellar. There’s also a butler’s pantry and a walk-in pantry that doubles as a safe room.
Gagne gives his wife all the credit for how the interior of the house turned out — except for one room.
“There was one room I got to pick out in the house, and that was what I call the man’s room or the billiard room — and that was my design,” he said. “But the entire rest of the house was all her, (and) she did a wonderful job.”
The heated, resort-style saltwater pool with waterfall and grotto is complemented by a summer kitchen, cabana bar and multiple covered lanais.
Maingot said even with all the beauty within, it’s what’s outside that she enjoyed most.
“The pool, the backyard and the lake are really the selling point,” she said. ” It’s just a beautiful area with expansive views, you get the sunset, you really just get to enjoy being outside and having that aspect of Florida living.”
Brian Bell can be reached at bbell@orlandosentinel.com. Have a tip about Central Florida development? Email Newsroom@GrowthSpotter.com. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
