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For sale
  • Listing Provided by: The Agency
    $12,000,000

    262 S San Rafael Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

    6beds
    10,918sqft
    : 
    Single Family Residence
    Built in 1927
    2.71 Acres Lot
    $12,682,000 Zestimate®
    $1,099/sqft
    $-- HOA

    What's special

    Irreplaceable landLong gated drivewayIntricate moldingsOak floorsPaneled walnut libraryClay-tile rooflinesLathe-and-plaster walls
    'The opportunity to acquire a Kaufmann-designed residence of this scale, on land of this magnitude, and in direct relationship to the Arroyo Seco are exceedingly rare. Such properties are not replicated.'Privately located on one of the last undivided parcels on ultra-prestigious South San Rafael Avenue, sits the Frederick G. Adamson estate. Sited on 2.71 acres at the top of a long, gated driveway with commanding panoramic views of the Southern Basin from the western bank of the Arroyo Seco, the estate offers scale, privacy, and permanence that can no longer be replicated.Gordon B. Kaufmann, AIA Fellow, who over his career partnered with Reginald Johnson, Roland Coate, and Jesse Stanton, was the architect behind Greystone Mansion, the Los Angeles Times Building, the Athenaeum at Caltech, and numerous other landmark works, earning recognition at the Paris International Exposition. His architecture is found throughout many of Southern California's most prominent enclaves, including Bel-Air, Hancock Park, Holmby Hills, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, and Montecito.This Italian Revival masterpiece reflects Kaufmann's timeless vision, revealing a residence that, while exceeding 10,000 square feet, retains a sense of warmth, intimacy, and effortless livability. Equally suited for grand entertaining and private retreat, the home exemplifies his celebrated ability to balance formal and informal spaces while capturing the site's commanding views and sweeping panoramas. A succession of terraces, balconies, and loggias extends the living experience outdoors, beautifully uniting architecture and landscape design.Original and updated details remain remarkably preserved, including lathe-and-plaster walls, a paneled walnut library, oak floors, intricate moldings, five fireplaces, clay-tile rooflines, and period lighting and hardware reflecting a level of craftsmanship and integrity rarely seen today.Published in Architectural Digest in 1930 and held by only a handful of owners over nearly a century, the estate endures as a cultural artifact. Properties of this caliber do not trade often. When they do, they demand decisive, thoughtful ownership. This is one of those moments.Minutes from Caltech, the Huntington Library & Gardens, major studios, and Downtown Los Angeles, the Adamson Estate unites architectural significance, irreplaceable land, and enduring value.
    128 days
    |
    4,476
    |
    138
    |

    Zillow last checked: 7 hours ago

    Listing updated: February 11, 2026 at 04:09pm

    Listing Provided by:

    Rita Whitney DRE #01209004 626-755-4988,

    The Agency

    Source: CRMLS,MLS#: P1-25399MLS LogoOriginating MLS: California Regional MLS (Ventura & Pasadena-Foothills AORs)

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      Facts & features

      Interior

      Bedrooms & bathrooms
      • Bedrooms: 6
      • Bathrooms: 11
      • Full bathrooms: 3
      • 3/4 bathrooms: 2
      • 1/2 bathrooms: 6
      • Main level bathrooms: 3
      • Main level bedrooms: 2
      Rooms
      • Room types: Basement, Center Hall, Den, Entry/Foyer, Exercise Room, Family Room, Game Room, Guest Quarters, Great Room, Kitchen, Laundry, Library, Living Room, Primary Bathroom, Primary Bedroom, Media Room, Office, Other, Retreat, Sunroom, Utility Room
      Primary bedroom
      • Features: Primary Suite
      Kitchen
      • Features: Butler's Pantry, Stone Counters
      Other
      • Features: Walk-In Closet(s)
      Heating
      • Has Heating (Unspecified Type)
      Cooling
      • Central Air
      Appliances
      • Included: Freezer, Gas Cooktop, Gas Oven, Gas Range, Refrigerator
      • Laundry: Laundry Room
      Features
      • Eat-in Kitchen, Dressing Area, Primary Suite, Utility Room, Walk-In Closet(s)
      • Flooring: Stone, Wood
      • Has basement: Yes
      • Has fireplace: Yes
      • Fireplace features: Den, Dining Room, Family Room, Library, Living Room, Primary Bedroom
      • Common walls with other units/homes: No Common Walls
      Interior area
      • Total interior livable area: 10,918 sqft

      Property

      Parking
      • Total spaces: 10
      • Parking features: Circular Driveway, Controlled Entrance, Door-Single, Garage, Gated, Oversized, Garage Faces Side, Side By Side
      • Attached garage spaces: 2
      • Uncovered spaces: 8
      Features
      • Levels: Three Or More
      • Stories: 3
      • Patio & porch: Stone, Tile
      • Has private pool: Yes
      • Pool features: In Ground
      • Spa features: None
      • Fencing: Block,Chain Link
      • Has view: Yes
      • View description: Bridge(s), City Lights, Canyon, Park/Greenbelt, Landmark, Mountain(s), Neighborhood, Panoramic, Pool, Valley, Trees/Woods
      Lot
      • Size: 2.71 Acres
      • Features: Garden, Sprinklers In Rear, Sprinklers In Front, Lawn, Yard
      Details
      • Parcel number: 5714030003
      • Special conditions: Standard,Trust

      Construction

      Type & style
      • Home type: SingleFamily
      • Architectural style: Mediterranean,See Remarks
      • Property subtype: Single Family Residence
      Materials
      • Plaster
      • Roof: Tile
      Condition
      • Year built: 1927

      Utilities & green energy

      • Sewer: Public Sewer
      • Water: Public

      Community & HOA

      Community
      • Features: Biking, Curbs, Golf, Gutter(s), Hiking, Park, Preserve/Public Land, Rural, Street Lights, Suburban, Urban
      • Security: Security System, Carbon Monoxide Detector(s), Security Gate, Smoke Detector(s), Security Lights
      Location
      • Region: Pasadena

      Financial & listing details

      • Price per square foot: $1,099/sqft
      • Tax assessed value: $2,190,597
      • Annual tax amount: $26,084
      • Date on market: 1/12/2026
      • Cumulative days on market: 128 days
      • Listing terms: Cash,Cash to New Loan
      • Inclusions: TBA
      • Exclusions: TBA
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        Estimated market value

        $12,682,000

        $12.05M - $13.57M

        $7,400/mo

        Price history

        Price history
        DateEventPrice
        1/12/2026Listed for sale$12,000,000+0%$1,099/sqft
        Source: CRMLS #P1-25399 Report a problem
        7/31/2025Listing removed$11,999,000$1,099/sqft
        Source: SDMLS #P1-20527 Report a problem
        6/23/2025Listed for sale$11,999,000$1,099/sqft
        Source: SDMLS #P1-20527 Report a problem

        Public tax history

        Public tax history
        YearProperty taxesTax assessment
        2025$26,084 +5.4%$2,190,597 +2%
        2024$24,751 +0.8%$2,147,645 +2%
        2023$24,553 +3.6%$2,105,536 +2%
        2022$23,710 +4.4%$2,064,252 +2%
        2021$22,716 +4.2%$2,023,777 +1%
        2020$21,802 $2,003,027 +2%
        2019$21,802 -1.9%$1,963,753 +2%
        2018$22,213 $1,925,249 +2%
        2017$22,213 +1.1%$1,887,500 +2%
        2016$21,980 +2.4%$1,850,491 +1.5%
        2015$21,466 +3.1%$1,822,696 +2%
        2014$20,825 $1,786,993 +2.5%
        2012-- $1,744,039 +2%
        2011-- $1,709,843 +0.8%
        2010-- $1,697,065 -0.2%
        2009-- $1,701,098 +2%
        2008-- $1,667,744 +2%
        2007-- $1,635,044 +2%
        2006-- $1,602,985
        2005-- $1,602,985 +4%
        2004-- $1,540,741 +1.9%
        2003-- $1,512,504 +2%
        2002-- $1,482,848 +4%
        2000-- $1,425,270

        Find assessor info on the county website

        BuyAbility℠ payment

        Est. payment
        $71,221/mo
        Principal & interest
        $59421
        Property taxes
        $11800
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          Climate risks

          Neighborhood: South Arroyo

          Getting around

          20 / 100
          Car-Dependent
          40 / 100
          Some Transit
          13 / 100
          Somewhat Bikeable

          Nearby schools

          GreatSchools rating

          Local experts in 91105

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