Hackman’s Home Hits the Market for $6.25M

Gene Hackman’s longtime New Mexico retreat is making headlines again, now listed for $6.25 million. The 53-acre estate outside Santa Fe was recently put on the market nearly a year after the 95-year-old Oscar winner and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead there, according to the New York Times. Property records show the home is currently under a contingent offer, meaning certain conditions must be met before the sale can close. Prospective buyers may still be able to tour the property, Realtor.com reports.

Set within a gated hilltop community, the estate overlooks the Jemez Mountains and includes about 13,000 square feet of living space. The main adobe-style house features three bedrooms, along with a gym, game room, and wine cellar. A separate three-bedroom guesthouse sits elsewhere on the grounds, as does an art studio where Hackman spent much of his later years painting and sculpting. Hackman and Arakawa purchased the property in the 1990s, and it served as their primary residence for many years. Arakawa, 65, died of hantavirus, a rare illness linked to rodent droppings. Hackman, who had heart disease and advanced Alzheimer’s disease, died roughly a week later.

Listing agents Tara Earley and Ricky Allen of Sotheby’s International Realty said last month that the home is not being marketed with the typical “celebrity premium” often attached to properties once owned by well-known figures, the Wall Street Journal reports. “There will be some buyers that are just adverse to purchasing a property where a death has occurred,” Earley said. “There are other buyers for whom that doesn’t matter. We are selling the property on its virtues and all of the positives.” To discourage visits driven by curiosity rather than serious interest, potential buyers are being asked to provide proof of funds before viewing the estate.

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