Saturday, December 4, 2010
Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee's $3 million home
Posted by Max Brantley on Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 7:18 AM
- bluemountainbeachvacationrentals.com
- HUCKABEE COUNTRY: Blue Mountain Beach, Fla.
Mike Huckabee, who left Arkansas, where he built the platform for his media success and which, incidentally, has an income tax, is putting down expensive roots in a beach development in Walton County, Fla., east of Destin — a $3 million home. David Koon reports:
Paperwork filed in Walton County, Fla. shows that Huckabee and wife Janet are building a new multi-million dollar home on Blue Mountain Beach. The building permit for the three-story beachfront house lists the projected cost of construction at $2.2 million. This is in addition to the cost of the land, which Walton County most recently appraised at $853,062. The land was purchased for $800,000 in 2009 by the Angus B. Wiles Trust. The trustee is Bryan Jeffrey, a Little Rock accountant who handles Huckabee's accounting matters. A Florida official said records indicate Huckabee is the owner of the trust. Trusts are frequently established in Florida as a means of shielding the identity of property owners from easy Internet searches. County records for the trust show an $800,000 mortgage with Centennial Bank filed Nov. 20, 2009, and a $2.25 million mortgage with Centennial filed June 23. The documents indicate the first mortgage, with $550,000 still outstanding, was incorporated in a second mortgage agreement for a total debt to Centennial of $2.8 million. The records also indicate a pool or spa is in the works.
According to documents on file, the new house at 756 Blue Mountain Road will feature 8,224 square feet of living space, and 2,969 square feet of porch and deck space. The Huckabees are currently renting a house in nearby Miramar Beach. They also still own a home in North Little Rock. Janet Huckabee is often seen in town, recently at an upscale design store picking out furnishings for the new Florida home. She also has a January court date over a State Police-issued traffic ticket.
A Twitterer snapped a photo of the under-construction home, which makes it appear the house actually has four levels, the top one with what should be a panoramic Gulf view. Google shows you the sugar sand setting.
Huckabee talked to the Walton Sun newspaper about his love for Florida in an interview published this week. He didn't mention Florida's lack of an income tax, but he said housing prices were lower than in New York, where he produces his Fox News talk show, and that he liked the knowledge of grits and the SEC he found there, plus good, affordable restaurants. He said he continues to be undecided about a presidential run, an effort that would likely put a temporary crimp in his TV and radio work and paid speaking appearances.
Huckabee said the change of states was not politically motivated.“Political aspirations were not a factor in the move,” he said. “People try to read more into it than there is. Growing up as I did in Hope, Ark., it was a dream to do something like this. Living here is a dream. Our first place as young marrieds was a $40-a-month duplex, which was probably overpriced. And since I am in Manhattan weekly, it is slightly easier to get there from here with the new airport. Now if we could just get non-stop flights to New York, it would make my wife very happy.”
As for the choice of South Walton as opposed to other parts of Florida, Huckabee explains, “We have friends who wanted to have a place here for some time. They found two lots and they bought one and we bought one.”
Huckabee said in researching the best place to buy in all of Florida, the Panhandle made more sense.
“It’s less likely to be crowded and there is a great attitude among people here. In South Florida, all of New York and Connecticut relocates there. But South Walton is all Southeastern Conference. I can order grits and people know what I’m talking about. Not to mention, the most beautiful beaches in all of America,” he said. “It’s an incredible, magnificent area with the best restaurants that are on par with those in Manhattan, but you don’t have to hijack a Brinks truck to pay for the meal.”
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Comments (32)
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The prayer tower will be used to pray the hurricanes away. I guess that 4 stories is about as close to a "mountain" as they get down there. I can feel another gift registry coming around.
This is what happens, Boss, when a brutal, bullying leftie like you runs a former governor out of the state. This is one thing that's not Bill Clinton's fault. It's all YOUR doings. Oh, YES it is!
I wonder if he'll have dirt floors just to remind him of his childhood home? You know, keep him humble...
Mike's current gig sure beats the heck out preaching, doesn't it? I wonder if the Lord has released him from his pastoral call?
So this is what God called Reverend Buckabee to do. Carry on in Jesus spirit, Mike.
May it be ever so humble, there is no place like home.
I wonder if he can see his offshore (tax dodging) bank accounts from his new kitchen window?
Wonder how close it is to the nearest private airstrip long enough for corporate jets? Surely he doesn't fly commercial.
That's right folks, just keep sending Huck the money. He's doing the Lord's work ya know.
Let us all rejoice, brethren and sistren, for the crusher&sugar button have achieved a pinnacle devoutly to be wished, but rarely achieved: they have gone to their heaven without passing on. . .
I bow to all of you, I have nothing to add, you've covered it all very nicely. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. I've always had more trouble with the taketh away part.
It's good to be Mike Huckabee, I just don't know how he sleeps at night knowing what he had to do to get rich. But that's his problem. I'm just glad he's gone from our state.
I'm with DBI, and would add that our income tax should be retained if not for anything but running off the likes of "Buckabee."
Louie and Cato, 'member when Republicans were all so upset about Orval's hilltop mansion overlooking Huntsville and done by architect Faye Jones? Boy howdy do I 'member it. I was a Young Republicon back then and that Faubus Mansion was the epitome of political arrogance. All of the Republicans were asking in unison how a man who earned $10,000 a yr as governor could afford that mansion on the hill. We all knew it was from payoffs by Witt Stephens and Hot Springs gamblers. Max was going on his first dates back then but maybe Ernie can recall it in vivid detail. The Arkansas Gazette covered the Faubus mansion in detail. Architecturally it is beautifully built with native woods and stone.
Now when a politician gets rich via office holding and the perks Republicans attribute it to God's will and the politician's hard work.
I'm sure that all 8,000+ square feet will fit throguh the eye of a needle.
"you don't have to hijack a Brinks truck to pay for a meal"....OMG! Huckerdoo! You are building a freaking 3 million dollar home and I am sure you never pay for your own meals anyways. Wow! I can still remember Tugboat Huckerdoo fishing on AETN when he was only 5000sq/ft.
Though I think this is tacky, it's exactly why I'm averse to gated and "exclusive" communities.
The Blue Mountain Beach Homeowners' Association passed a resolution requiring cattle guards at all access points to and from the Huckabee estate.
It was later mysteriously voided.
I'm going to Blue Mountain beach just so I can pay a call on the Guv. I will of course wear my Razorbacks t-shirt so he will know I'm "one of them." When I git there I'm going to take lots of pichers so the folks back home can see how good he done fer hisself and Jannit. And then I'm goin swimin.
@elWood.
You really think that the Huckabee home is being paid for with money he earned as Governor? Not because he has the highest rated Saturday news-show on Cable? He has in on hundreds of radio stations he is on each week, as well.
Very bad comparsion. There is no corruption.
More power to him....I wish him the best of luck....He's got my vote if he decides a run for the presidency.......NCH
He thinks he can still talk about ordering grits like he's just a country boy, while building a multi-million dollar home? Sorry Huck, but you lost touch with your roots, sadly enough.
I so agree with the last comment. There sure are a lot of petty , miserable people out there.
I know many folks who religiously tithed to support Mike in the manner he believed he was entitled to when he was a minister. They are not happy.
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