Real estate can be as dramatic as a telenovela — its just money, rather than heartbreak, that’s on the line.
A home listing from “Telenovela” actress Alex Meneses is a case in point. Meneses is ready to take a giant loss on her Encino home, which just hit the market for $6.75 million — more than $1.25 million less than what she paid for it in 2006.
Meneses told The Real Deal that she’s selling the home because of her divorce. She split with her husband of more than a decade, hedge fund manager John Simpson, in 2015.
“The house is just too big for me and my daughter,” she said. “I was planning on having another child, and that’s not going to happen now, so I want to downsize a little bit.”
Menseses’ agent said the price cut was due to inflated pre-recession prices.
“She bought it at the top of the market that time,” said listing agent Lynne Weiss of Coldwell Banker. “Now, we’re competing with new construction.”
Spanning more than 7,800 square feet, the nine-bedroom Spanish Colonial villa features imported materials from Spain, Morocco, and Mexico. Built in 2004, the gated spread features a formal dining room, master suite with sitting room, children’s playroom, wine cellar, two-bedroom guest house, three kitchens, and five fireplaces.
Outside, there’s a mosia pool with spa, cooking pavilion, fire pit, and a stream that flows into a pond.
Meneses is known for her supporting role in “Selena,” as well as TV shows such as “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” She was on an episode of “Friends” as Cookie, Joey Tribbiani’s sister.
Meneses has already built another home in Encino, she said.