James Van Praagh was looking for a place to live in 2015 where he could combine his clairvoyant skills with his “meditative, mindful awareness and utilize his property to enhance and activate a restorative energy that would elicit a natural sense of well-being and love.” In the end, he paid $2 million and change for a private two-acre estate in the coastal town of Encinitas, California. He then built multiple “healing gardens,” which are intended to stimulate the senses and instill a sense of calm and tranquility. After nearly nine years of ownership, the psychic medium is now seeking to connect with a buyer who is prepared to pay the $4.7 million he is requesting for his own private hideaway that resembles a sanctuary. Neda is the listing agent.
“Working in unison with my guides from the ‘spirit-world,’ I was directed on which plant material to use, emphasizing the aspects of placement, color, texture, and scent,” says Van Praagh. “My guides lovingly informed me to remember that these gardens did not necessarily just belong to me, but were intended for all those who would choose to be caretakers after me. I, of course, understood this and have always believed that every space we inhabit should be better off from having lived in it.”
So, what do the new caretakers get for their somewhat substantial outlay of cash? For starters, a 1990-built home featuring five bedrooms and seven baths filtered across nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. Then there’s the inviting palm- and bamboo-laced grounds, which include a redesigned saltwater pool and spa nestled alongside a pool house bath and an open-air cabana, as well as a fireplace and a cascading waterfall, plus a wealth of al fresco lounging and dining spots and pathways meandering through a dedicated park, a fruit orchard, and hand-selected plants culled from across the globe.
As for the two-story stucco and terracotta-roof home, it’s tucked away behind hand-crafted redwood gates amid a cul-de-sac parcel within the charming and laid-back Olivenhain enclave and offers up picturesque city lights and coastline views. Visitors are greeted by a circular driveway that empties out at an attached garage that can accommodate up to four vehicles. From there, a walkway passes through a xeriscaped lawn and up to double wood front doors that open into an entry foyer displaying a Buddha statue.
Main-level highlights include formal living and dining rooms that sit across from a wine room and a seated bar. An updated kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, high-end Dacor appliances, an eat-in island, a walk-in pantry, and a breakfast nook adjoins a family room boasting a two-way fireplace that connects on the other side to a bookshelf-clad library.
Elsewhere on the first floor is a primary suite with a separate lounge area, French doors spilling out to a private indoor/outdoor retreat, a walk-in closet, and a spa-inspired bath featuring dual vanities, a glass-encased shower, and a soaking tub topped by a stained-glass window. Upstairs is a movie theater and an additional primary suite that’s currently being used as a bonus space, and rounding it out, per the listing, is a drivable access path that allows for easy maintenance and creates the potential for a large accessory dwelling unit, a barn, or an animal sanctuary.
“This property is truly a unique sanctuary, offering a perfect blend of luxury, privacy, and natural beauty,” says Nourani. “What makes it so special is its serene hillside location combined with the meticulously designed garden experiences that create an enchanting and tranquil atmosphere. There is a special energy here.”
Van Praagh, 65, became all the rage when he appeared as a resident expert on the paranormal talk show The Other Side in the mid-1990s and subsequently rose to fame after announcing the release of his book Talking to Heaven on Larry King Live. Today, the New York-born psychic is still going strong when it comes to helping folks reconnect with their departed loved ones via live readings, an online school, and his Both Sides Now and Beyond podcast.